When you have 2 different types of chemo e.g EC and PAC do you tend to have a break between the 2 types of chemo?
Im sure I read somewhere you have a 3 week break.
I’m having 3 EC then 12 PAC, and been told there won’t be any break between them. But the EC is a 21 day cycle, drugs on the first day and then three weeks before the next set. So there will be three weeks between the day of the last EC treatment itself and the first PAC if that makes sense? Not sure if it varies between doctors or if side effects can mean a longer gap.
Hi Louby lou
Oncologists want to zap those rogue cells as effectively as possible so it’s normal to move directly from the EC cycles into the weekly paclitaxel cycles. I was in hospital for 4 days in the last week of my 3rd EC cycle with neutropoenic sepsis, had 2 blood transfusions and 3 days later started my first paclitaxel. No respite. After 4 of these, I had a car accident with damaged sternum and ribs (agony) but I still had cycle 5. THEN my oncologist decided I was a breaking point and gave me a week off. That was bliss. Then it was straight back to the remaining 4 cycles.
You just have to be honest with your team about how you are getting on. They can sometimes reduce the dose or give you a week off if you are struggling. This can be for any reason - the emotional toll, fatigue, loss of appetite and sore mouth… they are all important and there is no weakness in admitting you’re at the end of your resources. In my case, it was the fact that the pain relief they prescribed for my ribs was having no effect despite being pretty strong (as if everything could be resolved by a week off! But it was appreciated).
Since you haven’t had it yet, there’s no saying you’ll be wiped out by it. Many women carry on working part-time, being as active as ever. Hopefully you’ll fall into that category. I wish you all the best xx