Hello everyone, i had my first lot of chemo on wednesday. I don’t remember what sort of treatment i had. All i know is that i had a saline solution followed by 2 injections of red stuff, then more saline followed by 2 injections of clear stuff, then yet more saline followed by a solution that was covered in a black bag finished with more saline.
I wasn’t bad at all going through it and my friend kept my spirits up by making me laugh all day! But as soon as my O/H got me home i felt woozy and a few hours later i was really sick. I’ve been sick every day since but today is hopefully a turning point as i haven’t been sick yet.
I feel i can’t be bothered with anything, i’ve slept more this week than i ever have before. Everytime i eat something, it sits in my stomach all day and i’m afraid to move in case i’m sick again. I feel like i’ve got no energy and am walking around like a new born lamb.
I’ve just finished my anti sickness pills and only have 2 more immune injections to go.
My O/H thinks it will settle eventually, but he has no idea what i’m going thriough! I’m actually considering not having any more treatments as i’m feeling that bad. Can someone help me as i don’t think i can put up with this for 6 months?
Bikerbabe
Hi Bikerbabe,
I am sorry it is proving so tough for you. You do need to let your team know how you have been. There are many different types of sickness meds and they have probably given you the bog standard (= cheapest) one to start with! I don’t know what you are on but one of them is Epirubicin. I am sure others will know from your description. Everyone reacts differently to the drugs and your chemo team will do what they can to ease all the side effects. I have had many different types of chemo over the years - it isn’t nice but you get through it eventually. I always had to have the dosage reduced which always helped. I hope the 2nd half of the cycle gets better for you but if you have been given a breast care nurse contact have a word with them.
dawnhc
xxx
Thanks Dawn, will do. Don’t want to feel like this for months on end!
Hi Bikebabe
I am so sorry the chemo has been so crap for you. I had 3 FEC and 3 TAX over 6 months in 2007 and I also found it very tough. The 1st one was def the worse though cos of the sickness and nausea, I couldn’t eat anything hot all week and like you what I did eat set in my stomach but then I woke up on day 8 and everything had completely gone and I was totally normal again and went back to work for the next fortnight till the next one.
My advise would be to talk to your chemo nurse and GP cos there is a heap of stuff you can have. I had tablets for everything, about 3 or 4 different anti-sickness drugs, something to keep my digestion moving along cos the chemo grinds it to a halt [I think it was called lanzoprosol but not entirely sure but it worked very well] stuff for my mouth cos I got bad thrush. I was worried about taking so many drugs but its only for a few days then you have a break before the next round.
You should also read the top tips thread cos it is very good.
There is no doubt chemo is the pits but its going to sort out the cancer for you so please don’t give up, with the support of your chemo nurse, OH and family and friends you will get through this and so what if you spend the week walking around like a new born lamb, its just a week and it will pass and anyway new born lambs are very sweet [which is why i cannot eat them LOL] and need lots of love and care.
Big Hugs
AJxxx
Hi Bikerbabe
This sounds very similar to my reaction to my first chemo. I would ring the hospital as they should be able to give you stronger anti-sickness pills. When I told the hospital how sick I had been when went for my next treatment they gave me stronger stuff without any hesitation. They do not tend to give the stronger stuff out intiually as I think they have more side effects than the standard sickness meds. I did find this helped a lot, it does tend to cause consipation but you can take more stuff for that and it is a lot better than been sick! It also helps with the feelings of nausea. Do not suffer in silence give them a ring.
Hope you start to feel better soon.
Sherbet
Bikerbabe,
I’m about to have my 6th (and last -yippee!) FEC this week, and would say that what you’re going through is not unusual.
You should have been given a 24/7 contact number for your hospital - ring them for advice. I’d also say that this is Day 5 for you, which for me was the worst, I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. With any luck this is the worst day and you should start to feel better tomorrow onwards and should feel pretty much back to normal next week. The first one is the worst because your body is reacting to the drugs, and the anxiety you will have felt doesn’t help.
If the hospital can give you the right anti-sickness drugs you should feel better quickly and the next cycle should be easier. Be honest with them so they can help you. Listen to your body and rest as much as you need to, and eat what you can - you’ll need the strength to get you through this. You should feel absolutely fine after about a week. I remember thinking, like you, that I wouldn’t last 18 weeks if I was going to feel that bad, but you should feel much better soon, which makes each cycle more bearable.
Good luck, Bella x
Thanks Girls, i’m going to call my chemo no. and see what they can do for me. I’ve just asked O/H to run me a nice hot bath to see if i can soothe the pains out of my bones. Hopefully, as you all say, this cycle will be the worsrt and i’ll start to feel better real soon.
Thanks for all your help,
I don’t know what i’d do if i didn’t have you all to talk to
Thanks again
Bikerbabe
xx
Hi Bikerbabe sorry that your side effect was so bad.
I had 5 FEC and only one to go next week like Bella. Here is something i like to say
1 I did improve from FEC 4- I was sick on the first 3 ones but did not trhow up on Fec4 and Fec 5
2 I took anti sickness drugs before i feel sick- this is very important.
3 my first anit sickness drugs were not working so i asked for stronger one and they seems to be better
4 I wear seaband ( you could get them from Boots or other phamacies) for about 7 pounds- they are very good
5 food wise - i eat soft, lukwarm food - eat small portions each time and try to eat more frequent
6 my appetise was not good and i suffered from heartburn but since my onc give me some heartburn drugs it improved a lot -
7 talk to your chemo nurse, oncologist about what your are suffering and they should come up with some help either advises or drugs…
If you do throw up all the time- i was told to drink some water to make your body right
- it is 2 L hot water with 8 tea spoon of salt and 4 tea spoon of suger + root ginger - it keeps you hydrated and the ginger will help for the sinckness
hope you are feeling better later
take care
xxx
Hi Bikerbabe…I start mine this week, so I’m getting quite nervous about it now.However, my oncologist told me that whilst it was ok to FEEL sick, it was definately not ok to BE sick and if i am, I have to phone for advice immediately as I could become dehydrated. Now, I don’t know yet how I am going to be, and i certainly don’t want to be phoning them every five minutes, but I think you should phone for advice. I’m going to be on TAC and i hope i’m not too rough on it!! Good luck with the rest of your treatments xx
Hi Bikerbabe,
I am having my second FEC on monday. I was really sick after the first one. I was worried because they told me to drink plenty of water and I couldn’t even keep that down. I was sick after even a sip of water and was bringing the anti-sickness drugs straight back. I have spoken with my chemo nurse and the oncologist is changing me to something else on Monday so hopefully it will be better this time. However, what I would say is that I felt really awful for a few days just like you but since then I’ve had two good weeks. I picked up an infection last week which the doc said was cellulitis and have had antibiotics for that but otherwise, I have felt fine. Remember that there is an end to it for a while before the next treatment so it isn’t like we are going to feel that bad for the full six months.
The epirubicin is the red drug. That’s the one that makes your hair fall out according to my nurse. Mine started to go last Saturday and I am now really trying not to brush or wash it until I get my wigs sorted on Tuesday. A few people I have spoken to have said that the epirubicin does make it go quite quickly.
Hope you are feeling better soon, xxx
Hi Bikerbabe,
So sorry you are having such a horrid time after your first chemo. I am also treated at Chelmsford and have my last chemo this week. Fortunately, I have not suffered too badly, but I know the unit are keen for anyone not to suffer with side effects, so please let them know so they can try different anti-sickness meds.
I really hope it will settle and you will be feeling better soon, there are quite a few of us Chelmsford girls on here and we meet up quite regularly. You would be more than welcome to join us when you are feeling up to it.
Tracey xx
HIi Bikerbabe, you MUST hang in there, we have no option - well, we do - but I’m sure nobody seriously considers that. Just make sure they give you something better to cope with it. Lynsey, I’m a week behind you with the chemo. My first was on Monday, 5th Jan., 2nd due 29th, and today was the day I got a fistful of … no, not dollars … but blonde curls. Soooo upset. Have decided I hate my new wig. NHS
pressed button too early! NHS lady still not been in touch. Have a feeling I’m gonna live like a recluse for the next 4 months. Been lucky in that I’ve had no sickness, just banging headaces and shivers on and off. Still, I suffered enough with post-op problems, so I was due a break! Be strong Biker. We’re all in this together. Love, Jacq. x
Hi Bikerbabe.
I was very ill during my chemo and after the second, was so bad that I called a friend for help.
She got me in to see my GP within an hour, where I begged for an antidote to the chemo and told her that I didn’t want any more chemo.
The GP was great - asked for all my symptoms and gave me prescriptions to cover all these.
She even rang the following day to check I was OK and arranged for the BCN to visit me.
Within less than 24 hours I was back on track.
Since that episode I always told the GP and Onc. exactly how I was feeling.
Lesson learnt - if you don’t tell people, they can’t help.
Hi,
I have had 5 FEC and have suffered really badly. I have told my oncologist, BCN, chemo nurses, district nurses and GP exactly how bad it is and I have had crap experiences in A and E (waiting 6 hours on a trolley before being given an anti sickness injection) and with the out of hours doctor (waited 5 hours for an anti sickness injection.) I have suffered terrible migraines on FEC 3, 4 and 5 and been told that this is a side effect of the anti sickness drug (Ondansetron) but that there is no alternative.
I have tried desperately to get help and support but to be honest no one in my so called “care team” seems they could care less and so I am not having FEC 6, I am simply too frightened. I am glad care in some areas is good, but that has not been my experience.
If the aftercare was better I am sure not so many women would give up on chemo.
Irina, please don’t give up, that last one could be crucial to you. Can’t you tell your GP what has happened and ask to be referred to another chemo unit. Which area do you live in? Best wishes, Jacq.
For Irina
I am so sorry you have had such a ghastly time on chemotherapy.
Your decision not to have your 6th FEC sounds utterly sensible and rational to me. It is highly unlikely that missing the last one will make any difference to whether you get a recurrence or not (I am an 'amateur in saying this so check out with one of the cancer helplines or with your medical team.)
very best wishes
Jane