Hi Everyone
I have just started my Chemo, and have been told it will be over a 6 month period. 1st session not too bad…no nausea but very tired. Actually have felt far worse after a night of clubbing, so not as scared of Chemo as I was a few weeks ago. BUT…Will the after effects of the Chemo get much worse over the coming months, or is it as bad in the beginning as it is towards the end.
Hi LuckyLil
The SEs can vary from cycle to cycle, what does tend to build is the overall tiredness.
I found chemo not as bad as I thought and managed to work almost normally for two weeks out of three for each cycle - but I was starting to struggle towards the end.
Hoping all your SEs are little ones.
Dx
Hi we are all dif but mine was the same most of the cycles the main probs were joint pain upset belly the tiredness will prob get worse over time I hope y se are easy on you gd luck
A lot depends on which chemo you are having.Everyone is different.For me the se’s were cumulative[especially the taxotere] but its not like that for everyone.
Vx
In my experience it is building up, but best to ask your Oncologist or chemo nurses are great. They have seen it all before and everyone’s chemo regime and reaction is different.
One thing I have learnt is that there are so many variations.
Good luck with yours.
It built up with me. Part way through I was having a ball during a break in London. After that it went down hill for me and took a while to pick up afterwards.
Everyone’s SEs are different but I was on EC and I got more tired and took longer to recover by the end …
Some things get easier, partly perhaps from fine tuning of drugs to prevent side effects, but I was warned that the tiredness would be cumulative-and indeed it was! Ended up loafing about watching DVDs.
But some people don’t get like that
Lavender who had FEC x 6
xx
Just to confirm what others have said really.
My onc and chemo nurse both said that the first cycle of a regime usually sets the pattern - which is why they told me to keep a symptom diary - and for me that was certainly true.
I was one of the annoying ones who worked all through chemo and seemed to have a relativley easy time, but by the last couple of cycles I was getting very tired (plus it was December which is a crazy time of yaer in my line of work). I hadn’t yet had surgery, so I started chemo from a position of ‘super fit’.
I had FEC-T (3FEC then 3T) and the side-effects of the two differed, so I had to re-learn my effects for the second three cycles.
I was advised to get a walk every day, or at least to keep as active as I could, and I think it made a difference.
The key is to listen to your body and respond according to your needs which may be different from anyone else you meet.
Take care, you’ll get there.
Mine did get worse. I am still in the middle having had 4 cycles of epirubicin and just switched to CMF for another 4 cycles.
The epi cycles got worse as I went along. Not so much with new SEs but with the pigswill brain and chemo mouth lasting longer each time. But managed to carry on with part time work etc. Like Rev I was fit at the beginning which helps.
However with the CMF I am feeling better - but it’s early days.
I think the worst thing is the ridiculous timescale. I started chemo in June and won’t finish till Christmas. That’s a big chunk out of normal life. I’m really envious of the others on the BC site who seem to just have a couple of months.
But it is passing, and yours will too. You just carry on because it’s all you can do.
Lots of love
Lin
My reactions to chemo actually improved as the months progressed (I had 3 x FEC, followed by 3 x Docetaxol). I kept a diary recording “bad”, “medium” and “good” days during each 3 weeks cycle and found the bad days lessened slightly each time.
Do hope you aren’t too troubled by side effects. I found a few ways to improve my morale including a great confidence-boosting session with Look Good Feel Better who have workshops in many hospitals/support centres around the world including UK
I have had first 3 rounds of chemo . The side affects at present have been very mild. Maybe I am lucky? Have 3 more to go. Just hope it stays the same. Have asked chemo team if it will get worse over next 3? They told me it varies from person to person.