my SIL will probably start her chemo next week and the appointment we had with the doc yesterday, we’re in oman so sunday is a working day, has left me feeling with my heart in my knees. Up till now I’ve managed to not really let my heart get in the way of my head with things, but yesterday it all just seemed to hit home and of course googling ‘chemo and side effects’ has made it worse.
Is there anyone there who could please explain things to me a bit, the doctor we saw was fabulous, but he’s a doctor, not a lady who’s had chemotherapy.
I have to be one step ahead of everyone else in the family and if anyone could help even by explaining how they felt over week one to 3 of treatment I’d be very grateful.
The initial treatment she’s having is AC x 4 and Taxotere x 4.
I wish I had a SIL as supportive as you. I don’t know what help I can be but here are my experiences.
I had 4 FEC and 3 Tax. On the FEC I didn’t feel too bad after the first session, just tired and slightly sick. However, I was very sick on sessions 2 and 3 but this was controlled by a change of sickness drugs. By session 4 I just felt sick and tired… I used a cold cap so haven’t lost all the hair on my head, although it is very thin - I’ve lost over half of what it was before but it isn’t patchy. Hair started to fall out on the third week after the first treatment. I lost hair from everywhere else though although my eyebrows and lashes didn’t start to fall out until I started on Tax. However, 8 weeks after my last treatment hair has started to grow back.
I also experinced nausea, terrible fatigue, aches and pains and cheom fog (forgetfulness, not being able to concentrate etc. I’ve also had night sweats and hot flushes and have just started acupuncture to get rid of these. I also found reflexology before each round of chemo helped.
The tax was easier in terms of sickness as I didn’t get that at all but I did get terrible aches and pains in my feet and legs espeically - stong painkillers helped with this. The fatigue got worse with the tax. I also had neuropathy in my feet which meant that I didn’t have the last session of tax.
I’ve also had problems with the veins in my arm. As I could only have needles etc in one arm, lots of veins have gone hard and one became infected which made it difficult to get the cannula in some times.
I did manage to work in between treatments and tended to have 7 bad days, 7 reasonable days the 7 good days before treatment started again.
Hope this has helped. Of course not everyone has all these side effects - other people have had worse than me. There are loads of threads on these boards which helped me.
Hi Sharon
I had all the side effects as Lynn mentioned and I am quite the same as her react to FEC too.
I also got some month ulcers but not serious.
Donot be afraid for all these side effects- the key is to get a good GP to help you with medicines for the side effects and listen to the body’s nature reation - if your SIL feels tired, just have a nap. Donot arrange too many social events in advance ( in my case I had to take things on the day only) so she wont feel too much pressure.
Do get help from others in house works-etc- to be honest with you at some piont i did not even have strength to hover my floor! She might be shocked by how weak she’d feel but tell her to be pataint and things will get better once the treatment finish.
So all in all, take it easy, get help and ask her how she feels and what she needs physicailly and emotionally ( this is very important too ) and with care from family i am hoping it is easier for her to get through it - all the best !!
Forgot to mention the taste buds disappearing on both FEC and Tax and dry mouth. Usually within a day of chemo.
She should listen to her body and as Avonlea says not to be afraid to ask for help with anything. Something which I found hard to do at first.
Forgot to also say that some people have fewer than these not more with all are controllable.
I was also told to plan a treat for myself before each bout of chemo, as mine was on a Monday, I did something the weekend before. Either going out for the day, buying something nice etc. It gives something to focus on.