As some of you know I have had quite a rough time during chemo. I am on FEC, meant to have 6 and have had 4 so far. After the 2nd one it was impossible to find a vein so had a PICC line in. I had the 3rd one but then was admitted to hospital with problems. It was discovered that the PICC line had caused a blood clot so I am now on daily injections of anti coagulant for the foreseeable future.
Then I had a central line put in and had the 4th dose this way. 8 days after chemo I had to be admitted again as an emergency with zero neutrophils, an infection and low red cells. This was in spite of having had Neulasta which is meant to boost the immune system. After 5 days on IV antibiotics and a blood transfusion I came home.
I went to see the oncologist on Tuesday this week, ready to have my 5th chemo on Wednesday. My usual consultant was not there and I saw another one. He suggested that I might want to consider stopping chemo as the risks of carrying on might outweigh the benefits of continuing. I didn’t really take in what he was saying as it was quite a shock and said I would have the 5th one and if there were problems again, I would think about stopping. However he phoned later to say that I couldn’t have the chemo as one of the liver function tests was abnormal. This means that I can have more time to consider whether to continue with chemo or not.
I have to go back again next Monday and have the blood tests done again. Unfortunately it looks as if my consultant still won’t be back (for very good reasons) and I would really like to talk to him before deciding whether to continue with chemo or not.
I have talked this through with this site’s helpline and with family and friends but I am still really worried. Basically I have to decide whether to continue and possibly end up in a life threatening situation again i.e severely neutropenic or to cut short the chemo without knowing how this affects the overall benefit of having chemo.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Why can’t anything be straightforward? I am feeling very stressed and sorry for myself as you can tell!
Sorry you are having such an awful time - it is really difficult to make these decisions especially with feeling really low from the neutrpoena… just take it slowly and try and write down all the info and take each point separately and try to take just one small step at a time… unfortunately only you can make the decision with the info you get from the professionals and the support you get from friends and family… I had a horrid time on CMF with three different lines and 2 hospital stays for neutropoena and then blodd clots around the line… However it was never mentioned not to have the treatment… If the onc says not to What is he basing this on ???
Anyway a big hug and hope you feel better soon and able to make your decision…
I am sorry that you are having a bad time on chemo, I did too, but my love you are over half way there and in about 6 weeks max your chemo will be done, I am glad that I stuck with it and I was hoping to get out of my last one due to being so ill…but I made it through the last one and am happily past rads now too…
I’m really sorry your having such a bad time. It takes me back to last year when I was going through similar. I had four Epirubicin and four Taxotere. I ended up in hospital twice with the first lot and then the Taxotere really took its toll on me. I was advised to stop taking it but I insisted in getting through to the end. I had a severe allergic reaction to the first dose of Taxotere and after 2 Taxotere I was rushed in (by ambulance) and they again advised me to stop the chemo. I was then offered a milder dose (Taxotol) which I accepted for the final two.
You will get through it but I know its hard. Make sure they explain all the avenues for you. My final dose was delayed a week so that my body could recover sufficiently to take the last dose. I considered stopping it when my Onc suggested it but in a strange way he was also keen for me to carry on. Basically I think they just want you to make the decision. Just make sure you look after yourself after each chemo and get straight to the hospital if you need to.
Keep fighting it, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you everyone for your messages of support. I will try to find out on Monday more about why the consultant thinks the risks of carrying on with chemo are so high. Perhaps I could have a reduced dose like you Anniemay.