Met my oncologist last Friday, got a phone call to day from the chemo unit - treatment to start this thursday!!! Blood test tomorrow, PICC line insertion on Wednesday then chemo Thursday!!! Not too worried about PICC line insertion but am feeling very nervous about the chemo. I am worried that I might have an instant bad reaction to it. Has anyone heard of anyone who reacted badly immediately or got an allergic reaction? My stomach is churning already and I have 3 sleeps to go yet!
I found that I didn’t feel sick until a few hours after the chemo, from what I’ve read on here that seems to be the norm. I never saw anyone have a bad reaction when I was in the chemo suite. The nurses will look after you whatever happens.
Keep taking any anti-sickness they give you, even if you feel well, prevention is better than cure in this instance! Eat and drink little and often, both before and after, even if you don’t feel like it as it does help with nausea.
Hopefully you will be one of the ones who sails through it. If not, everybody is here to help and give advice.
Hi Bird
Despite my fears I had few side effects, and I think many people go through chemo with far fewer problems than they expect. I think allergic reactions are very rare, and most side effects are felt much later (i walked home from my chemo). The ward itself was relaxed and cheerful, they had a radio on and people sat around and chatted and read magasines, and they came round with sandwiches and snacks - nothing like the horrific place I expected. It’s worth getting to know some of the nurses as they are lovely people and you will see them fairly often.
If you do feel sick later, get in touch with them (make sure you have a number). They changed my meds after the first couple of days, and after that I never felt sick again. There are lots of alternatives so you don’t have to put up with unpleasant SEs, but you need to tell them if you have any problems
Sarah
I’m the rare person who did have a reaction to chemo! I had fec first and didn’t have a reaction for those 3 cycles, but on my first tax a few weeks ago, i had a reaction within a few minutes of it going in via drip. I felt a warmth in my chest that started to spread up to my throat, and my heart started beating really fast. I told the nurse, she sounded an alarm and turned off the drip. 3 oncologists and 3 nurses were in my room in seconds. They took my blood pressure, temp, pulse etc. I began to feel better within moments. They gave me a huge dose of piriton then after half an hour started the drip off very very very slowly and a senior nurse sat with me throughout to baby sit me! The rest went in fine. My oncologist is happy for me to have it again, so i too am on chemo this thursday ( if my bloods are ok!). So, the reaction was scary but probably not as scary as you are imagining and is rare. In fact my chemo nurse had only just finished telling me she had never seen a reaction when mine happened. I think she was more freaked than me and another nurse took over from her!
Just to say I’m starting with my first cycle of AC this Thursday too! (4xAC, a break for a couple of months, then 4xTAX.) Which regimen are you having?
So perhaps we can hold virtual hands I’m damn nervous too. Going in today to have an ECG, bloods, talk through what’s what and my heart is already in my mouth.
Good luck to you, I’ll be thinking of all the other new-comers to chemotherapy while I’m on the receiving end of the needle.
Vickie - hope the second tax goes better. We’re synchronised for a couple of cycles (I’ll only have 6 to go by the time you finish!).
Unfortunately, I had an allergic reaction to epirubicin and my fec was terminated after 1.5 sessions and I then went onto TAX and had an allergic reaction on start of session 3. So I ended up short of my 6 cycles but fingers crossed it was enough. I should say I also have allergies to certain painkillers & plasters and have had anaphylaxis before. If you do have an reaction, they are very quick with antihistamines and hydrocortisone so dont worry too much beforehand.
Everyone feels very anxious before start of chemo but once you have one under your belt so to speak you will cope better. Its the fear of the unknown I think. Best of Luck. Tina
I’m damn nervous too. Going in today to have an ECG, bloods, talk through what’s what and my heart is already in my mouth.