This site is worth a read if you are about to start chemo
Bump
Historygirl as promised.
Bumped for all those starting chemo soon?.go to page one
Thanks Cackles!
Hi,
I just want to say that after a horrific first night of nausea on FEC1, I rang my hospital helpline and was advised to get Metaclopramide from my GP. It helped immediately and on FEC2 I took it late on first night but was still sick that night. AT FEC3 I mentioned this to my nurse who told me to take it as soon as I got home and then take another two doses spaced through the day - result mild nausea and no vomiting.
Last night after FEC4 I followed same instructions - again I was mildly nauseous and had one short vomiting event near bedtime. I use this medication for up to four days after treatment and I can honestly say that the nausea disappears after day 1.
The taste-bud problem is different for everyone, but peppermint teas, lemon and ginger tea, ginger beer and pineapple juice seem to work for most people so all are worth trying. Most people swear by manukah honey for sore mouth and throat - sip it slowly from a teaspoon or mix with lemon juice and hot water.
One last thought, when you feel tired, lie down. Do housework when you feel like it and ask for help with chores from anyone who is available. Forget healthy eating and eat whatever suits your appetite. You can get back to good nutrition later but for now any food is good food - for a few days I could face nothing but rice pudding.
I can honestly say that this has been nowhere near as bad as I expected. When I described the effects to one of my sons he said I was describing a hangover( I’ve never drunk enough to have one but from several experiences of flu I’d say it’s never anything like as bad as that).
Good luck and take care,
Kathleen
Hi ladies
I’m posting for the first time and this thread, particularly the opening thread with the long list of remedies was a welcomed find.
I should start chemo next week. I’m naturally terrified. I meet the oncologist tomorrow (thurs 23rd) and will only then find out exactly what type of cancer I have. So far I know that it is triple neg, invasive and already in the lymph nodes.
so this is my life now…
Clara
Hi Clara
Please see my comments as I believe we have a similar condition. I would be grateful of your feedback, and comments. I will be happy to give mine to you as the months progress.
If you think this would be supportive and helpful let me know/
If not then good luck to you and I wish you all the best
Sue x
I had a really bad episode of mouth ulcers and used manuka honey which was great but i didnt always feel like drinking it and applying it straight onto ulcers was sometimes tricky. I found manuka honey lozenges in Costco which are great and very pleasant, haven’t been able to find them anywhere else.
Trish x
i have just finished round 5 of chemo, 3 rounds of FEC and have had 2 rounds of Taxotere. I suffered with a very sore mouth and mouth ulcers, the nurses recommended DIFFLAM mouth wash which the GP prescribed. It is amazing and really helped.
Hi All,
I will start my first cycle of FEC next Wednesday and i’ve heard I should get a PH neutral herbal or botanical shampoo and conditioner to help prevent hair loss (i’m using the paxman cooling cap too).
I wondered if anyone had a recommendation?
Thanks,
Jules
Hi just been told I start My chemo on Mon 12th, have taken note of all the helpful hints. I am having 3 cycles of FEC then 3 cycles T, oh well sooner started sooner get it all over with.
Hi Marie,
I am doing the same chemo as you. My 2nd FEC is also 12 march. lst one was ok - had one day of bad nausea when steroids and anti sickness tablets the hospital gave me ran out but rang chemo hot line and within l hour had prescription ready to collect at doctors. Good luck - although daunting it was nowhere near as bad as i thought it would be
Hi,
I started chemo - FEC 0 days ago and have been great. Nothing like I expected. Just had major domestic with hubby who is under impression that you only get side effects in first few days after chemo infusion, and as I have not had any then that’s it, I’m good til next dose… anything else I feel is menopausal??? I’m not looking for excuses for feeling a wee bit off at times, just kinda hard to tell if it is meno or chemo?? lol 
Hello
I started chemo in December, having FEC-T - I’m having my last T on Wednesday. I’ve followed various threads but have only just registered as I felt I may be able to help those new to chemo who are suffering from the nausea and vomiting, which I found really set me back.
Regarding the anti-sickness drugs, I initially had Ondansetron and Domperidone but needed an injection of Cyclizine after bad nausea and vomiting which began about 2 hours after the 1st FEC treatment. I was given Aprepitant (Emend)(as well as Ondansetron and Domperidone) for 2nd FEC but still had nausea and vomiting so had to have another Cyclizine injection. The injections stopped the vomiting immediately. For third FEC I was still given Aprepitant and the others but also Cyclizine tablets and they prevented the nausea and vomiting from starting.
As far as other tips go:
- I found melon and strawberry milkshakes were really the only things that tasted normal and refreshing with the taste problems.
- For the sore and itchy skin from the Docetaxel a friend bought me Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula which was much more effective than E45 (though your chemo nurses may be able to suggest something)
- I found Difflam much more effective than Gel-Clair for the mouth ulcers but on 4th chemo tried Iglu (as advertised on TV) which puts a gel coating over the ulcer itself and this helped (again, you may want to check with the chemo nurse first)
- It was suggested to me to eat lots of jelly during chemo to help my nails and this seems to have worked well
I hope some of this information is of use.
Just another thing I found tasted alright when my taste was off - stewed apple and custard.
Hi everyone, my aunty went through Chemotherapy a while ago and I made up a “Chemo Comfort Buddie Bag” for her it consisted of a Hot Pink Cotton Tote Bag with a Pink Fleece Blanket, pair of pink gripper socks, bottle of Hand Sanitizer gel, Lip balm, Notebook and Pen, 4 packs of tissues, Hand Cream and several packets of mints. She loved it and just kept it ready to take every time she went to the hospital - she now uses the bag for her shopping!! She is doing well now and in remission.
I have decided to make up more of the bags and see if I can sell them for £25.00 with a donation of £5.00 from each of them to Breast Cancer Care - comments would be appreciated and your thoughts on this idea would be welcome as I just want to give something back, as my mum has Cancer too but hasn’t had to have Chemo, but is doing ok.
Would anyone be interested?? I will just about cover the cost and postage and then the donation, I don’t intend to make on it my self, I just want to be able to help people have one less thing to remember to take to Chemo, it’s there ready each time you go, just pop in a good book or your music and that’s it.
Hi all,
I am at day 15 following first FEC and have to say I feel pretty good.
I have suffered with nausea & digestive problems for about 5 years and was really expecting chemo to add to misery…but it’s the opposite. Got a healthy appetite for first time in years! Perhaps it will get worse as I go along? One thing though, my care team told me no way should I be throwing up or feeling really ill, I was given anti sicknes in IV while getting FEC, and given 5 days supply of domperidone to take home, and told to take them 3x daily -regardless of how I feel. If I was unwell I was to either to contact them at clinic or see GP or go to A& E. I have not to suffer, they said no need, we will help you through this. They gave me mouthwash & thermometer away with me after FEC. GP gave me script for Lactulose, lanzoprazole, BIOTENE mouthwash, mouthgel & toothpaste as recomended by BC nurse & a BIG tub of E45! (skin reaction for few days - think it was my fake tan!) I guess the proof is in the pudding, lets see what happens if next dose makes me ill then see if the support is there? All I can say is no one should just put up with feeling ill, do not accept it as part of the treatment, you should not have to suffer. All the horror stories about chemo I heard made me anxious and that can actually make you ill!Demand your right to help to get through this nightmare!
Hi Luluspice
What an encouraging post:)
I will be starting FEC mid April and my biggest worry is the nausea and sickness - I get ill on the crossing to the Isle of Wight!
There seems to be quite a difference in the care given by the hospitals, it sounds like yours are really supportive. Hope mine will be the same - all has gone tickety boo thus far.
Hi - I am on AC regime - 4 doses, 1 every three weeks so short and sharp. First one not great with all the usual SEs but nausea, constipation and lack of sleep the worst but came right on about Day 6. I was given Ondansetron IV and then Ondansetron and Metoclopramide (both anti-sickness) in tablet form to take home but still didn’t feel great so was given Domperidone which helped me more. Hospital gave me an antiseptic mouthwash - Chlorhexidine Gluconate for sore mouth and Lactolase for constipation - both good.
No. 2 - took a lot longer to recover but I then had 2 good weeks. Just had my third dose and its been by far the easiest. I think the first 2 doses I read the instructions wrong and was taking 3 Ondansetron tablets instead of 2 a day so was make the constipation and nausea even worse!
Lots of water if you can manage it but I find Lucozade, fat coke and fizzy water with a dash of Roses lime the best for me.
And I will just say for all you vomiting phobics (like me!) - I haven’t been sick once so positive thoughts, take the meds even if you think you don’t need them and best of luck in the world!
Jan
x
Helpful tips for me. Thanks for posting these online.