Does chemo get worse?

[kay73]

Hi emma,
Glad the injections are helping 🙂 I didn't have them, was physically sick first twobtobthree nights but no nausea so domperidone did the trick for me.
I did get tired but the actual fatigue hasn't been too bad, id recommend looking at diet it helped me a lot, lots of fresh fruits and veg, I have home made smoothies everyday, manuka honey, green tea there's a lot you can look at that will help. There is a post on the main page I think the name is jojo and her top tips, she's got a blog too, enormous amount of info on there. Also have a look at the Macmillan booklets on cancer and diet. There are things you should avoid, I found out a bit late. Maybe also look at de acidifying foods as the chemo makes your system acidic. We did a lot of research and I did an immune boost diet before where we just jammed me full of vitamins ! It got me this far really well !
I'm done chemo now and am onto scans and operation.
I wish you luck let me know how you get on
Kay x

[HueyL]

I had 3 FEC and 3 Docetaxol with herceptin, for me the very first FEC I was very very sick that night. I thought the male nurse had a funny look on his face when he asked me did I suffer from morning sickness? which i did! After the first one they corrected my sickness meds and I coped really well, no tiredness, just a heady feeling of being drugged.i did get slight nausea  on FEC  even with anti sickness,but it passed after a day, I ate dry cream crakers, (weird but it helped!)  and anything else like constipation or sore mouth,heartburn, you can get med for those. I walked lots throughout my treatment as I found the fresh air and exercise helped me through! I would say that side effects were cumulative but only mildly for me fortunately I was lucky, I think staying as fit as possible is the key! good luckxx

[Emma76]

Hi Kay,
Sorry to hear you're in hospital, poor you ive been having the nulasta injection did you get them?
My nausea was a bit better, the fatigue seemed to be worse though! Cant have it all ways I suppose! Lots of love xx

[kay73]

Hi Emma
How are you getting on with the nausea ? Hope they've given you something that helps !
Had my final treatment last week and this week I'm in hospital and nuetropenic ! Typical when you think you're through it 🙂 and ... I've been really really careful with who I've been around ... It happens that easy ! Still hospital have been brilliant so nothing to complain about they're doing a Stirling Job !
Hope all is well
Kay x

[Emma76]

Thanks Kay,
My third treatment is today, I haven't been sick just struggled with nausea but only for about 3 or 4 days.
Having emend this morning so hopefully that will help.
Good luck today
Love Emma x

[kay73]

Hi Emma
I had 3 x Epirubicin,cyclophosphamide and 3x docetaxel, well my third and last one is tomorrow ! The first three were very similar a lot of sickness the first two nights then a hot sweat and ten min wobble three days later, other than that a bit of fatigue ! The docetaxel has been a whole different ball game ! Different side effects, no sickness at all, three days after I get a high temp and end up being admitted to hospital, luckily no neutropenia, the growth factor injection causes a lot of fluid build up in my stomach tissue and I have aching hips, knees and the last time in my feet, this subsides as soon as my sixth injection is done and then I get around a week and a half of feeling normal again ! Yes I get the usual split, sore ulcerated mouth with thrush. But I have lots of mouthwash meds and I use a spoon of Manuka honey which has helped.
Yes it is cumulative with the fatigue, you just have to get through the side effects as best you can ! Take help if its offered !
I have recovered very quickly every time, I would recommend ready up on the Macmillan booklets to do with healthy diet, food has really helped me ! Also did some research about foods that help and hinder !
My hubby makes me a fresh smoothie every day to get my vits in, if I can't manage it I have a lolly maker and we put the smoothie in that !
My hair is growing back thick and fast and there is light and the end of the tunnel ! I'm still to have my op but the chemo has shrunk my lump from 3.5-4 cm to just 1cm.
I have been able to work while healthy and have tried to keep life normal and positive .
Good luck x

[SJB]

I'm currently having a course of 6 x FEC-T. I've done my 3 x FEC and just had my first dose of T last week.

I found the fatigue cumulative through the FEC, and by the third cycle, I just didn't get any energy back before I went on to have my next chemo session.

Changing to T is different though. I don't know what to expect with this yet. I felt fine for a couple of days after having it, then got severe aches and pains on days 3 and 4, but feel a bit better again this morning (day 5), so I don't know what's coming next.

I think the more times you have the same drug or drugs, the effects accummulate, but changing to a different drug changes the goalposts, if that makes sense.

I know I'm one of the lucky ones because i haven't had ANY nausea or neutrapenia. But I have suffered a lot with mouth ulcers and lost fillings, so it is swings and roundabouts, I guess.

You really just have to get on with it, phone the cancer nurses or your GP if you get a side effect that needs a prescription and don't suffer in silence.

[chascat]

Emma, I'm 2 years post diagnosis and 16 months on from finishing chemo and radio. All is well, I have a lovely thick head of hair, sometimes it seems like it happened to someone else, and then it's time for a check up and the horror and fear rear their ugly heads, not sure that will ever go away but I hope it will diminish in time x

[skinnyminx]

I had a different chemo regime (3 x FEC and 3 x Tax) and was unable to work due to risk of infection in my particular line of work and general fatigue.

However, to answer your question... I kept a daily diary of how I felt and generally I tolerated each cycle rather better each time around with less severe side-effects and more energy each time.  So, for me, chemo did not get worse.

I hope it continues to be not too bad for you.  

Best wishes. 

[Emma76]

Thanks for that chascat,
I hope that you are continuing to do well.
Best wishes Emma x

[chascat]

Hi Emma, I had 6 FEC and worked fulltime whilst running a home and caring for my 4 year old daughter, I was on Emend too which helped enormously. was pretty knackered by the last one but for me I coped well and pretty much carried on as normal throughout x

[Emma76]

Does anyone think that chemo gets worse after each treatment? Is there anyone on here who has coped with it really well after all treatments? I'm on TCH I've had 2 so far third due next week, so far it's not been too bad I've only really had 2 days each time when I've felt nauseous and tired, I have got emend now for the nausea, so I'm quite confident that's going to help having heard it's the best one out there. I've been able to work in between treatments and look after a 3 year old, and apart from those few days feel just like I did before.

I'm basically just really dreading the next one so if anyone has got any positive stories I would really love to hear from them!
Thanks everybody Emma