4th round chemo worse since surgery, started fe... - My Ovacome

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4th round chemo worse since surgery, started feeling sick & stomach pains 😫

Kazzh profile image
Kazzh
β€’22 Replies

Hello lovely ladies

I had 3 rounds of chemo along with Avastin & although I had many side effects, I was fortunate that sickness/nausea wasn't one of them.

5 weeks post interval surgery, I had round 4 (no Avastin this round) but tummy issues (swinging from diarrhea to constipation constantly) and nausea are featuring highly.

I also have a strange feeling throughout my body like I'm burning from the inside, not experienced before either.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I am thinking that the chemo on top of surgery and recovery is just too much, and round 5 may be easier? I don't have a temperature and no signs of an infection although maybe I should get a stool sample done at my GPs?

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Kazzh profile image
Kazzh
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22 Replies
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Lyndy profile image
Lyndy

Hi Kazzh

I suggest you contact your acute oncology team and ask for advice. You are right that your body is probably saying it’s dealt with enough thank you. Chemo is also cumulative so worse side effects towards the end of the line.

Probably nothing to worry about but best to report it and ask for some better anti sickness meds! xx

Kazzh profile image
Kazzhβ€’ in reply toLyndy

Thankyou πŸ€—πŸ’—. Hope you're doing ok xxc

SuffolkJen profile image
SuffolkJen

Hi Kazzh

So sorry you are feeling so awful… πŸ€’

I’ve not experienced this, even though I had all my chemo after surgery (9 week gap) but I do definitely think you should let your Dr/chemo unit know and not suffer in silence.

Hoping you feel better soon xx Jen

Kazzh profile image
Kazzhβ€’ in reply toSuffolkJen

Thanks Jen, hope you're ok πŸ™πŸ€—πŸ’—

Mariej2021 profile image
Mariej2021

Hi Kazzh I had all my chemo after surgery The nausea and heartburn like feeling in my stomach kicked in for me around day 3 and lasted until Day 8 usually when it would suddenly go. I had Constipation from anti sickness meds never had diarrhoea post chemo I am unsure about the burning feeling you describe I agree you should call your chemo helpline to your oncology centre and have it checked out The chemo is a tough time Hope you feel better soon x

delia2 profile image
delia2

Hi. I had all my chemo starting 4 weeks after surgery. I had shooting pains in my abdomen and legs the first few cycles. Also nausea, constipation from anti-emetics, and occasional diarrhea. I think what you’re feeling is normal but I would check with your nurse. Hang in there.

Newbery3 profile image
Newbery3

Sending a big Cwtch X you'll get through it X

SopSinger profile image
SopSinger

Don't go through GP, just contact the chemo hotline. That's what they're there for! Hope they can get you sorted out. Sending hugs!

DebMac1 profile image
DebMac1

Sorry to hear you're having such a tough round. Dr should be able to give you something for nausea. I had surgery first up, chemo 4 weeks later (taxol/carbo) with Avastin introduced cycle 4. My abdomen hasn't fully settled down since chemo and get all sorts of weird pains and some bowel function fluctuation. Always worthwhile ringing cancer nurse/centre/oncologust though of you have concerns about chemo side effects.

Trickysite profile image
Trickysite

If the burning feeling is like electric sparks that shoot through different parts of your body for a few seconds and then stop that is probably neuropathy. Anyway, I should mention it to your oncology team. I had that and mentioned it but they did not do anything about it as far as I know. I hope you get some good advice/feel better soon. Love, Emma

AuntyOrange profile image
AuntyOrange

Hi Kazzh. I'm going through chemo atm for 3rd recurrence. No surgery this time or previous one but had surgery for original diagnoses 2015 & 1st recurrence 2018. I don't think our bodies ever recover fully from those surgeries & there are so many side effects that even the medicos can't explained. I do recall some burning but I don't think it was ever explained. They seem to put everything down to scar tissue & adhesions. I always found that most things disappeared after a while but definitely discuss with your team. Love & hugs. xx

Leniko profile image
Leniko

May I ask what chemo you are on?

Kazzh profile image
Kazzhβ€’ in reply toLeniko

Hello 😊 I'm on Carbo/Taxol and Avastin. Didn't have Avastin this round as too soon after surgery but I go again next week with it added back in

Leniko profile image
Lenikoβ€’ in reply toKazzh

Carbo/Taxol can be challenging. I had shooting pains in my feet and cramps in my toes. Hot Stone massage helped. I was on Avastin for about 2 years as a maintenance drug. It worked great. Kept me in remission. Eventually, it stopped working. I am now on immunotherapy. Best of Luck to you.

Kazzh profile image
Kazzhβ€’ in reply toLeniko

How are you doing with the immunotherapy? Did you get side effects on Avastin alone? Must be scary to be told its not working any more xx

Leniko profile image
Lenikoβ€’ in reply toKazzh

I knew that eventually Avastin could stop working. It served me well for a good few years, keeping my (psoas muscle) tumors under control and keeping my CA 125 down. When I was on it, I did not have any serious side effects. It did raise my blood pressure to the point that I am now taking BP med, but that’s not a big deal. As far as the immunotherapy, it’s a new treatment regime for ovarian cancer, which is opdiva and Yervoy ( used most often small cell lung cancer) . I will know more when I have a CT scan in a few weeks. I will tell you that my CA 125 looks promising that it may be working. I’ll try to keep you and the people on this site posted. All the best to you.

Susi3 profile image
Susi3

Hi Kazzh,I am also on my third round of taxol/carboplatin and Avastin. I have had terrible fatigue, nausea, and alternating diarrhea and constipation. During the first cycle my symptoms were a bit better by day 10. On the second round things seemed about the same up until day 11, when I had horrible spasmodic gut pain moving between my stomach, small, and large intestines. It felt like my guts were extremely inflamed and burning. It was so bad I kept calling the chemo clinic for help. I could not eat and lost ten pounds during cycle 2. On on rond 3 infusion day I noticed an improvement in my guts from the pre-meds, which included famotidine. When the gut symptom came back a few days later, I tried taking Pepcid OTC and it worked quickly. I'm now taking it as needed, and doing better (11 days into round 3).I hope you found relief and feel better!

Kazzh profile image
Kazzhβ€’ in reply toSusi3

Thanks for the Pepcid tip! I'm getting there slowly although currently in A & E as had sudden chest pains today 😳 waiting for test results πŸ™

Leniko profile image
Lenikoβ€’ in reply toKazzh

πŸ™β€οΈ

Lizchips profile image
Lizchips

They should be giving you nausea meds, take every morning, first thing . Don't wait to feel sick, too late. Chemo combo might be too strong for you. Let your Dr know your symptoms. Prayers πŸ’œ Liz

Jacquiemoo profile image
Jacquiemoo

I'm so sorry you are going through this and I can relate as I am also. The stomach pains are awful and keeping me awake at night. I believe the constipation then diarhea issue has a lot to do with it. It does feel like glass being ground in the stomach. I take 1,000 mg tylenol for relief, it takes the edge off. And I get the creepy crawley feeling in my legs and even whole body at times. This is from chemo I'm sure. Hope you feel better soon.

Jacquiemoo profile image
Jacquiemoo

Hi, I have had the same burning in the stomach region. I was told it was from my tumors and fluid build up. I was very surprised to hear this as I had a PET scan and no one mentioned this to me afterwards. So I'm really not sure if it is from that. I take 1,000 mg tylenol and it takes the edge off of the pain. I pray you get the right answers and remedies to relieve this..stay strong..

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