Chemotherapy

[polo2014]

Good morning ladies spring here at last .Iv got a date to start chemo 05/04/2021 not sure of name I will have it every 3 weeks for 9 weeks then scan to see if it shrinks it fingers crossed then back to chemo every 3 weeks again .doctor said I shouldn’t loose my hair but I thought I read you loose some hair with all chemo . Could you lovely ladies give me any tips what has helps and what to avoid whilst on chemo xxx

[Lyndy]

Oh well done.. you now have a plan! Do check which chemo you are getting as they all have their idiosyncrasies. The staff on the chemo unit will take you through the meds such as anti sickness and steroids. Do get prepared with laxatives such as Laxido because the anti sickness pills make you constipated 😫 They will also tell you how to keep yourself safe when your immune system is low such as not eating food with live cultures etc. Don’t worry you’ll get the hang of it xx

[polo2014 in reply to Lyndy]

Hi Lindy it’s carboplatin the chemo I’m having

[Lyndy in reply to polo2014]

I am on carboplatin only at the moment..it’s very do-able but I wonder why, if this is your first line chemo, they aren’t adding taxel or another agent? xx

[Lewisriley47]

Hi l have had four recurrences and about to start chemo on the 7th of April, l have only lost my hair once when l was on Taxol although it might get a little thinner but you will hardly notice it, Good luck with your chemo. Pam

[RoseMS]

My understanding is that it is the Taxol chemo which causes the hair loss, not Carboplatin. Good luck, x

[RainbowC]

Good luck - hope it all goes really well for you. Everyone’s experience of chemo is different, so what happened for one person might not for another. I think the most important advice I can give you is that if the anti sickness drugs they give you don’t work too well, get back in touch with your team and let them know so they can try something different. I was completely wiped out for 6 days after my first chemo - barely awake, but couldn’t sleep properly, no appetite and barely able to eat anything, and at day 5 utterly nauseous and sick a couple of times. We rang the hospital in the middle of the night (‘we!’ Hah. My husband!), and they told us to contact the duty GP and request a different drug. Within a couple of hours of taking that one I started to feel so much better, and that evening ate three whole slices of toast! 😄

All of which is a long-winded way of saying if it’s tough, ask for more help! But I hope it goes smoothly. X

[Pianoplayer731021]

Hi, the taxol medicine is what made me lose my hair. Carboplatin and taxol was my treatment for ovarian cancer stage 3 or 4. Hope you do ok with whatever they give you. Donna xx

[LesleyGB]

Hi - great that you can now get started (it helps so much as you are starting on the journey to recovery). I had Carbo, Taxol and Avastin. One side effect was that Avastin raised my blood pressure and I am now on tablets. I agree with Lyndy re laxatives - Ondesteron (one of the anti sickness tablets) caused terrible constipation the first time so left it off the next time and had no further problems. (Luckily I have had no nausea during my treatment.) I was a bit achey and tired for a few days after chemo but it soon went off. When you go, take something to keep you occupied. It can take a long time for the treatment to finish especially the first time. Snacks and water - though my trust brings drinks, biscuits and sandwiches round. We all react differently so don't faint at the list of possible side effects - they tell you about all of them. Don't be scared to ask absolutely any questions of the nurses - nothing is classed as silly (my main worry was going to the loo but you just unplug the drip and take it with you!). Drink lots of water. It is scary - I was petrified the first time but after that you know what to expect and are more relaxed. Good luck and let us knowhow you get on. x

[BeliGolub]

Good luck for the 5th. Mine is on the 9th. Carbo-Taxol-Avastin. I also would like to know what to do. Read on the site that it is good to drink lots of water that day and after. I asked the nurse today if I could do something before (and after) to prepare and support myself and to strengthen my immune system but she said it is better not to do any detox etc as it might interfere with the process of killing cancer cells. So it is all very confusing. I read somewhere on this site that taking probiotics can help but the advice here is that taking food with live bacteria should be avoided. I bought Magnesium cream in case I have some problems with my skin and am going to vanish my nails as it might help to protect them too but my chemo is much more intensive than yours as I understand). Keep laxatives. Have ginger in my fridge (for sickness and mouth issues). Hope I won't need any of it. If you have enough strength, let me know how are you getting on. Which part of UK do you live in? I am in Worcester but my first chemo is in Kidderminster. Oncology centre for operations is in Cheltenham, I believe. I wonder if anyone has the same team here and if treatment depends only on someone's personal circumstances or sometimes on medical approaches xxx

[polo2014 in reply to BeliGolub]

Hi beligolub I’m in Liverpool we’re pretty lucky really we have a few cancer centres here I’m going for pre asssessment tomorrow nerves are starting to set in now but all will be good I’m sure .hope all go’s well for you x