How did you feel that chemo is working?

[Inguc_is]

Do you have any feeling that chemo is working due recurrance? Mom have 1st chemo before there was some like elctric in abdomen but now she said there is silent… what do u think that mean it will work? And also how did u get up red levels? Hemoglobin after 1st chemo is from138 down no 116

[organicinna]

About if chemo working or not is difficult question. I just fell side effects all over my body an tummy with carbo platin 1st line. Now after recurrence am on Caelyx, i don't feel anything and side effects is very mild . All chemo's stays in blood stream first week giving some kind of sensations but after that flashed out and evaporate . But there is no way to know if its working or not till after scans and bloods.....i think

[Tillymint61]

I sense your desperation. Chemo works away silently. No pain or sensations or side effects does not mean it is not working. We all drive ourselves mad thinking like this because we can't see it. We have a simple choice, to believe it is working and carry on or to give into continual worrying that it us not and make our lives miserable.

It works for some so why should your Mum not be one of them. Stay positive.

Worrying is exhausting. In this case

'NO PAIN DOES NOT MEAN NO GAIN'

If you wobbly in your positivity come back here for a reminder.😀👍

[bamboo89]

I had no pain during chemo specifically related to where the cancer was, but I did have body pains because chemo can aggravate arthritis, as well as other side effects from the body reacting because its effectively had a dose of poison and that affects healthy cells as well as cancer cells. I only knew it was working by the fall in the CA125 marker after the second treatment, and the mid chemo scan. If a woman has symptoms from her cancer prior to chemo, she may notice they lessen during chemo - for instance, I had ascites when I had the first lot of chemo 18 months ago, and that disappeared after the second dose, but if you have no obvious symptoms of the cancer, there's nothing to notice. Try not to worry - you will find out soon enough over time if its effective or not.

EDIT - I see you've asked another question where you say your mum's CA125 has fallen after the first dose - this is a sign that the chemo is working.

Miriam

[Inguc_is in reply to bamboo89]

Thank you 🙏🏼