Hey lovely ladies, just need some cheering up and support. Had my third chemo last week and it has absolutely ruined me! I am so tired, dizzy, thrush all in my mouth really struggling to function. I have checked in with the nurses just to make sure I'm ok but so shocked at how ill I feel considering the first two sessions went ok. Did anyone else feel like this on the third?
TIA
Jo x
Oh no poor you! Chemo is cumulative, so side effects can become more severe or come on suddenly.
I think what this is telling you is that chemo is having an effect on your body… working on those cancer cells. Your job is to give in gracefully, watch your way through daytime telly and tell yourself that this isn’t going to last forever… you will feel better very soon.
Make sure you take any meds you have been prescribed, don’t put up with thrush, get it treated.
We all get to that bit where sleeping a lot and feeling a bit sorry for yourself is all you can do…better times ahead for sure! xx
hi bunnyj I have no experience to offer you but I just wanted to send lots of healing thoughts and hugs xxx
Thank you ❤
Hi Bunnyj, Lyndy's right; the effects are cumulative. I always felt worst on the 3rd day after chemo but it seemed to take longer and longer to recover after that with each round. But recover I did and so will you ☺ Keep plodding on, be kind and patient with yourself, and remember there's light at the end of the tunnel and we're all supporting you x
Thank you so much, you ladies really do help me keep going x
Hi! I’m so sorry you’re having a hard time. 🥲When I had chemo in 2019, all I had was 3 treatments. They do accumulate in your body so I can understand how ur feeling. My third one was worse as well.
I hope you can get on too soon! 😊
Thank you, most people are saying the third is the worse x
Hi Bunnyj Lindy is so right keep remembering it’s only temporary and the chemo is doing a fantastic job and even though you’re feeling battered just think how much more battering the cancer cells are getting. When all the chemo is finished you will feel more like your old self and you would have succeeded in accomplishing that hurdle. All I did was watch Netflix too, relax in my garden, slept and drank plenty of water. You will be the other side of it before you know it 🤗
Thank you ❤
Hi Jo,Hang in there. Chemo is a bit of a balancing act between what will blitz the naughty cells and what the other bits of us can tolerate so your immune system is struggling. And I remember getting oral thrush and thinking ' oh really??' On top of the nausea, constipation etc, seemed too unfair. But it's very temporary and worth going through to get to the better days.
Best wishes
Martine xx
Thank you ❤
hi Bunny. Sorry you are feeling so low. Just to reassure that it is quite common to get the full effects of chemo as you progress through the treatment. I recall my 3rd session being the worst. I was totally laid out and my bloods crashed. I had one week off treatment and thereafter it was so much better. Chemo is never great but as someone has already said it’s a sign that it’s killing the cancer. Just give in to the fatigue and sleep as much as you need. Don’t try and push through. Your body will tell you when it’s ready to kick star your energy. Hang in there. It does get better I promise.
Thank you ❤
Hi BunnyJ, I can't really remember when my side effects started, but I know exactly where you're coming from, as I also had oral thrush and even had a fungal infection under my big toe nails!! I defo used to have a wallow and feel sorry for myself, had a cry then dusted myself off ready to carry on until the next meltdown! But please don't suffer in silence and talk to your medical team as that's what they're there for and take any meds they offer you to help combat those side effects. Wishing you all the best xx
Thank you ❤
Totally agree with everything that has been said! Keep strong , watch TV, when the weather warms up sit in the garden with a book etc and rest as much as possible. Get a friend to take you out to coffee or lunch. I am 71 and after 18months, first line chemo, failed maintenance, further spread and 2nd line chemo and now Niraparib I am back to work and walking my dog 10,000 steps a day. I had some side effects including mouth ulcers, I only mentioned it once to my specialist but was given a mouth wash. Hang in there! Sending very best wishes. Katy
Your amazing! Thank you ❤
what wonderful words of wisdom from our teal ladies. I would just doublecheck on the Mayo clinic website that dizziness is aside effect of the meds you are taking ad discuss again with your CNS. But perhaps it has passed by now. I have done oralthrush while on breast. Cancer chemo.not nice but now 20. Years ago and am doing well,with OC. I think each chemo dose is an individual ride and that is how your third may prove to be. You will get through it. Good luck, Emma x
Thank you ❤
I remember at the start , one of the nurses warning me the third would be the worst . Hopefully you are halfway now . Keep meticulous with the mouth hygiene .
Hope you feel better soon
Jennifer
Thank you ❤
Hi Jo. Unfortunately chemo is cumulative so how your feeling is not unusual, in fact I was the same. Be kind to yourself, rest as much as you can and try to remember that this won’t last forever. There will come a time when you will look back and wonder how you coped but you will. Sending you best wishes x
Thank you ❤
Hi Jo, you can do this, we're all behind you so enjoy the rest from work and listen to your body, you'll soon be on the mend. Until then be kind to yourself, sending you a 🤗.
Thank you, sending hugs your way too x
Hard to remember 7 years ago now over 90 infusions but I remember nurses were clear about fatigue and urged me to go ahead and sleep all day if I wanted or needed to plus lots of water. Dizziness and thrush no. They may want to reduce dose. Be assertive about getting help. It's OK to be needy and worried. Good luck
Thank you ❤
Hi Bunnyj, as others have said the side effects can become cumulative as the treatment goes on. I used to say to myself that I’m halfway through now and there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Plan something nice for yourself at the end of chemo 6 and it will give you something to look forward to and count those sessions down, you will get there, best wishes xx
Thank you ❤
So sorry you are having a hard time right now. My Dr said baking soda with salt and warm water, swish it around your mouth 3 times a day. It helped me, pray it helps you too.
Thank you, will try that ❤
yes, unfortunately. Each treatment comes w added side effects. Try to remember it’s time- limited. I know it’s hard when you’re mid-treatment. If the side-effects become intolerable, tell the doc. Praying for you! 🙏
Thank you ❤
Hi Jo, as all of the other ladies said you just have to rest when your body tells you. I am not sure if your chemo is every 3 weeks, if it is, the first two days you will probably feel ok if you are on steroids, but then you may just write off the next week where you will most likely feel like shite. Then after that you will start to feel a bit more normal & I found the 6 chemo's flew in. We all react differently & some unfortunately get a really tough time. What really helped me was we had booked a holiday abroad before I was diagnosed and we didn't cancel it because it helped me focus on getting through the chemo & then the holiday was my reward at the end of it. I was bald going & 10 days after chemo finished off we went. It was great to get away, to feel normal just for a little while & all I did was rest. So treat yourself, book a holiday & then you have something to look forward too when you are feeling down. You are half way through now & hopefully the next 3 wont be quite as bad 🙏
Hi, thank you. I have Paclitaxel and carboplatin every 3 weeks and seems like it hits me on day 3 and lasts a week now. I've actually just booked 10 days in greece about a month after my chemo finishes as I defo need something to look forward to Thank you x
Lots of sensible advice from others already. It does get worse before it gets better. When I was covered in itchy spots, felt sick and exhausted, developed mouth ulcers,couldn't sleep or concentrate on anything I thought I must be the only one suffering this much but we all go through it and by week 3 we feel much better. I developed new side effects every cycle which was a challenge but I found pottering in the garden helped and I also started a Duolingo course. This is not difficult and becomes quite addictive. Its repetitive approach and the rewards for minor successes keep you on track and it certainly passes the time and takes your mind off the cancer. Plan for what you will do once you feel better and you will feel more optimistic. Best wishes and a gold star for perseverance! After eight cycles of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel my cancer was almost defeated so it is definitely worth it.
Thank you, will defo look at the duolingo as I have always wanted to learn Spanish. ❤
Thank you, will defo look at the duolingo as I have always wanted to learn Spanish. ❤
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