Hi ladies
just about to start chemo , as usual my thoughts are going mad !!!! Did you find you stayed in a lot and did not mix outside , I really still want to go places and see my daughter at dance comps , I know things won’t be a walk in the park but I’m trying to keep things as “normal “ as possible. Am I expecting too much ??? I have a friend who has been through this 10 years ago and to be honest she is telling the worst !!!!!
The good thing is that your friend is still here to pass on her advice but 10 years is a long time & treatment has improved. I had a few rough days each treatment where I just decided to chill but a lot of fairly normal days where I could have gone out with friends but my treatment was through lockdown so I made the most of my garden 😂 You will manage what you can but important to look after yourself ! Take care , big hugs DeeX
As said things have moved on. Even 6 years ago I did everything as normal through chemo except the skiing holiday. I still worked , went out, saw friends etc. The treatments from session 4 were harder but still did not stop me from doing the usual stuff. I know treatment affects some more than others but please do not put your life on hold if you do not need to.
In order to make me feel even better I treated myself with each session , from a watch I had lusted after for years to other stuff that I thought why wait - I deserve it now 😁
Best wishes
Fay
You might want to get yourself some good quality FFP2 face masks for when your immunity is low. They protect you in shops, public transport and medical waiting rooms!
But I agree that chemo is generally pretty do-able these days. You must follow the rules though, so if you do get a temperature spike you must report it to your team. xx
Good morning! I wish you the best as you begin chemo.
I didn’t stay in all the time during my chemo. I went out and did pretty much what I wanted to do, within reason of course. I did go out of town for a wedding and the reception was held at a buffet. I shouldn’t have probably done that because when returning home, I ended up in the hospital with neutropenia and had to hav shots to bring my counts back up. I pulled through that pretty good though. I would have fun and just use common sense….wearing a mask when in large gatherings, etc.
Good luck! ❤️
Hi Caz, sesh 1 and 2 were okish...just had sesh 3 and wiped me out. Took me over a week to get over this time. Its such an individual thing, everyone reacts differently. My friend was totally wiped out with sesh 1 and then sailed through the rest with no issues at all. The best advice I can give is rest if it makes you tired, drink plenty of water! Chemo totally dehydrated me. On good days get out and about but defo avoid big crowds or wear a mask for at least a week after your session as your immunity will drop. Good luck and let us all know how you get on x
Hi
I had chemo once every 3 weeks for 6 sessions. My Week 1s I stayed at home, that was only because I got constipation It was my own fault, I should have taken more laxatives. However Weeks 2 and 3, I was carrying on as normal and socializing. I wore a face mask because your immune protection will drop whilst having chemo.
Love and hugs.
Beth x
I found days 5-7 ish were the worst ones for me from memory; was fine just after and the steroids definitely help with that. I found it useful to keep a note of various symptoms as it helped to see a pattern and also recorded my temp etc and if I had to take any ad hoc meds such as laxatives-it helped as a reminder too as the nurses will ask you at your next session.
I went out and about as and when I wanted to but it was also pre-Covid so didn’t have that additional worry; I didn’t have any colds or infections during treatment.
The other thing is just don’t be a hero, the medical team don’t want you to feel rough and want you to feel and be as well as possible. Certainly with things like nausea, it’s much easier to combat that than stop someone being sick.
Hope you’ve got a good chemo bag packed and enjoy the Piriton nap x
Hi Cazy
10 years is a long time ago in terms of chemo and there have been many advances in helping women to deal with the treatments. Take it one bit at a time and assume the best…a lot of the women I know have cooed well with chemo, having a few very tired days in each cycle but otherwise being able to get out and about as usual. Your immune system will be compromised though, so be careful to avoid any situation where you could catch bugs, germs, virus type things. It’’ll set back your treatment if you have to have a break. I hope that it’s do-able for you.
Love Wendy xx
although it’s been 7 long years since I finished my 6 month chemo (carbo/taxol) regimen, I very much remember my recovery from chemo day.
Days 3-5 were the toughest. Nausea, diarrhea, and all over fatigue and weakness and no appetite whatsoever. Days 5-24 were fine. Felt as normal as can be except for constipation and beginning neuropathy symptoms. Energy coming back! Still finding good and water to taste metallic. Days 25-30/31. The best! I could eat anything except spicy foods. Energy fine although a nap was always welcome.
I recommend keeping products like Ensure on hand for those days solid foods were not something you want to do. Pedialite is great, to help you to stay hydrated. Hugs, Jill
Everyone reacts differently. You can count on fatigue however but most of us go ahead and take naps and go about our lives. Nausea is no longer an issue but make sure you have anti nausea meds in case. Neuropathy is also a common side effect and this site has lots of helpful ways to mitigate it. I take homeopathic drugs ... good luck
I think things will go better in reality than they are in your head. On chemo I tend to not make plans for the few days after but otherwise lead a fairly normal life, going out, meeting up with people. Depends on your body's reaction of course but also I found that I did better when I had family/ friends to see and other distractions rather than spending too much time in my bedroom and dwelling on the symptoms.
Hope it goes well for you.
Martine xxx
Hi, chemo is cumulative but even as the sessions go on you will still have really good days when life is ‘normal’. Rest when you need to, don’t push yourself too much when you are feeling good and you will get thru chemo. I’m here is my 16th year. Everyone is different and react differently to chemo, like anything really. Just be kind to yourself and if help is offered, even on the good days, take that help, learn to be a bit selfish and out yourself first and you will get there. X
It is scary but the unknown often is! I got through taxol/carbo and avastin with only a few aches, a bit tired and going bald. I didn't even feel sick, but was given three days of drugs after each treatment, and took them, though one gave me constipation so stopped that as I soon as I realised. Didn't have much choice about going out as I was diagnosed a few weeks before lockdown, but did go for walks and spoke to friends and family at the end of my garden path! I worked at home except on the treatment days as they took so long. Chemo was a chance to get out and talk to people! Later I was on caelyx/carbo, but again was fine and went to work everyday except for my treatment day.
Everyone reacts so differently, chemos change and there are more things to fight any side effects that you may have. Your friend's experiences aren't yours and it was years ago! I have one friend in particular who whenever we get together just wants to talk about cancer and all the people she knows who are now dead! I try to avoid her.
Good luck. Stay positive and, when possible, lead a normal life. Let us know how you get on. xx
one day at a time. You may have fatigue and hair loss depending on the chemo. I used a wig and turbans. Live your life and tell your friend she’s not helping.
I’ve been on chemo 4 times now, and though I’ve taken reasonable precautions, such as avoiding people who are sick, I haven’t stopped doing my usual activities. I have been lucky not to suffer severe side effects. The first time I was on chemo, I socialised in small groups more than ever before as I wasn’t working. The second time I worked for half the treatment, then when my employer said I wasn’t fit to work, I devoted my time to organising my daughter’s wedding, and thoroughly enjoying the day itself, and was whisked off to Disneyland Paris by my family as soon as I finished chemo. The third time, because of Covid, I did avoid things like crowded theatres, and this last time, I just carried on with my life. I don’t know how much of it I’ve got left, and intend to enjoy myself as much as possible. My recommendation is to listen to your body, and do what feels right for you.
I have had 1st and 2nd line chemo. Best thing I can say is take it one day at a time. Yes you will probably feel really tired and may get some other side effects but they affect us all differently. The first few days are usually the worst but they normally ease, I used to plan trips out/ going out with friends for the last week before the next round. You will find your own way and we bunch are always here for you!
Katy
I had a rough week each cycle but the rest of the time I did everything I wanted to. If you get low neutrophils you might wear a mask. Xx
Chemo is awful. I am involved in a clinical trial and had chemo last Wednesday. The chemo I am on causes fatigue and fevers, I had 3 days of fevers I don't fee; awful, but I have no energy. It does improve. Wishing you well.
Hi Cazy. Some great advice on here for you from everyone. You will always hear stories on both ends of the spectrum so take them with a grain of salt. Just remember that OC is different for all of us and so is the treatment and side effects. You'll just have to see how it goes for you. Keep a journal so you can see if there is a pattern for you but as my oncologist said, the next chemo can be the same, worse or better!! Not much help haha so just take one day at a time. Sending hugs xxx
Live your life as normally as you can. Make sure you take all the anti sickness tablets . The secret is planning. For the first two days after you are completely wired from the steroids and then you crash down with tiredness. After each session I had coffee and cake on the way home and counted down tthe sessions. I went back to work after two sessions and most people didn’t know . I made sure I worked from home the week of the sessions and managed my time that way. At the end I thought it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would have been, I told the oncologist that and she said most people say that to her. You will be fine as long as you go in positive. Remember every session is one off the list. Good luck.
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