help needed!

[ORGM]

I would really appreciate any advice! My mum had her first round of paclitaxel and carboplatin on Thursday (stage 3c ovarian cancer, radical hysterectomy). Tolerated the treatment well, day 3 today and experiencing muscle and joint pain. Taken paracetamol and no temperature. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you x

[Lyndy]

Hello, I think you should ring her chemo line for advice. They can dispense heavy duty painkillers for her if need be. She should have a number to ring and it’s 24/7 you can ring anytime for advice and they want you to ring rather than suffer.

Hope she feels a bit better soon xx

[ORGM in reply to Lyndy]

Thank you x

[candyapplegrey]

Is your Mum having the filgrastim injections? They gave me very bad back pain but the pain goes once you've finished the course. Or it could be filgastrim? I have a block on that name. Good luck to you both! xx

[ORGM in reply to candyapplegrey]

Mum has some aches before the injection but definitely worse since and I read it’s a side effect. They have said for her to continue with the injections she has 5 left. Thank you x

[Voyager3]

Hi I would phone her chemo nurse and let them know. They may want to tweak her next treatment. I was on the same combination treatment and had to phone my chemo nurse. Don’t be worried to phone them. They are there to help you

All the best to you and your mum x

[ORGM in reply to Voyager3]

I have spoken to the help line and the Gp on call as it’s a bank holiday. Thank you for your advice x

[Demelzatheseagull]

I had really bad bone ache after my first chemo that no amount of paracetamol or ibuprofen would touch. It lasted for about 4 days. My cancer team prescribed strong painkillers but, after that first time, it never happened again. Good luck to your mum x

[Numi]

That is quite common with this treatment, and hopefully should wear off in a day or so. I found a borrowed TENS machine helpful with the pain, but it stopped happening after the second treatment, and subsequent treatments were trouble free.

[ORGM]

Thank you so much xx

[Popmil]

Hi,I was on the same cocktail let your CNS know. Tell your mum, I felt exactly the same, listen to your body rest as much as possible & be kind to yourself xx

Wishing mum all the best xx

[OrdinarySoul]

My oncologist tweaked the strength of one of the drugs after the first treatment gave me really painful legs, ankles and feet. It got more tolerable definitely- no painkillers touched it though (they said it could be nerve pain) alternating warm and cold compresses gave some relief xx

[ORGM in reply to OrdinarySoul]

Thank you so much x

[StilCrazy]

HiI was fine for 5 days post each chemo and then very sore for 3 days and then it improved. My first round was the worst because then the biggest amount of tumour tissue has to die off and be reabsorbed. If it was a tumour on your skin you would be watching it rot away and the side effects would make sense to your mind. However, because you can't watch the process we imagine the cancer cells just evaporate. They don't!The dying cancer cells causes pain and inflammation so celebrate the pain (the sun is on its way)

I also got shingles after first chemo and it attacked my lumbar spinal nerves. That was a shooting ache down my back and perianal blisters with it. Watch out for shingles. Very common with chemo. Very sore. I took Lyrica for that pain.

The second chemo was sore but less so. By the 3rd the tumours were invisible on CT and the last 4 rounds were not sore at all. I was on one dose of filigrastin each time.

Don't be shy to ask for a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug and add lyrica for nerve pain and an opioid if you are desperate.

Hair will fall out in the next week or two. Support your mom with that. It is upsetting but I grew to love it. No more waxing. You feel like a 10 yr old. So clean. The loss of eyebrows and eyelashes is upsetting. Get ready with eyebrow pencils and nice Indian turbans. I found wigs very uncomfortable.

Much love

[ORGM in reply to StilCrazy]

Thank you so much x

[Trea3]

I took antihistamines with my chemo. Just the Tesco one a day ones. That really did help. They probably gave her an IV dose of them. Xx

[ORGM in reply to Trea3]

Thank you so much x

[marmay88o]

Hi Lyndy,

Sorry to hear about your mom's diagnosis. [edited by moderator]. I was dignosed 5 years ago. Cancer came back 3 years later. Now I'm in remission. Chaga and Turkey tail help me through journey. Also celery juice first thing in the morning and not drink liquid for 20 minutes helps me with my stomach issues. Pure miracle. None of the prescriptions helped. [I] stay away from sugar [edited by moderator]. I hoped this helps. Hope she feels better soon.

[ORGM in reply to marmay88o]

Thank you so much x

[ORGM]

Thank you for all your wonderful messages, really helpful! The pain eased and mum now feels much better in herself. Oncology review by the CNS today and the paclitaxel will be reduced to 70% for the next chemo session. Hopefully Mum won’t have the terrible pain 🤞 Thank you x

[Worrieddaughter95]

heat pad or hot water bottle x