Feel so ill with 3rd chemo round 😫

[Kazzh]

I am feeling really sorry for myself I'm going to be honest, this is so tough. 3rd round was 6 days ago, and I don't know what to do with myself. I feel low & tearful. I don't know what to eat or drink, go from hot to freezing cold & every part of me hurts. Just want to feel better 🙏

[Doggies221]

Kazzh, hang in there and keep in mind that the chemo drugs have an effect on the brain and cause anxiety and depression, after chemo is over your brain will balance out, also, keep in mind that scientifically there is no proof that any more than 3 rounds of standard chemo are beneficial for clear cell. The standard chemo works best on HRD cancer cells. I don’t know if docs would be able to test your tumor to see if it’s hrd positive which would make it more chemo sensitive and you’ll know if it’s worth it to keep taking chemo or not. Also, there are tests out there that test to see if tumor cells respond to particular chemo drugs before a patient subjects themselves to all the pains and harms of chemo. Just ideas for you to explore. My best💕

[Kazzh in reply to Doggies221]

Thanks for replying, I just needed a boost. Looking out the window, with rain chucking down just made it all worse. My nurse will call me Friday after the MDT meeting as I had my scan Tuesday. I will ask lots of questions then, I guess they will know more once they operate too. Feeling bit better after a bath & will get to bed soon with my book xx

[Lyndy]

Oh Kazzh I sympathise so much! But you must get some help. Ring your acute oncology line and tell them how you are feeling (they may not want to know if you don’t have a temperature). Then ask your GP or better still the nurse at your GP to see you with a view to getting rid of the pain at least! They might also check if you have an infection somewhere as you are going hot and cold. The trick to getting a GP appointment is to tell the receptionist you are on chemo and need urgent help.

Try any food you feel you could fancy but in very small amounts, don’t overface yourself with a full meal. Check you haven’t got mouth thrush it makes everything taste revolting.

You will get through this! It won’t be long now as the chemo leaves your system around about day 4.

Big hugs xx

[SuffolkJen]

Oh Kazzh I’m so sorry you are having such a rotten time. I too remember not knowing what to do with myself with the pains in my limbs. I did find that hot baths with Epsom salts did ease the pain for a while.

I didn’t have any eating issues but would agree with others saying have just a little of what you fancy when you fancy it.

You should definitely seek medical advice with the hot/cold feelings just to be on the safe side.

I found that cycles 1-3 were much harder than cycles 4-6 which I tolerated much better hopefully 🤞 you will find this too!

Hang on in there you are halfway through you’ve done soo well thus far. It really does come to an end although when you are in the eye of the storm it may not feel that way.

I hope ur feeling better soon xx Jen

[Kazzh]

Thanks Jen, I'd run out of Epsom Salts, but my mum dropped some round & I've relaxed a bit with a bath this evening. I hope the next 3 cycles are better 🙏 I will know Friday if surgery is going ahead next, had my scan yesterday 🤞xxx

[Emcee71]

Everybody's given you great advice so I won't add anything other than to send strength. You can do this, with the right help XX

[Lind58]

thinking of you ♥️🙏🏽

[Mintybiscuit]

Kazzh, I found the week after chemo very hard, especially the first 3 cycles. But then my chemo was reduced due to the bad side effects (neutropenia and leg pain) and it became more tolerable. Don’t give yourself a hard time for feeling low and tearful. It’s inevitable you will have hours/days like this during chemo. But there will be better days. Thinking of you.

[Lizzieanne]

Hello Kazzh so sorry to read your post but just to say I feel exactly the same. This is my third lot of carbo on recurrence, having had a respite of two years, and it is taking nearly the full three weeks to feel sort of ok. Have told my onc and they have reduced the strength, have had about five good days but my 4th day is awful, and my usua lcry to my husband is why am I doing this. I am very luck y to have him he takes over the running of our home completely and looking after me. I am off in a minute for my third treatment. Just wanted to say you are not alone and we will get through this.

[Mysticmeg123]

Hi Kazzh. I truly know how awful this feeling is. The 3rd chemo was my worst session. I thought it would never get better but I promise you it does. My nurses said it is always the 3rd session that drags you down. But, remember the chemo is doing its job and getting rid of the cancer so you need to just tell yourself that the discomfort and misery is worth it! I could not eat because everything tasted metallic and salty so I had a wonderful diet of fresh fruit and vegetable juices which really helped me to stay balanced. Try using a hot water bottle - for some reason it really helped me to feel comforted. I know how hard this is, but, please keep going. This does get better. Sending you best wishes x

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Dear Kazzh

Thank you for your post. I’m so sorry to hear how ill and low you have been feeling following your third round of chemotherapy treatment. I can see that you’ve had lots of responses from the forum community which I hope you’ve found helpful.

I just wanted to echo what several forum members have suggested about getting in touch with your clinical team. Your CNS, 24/7 chemotherapy helpline or GP should be able to offer you some personalised advice regarding these post-treatment challenges. NHS guidance on chemotherapy side effects advises to ‘Contact your care team immediately if you have any symptoms of an infection, these include: a temperature of above 37.5C or below 36C, your skin feels warm to touch, or you feel hot and shivery’.

In addition, I wanted to let you know that the Ovacome support team are here for you if you would like to talk things through. You can message us directly here on the forum, email [e-mail] or call our friendly support line on 0800 008 7054. We’re here Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm, to help with questions, provide information resources and details of other services, or just to chat about whatever may be on your mind.

I really hope you begin to feel better soon.

Best wishes

Annie – Ovacome Support

[Kblaisel]

Take loratadine (Claritin). It helps with bone and nerve pain.

[Kazzh in reply to Kblaisel]

Thank you for this suggestion. A few people have suggested this. I take cetirizine (Zyrtec) 30mg a day for allergies, have been on it for years, so could ask my GP to change it but I'm worried about adding to side effects as Im so sensitive to everything it seems!

[Barmycharm]

Hi Kazzh

Just to say I’m feeling your pain as experiencing exactly the same right now. I’ve nearly finished cycle 6 of gem/ carbo for first recurrence and these last few few days I’ve hit rock bottom.

I’ve pushed through the past 6 months of non stop treatment side effects reactions hospital stays and visits and I think my body and mind are just saying they’ve had enough!! It’s neither wonder is it, after all the physical and emotional pain that chemo brings with it?!

Sending love and hugs, you are not alone in this

Claire xx

[Leniko]

I’m so sorry. Chemo is miserable. Try to eat whatever is appealing. If Advil doesn’t kill your pain, tell your doc you need pain meds.

It’s ok to cry for yourself. I certainly have. Try to do anything that gives you joy, makes you laugh. A massage? A facial? A haircut? I had to keep telling myself, “it’s time limited, and I Will feel good again!” Thinking of you. 🙏❤️

[FlowerRose]

Oh no! We have all felt your exact same pain! I'm so sorry you're feeling this. I send you all my love from Los Angeles.