When should chemo restart post interval debulking surgery?

[Kazzh]

Hello ladies

I am almost 5 weeks post surgery now and my consultant is happy to restart me on chemo now. Just wondered what experiences others have had in terms of coping with the ongoing recovery & chemo side effects.

Thank you 🤗

[Tallulah55]

hi

I had debulking last summer early June and was really struggling to keep to the schedule of the next chemo as Felt I needed more time to recover. However I did go ahead and although the chemo was challenging o got through it and in September started my phased return to work!

we’re all different of course but it is possible 🙏

[Kazzh in reply to Tallulah55]

That's great to hear & so glad you're doing well, long may it continue xx

[SuffolkJen]

Hi Kazzh

I actually had 9 weeks from op to starting chemo. This was because mine was an unexpected diagnosis so 4 weeks passed for pathology results then a couple of weeks having various appointments with consultant and oncologist.

I then had all 6 adjuvant chemos every 3 weeks for 18 weeks.

I found that hard enough to deal with but I understand that my case was the exception to the rule.

I hope you are recovering well and the rest of your treatment goes smoothly xx Jen

[Bookclublover]

Hi, I had primary debulking followed by 6 rounds of chemo. They said chemo would start 3 weeks post OP, it turned out to be 4. Obviously I wasn’t fully recovered from 5 hour surgery but it was fine. I’d had chemo for breast cancer 15 years earlier and the chemo post debulk was no more difficult.

Good luck! ❤️

[Earlyrun]

I started chemo 2 weeks after 6 1/2 hours surgery. It was very tough and knocked me on my arse. I could have delayed it , but I just wanted to get on with it and get the chemo over and done with. I'm impatience and want to get back to normal life . Had my last chemo a week ago and I'm doing really well and planning on returning to work at the end of the month. Good Luck

[Kazzh in reply to Earlyrun]

Wow that was brave! No way I could have done that at 2 weeks, I felt dreadful then. Well done though for getting this far 👏 & I hope good health continues for you 🙏. I restarted chemo Thursday, 5 weeks post surgery, feels about right x

[Craftysue54]

Hi Kazzh,I am 5 days off my last cycle of chemo post debulking surgery. I restarted the chemo 5 weeks after surgery because of complications.

The chemo has been really hard for me post surgery, harder than it was prior to surgery. The side effects, and I have had many! have been longer lasting and stronger than before, but I am hypersensitive to the Paxitaxel and I think that has also had a cumulative effect.

I have also had additional surgical nerve pains which have been aggravated by the chemo especially near my diaphram and wound they were unexpected by me, not so the oncology team. They were bearable but just came as a surprise when my wound was actually feeling fine before chemo restarted.

I have been a bit shocked how weak I've felt, but saying that I'm glad the chemo was restarted when it was as I have now completed the course and am actually feeling OK today and am looking forward getting stronger everyday.

[Kazzh in reply to Craftysue54]

Glad you got through it & are coming out the other side 🙌 great news! We should always be so proud of ourselves & kind to ourselves for going through such tough times . I had my chemo Thursday, also 5 weeks post surgery as it felt right. Side effects kicking in slowly, praying they are kind to me as I get everything going aswell 🙏 ❤️ xx

[Emcee71 in reply to Kazzh]

How are you doing Kazzh?

I've just done Chemo 4. Bit brutal and feels different to the first 3 but bearing up OK. I had a few ups and downs before this one meaning it was delayed by 2 weeks, so maybe it's that. Anyway hope you're OK

Emily X

[Kazzh in reply to Emcee71]

Hi EmilyYou & me both, I did round 4 Thursday & feeling pretty rough. Tbh its my stomach issues as I had severe diarrhea after needing antibiotics in A & E, & now gone to constipation with chemo, its been 4 days & everything hurts! 😩 oh the joys! Hope it was nothing serious that delayed your chemo? 🙏

How are you feeling? Xx

[Emcee71 in reply to Kazzh]

Oh god you poor thing! The constipation is really the pits. Assume you're doing everything you can ... though sometimes it feels impossible to keep it all in balance doesn't it? Poor you!

I don't think it is anything that I should be worried about, it's so hard to tell really. eg stabby aches in my joints, which I have got periodically all my life, and a temperature spike, a wee infection, pelvic pain, I'm just trying not to worry and continuing with the chemo, then at last I can have a scan.

Sorry to hear you're going through the wringer with it, keep up the good work and fingers crossed you feel better soon!

x

[Kazzh in reply to Emcee71]

Yes trying everything. I will get through it. It's just horrid right now. I have hopefully just 2 more to go 🙏 is that the same for you? Keep going strong, we'll get there xx

[Emcee71 in reply to Kazzh]

We will do Kazzh. Yes 2 more. We can do this! xx

[Craftysue54 in reply to Emcee71]

Hi Emcee71 and Kazzh,

My Chemo 4 cycle was really difficult. I'm not sure why. I don't know if it was the longer gap because of surgery, that was my theory. The joint pains were really bad, but thankfully, they were less on cycles 5 and 6. As I mentioned in my earlier reply, the abdo pains were much worse than my pre-surgery chemos, but on a positive have not been quite so bad this round.

Hopefully, you will both be the same and side effects will be less and you will start feeling better soon. sending positive get-well thoughts, stay strong, be kind to yourselves.

We can get through this.

XX

[Kazzh in reply to Craftysue54]

Thanks Sue, so pleased to hear this 🙏❤️

[Emcee71 in reply to Craftysue54]

Thanks Sue, I had all my chemo post surgery only starting after a 9 week gap so I feel very pathetic to be honest. Kazzh is the real warrior amongst the two of us! Glad to hear you're doing OK x

[Kazzh in reply to Emcee71]

We are ALL warriors, it is so traumatic going through cancer, never underestimate how well you are coping Emily 🥰 xx

[Leniko]

Hi Kazzh- I think it was six weeks after my diagnosis that I started the CARBO/TAXOL regimen every three weeks for six treatments. Hope this is helpful. Good luck to you.

[Kazzh]

👍xx