Help! after 3rd chemo session i was fine but just had fourth session and have been sick, tired, shivering and generally feeling rough is

[nikki9]

this normal ?

[Hidden]

Hi Nikki,

Get in touch with your chemo dept. It probably is fine; but better safe than leave it! Remember, chemo attacks your immune system, so if you've picked up an infection, you probably need help to fight it.

Wishing you the very best,

Isadora.

[Jane]

Hi Nikki - I felt rough after my second chemo but my 4th was unbelievable, I thought I was going to die! I was post surgery too though. It's worth getting checked out but if you are told you don't have an infection you should be alrght in few days. I expected 5 and 6 to be bad after 4 was such a killer but they were the same at the earlier ones so there's no reason why you should feel as rough next time if you are having more. Good luck, Jane

[Meryl]

Hi Nikki

Sorry your not feeling so good. As Isadora says it may be an infection, but it may also be the cumulative effects of the chemo. In the last two years I've had two full courses of chemo and each time after the first 2 or 3 sessions the side effects have kicked in, getting progressively worse to the end.

I have found that my amazing nurses and doctors have medication that can dramatically reduce these effects. My life long aversion to taking drugs, unless it was absolutely necessary, has been overtaken by my need to feel as well as I can and I take whatever is offered. Occasionally things havn't worked but there's always an alternative and sometimes it's taken a few weeks to get it right.

Suffering side effects, apart from the physical aspect, lowers my motivation to get well again, distresses my nearest and dearest and constantly reminds me that I have this horrible cancer - so I take the pills. I'm about to start my 3 course of chemo and I'll do the same again if necessary.

Good luck with your treatment and I hope you soon start to feel better.

Meryl XXXXX

[janbeegee]

Hi Nikki

It's worth getting checked out but my experience (after 7 chemos) is that it's cumulative. There's little to overcome the tiredness but there's a solution to most other side effects (like anti-emetics for the sickness) so get advice on how to counter them. Hugs and good luck with the rest of your treatment. Janbeegee

[RuthPOvacome]

Dear Nikki

I am one of the support line nurses at Ovacome. I would totalling agree with the others who have replied, that it is really important you get in touch with the hospital urgently - which I hope that by now you have managed to. It may be an infection and that needs to be excluded. I do hope that you are feeling better soon and if we can be of nay support do give us a ring in the Ovacome office

Best Wishes

Ruth