Over a 5 year period I had two lots of 6 x carboplatin/taxol which were effective both times, although I was left with neuropathy in my feet. When I needed chemo again at the beginning of this year my Onc chose for me to have Carboplatin only, again with good results in that the tumours, which were now in 3 of my abdominal lymph nodes, shrunk back down to normal size. However, since my chemo ended in July I have gradually developed pain in my sacral joints and in one and now both shoulders. I also have intermittent pain in my finger joints. My GP sent me for xrays which proved normal, but would only have shown bone abnormalities I presume. He has now put it down to inflamation for which he prescribed high-dose ibuprofen, but that does not seem to be helping.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar as a possible after-effect of chemo? I feel a bit embarrassed in that every time I see my Onc for my 3 month check I invariably have another pain somewhere or other which I feel I ought to mention. I see him again on Dec 12th and dont know whether to mention this latest lot to him - I feel such a hypochondriac! I also now seem to get stomach ache every time I eat which is not normal for me. Last night I woke in the early hours with thoughts that the cancer might be rampaging undetected all the way round my body, although now in the light of day I feel my normal optimistic self again.
Psychological issues?
Halfway through, cold cap and scan results
Chemo side effects tips
Hi Patsy,
I understand just what you are saying! The early hours are very fertile for the gremlins to start nagging! I also have had pain and strains in every set of muscles and every tendon in my body since the hysterectomy and chemo. I refused Taxol, which is implicated more often in neuropathy, and which a friend had been left in trouble by.
I didn't bother to report all the pains to the oncology people as it became clear to me early on that they had little or no understanding of it. I attributed mine to a combination of chemo damage and the fierce menopause into which I was jettissoned by the surgery. I go to the chiropractor regularly - monthly when things were at their worst - take 'devils claw' for specific pain; eat as much turmeric and black pepper as possible (it's a powerful anti-inflammatory), and do everything I can to eliminate inflammatory foods from my diet. I also make a priority of exercising in the fresh air as much as I can.
Your stomach aches might be stress/worry related - or even a side -effect of the ibruprofen.
I hope things get better soon - it took me 2 yrs after chemo to feel free from pain some of the time, but I still pull muscles for a pass time!
Very best wishes,
Isadora.