About to start ac chemo v( petrified)
Hello ladies, next Tuesday is my last taxol treatment,then the following Tuesday ac chemo starts. I'm literally so scared I was crying the other day at the thought of it.please can you tell me your e...
Forum Discussion
@LKM74
I have had FEC rather than AC, so can't help you there.
However I found that everyone was so concerned about side effects that they rushed to help solve the problem.
I reacted to the C bag and it was stopped immediately twice to give me further medication and it was then run over 2 hours which helped.
I also asked for icepacks for my head during the C bag, as I got headaches (I get migraine and ice packs help) the nurses were very accomodating.
Follow the care instructions and give heaps of feedback, everything. I wrote a daily diary for the first two weeks after each infusion (3weekly) and let the oncologist and pharmasist at the hospital know exactly what was happening.
I rang the out of hours number once for approval to use strong painkillers for Migraine, they were very helpful.
I got very little nausea, it was bearable as I didn't respond well to the usual meds. It was more a low grade constant than a violent urge to throw up.
Eating small meals more often was the best help and not drinking too much on an empty stomach.
If I made the mistake of eating too much at once was when I felt most nauseous, or if I had a big drink when I hadn't eaten much.
The steroids have made me UP for the two days I take them and then I crash into misery day 5 and 6. Someone forgot to mention that they would affect my mood like that!
I am also constantly hungry. Not great as I am already overweight.
I have Neulasta each time after the first infusion as my white cells were very low (0.32) at the ten day blood test.
I give it to myself, the day after the infusion, and I am a needle phobic, but heck, might as well learn a new skill. I was more scared of not doing it properly than actually doing the injection.
I took Clarytyne and Panadol for the first 4 days after.
I got bone pain, in jaw, neck, shoulders and ribs mainly, but it meant I had done the injection properly and I felt the bones were doing a good job making new cells.The Clarytyne and Panadol (4 X day) were enough to control it, I just felt it mostly when they wore off.
I also recovered from the Chemo side effects much quicker when I had the Neulasta - that was a bonus.
You can go to the hospital or GP if you can't do the injection yourself, but it really is easy. The nurses showed me how to do it and gave me a needless sample syringe to practise with while they watched.
You will be fine!
I had a whole heap of side effects and they were all managed. I have just finished my 3 doses of FEC and start Docetaxol in two weeks.
The light is at the end of the tunnel, don't give up now unless you really have to.
Come back here if you have concerns or side effects and we will help you through it too.
Talk to your breast care nurse too if you have one, they are so knowledgeable and I didn't use mine enough.
Sending you some virtual strength to face the challenge. Jennie
I have had FEC rather than AC, so can't help you there.
However I found that everyone was so concerned about side effects that they rushed to help solve the problem.
I reacted to the C bag and it was stopped immediately twice to give me further medication and it was then run over 2 hours which helped.
I also asked for icepacks for my head during the C bag, as I got headaches (I get migraine and ice packs help) the nurses were very accomodating.
Follow the care instructions and give heaps of feedback, everything. I wrote a daily diary for the first two weeks after each infusion (3weekly) and let the oncologist and pharmasist at the hospital know exactly what was happening.
I rang the out of hours number once for approval to use strong painkillers for Migraine, they were very helpful.
I got very little nausea, it was bearable as I didn't respond well to the usual meds. It was more a low grade constant than a violent urge to throw up.
Eating small meals more often was the best help and not drinking too much on an empty stomach.
If I made the mistake of eating too much at once was when I felt most nauseous, or if I had a big drink when I hadn't eaten much.
The steroids have made me UP for the two days I take them and then I crash into misery day 5 and 6. Someone forgot to mention that they would affect my mood like that!
I am also constantly hungry. Not great as I am already overweight.
I have Neulasta each time after the first infusion as my white cells were very low (0.32) at the ten day blood test.
I give it to myself, the day after the infusion, and I am a needle phobic, but heck, might as well learn a new skill. I was more scared of not doing it properly than actually doing the injection.
I took Clarytyne and Panadol for the first 4 days after.
I got bone pain, in jaw, neck, shoulders and ribs mainly, but it meant I had done the injection properly and I felt the bones were doing a good job making new cells.The Clarytyne and Panadol (4 X day) were enough to control it, I just felt it mostly when they wore off.
I also recovered from the Chemo side effects much quicker when I had the Neulasta - that was a bonus.
You can go to the hospital or GP if you can't do the injection yourself, but it really is easy. The nurses showed me how to do it and gave me a needless sample syringe to practise with while they watched.
You will be fine!
I had a whole heap of side effects and they were all managed. I have just finished my 3 doses of FEC and start Docetaxol in two weeks.
The light is at the end of the tunnel, don't give up now unless you really have to.
Come back here if you have concerns or side effects and we will help you through it too.
Talk to your breast care nurse too if you have one, they are so knowledgeable and I didn't use mine enough.
Sending you some virtual strength to face the challenge. Jennie