About to start ac chemo v( petrified)

I also forgot to mention, my Oncologist had prescribed me a mild sedative, a bit like Valium, to help me sleep at night which was a blessing.  I pretty much slept through most nights. Although I did have very psychedelic dreams, it's the only way I can describe them. I don't know what caused them, the chemo, the anti nausea drugs, the steroids or the sleeping tablets but they were just really weird dreams. I have busy dreams normally about everyday stuff all twisted together but these were really weird, colourful, bizarre dreams that were hard to wake up from.  Lishaxx

Hi @LMK74 so sorry to hear of your mums passing and now you have to have treatment in the same place. I hope you feel that your mum will be with you through your treatment, I'm sure she'll be watching over you.

Here is my experience on AC.  Please don't think that these will necessarily happen to you because everyone is different and will have different responses to the same treatment and sorry if I've given too much information, this is the first time I've written about my experience on chemo, it's all coming back to me :# . 

After a wide local excision (breast conserving surgery) in August last year to remove a 15mm Invasive ductal carcinoma and 3 lymph nodes I had 4 x AC followed by 20 radiation sessions.  Let me tell you I was so happy to start radiation and do radiation therapy every day compared to the yuck of chemo (sorry, telling it like it was).

The first day of treatment was ok. I was given an iceblock to suck on when they started injecting the AC in the hope of not getting mouth ulcers is what I think they said.  They put a warm cloth on my veins in the back my hand to dilute the blood vessels, as I didn't have a portacath with only 4 AC sessions.  It felt cold going in but I didn't really notice any other effects straight away other than a little brain fogginess from all of the anti nausea meds given beforehand.  I had someone drive me each time just in case of a reaction.  So first day is fine apart from anxiety and anti nausea meds.

However after that first day I pretty much spent a week and a half in bed feeling nausea, tired and heavy and slow.  I lost my appetite but I could eat.  Some days I vomited. My advice is keep taking the anti nausea meds on time around the clock for the first week or so that helped me over that initial hump after a chemo session.  That's how long my nausea lasted.  Some days I felt like eating and when I did it was like a whole new amazing experience.  Food tasted just fantastic! But don't eat too much as your digestive system will really slow down. Your taste buds change again, I went off chocolate, various foods and drinking plain water.  So to keep hydrated I would drink water with a bit of orange juice added or squeeze some lemon into my water, a freshly squeezed orange juice is how I started my day.  It was the only way I could drink water.  Keep up with light meals and lots of fiber.  By about the 3rd AC I would take a coloxyl laxative the night before chemo to keep my digestive system moving and if I remember maybe take one every day. Everything just slowed down for me and my belly would feel bloated and distended.

I pretty much stayed in bed, wandered around the garden and slept during the first week and a half, then the heaviness would lift and my body felt better, my digestive system worked and I felt good for the next week and a half until it all started again.  I didn't get any illnesses on AC but my white blood cell count would be pretty low and come up and just be high enough for me to do the next round of chemo. The last 2 sessions I ended up having another blood test on the morning before to see if the white blood cell count had come up high enough.  My chemo was on a Monday morning so I would have to have a blood test on the Saturday before. 

So I would describe my experience on AC as YUCK!  But... I did have good days 1 1/2 weeks after the chemo.  I looked forward to those good days as that's what kept me going on chemo, I knew those good days were ahead.  I would go for gentle walks around the neighbourhood and even go shopping.  Do what your body is happy to do.  I did lose my hair about the 2 week mark after my first chemo, so I shaved it off. It was rather liberating because I chose to shave it off and we had a bit of fun doing it.

Good luck to you Lisa.  I hope all goes smoothly for you.  Any questions, I'm happy to answer.  Again, sorry if it's all too much information.  Yours may be a totally different experience.
Lisha xx

LucyE thank you so much you sweet lady.

Melclarity your a gem. I'm sorry you lost your mum also and I totally agree, it's the biggest loss of my entire life and I'm still dealing with the grief of it all. I was going to chemo with her at the very same place I am now and that in itself is both comforting and upsetting at the same time. I never expected to be back their this soon but that's life I guess. I did the whole hospice at home for her so she could die at home. It has effected my health in so many ways I feel just empty.
I also have my schizophrenic brother to look after which is so f..king hard. On a brighter note I have my mum's ashes in a beautiful heart shaped perfume bottle pendant that I wear so she is always close to my heart.
Big hug 
Lisa x

@LMK74 You will absolutely get lots of support here, its a fantastic community. I like you have little family and my Mum also passed 8yrs ago due to Lung Cancer unrelated to her Breast Cancer. Ive had to endure this twice without her, there is no greater loss so far in my life. So I totally get you! I learnt that she is literally irreplaceable but you know what?? there are soooo many people that will fill little pockets of her. I found this to be one of the most humbling things, that in different people I got a little piece of my Mum. I'm sure she is right beside you, don't doubt it! You will get through it, I promise! Hugs Melinda xo

Thinking of you Lisa. I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. This community is really lovely. 

 Try to do something nice on the day of chemo. I had one thing, one little thing to focus on - 5 mins in the sunshine, a new magazine, or sent a text to a friend. It was my focus and helped me to try to be positive. x 

Gosh, I never expected this many replies.
@Unicornkisses @ornkisses,@Igray3911,@kat09,@primek,
LucyE, thanks to all of you. It's really great to hear from others that have already been through it. Sometimes it feels quite lonely dealing with it all with very little family. The one person I wish was with me ( my mum)passed away from lung cancer 2 years this July.
Cancer sucks that's for sure, but I already feel less alone in coming here.
Big hugs and thank  you
Lisa x

Hi Lisa, I had AC then Taxol. I felt a bit flat on the third day after it and had a bit of a red face on the day. Apart from that I was fine. I worked 4 days a week, but was tired most of the time. The smell was what got me. I had a little routine, water with crushed ice in it and a slice of lemon, some sliced apple and dried biscuits. I also avoided hot coffee an hour before and an hour after chemo to avoid ulcers.   My oncologist said the thought of chemo is worse than the reality. It was true for me. Best of luck. 

Hi there. I found AC challenging but totally doable. (Too be honest the accumulative side effects of taxol and horrible pains was much worse for mr) so this is how I was.

1st round...felt a bit scared at home on my own as didn't know how I was going to be so make sure someone home. Make sure you have sick bags (from chemist) for peace of mind. I never needed one...but had it just in case. I felt a bit sick ...no vomiting at all the 1st night. I felt pretty good day 2 and went out furniture shopping with my hubby for around 2 hours. 3rd day not real flash, bit light headed and nauseated a bit. Constipated by this time and bloated after any food or fluid. Felt better when I ate a bit...toasted sandwiches was my go to food. By Monday (I had mine on a Thursday) I went back to chemo unit as maxalon gave me restless legs...so switched to stemitl. Reflux big problem.

Okay Round 2
Now on stemitil for nausea 6 hrly, steroids for a couple extra days and ondasetron just before I ate (with a mint) Also nexium twice a day for reflux. ...constipation still an issue, felt good day 2 but tired and light headed for 1 week but good week 2 and 3. Neulasta shot made my neck ache...sorted with panadol (however I have heard claratyne works a treat)

Round 3
Same nausea stuff as it was perfect.
Movichol for constipation started night before chemo...fantastic....issue sorted, only needed 3 days. Very tired this round and didn't do much until round 4.

Round 4
Nausea  ...sorted
Constipation...sorted
Tiredness ....less
Bloatiness...continued but at the finish line. ..occasional zantac in between.

So yes....it was hard for me but no hospital stays, not even a cold with neulasta. I even went to gym and pool occasionally on weeks 2 and 3 despite not feeling real good week one. 

So not fun but totally doable. We get one shot at this cure thing. You are stronger than you think. Don't let fear of side effects ...that might not even be an issue for you ....stop your chance at cure. Just communicate issues and they adjust as needed.  Take care. Kath x

I had no trouble with Maxalon or Stemital, apart from constipation, but some people don't tolerate them. I only took a couple anyway, the drugs that I got with the chemo seemed to be enough along with a bit of herbal remedy that I'm not really supposed to talk about :)
I used to joke that a couple of decades of hangovers were perfect training for chemo, that really was as bad as it got for me on AC. Stuff can go wrong, of course, but that is true of crossing the road. Once you've committed yourself and decide to do it, you have done the one thing you can control. Anyone who tells you not to worry needs a smack, but please worry about one treatment at a time.
M xx