About to start ac chemo v( petrified)

Hi @LMK74, I was really lucky in the scheme of things with side effects on AC I suffered hairloss, darkening of my fingernails and some tiredness. The tiredness got a little worse the further in to my treatment we got but was manageable. I had 4 treatments over 12 weeks like you , and my Oncologist advised me that how I handled the first treatment was pretty much how all of them would go for me, thankfully that's how it was. They really try to ensure that they keep the nausea etc at bay, this unfortunately doesn't work for everyone and the steroids kept me awake at night for the 1st few days, I just had to learn to rest when I needed to. Listen to what your body needs and do what you have to, to make things easier on yourself. Chemo is really confronting as there are so many unknowns for us ,until we start treatment. We all get scared of the unknown. I am on number 5 of my 12 taxol hits tomorrow , like the AC treatment this is going well for me but I was really scared of starting this new treatment because I had handled AC so well and didn't want this one to be the one that knocked me. Now I'm finding that I'm worrying already about what my surgery will look like once Chemo is finished. It's hard to take each treatment a step at a time but that's all any of us can do. I had the Neulasta shot x 3 and again was pretty lucky I had a little pain in my hips and legs but nothing major. We are all different and react differently to the Medications we are given, just trust that your Drs and the Oncology staff are there to do the best they can to make things as easy as possible on you. I take alot of comfort reading the various posts on this site knowing that however hard it gets there are many people that have been through this and worse and made it through. We will too !

Hi @LMK74  I just had my 2nd AC today. For the first one I was terrified. Was worried about how it all works and about what side effects I would get. Went in for the 1st one after very little sleep and it was a complete anticlimax. They set me up talked me through every step of the way, inserted the IV into my port and a few hours later (bout 3) it was all over. I felt slightly drunk or a heavy head feeling. Went home slept and had dinner and slept again. The main side effect I got was nausea. That started the next day and lasted for bout 5. It felt like a wine hangover (fuzzy head and nauseous) or morning sickness (if you've ever had that) all very manageable. I avoided constipation by having a glass of prune juice every morning (which I hate but it works) I got 2 ulcers in the second week but again no big deal. So all very doable. I have 2 small children too so was worried about not being able to function but I was fine. I had my 2nd chemo today (3wks later) and they changed my anti nausea tablets so hopefully we get the right combo this time. There is a bit of trial and error with this treatment but please know that the whole team have your best interests at heart and want you to have the best possible reaction everytime. A bit of advice; I kept a diary just bullet points of nauseous today scale 1-10 is 7 blah blah and that was really helpful to have when I met my oncologist before the next round. You won't remember it in 3wks time and he will use that info to determine how they medicate you after. Moral of the story do not stress it will be fine. Tell them as soon as you are experiencing ANY side effects and they will sort you out. Good luck xxx

@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

Maybe @Zoffiel was like me, they didnt help the nausea meds at all, made me worse. I too couldnt hydrate thats why they put me in hospital after each infusion. I totally understand with your heart problems why they did that. So step at a time, do the first one and see how you go, if you have any symptoms re: heart just let them know. Communication is everything honestly! stay on top of it all and you can stop at any time if you are concerned. Trust your Oncologist vent everything!!! Hugs Melinda xo

Glemmis, zoffiel , and melclarity, thank you so much for your replies. 
The reason i started taxol first is because last year i had a heart attack and my onc was waiting to get clearance from the cardois to go ahead with ac . All they did is look at my file apparently, they didn't even see me in person which i feel is not right. I have had ultrasound to measure how well my heart is functioning and they say it's normal, but I'm still scared by the fact it can do permanent damage. Im on a lot of heart meds,beta blockers, cholesterol tablets,blood thinners,and bp lowering meds and daily aspirin. 
Melclarity, taxol so far has been ok, diarrhoea the main symptom and my blood pressure is quite low so i feel dizzy and already quite fatigued. A few heart palpitations now and then but really i have done well on it. My biggest issue is trying to stay hydrated, i just cant seems to get 2 litres of fluid down in a day no matter how hard i try. 
You sound like you had a terrible time, you ladies are all so brave.
Zoffiel , what do you mean by if you can tolerate the anti nausea meds?. Do they cause side effects also.
Thanks to each of you that responded, I so appreciate it. I have no one to talk to as i live with my brother who is schizophrenic and I'm single so really am grateful for this community. 
Lisa x 

@LMK74 I agree with @Glemmis I totally believe that the fear of the Chemo is worse that the actual thing. I was PETRIFIED!!! I had 4 FEC every 3 weeks but they are both the RED DEVIL they call it. Its a harder hitting chemo very different to Taxol, I had Taxol 8 after that, so other way around. I went alone to my first infusion, my blood pressure was up and the Nurses were amazing!!! she said awww youre like a duck treading water :( but I was put at ease immediately, they talked me through everything they were doing as well. I also was blessed to sit next to a beautiful lady about 40 who was on Herceptin and already done the Chemo. The support really is fantastic, so take a deep breath, let them know youre anxious when you get there, they can help! 

My first infusion was actually ok, I felt strange at the end of it like Id had too much to drink, like a hangover type feeling. I came home and had a rest, when I got up I felt worse, strange very heavy feeling all over and slightly sick. Maxolon actually made me worse, so I had to stop that, no anti nausea meds worked. Ativan though was the one thing that helped keep me calm and helped me sleep. I didnt eat alot the first 10 days as just wasnt well at all. They realised I wasnt tolerating it very well so for the next 3 infusions I was transferred to hospital for 2 days on a drip, which helped alot to get home and manage. I took Coloxyl drops for constipation, Nexium for chronic heartburn and rinsed daily with salt water to help ulcers. I'm drug sensitive so eventhough I was determined to be great and work through it, it went pear shaped and I just dont tolerate drugs. I also can't take pain meds either so Endone, Tramadol, Targin nothing but Panadol Osteo and Nurofen together, so that made it tough.

I didnt have Neulasta shots either, not everyone does, I had nobody on my days who had them. :)

Just remember you will absolutely be OK, once you do the infusion I feel you'll settle, just take each step in your stride. Communicate everything to your team and they will stay on top of everything. It is doable. How did you manage on Taxol? I didnt tolerate that very well either, so it was my sensitivity to it all. Hugs Melinda xo 

I worked part-time through AC. Really, nausea shouldn't be an issue if you can tolerate the antiemetics. TBH, AC was a doodle compared to TC, though I was 10 years younger. Heaps of water, look after your bowels and keep up as much exercise as is comfortable.
Neulasta shots are shits of things if you have to have them. I found out about Claratyne ( the antihistamine) as a way of dealing with the bone pain--which only affects a few people anyway. Worse things have happened to me than AC. It's doable though it isn't pleasant. Marg.

& I didn't have any Neulasta shots, not everyone does! & I ached more on Taxol, no aches on AC

Hi @LMK74, sorry you are feeling so nervous but it is quite normal. I too was terrified & told oncologist on morning of chemotherapy I wasn't going to do it but I think the thought of it can be worse than the reality. I had 4 AC & then 12 Taxol so other way around. I had mine on a Friday and felt great over weekend due to steroids. Didn't feel so good on Tues/Wed of first week & then slowly picked up. I had no nausea, just a hangover feeling, metallic taste & a bit of diarrohea first round but not after. Each round took a bit longer to recover. I ate like a horse, only had 2 days off work & exercised all way through which really helped even when I felt crap. Everybody has a different experience & you may only get one or two sude affects. I had a tranquilizer before my first two rounds & then didn't need them after that. My oncologist told me after first round that my side affects would not get any worse & they didn't. The staff are there to help you & provide suggestions & medication to manage the side affects. Just rest when you need to & try & eat well & let friends cook for you. You will get through it, you have already done half, best wishes xx

Thank you Cosette.