The side effects from my chemo have had a severe effect on my bowels and I need to be close to a toilet. Thus I am unable to work. I understand it is only one week, but I am not coping. I see all these people who are having/had the same chemo as me and continue to work. I find this frustrating. Why can't I be like those other women who continue to work. I feel too tired and worn out now, to go to work.

Just thought I would update everyone about my treatment. It is months since I contacted you all about my frustrations about not working. I completed my four Chemo sessions in late September. I completed my three weeks of radiotherapy nearly 3 weeks ago. I survived!!! There were days when I was sure I would never feel well again in my life. But Hey! I feel good now. My hair has started to grow back too. The secret I found is maintain the bland diet throughout the entire Chemo time. I also kept a diary of my symptoms. I had so many. I was able to anticipate the changes each week. Fortunately my Oncologist did reduce my chemo dose for the last 2 sessions. I was very good. No alcohol; no eating out. Every time I tried to, my gut reacted big time, so I only ate food I had prepared myself. I survived on spaghetti on toast for breakfast. Cheese and vegemite sandwiches for lunch and roast vegetables and meat for dinner each night. I completely eliminated cereals; all greens; tomatoes and all fruit from my diet for the 4 months. Next week I will return to work. I found stressing about whether or not I could or could not work, caused even more stress, so I decided to not work at all for the duration of treatment. I did not get very much exercise and as a consequence I have put on weight. I am now starting to exercise again and lose a little weight. But, I feel good now!!!! I was able to do a bit of hand sewing during that time, when I was not sleeping! I now have a few cross stitch Christmas gifts for some of my relatives. To anyone, newly diagnosed, change your diet, keep a diary and hang in there. You will survive.

Thankyou everyone. Yes, I have already changed my diet and am using gastro-stop. I am also keeping a diary of my symptoms to compare and be a bit more prepared for after the next treatment

Hi @alibrien,Kmakm is right. No body knows how you are going to handle things. You shouldn't compare it will do you no good and it may get better as you go along. I had ACT. Through the AC I carried a lot of those dissolvable immodium tablets in my bag. They work very fast. It got better the next time around though. I also found that the "Hey, I need to pee" was only giving me about 30 seconds warning. Not cool the first few times before I worked it out. That did get better as well.I did go back to work but I only work part time and there were a couple of days I thought I was a bit tougher than I actually was and had to go home half an hour after getting there. All the best lovely.sososos

Which chemo are you having Ali?I had my chemo on a Monday. I possibly could have worked the next day because of the steroids but I could not have worked for the rest of the week because of the fatigue. It knocked me out flat. The first two cycles I could have worked the next two weeks, with difficulty, but I could not have done that in the last two. I had TC.I had the runs terribly for my first chemo and then locked up solid for the rest of it!We're all different luv. Try not to compare yourself to others; it's a dead end. You'll get through, one way or another. If it's getting on top of you, give one of the BCNA nurses a call on the helpline, 1300 500 258. They're wise women who've heard it all and can be a great comfort and source of information. Hang in there, K xox

There's no way I could have worked during most of chemo - there would have been the odd day I could have managed but nothing that me or my workplace could have planned around. It doesn't mean I've been happy about it - I miss work terribly.As for your gut symptoms, ring your oncology centre and ask what you can take to make it more manageable. Don't suffer in silence.

first week after Chemo | BCNA Online Network

kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Your chemo is the same as mine, and is usually referred to as TC.

Check out this thread for lots of hints and tips if you'd like to:

https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/search?Search=TC+Chemotherapy

Might be best to wait until you're feeling a little better though Ali! Yep, it all sucks.

You'll start to feel a bit better soon. Hang in there. K xox
alibrien
Member
7 years ago
Thanks everyone for your input. I am having the Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide with the Pegfilgrastin growth factor the next day. I appreciate what you say, but I am still jealous of those people who still work!
Sister
Member
7 years ago
There's no way I could have worked during most of chemo - there would have been the odd day I could have managed but nothing that me or my workplace could have planned around. It doesn't mean I've been happy about it - I miss work terribly.

As for your gut symptoms, ring your oncology centre and ask what you can take to make it more manageable. Don't suffer in silence.
kezmusc
Member
7 years ago
Hi @alibrien,

Kmakm is right. No body knows how you are going to handle things. You shouldn't compare it will do you no good and it may get better as you go along.
I had ACT. Through the AC I carried a lot of those dissolvable immodium tablets in my bag. They work very fast. It got better the next time around though.

I also found that the "Hey, I need to pee" was only giving me about 30 seconds warning. Not cool the first few times before I worked it out. That did get better as well.
I did go back to work but I only work part time and there were a couple of days I thought I was a bit tougher than I actually was and had to go home half an hour after getting there.

All the best lovely.

sososos
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
Which chemo are you having Ali?

I had my chemo on a Monday. I possibly could have worked the next day because of the steroids but I could not have worked for the rest of the week because of the fatigue. It knocked me out flat. The first two cycles I could have worked the next two weeks, with difficulty, but I could not have done that in the last two. I had TC.

I had the runs terribly for my first chemo and then locked up solid for the rest of it!

We're all different luv. Try not to compare yourself to others; it's a dead end. You'll get through, one way or another. If it's getting on top of you, give one of the BCNA nurses a call on the helpline, 1300 500 258. They're wise women who've heard it all and can be a great comfort and source of information. Hang in there, K xox

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