Struggling through Chemo
Hi all, My nurse has just introduced me to this group. I’m hoping to connect and share my story and hopefully somehow feel better. After being diagnosed and a short time later having a mastectomy a...
Forum Discussion
Hello Rona, I think everyone's side effects are different. I did 4 months of 21 day cycles of Docetaxel, Carboplatin and Trastuzumab. I had several different side effects, worst being the not sleeping because of the steroids I was taking Days 1 to 4. Then my mood dropped dramatically days 6-10. After that I was okay. But I am now on my adjuvant chemo (post surgery), and find that the worst long lasting side effects (since the July to November chemo) are peripheral neuropathy.
My fingers and toes are tingly and numb most of the time. I find it hard to turn the page of a book, do up buttons on a shirt, open plastic packaging, and I drop crockery all the time and break it. For my feet, it feels like I'm walking on talcum powder, or soft sand that is constantly shifting underfoot. I absolutely cannot stand the feeling of having my feet on carpet or on the tiles. As soon as I get up in the morning, I put on my Big W thongs which have a tiny little dented pattern on the upside and they help me walk. I have also been given some Homyped massage sandals which are tough on the feet at first, but really do the job. You have to wear them in.
My doctor told me some people never return to normal after peripheral neuropathy and this would be really sad if that were the case for me. So I exercise every day if I can, including yoga, swimming and going to the gym. I feel it helps alot with the neuropathy and my mental health.
I take Lyrica for the peripheral neuropathy and that helps too. Also paracetamol, 8 a day.
Also tiredness. By the last 3 cycles (I did 6 cycles before surgery and am doing 17 cycles post surgery), I could not work a full day, found it hard to fill in ANY forms online or read anything online and my focus just was not there. It's still the case now.
There is so much support out there if you need it, particularly through Solaris or in WA, Breast Cancer Care WA. My best support is exercise. It gives me so much positive energy.
Best Regards.
My fingers and toes are tingly and numb most of the time. I find it hard to turn the page of a book, do up buttons on a shirt, open plastic packaging, and I drop crockery all the time and break it. For my feet, it feels like I'm walking on talcum powder, or soft sand that is constantly shifting underfoot. I absolutely cannot stand the feeling of having my feet on carpet or on the tiles. As soon as I get up in the morning, I put on my Big W thongs which have a tiny little dented pattern on the upside and they help me walk. I have also been given some Homyped massage sandals which are tough on the feet at first, but really do the job. You have to wear them in.
My doctor told me some people never return to normal after peripheral neuropathy and this would be really sad if that were the case for me. So I exercise every day if I can, including yoga, swimming and going to the gym. I feel it helps alot with the neuropathy and my mental health.
I take Lyrica for the peripheral neuropathy and that helps too. Also paracetamol, 8 a day.
Also tiredness. By the last 3 cycles (I did 6 cycles before surgery and am doing 17 cycles post surgery), I could not work a full day, found it hard to fill in ANY forms online or read anything online and my focus just was not there. It's still the case now.
There is so much support out there if you need it, particularly through Solaris or in WA, Breast Cancer Care WA. My best support is exercise. It gives me so much positive energy.
Best Regards.