Forum Discussion
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 and all lymph nodes removed, chemo started just before Christmas and I am struggling with it!
Ive got another 2 months of chemo before 5 weeks of Radiation…… would love to hear other stories.
I have a fantastic support group of family, friends and colleagues but they just can’t possibly understand what I’m going through.
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 and all lymph nodes removed, chemo started just before Christmas and I am struggling with it!
Ive got another 2 months of chemo before 5 weeks of Radiation…… would love to hear other stories.
I have a fantastic support group of family, friends and colleagues but they just can’t possibly understand what I’m going through.
Looking forward to connecting 😊
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- Glad to hear you are doing ok Rona. I'm slowly losing my eyebrows, I expect them to be gone in the next few weeks. My finger tips and nails are still sensitive, but ok, my feet are completely fine. I'm working 2 days a week in the office, and it's great doing something normal. I get tired sometimes, but nothing like on AC. My taste is still ok, a bit deminished, but ok, although I prefer savery to sweet things, apart from dark chocolate. My mouth feels a bit odd, and I've had some mouth ulcers, but I think I'm on top of those now. I am still craving Meredith goats cheese, and will be eating it with a spoon when I'm allowed soft cheese again.😀🐐 at my last meeting with the oncologist she mentioned getting me an appointment with the radiology team for the next phase, so I really feel there is light at the end of the tunnel now.
- Hey Katie, I’m going ok thanks. Apart from fatigue and bad taste, I’m coping well.
Half way there, congratulations, was scary to start a new drug but we all did it!
I have 2 to go, I had one yesterday, slept through the whole lot 😂, nurse had to wake me up.
I’m full time working, pretty much crash when I get home. I’ve got a day off today so tending to my garden 😊.Chemo just seems to be the norm now, it’s going to feel weird not going….. oh well, there’s radiation to fill in the day 😩.Hope you all had a great Easter, I couldn’t manage the chocolate. I’m living on cheese and tomato toasties. When this is over I am going out for Chinese….. can’t wait to taste food again!How’s the finger/feet numbness? My doc said it gets worse for the last 3 doses. I’ve lost the hair on my arms now too but it still growing under my mastectomy arm?? I can’t even shave as I have a large lump filled with fluid that needs operating on after chemo 😂. Oh well I’m enjoying the rest of my super smooth body. - Hi @Rona how are you doing? I had my 6th dose today, so half way through.
- Hi Ladies
I've now had 4 paclitaxels after a week off and now on a reduced dose.... hopefully my liver levels keep being low enough for the lower dose. I'm pretty tired after each dose and feel like I have a bad hangover for 2 days after but the come good! I worked 2 days from home over the last 2 weeks. I haven't had mouth or nail issues thankfully but I still have altered taste......Hope you are all going well and have a relaxing long weekend and manage to be able to eat some chocolate 🍫 😀 - Chemo side effects can be so random from person to person. I've now had 5 paclitaxel and still feel ok, my fingernails are giving me some minor discomfort, and I've swapped oral thrush for a mouth ulcer 🤷♀️, but I have much more energy and I'm enjoying being back at work 2 days a week. I met with the oncologist yesterday, my bloods are generally good, but my liver and iron are a little low, but not enough at this stage to change my dose. I'm getting hot flushes, mainly at night. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel as the oncologist has started talking about getting me in for an appointment with the radiology team. Will be somewhere between 3-5 weeks of that.
- No more sugar. I had my first paclitaxel on Wednesday. Ended up having insulin injection because my blood sugar level was 20. Got the medication and followed up with my GP. I am on an immediate healthy eating plan for diabetics. I really enjoyed all the sweets that I ate during AC. My GP told me that steroids can spike sugar as well, regardless of what we eat. I also enjoy my coffee, although I still have a strange taste in my mouth. I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic 2 years ago, so it's no surprise that the blood sugar went up. Otherwise, the first paclitaxel last week went well. They gave me antihistamines prior. I have a very dry mouth since, tired but manageable. Much better than AC experience. I also went back to work from home. I really enjoyed it and already feeling mentally much better. Many online forums keep me connected.
- Hope you are all travelling ok, and able to enjoy the long weekend 😀
- Hi @GorgyS, I has extreme fatigue for about 4 days in the first week of AC, but just normal occasional tiredness on paclitaxel. I lost about 5kg on AC despite eating fairly well, and have put about 1kg back on since starting paclitaxel. My taste has improved, not 100% but better, and I can tolerate some spicey food, and coffee tastes normal again🥳
- I am on the 8th day since my last AC treatment. Next week, I will begin weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks. The side effects I am experiencing during these 8 days include extreme tiredness and hunger. I make sure to eat and rest adequately. Following advice to eat whatever I feel like and not to lose weight, I am taking full advantage of that. I discovered that people undergoing chemotherapy can consume up to 30 calories per kilogram. My limit that I have calculated is 1900 calories per day. Interestingly, despite this high-calorie intake, I have maintained the same weight since starting AC. Under normal circumstances, with my current diet, I would have gained 10 kilograms in two months for sure. I am craving bread, cheese, yogurt, and sweets. While I do manage to include fruits and vegetables, I primarily focus on what I feel like eating. I have only one coffee daily and really enjoy it. I just deal with the side effects as they come.
- Hey Katie, those nails sound a bit painful. Someone mentioned on here to try vinegar? Have you tried that or is it only about the discolouration?
I have no hair on my body now apart from a few on my arms. I have a super smooth body 😂 and no finger prints.I really shouldn’t complain after the AC treatment but having this taste is consuming.I’m not on steroids either so I have no appetite.
Yes, weekly prods aren’t great for the veins which I too am about to endure. I just can’t believe after all the sickness and other undiscribable symptoms I’ve endured I’ve been pipped at the post 😩. Guessing I need a liver to function on with after this is over 😂.
