Struggling through Chemo

Hi @Rona, sorry to hear that you've had to change to the weekly infusions and prelong your treatment, but hopefully it will be kinder on your body. I have 8 more to go, and so far the side effects have been minimal and I'm generally feeling much better, although I know this might change the more infusions I get. My nails are my biggest concern at the moment, I'm hoping they don't get any worse than feeling a bit sensitive and a few of them turning brown. So far no tingling or numbness. The weekly blood tests and infusions are making me feel a bit like a pin cushion, but I don't want a port. I started working 2 days a week and it is great to be doing something normal. Hopefully you might get some taste back on the lower dose. 

Hey ladies, great to hear you are doing well and your liver is coping better Coastiejas.
I have black/brown nails too Katie although they don’t hurt.
Fatigue, dry mouth and taste are my biggest complaint……. I can’t even stand the taste of the mouth wash. I’ve lost 5 kg now as I just don’t want to eat because of the taste.
My liver count was also bad and I’m just devastated that I have had to go to weekly infusions and treatment now another 4 weeks! Next week I was supposed to be celebrating my last ……. you girls are going to beat me at this rate 😂. I’m only receiving a third of the dose now, still get the tingles too.
Congrats on getting back to work Coastiejas, hope you’re enjoying it. Hope you’re well received by colleagues and supported. My colleagues have gone above and beyond…… been with me my whole journey.
Chemo again Tuesday (hopefully liver results are better) then 3 more to go……😢

Hi @Coastiejas, glad to hear you were good to go today. I've had my 4th dose, and I'm still feeling ok, my fingernails are turning brown, and are a bit tender, but no loss of feeling or tingling, they are keeping an eye on it. But that's about it. I've worked 2 days this week and it was great to be out of the house! Hoping I continue on like this. 😀

Hi Ladies 
@GorgyS well done on getting through the AC I hope.the paclitaxel is kinder to you. I've found it better. I was able to have my 3rd dose today after a week off my liver levels came down enough for an 80% dose so we will have to see how that goes. I've been drinking lots of water and doing some liver specific qigong. @Katie46 and @Rona I hope you are both going well ! I was able to work on Tuesday for the first time since October last year too! I am also off the dexamethasone now too ( yay!!)  :)  :)

Looking forward to hearing about your return to work experience. There are more people in my office and it is also high risk facility ( COVID and other infections) because of older vulnerable people coming to the facility for aged care programs. As I am vulnerable too, better stay away from the facility. We will see how we go. That is what my oncologist advised me. To look after myself and take it easy even when working from home. I am 64, soon 65 and it is time to slow down towards the retirement. 

Hi @GorgyS, I'm going to go back to work next week, starting with 2 short days a week to see how I go. I'm going into the office as there are usually only 3 of us there, and will wear a mask. 

Great to hear, Katie46, that your insomnia improved on paclitaxel. Six hours of sleep always worked for me too. After six months of sick leave, I am going back to work from home 100% for three months until I finish chemo. That is why I need my sleep. I do not want to fall asleep in the middle of online meetings. It would be embarrassing, and even more so if my wig were to change position or slip from my head  😂.

Hi @Gorgys, hooray on finishing AC it's a milestone! My insomnia has improved a lot on paclitaxel, and as I haven't had any reaction to it, I'm now off the dexamethasone, which has helped a lot. I have a cup of camomile tea before going to bed as well. I'm getting around 6 hours sleep now, which is pretty good for me.

Today, I had my last AC. In two weeks, I'll start Paclitaxel for 12 weeks. The nurse told me that I have to celebrate finishing AC, as Paclitaxel is much easier. Let's hope she is right. I am reading all yours posts about paclitaxel and will pay attention to the side effects you experience. I think I managed the side effects of AC well with all the medication they gave me for nausea and other issues, such as steroids. I use pantoprazole for heartburn. I have insomnia, but I compensate for it with daytime naps. My oncologist told me that I can take diazepam for sleep. All the best to all of us through the journey which is definitely not easy.

Hi Coastiejas and Katie, a set back is a shame, same thing happened to me. I could have done with a Break from the AC and that never happened 😩.
The Paclitaxel is really getting my body now, I can’t walk a flight of stairs anymore…… had to take the lift and I’m scared of lifts!