Hi, I have done the Mastectomy bit of this process, and my surgeon told me yesterday that it is quite likely that I will have chemo. I understand this could be for one of three main reasons: 1) if my tumor is high grade 2)If it is HER2 3) if it is triple negative 4) if it is a combination of two or more of these Can anyone tell me about their experience of the chemo for these 4 different possibilities? Is there any rhyme or reason about who gets really sick and who gets a fairly easy ride?

It is my understanding that there is no rhyme or reason as to who gets sick with chemo and who doesn't.However,chemo is different these days as to how it was years ago.They have a lot of drugs now that help with side effects,should you have them,such as nausea.I also firmly believe that your own attitude and how you take care of yourself,goes a long way in helping you get through with minimal side effects.On my last chemo round,I saw my oncologist as usual,before my treatment.This is what she said to me:When a patient walks into my office for the first time,I can usually tell after meeting with them,how they are going to manage with chemo,and I knew you would do well.I asked her about this and she said,in her experience,there are 3 groups of people.Those who do really well , those who manage just ok and those who really struggle with it.Of course we are not talking here about people with severe physical reactions etc. or people who are very ill.So what this tells me,is that your own outlook and attitude about it is VERY important.Exercise also is important,and walking every day through chemo is one of the most helpful things for the tiredness that you will feel to some degree.I had days when I didn't want to walk,and my daughter would walk with me with her hand on my back saying"come on Mum,you can do it". I don't know if other ladies will agree with what I am saying,but I pretty much sailed through my chemo,and really only found that the tiredness on days 5 to 8 the worst thing.I think you do need to look after yourself in chemo,but to a certain extent you need to push a little too :) You sound like a positive person Jessica,so if you need chemo,I reckon you will do just fine!!! Robyn.xoxo

Hi Jessica I agree with Robyn but it may depend also to some extent on the type and duration of chemo, and how fit you are at the start. I am half way through four rounds of TC for a grade 3 tumour and following mastectomy. I found the first round harder than the second. Possibly because I want long post surgery and possibly because I didn't have an understanding of what I would feel like and when. If you do end up with chemo we can help you with what worked for us, both during chemo infusion and afterwards. There is no doubting chemo sucks but really on round two, I have had very little of the annoying bits I had the first time. There are plenty of things to combat nausea, constipation and skin issues. But as Robyn says, walking or any exercise you can do seems to work the best to shorten the side effects. Let us know how you go Thinking of you Julie's

Hi Robyn, this is really interesting. I assumed it was on a physical basis, not psychological.

Yes,I totally agree with you Julie,that the duration of chemo and your level of fitness to start,must play a big part.And of course,I am not talking about people who are really ill,with perhaps secondary cancers,or other health issues.I am just meaning people who have had surgery,come through it well,and are moving to the next stage with no obvious complications.Like us,dare I say!!!Hope you continue to do well.xoxo Robyn

Well I am different again to those who have posted. I was really positive, very fit and healthy prior to my 1st round ove chemo. I had recovered well from surgery also. I woke up the morning after chemo no. 1 and just vomitted all over the bed! I had no warning at all, and the vomitting continued relentlessly until my husband called the oncologist who had me brought into ER. The oncologist said I had caught a bug. But this happened the 2nd session and continued, so I was taken into hospital for 24hrs of anti nausea until settled. I didn't fare well with chemo, but have been told by other doctors and anaesthetists that people who are car or boat sick are often sick with chemo, radiation and/or GA. That has proved to be true all round for me. I hope you fare well, I seem to be a minority and it definitely is not in my head. Ondanzetron is booked for after my GA for my breast surgery next week :) xoxoxox

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20 Replies

JessicaV
Member
12 years ago
Thanks all of you for your thoughtful responses, and for sharing your experiences and what helped. One breast care nurse said that people get sick to the degree they got morningsickness. And the comment from doctors that it is often those who get travelsick who get nausea with cancer therapies. How does that fit with your personal experience with chemo?

I heard of a electrical accupuncture wrist band that really works to prevent airsickness, and am wondering if it might be useful.

best wishes

Jessica
Katsem
Member
12 years ago
Hi Jessica! One thing I definitely find helpful as I have been so unwell is practising some mindfulness techniques - I will close my eyes wherever I am and just focus on the sounds around me and the sensations (breeze, sun etc) and try and be in the moment. A small thing but useful for my mental state:)
Katsem
Member
12 years ago
Hi Jessica! One thing I definitely find helpful as I have been so unwell is practising some mindfulness techniques - I will close my eyes wherever I am and just focus on the sounds around me and the sensations (breeze, sun etc) and try and be in the moment. A small thing but useful for my mental state:)
Katsem
Member
12 years ago
Don't apologise for asking such an important question! You are definitely asking it amongst an audience that can inform your experience....hopefully it helps you manage the journey better! Great to have research on this issue as it would benefit so many people (not just breast cancer but all cancers!) All the very best!!!
Katsem
Member
12 years ago
Hi Robyn and everyone:) Please don't apologise Robyn I completely understand your perspective and agree completely that exercise is so helpful if you can manage it! Thanks for respecting my little rant and all the best:))
Kek
Member
12 years ago
Hi Jessica I have just finished my second lot of chemo the first was 20 years ago...yes, nothing for 20 years then more recently in the past 2 years I have had another 2 cancers one in each breast I think with the first lot of chemo I just dealt with it emotionally as best I could as I can't remember having the support that is around today...or we weren't informed of it !!. I finished my 2nd lot of chemo (for my third bc) in July I did have 1 really bad instance where I was hospitalised for a week. After that my oncologist decreased my chemo dosage and I was fine. I also think that keeping yourself active has a lot to do with your mental attitude. I do social dancing & am happy to say that apart from the 2 weeks after my surgery I was back dancing...maybe not staying on the floor as long as I used to but atleast I loved getting out there having fun. I hope this is of some help

Cheers, Kek xxx
Kek
Member
12 years ago
Hi Jessica I have just finished my second lot of chemo the first was 20 years ago...yes, nothing for 20 years then more recently in the past 2 years I have had another 2 cancers one in each breast I think with the first lot of chemo I just dealt with it emotionally as best I could as I can't remember having the support that is around today...or we weren't informed of it !!. I finished my 2nd lot of chemo (for my third bc) in July I did have 1 really bad instance where I was hospitalised for a week. After that my oncologist decreased my chemo dosage and I was fine. I also think that keeping yourself active has a lot to do with your mental attitude. I do social dancing & am happy to say that apart from the 2 weeks after my surgery I was back dancing...maybe not staying on the floor as long as I used to but atleast I loved getting out there having fun. I hope this is of some help

Cheers, Kek xxx
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Hi Jessica, that's a fascinating way of looking at this. I wonder in deed if any research has been done. Would be an interesting path to follow. Please don't apologise. There are no judgements. As Robyn said, this is what this forum is all about. Open and honest discussion. It's really good to debate an issue because you get a broad cross section of opinions and you can take from them what you will. If we didn't have discussion, there would be no way to move forward. Cheers Janey xxx
JessicaV
Member
12 years ago
Hi, I am truly sorry if my question has led to distress and hurt.

I am a psychologist, and the whole area of how mind and body work together fascinates me. Our culture does not understand the word psychosomatic, which is about the interaction of the somatic and the psychology of the individual and mostly deals with factors that are deeply unconscious and beyond the conscious awareness and management of the individual. Nothing at all to do with the profound effort I am sure almost everyone on this forum applies in order to be as positive as possible. I would love to find out whether there are real measurable differences between the group of people who get sick on Chemo and the group of people who doesn't, esp if it made it possible to improve things. There could be links back to deep past trauma, it could relate to childhood attachment patterns, it may be that people who are thinking types do have a lot more symptoms than people who are intuitive types.It seems like a good area to explore, esp if it was possible to make it better for those who currently have a really bad time on it. I wonder what research has already been done?
Robyn_W
Member
12 years ago
Sorry if I offended you,I certainly didn't mean to.I will try again to say what I mean.I totally agree with you,that if you are going to react badly,as you did,there is nothing that you can do about it.All I meant was,that you can help yourself throughout chemo(e.g. Exercise) IF you don't have a bad reaction,as you did,and of course,as some other ladies did also.I definitely believe that if your chemo experience doesn't give you any nasty,unexpected side effects to deal with,then it is totally possible to help lessen side effects yourself.Thanks for your reply to my post.This is what blog posting is about,that we can all have our say,and respect each other's opinions.Cheers.xoxox. Robyn