About Chemo

You have had quite a mixed bag of comments here already and I have to agreed with Tonya. I think it's probably totally random who suffers and who doesn't so if you do need chemo, I think it's best not to have any expectations until you begin. I think a positive attitude is really good though and it helps you through the emotional side of treatment but I don't believe it has a real bearing on how you will react physically but it can't hurt. Just to let you know that I had two tumours in my left breast, one was TNBC and the other was ER & HER2 + and I was told by my oncologist that TNBC responds well to chemo and as I had extensive DCIS left on my breast after the two tumours were successfully removed, they didn't know (if the pre cancer cells developed) whether it would be one or the other type that I had they told me it was best for me to have chemo to cover all bases. For the HER2 + tumour, I am having 12 months of Herceptin targeted therapy. If I only had ER + tumours I possible would not have had to have any chemo, just radiation. I think I expected the worst and hoped for the best and my side effects were probably somewhere in between. Hope this helps and good luck Jessica. Love Janey xxx

With this bc journey,I think it's impossible to predict your emotions and chemo side effects.I've seen the most positive people go down like a ton of bricks and then the most anxious ones breeze through chemo.I think you just have to go into it with an open mind and hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Tonya xx

Hi Jessica, my experience with chemo was not too bad. I needed it because the tumour was aggressive and over 2cm. I was one of the lucky ones, as chemo was a bit of a pain, but nothing more. On a scale of 1 to 10, my side effects were never more than a 2 or 3. One thing that I did learn from my oncologist, was to make sure that I took all prescribed medications he have me. He said that nausea is easier to prevent rather than treat once it takes ahold on you. Also pain relief for the achy bones on day 5. I was to take this at the first twinge and continue 4 hourly for a few days whether I thought I needed it or not. I also took the sleeping pills while on the. Dex, as a good night sleep is very helpful. This may or may not have been the reason chemo was kind to me, but I like to think it helped to prevent my side effects from becoming severe. Love Chris xx

Hi Jessica, my experience with chemo was not too bad. I needed it because the tumour was aggressive and over 2cm. I was one of the lucky ones, as chemo was a bit of a pain, but nothing more. On a scale of 1 to 10, my side effects were never more than a 2 or 3. One thing that I did learn from my oncologist, was to make sure that I took all prescribed medications he have me. He said that nausea is easier to prevent rather than treat once it takes ahold on you. Also pain relief for the achy bones on day 5. I was to take this at the first twinge and continue 4 hourly for a few days whether I thought I needed it or not. I also took the sleeping pills while on the. Dex, as a good night sleep is very helpful. This may or may not have been the reason chemo was kind to me, but I like to think it helped to prevent my side effects from becoming severe. Love Chris xx

Hi Katsem,  so sorry you also had a shitty time of chemo.  i know just how you feel amd I have been told it is not our fault if we suffer.  No one knows how they're going to react until it happens. I hope you have recovered - chemo gave me some nasty permanent problems!  so completely agree with you, so rant away   :)  xoxox

 

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

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

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

 

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

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