Chemo for DCIS

Hi Annie

I had 4 cycles of TC (taxotere/Cyclophosphamide? - not sure of the spelling!).  All 4 experiences were different - the first one was not too bad, I felt a bit sick and very tired and had the normal side affects of the metallic taste in my mouth (in fact, my taste buds went on holiday without me for a week!).  I was quite badly constipated after the first treatment but was able to treat that.   The second round was not so great with a lot more nausea and tiredness but still no vomitting.  The third round was a piece of cake and not too bad at all and the fourth round was similar to the first.  In all, my body tolerated it pretty well. I have a pretty tough stomach though!

I think everyone reacts differently to chemo.  One thing to put in the back of your mind though is that you can always start it and have one or two rounds but not finish it if it is really bad for you.  I know some people have said that some chemo is better than none if it is recommended.

My doctors didn't see much benefit to me the first time but I wonder whether I would have had the second diagnosis if I had had chemo then.....who knows?  The cancer cells may not have been around then and I may have still had a second diagnosis and had to go through the chemo a second time!  At least this way I only had to do it once and that was what was recommended to me.

Even the second time, my prognosis was only improved by a few percent by having the chemo but I didn't want to take any chances of it coming back a third time - so it was my choice but also recommended to me that I have it the second time.

Hope that helps?

Louise