Chemo No. 4 done, 2 to go

Question

Long day at the hospital today, more time for me to think and worry about my first Docetaxol. Saw the oncologist and he asked if i knew what was happening today and i replied it was as if was starting all over again with a new drug. He replied 'I won't lie to you, Docetaxol is tougher'. Up goes the anxiety.start fiddling with my fingers, twisting them, start tapping the foot etc. He went through the side effects, only were a couple of added extras from &nbsp;what I had with FEC. He recommended what to do if these effects appeared. When it came time to start the treatment they gave me a pill to relax me, it worked and is still working, I'm a bit foggy. My partner made sure he was with me this time as he knows me so well when i worry. &nbsp;At least I didn't have an immediate reaction, have to wait and see what the next few days are like. All in all, it wasn't as bad as I had imagined it to be. My mind just conjures up bad scenarios, bit of a sooky la la at times. Dr. did say that this drug will make me feel like an old lady for a while. I replied that i'm no spring chicken and he said I was young for this illness and told me to take a look in the waiting room. It's perhaps the only time at a doctors that &nbsp;I have been considered young, every other time I point out a problem to a doctor he replies 'Its an age thing'. Anyway ladies, your advice remains spot on the money, anticipation is the worst:) Hope you are all well as can be, hugs to all of you,&nbsp;
Hazel xx

deanne · Answer

Glad it went well for you today. You are another step closer to the finish line. Hope this chemo drug is not too bad for you. Look after yourself, I have my fingers crossed for you. Deanne xxx

melg · Answer

Hi Hazel
I can relate so well to your post. When I finished my 4 three weekly AC chemos I was so nervous to begin Taxol. What if I have an allergic reaction? What if I can't cope with the side effects? Why do they need to give me antihistamines before this type? Why are they using a drug made from a tree to fight this? 
I asked my partner to come with me for the first. " you know my wishes if anything goes wrong "  i said. I was so uptight
Of course the chemo went through just like the previous four. Of course I didn't have a reaction. Of course my supportive partner fell asleep in the comfy chemo chair next to me before the line was connected to my port a cath lol and yes he slept through most of the infusion lol
The unknown really is the worst isn't it. I lay awake waiting for the side effects to come. They did come but were manageable. I followed the advice from my favourite ChemoNurse.  That was " don't wait for the side effects to come... Take your prescribed meds as they work better at preventing the side effects rather than trying to make them go away once they have arrived."
I hope your side effects are minimal. Don't forget to keep a diary so you can remember your symptoms to tell your oncologist
Sending you lots of healing hugs xxx

melg · Answer

Hi Hazel
I can relate so well to your post. When I finished my 4 three weekly AC chemos I was so nervous to begin Taxol. What if I have an allergic reaction? What if I can't cope with the side effects? Why do they need to give me antihistamines before this type? Why are they using a drug made from a tree to fight this? 
I asked my partner to come with me for the first. " you know my wishes if anything goes wrong "  i said. I was so uptight
Of course the chemo went through just like the previous four. Of course I didn't have a reaction. Of course my supportive partner fell asleep in the comfy chemo chair next to me before the line was connected to my port a cath lol and yes he slept through most of the infusion lol
The unknown really is the worst isn't it. I lay awake waiting for the side effects to come. They did come but were manageable. I followed the advice from my favourite ChemoNurse.  That was " don't wait for the side effects to come... Take your prescribed meds as they work better at preventing the side effects rather than trying to make them go away once they have arrived."
I hope your side effects are minimal. Don't forget to keep a diary so you can remember your symptoms to tell your oncologist
Sending you lots of healing hugs xxx

janey235 · Answer

Well you are half way through. Not long to go and then we will be sending you 'Yippee' finished posts. I had four three weekly AC and was so scared about the change over to Docetaxel as it was again that unknown factor. You are most likely taking Dexamethasone steroids for a day or two now and they make you feel really up. I thought, "gee this is a piece of cake compared to AC". Well I was wrong, after the steroids stopped, I went down hill again and didn't do well at all. But on the up side, I went to lunch with my new BCNA Melbourne group yesterday and we all talked about Docetaxel and we all have different experiences with it. One of us didn't have any significant side effects at all! Another lady didn't think it was must different than AC and me, I had a fairly bad time. I'll say what's been said so many times before "we are all different". So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will breeze through without a worry.

Remember the anticipation is sometimes much worse than the participation.

Sending you hugs and wishing you well Hazel.

Love Janey xxx

mgndam1603 · Answer

Its so hard, I remember them giving me a pill when I was so anxious, the memory is vivid I was so scared. Poor honey, you will deal with it all and come through smiling. Soon you willbe out the other side like many of us and the pain and fear dims.
At the moment I am dealing with horrendous bone pain and trying the suggestions from the ladies here, my sister suggested Accipuncture, my response "no way is someone putting more needles in me". amazing my reaction was instant and my fear was back in the forfront.
We all have our issues but we mostly get through and manage.
Take care lovely.
Donna

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