TC chemotherapy
Hello everyone, I'm about to start Docetaxel and cyclophosphamide chemo on Monday. I'm to have 4 treatments, three weeks apart over three months . Gladly take any advice on what I should be doing ...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Finch. I had my fourth TC dose last week.
You've been prescribed Dexamethasone to take the day before, of and after? These gave me indigestion, which wasn't painful but quite uncomfortable, so have something on hand for that. My oncologist gave me Omeprazole which worked well.
I have really struggled with constipation throughout TC, though I have heard some people do get diarrhea, so probably best to waot and see, but stock up on the laxatives so they're on hand if that's the way you go. With the guidance of my GP & the good folk here, I've been using Coloxyl & Osmolax powder. Movicol gets great reviews too. If you do have this problem, yes, start taking the laxatives a day or two before.
The nurses will watch you closely when they administer the first dose, especially the Docetaxel, as it gives lots of people allergic reactions. It did for me, my face started to go red and hot and feel fuzzy, and within seconds I was given hydrocortisone and Phenergan. I loved the latter! It made me very sleepy and it was easy to doze through chemo thereafter.
You'll be given anti-nausea meds. My nausea varied from round to round. A little in the first, hardly any in the second, lots in the third, and a bit in the fourth. I was given Pramin to take and it worked really well. Don't hesitate to take it.
You'll probably be up and reasonably OK on the steroids for the day after. As they wear off on day 3 you'll probably feel very fatigued. It's the couch or bed for the next few days!
I gather from this forum that most people on TC get bone ache a few days after. For me it arrived late on day 4 and stayed for about 48 hours. I managed with paracetemol but it got worse each cycle so with my oncologist's permission I took ibuprofen & paracetemol this time which helped a lot.
Lots and lots of fluids is vital, especially in the first few days after the infusion. And close the lid when you (full) flush!
There might/will be some other side effects that come up along the way. We are all different, but don't suffer in silence! Reach out to this wonderful hive mind, work closely with your GP/breast care nurse/oncologist, and you'll be right. The nurses who administer chemo are also a great resource. They'll know what works for most any problem.
Exercise has been proven to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy, and to aid recovery. So if you only do one thing a day, make it a walk! It may only be short and slow at first, but the mental health benefits alone are worth it. I started with about 1.5kms and built up to 5kms each cycle.
It's easy to say don't worry too much about having chemo but harder to do! I was a mess before my first one, but you WILL get through it. Take it one day at a time, accept all offers of help (really, all of them), and be kind to yourself.
Please feel free to ask me any questions about TC, at any time. It's very fresh in my mind as I'm still slogging through it! You can ask here, or you can PM me. Best of luck and let us know how you go. Kate xox
You've been prescribed Dexamethasone to take the day before, of and after? These gave me indigestion, which wasn't painful but quite uncomfortable, so have something on hand for that. My oncologist gave me Omeprazole which worked well.
I have really struggled with constipation throughout TC, though I have heard some people do get diarrhea, so probably best to waot and see, but stock up on the laxatives so they're on hand if that's the way you go. With the guidance of my GP & the good folk here, I've been using Coloxyl & Osmolax powder. Movicol gets great reviews too. If you do have this problem, yes, start taking the laxatives a day or two before.
The nurses will watch you closely when they administer the first dose, especially the Docetaxel, as it gives lots of people allergic reactions. It did for me, my face started to go red and hot and feel fuzzy, and within seconds I was given hydrocortisone and Phenergan. I loved the latter! It made me very sleepy and it was easy to doze through chemo thereafter.
You'll be given anti-nausea meds. My nausea varied from round to round. A little in the first, hardly any in the second, lots in the third, and a bit in the fourth. I was given Pramin to take and it worked really well. Don't hesitate to take it.
You'll probably be up and reasonably OK on the steroids for the day after. As they wear off on day 3 you'll probably feel very fatigued. It's the couch or bed for the next few days!
I gather from this forum that most people on TC get bone ache a few days after. For me it arrived late on day 4 and stayed for about 48 hours. I managed with paracetemol but it got worse each cycle so with my oncologist's permission I took ibuprofen & paracetemol this time which helped a lot.
Lots and lots of fluids is vital, especially in the first few days after the infusion. And close the lid when you (full) flush!
There might/will be some other side effects that come up along the way. We are all different, but don't suffer in silence! Reach out to this wonderful hive mind, work closely with your GP/breast care nurse/oncologist, and you'll be right. The nurses who administer chemo are also a great resource. They'll know what works for most any problem.
Exercise has been proven to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy, and to aid recovery. So if you only do one thing a day, make it a walk! It may only be short and slow at first, but the mental health benefits alone are worth it. I started with about 1.5kms and built up to 5kms each cycle.
It's easy to say don't worry too much about having chemo but harder to do! I was a mess before my first one, but you WILL get through it. Take it one day at a time, accept all offers of help (really, all of them), and be kind to yourself.
Please feel free to ask me any questions about TC, at any time. It's very fresh in my mind as I'm still slogging through it! You can ask here, or you can PM me. Best of luck and let us know how you go. Kate xox