Forum Discussion
What to expect - AC after Carbo/paclitaxel/pembro
Hi fighters,
I am super worried about what to expect with my first AC coming up. I'll be having my birthday gathering 3 days after it too.
I've got one more paclitaxel on its own in the 12 week carboplatin , paclitaxel, pembrolizumab regimen. For triple negative. I'm mid 40s.
Apart from a few short bouts of intense side effects, i feel I've been fairly fortunate. No nausea. Good appetite.
Side effects:
Pins and needles - then used cold gloves and socks so only mild tingles after that mostly.
Headaches and some fatigue occasionally in first weeks. Constipation after carbo - dealt with easily. Hints of UTI but also dealt with swiftly and all ok.
Whole body red rash week 9 followed by itchy hands and feet (skin was fine) keeping me up all night for 3 nights before getting better.
Fast testing heart rate in middle weeks - very out of breath and rate skyrocketing with a little activity.
I attribute my last weeks being very easy due to skipping 2 weeks due to low neutrophils and getting those booster injections nearly 2 weeks straight. Also paclitaxel dose reduce due to that horrible itch.
Do we think AC won't likely be so kind to me?
Am I stupid for wanting to get together with friends in my birthday? Of course no sick people allowed! I have remained social and continued to work (at schools!) so far.
Please share your experiences with AC, particularly if you feel similarities with mine so far.
Many thanks in advance ❤️
1 Reply
I had AC first and then paclitaxel. My diagnosis was different IDC ER+ PR+ HER2-
It's hard to predict how your body will react to AC everyone's experience seems to be a little different.
I would say the side effects I had from AC were middle of the road, I didn't suffer from nausea, and my appetite was ok. I did get extreme fatigue around day 4 after treatment that lasted around 4 or 5 days, I was tired and weak and could barely walk across the room before wanting to sit down. But that did pass and I'd feel ok again before the next round. All said and done it was manageable. When I was feeling well enough I'd meet a few friends for coffee. I didn't work while I had my AC treatment, although I know that some people do. If it wasn't for the severe fatigue I think I could have.
I had more niggly side effects on paclitaxel but I did have I more energy and I went back to work 2 days a week. However, after round 8 I got terrible mouth ulcers, and I had to stop for a week before resuming with a 30% reduction for the last 4 rounds.
Through it all my bloods were good, and I kept my appetite and some taste buds.
Listen to your body, don't overdo things, rest when you need to, and be kind to yourself.
Wishing you all the best on your journey.
Katie
