AC and PAX experiences?

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.  I spoke to my gp today and after talking to her I've decide I'll get a port. Hopefully save my veins.  
I'm so greatful to have all your support ❤️ 

hi @Cat2,
I am on my 4th line of treatment with IV chemo,I have a port,for me, the best thing ever, however as it was too late for surgery of any kind, i am still "intact,its a personal  choice, have you spoken to your oncologist about it or a mcgrath breast care nurse,the oncology nurses love a port, its so easy to access, so clean, and depending or not if your chemo drugs have to be refrigerated prior to infusion, they are bloody cold when they go into your vein a reral shock, they had run out of the special needles to access my port one day and had to go into my hand and poke around for a vein, they forgot to tell me the drugs ha been regrigerated and boy did i know about it, with a port you feel nothing at all,but as i am on going treatment for the rest of my life i am a bit different to you, all the other ladies have given the best info, most chemo suites have overherad tvs, but quite frankly i couldnt be bothered,the pre medicatiion they give you for anti nausea often makes you sleepy anyway and i am quite happy to put my legs up have a warm blanket given to me by the nurses and close my eyes while it all happens, its quite boring just sitting there, i think the first time at the hospital you may be there for a good couple of hours, the nurses will explain everything to you, then at some point a pharmacist will come and have a chat to you as well, so a lot of listening involved, a notebook or recording it on your phone, they should give you handouts outlining everything about the chemo and its possible side effects as well and you will probably go home with some anti nausea medication as well,good luck, we are all different and react differently, i did lose my hair, in fact its now the third time for me, on the chemo i am on now, it usually starts around day 14 to day 17 sometimes good to go and have a shorter hair cut first to get used to it,its all very daunting i know but you will get there.

take care listen to your body it will tell you when it needs to rest.

wendy55                                                                                             

I recommend a port. Especially if you have had an axillary clearance. As it is highly recommended after that surgery not to use that arm for any needles or blood pressures etc. That arm is prone to infection and Lymphodema. My best arm for bloods was the one I now protect. The other arm does not have good veins.
So, because I have preserved those veins. They are all I have other than feet etc. I don't know how well veins recover after many doses of Chemo, especially if only using one arm.
Perhaps if you don't have an axillary clearance, and therefore have 2 arms to use and also have good veins, a Port would not be necessary. Of course this is only my opinion.

I didn’t get a port and with lymphoedema in my left arm, my right arm got a good workout! But it’s still OK for blood tests, bit of scar tissue in my elbow area but nothing of concern. 

My port was very necessary as my veins kept getting harder to find. Your veins will improve after chemo but never be quite as good as before.

Thank you everyone for sharingyour experiences.  Hoping it all goes smoothly for me and the side effects are manageable.  I'm wondering did anyone get a port, if not how did your veins go by the end? Do they recover?

Hi @Cat2, for the 12 weekly Taxol I did my own cold therapy for hands and feet (some places offer it, but I had to organise myself as I am in a regional area that doesn't offer extra's!). I don't have any peripheral neuropathy; whether or not it was because of the cold therapy, or that I was just not going to get it I will never know, but I was happy to try anything to prevent as many side effects as possible.

Afraser and Blossum1961 have very good advice.
I had everything ready also. Everyone is different, but I had no severe side effects.
I did need Coloxyl for constipation..
Nexium for reflux. 
I had no nausea, I had anti-nausea drugs and never needed them.
I used the Cold Cap with very good success, I had only mild hair thinning. Ask me more if you want.
People I did not know,  could tell that I was on Chemo.
It doesn't work for everyone, but you would know between your 2nd and 3rd Chemo if it is working for you. Think about giving it a try.
I also mention Income Protection here. You may want to make a claim, if you have a policy (perhaps within your superannuation) If you want to do this get the forms and put them in soon.
All the best with your treatments, I hope it goes as well as possible.

As @Blossom1961 says, reactions vary. I was fine on A/C apart from hair loss, no
nausea, no fatigue. I did get a mild heart arrhythmia after I finished A/C but it may have been caused by a number of things. With paclitaxel I got an occasionally bloody nose, lost my tastebuds for a while but did get peripheral neuropathy which can linger. Nowadays you can get ice treatment for hands and feet to try and avoid this which I think is worth doing. The tingling/numb/painful aspects of PN usually abate after treatment but not always. Still no nausea or fatigue. All symptoms either cleared up after treatment ended or have proved manageable, but avoid the PN if you can. Best wishes. 

Have everything on hand just in case. You may breeze through and need nothing but best to be prepared. Make sure you have phone number of the hospital Oncology dept. Have medication for heartburn, headaches, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vertigo. I took anti histamine tablets prior to chemo but the nurses offered me those. You will be able to cope with it all if you are prepared. The heartburn caught me most by surprise but this is not overly common. Be prepared for taste changes and keep your water intake up, even if you have to mix it with other flavours. Many people find sparkling water more manageable. Sounds scary but is actually more annoying/frustrating.