Forum Discussion
Chemo 1st one down what a ride
Hi all, I had my first chemo and wow the side effects, the headaches, back pain constipation, mouth ulcers and on it goes . Ended up in hospital for 8 days, and what an awful 8 days, just home yesterday, and next treatment is the 1st April, just hoping for a different outcome, but will keep you posted.
33 Replies
- PV123 said:Hi @Berchel14
Sorry I didn’t see your earlier message in March. I did not have the AC chemo, I had weekly Paclitaxel for 12 weeks. I have three weekly herceptin till September this year. From what the other ladies have indicated, AC is more challenging than Paclitaxel. I did have stomach issues, skin issues, mouth ulcers and one trip to the hospital.Hopefully your next chemo session is better, sending you hugs.
Thank you for the feedback, I am seeing the Dr on Thursday so I am going to ask questions. 🙂 - Hi @Berchel14
Sorry I didn’t see your earlier message in March. I did not have the AC chemo, I had weekly Paclitaxel for 12 weeks. I have three weekly herceptin till September this year. From what the other ladies have indicated, AC is more challenging than Paclitaxel. I did have stomach issues, skin issues, mouth ulcers and one trip to the hospital.Hopefully your next chemo session is better, sending you hugs. - Stomach massage in clockwise direction and movicol for constipation and mayb a hydralite for exhaustion? I found these helped me a little xxx
- Hang in there babe" i found a wet facecloth was a great tool to have with my headaches" iv only had my first chemo last week also xxx
- Hi @Berchel14 I am sorry to hear you are having a rough time - AC is gruelling and grotty but you are now half way. I did the 4 and I have just had number 7 of the 12 weekly taxol. Taxol has been far better for me and I hope you have the same experience. When I finish chemo I will have surgery. Treatment is a challenge at any time and isolation adds another layer to it. This forum is an excellent place to come to for so much practical advice, it has helped me so much, especially now we are in isolation.I also tried the cold cap and after the second AC I decided it was not working for me. I was also getting really anxious just watching my hair. I am a pretty much ‘give it a go’ person but I know that the cap is a pretty inexact science - works really well for some and does not work for others and you don’t know which group you are until you try it. I ended up shaving my hair - and yes, I cried - but then I moved on. The silver lining to not using the cap was no more anxiety over whether it was working and the treatment was much quicker. I really just sat down got hooked up for the treatment and away I went. My supportive nurses were helping as much as they could with the cap, but as they explained even if a person keeps 30% of their hair, the company counts that as a success. For me, 30% of my hair was extremely thin and patchy too.I am sending you lots of good wishes. Hang in there and take care. X
- @Berchel14 I finished last August.
- Thank you Blossom I don't have any connections other than here to discuss it all with, so frustrating that you have these terrible side effects that go with it all. Where are you treatment wise ?
- So sorry you are struggling so much through this. AC is crappy. That’s all I can say.
- Rant away @Berchel14 This whole thing sucks and is bad enough without having the horrible extreme side effects. I had nearly every side effect, even the unusual ones, but only a couple were extreme. Most were mild and I only ended up in hospital three times and ended up going home within 24 hours each time. After it is finished, you will realise it was worth it, but during treatment it is hard to see the finish line. Hang in there and come here every time you want to. I lived in this forum during AC-T and found new friends that understand. Sending big hugs to get you through this grotty time.
