Hello girls, So I thought I was handling this Breast Cancer experience ok...got through the start ok...being diagnosed, telling my fiancé & family & even having the mastectomy a month ago...but... I had my 1st round of AC Chemotherapy last Tuesday ( 6 May) and it's really knocked me for a six. It's been a week today & I'm marginally feeling better. I have always had a dicky tummy (car sick, sea sick, bad hangovers etc) so I knew it wasn't going to be fabulous but it's just been f$#%ing awful! Sorry but the F word is required!! So my oncologist said it would be better within 48 hours which I could get my head around but it's now been 160 hours! Bleeeh! I'm fine with hot & cold sweats, ulcers, heavy, dizzy head, feeling emotional etc but I can't handle the feeling like I'm going to vomit every minute of the day! What I'm more scared about is my next round as they say it's a cumulative effect & I know I can't handle it if it's worse. Can anyone help with what drugs I can try for next round? I've tried natural therapies i.e. Ginger, peppermint & the anti nauseous pills but nothing seemed to help. Also I'm constipated so tummy is really struggling!! Thank you in advance for any advice...even if it's to tell me to harden up!! Lis xxx

Hi Lis Welcome to the network ... and I would never tell you to harden up!! My experience is an old one, and I think not all that common these days, so if it is able to help you in any way then I'll be happy. I had chemo back in October 2005 and I was so sick I ended up back in hospital that same night to have drugs to stop the vomiting. I talked to my Oncologist and Oncology Nurse before my next 'round' was due and they recommended I stay in overnight after chemo to have all the anti-nausea/anti-vomiting drugs by IV with fluids/saline and this worked beautifully for me. I would have treatment on a Friday at the clinic, starting after lunch and finish up at the end of the day, then get wheeled down to my room, with my IV still connected. It worked a treat, so I did this for the remaining chemo treatments - 6 in total, including the nightmare first one! I don't know if this is an option for you, but it worked for me. I would get picked up on the Saturday morning and whilst I would experience a bit of nausea,it was nothing like the first 24 hours and I kept it at bay by eating small meals regularly ... lots of plain salted chips/crisps, rice crackers/water crackers!! I did also have ginger & peppermint tea, which helped me. Sorry it's not working for you. Zofran, the wafer tablet you put under your tongue was brilliant as well. My oncologist would prescribe these for me - they were top of the range anti-nausea relief, but the only ones that worked , so have a chat to your Oncologist and/or Oncology Nurse and ask them to try some alternative options for you on your next chemo. Give them a call to discuss your concerns before your next visit so they're prepared with the right scripts to fill. All I can say it that it does get better towards end of week 2 and week 3 was great (in the scheme of things that is) ... just in time to do it all over again ... but it was never as bad as the first time because of staying overnight. I got really tired, and that is definitely part of the cumulative effect. I don't know if this is going to help, but at least you know you're not alone ... although getting sick does not appear to be as common as it was many, many years ago. The treatments have been so tailored to the individuals these days and the dosages so precise that in my time volunteering as peer-support, I didn't meet too many ladies who were sick all the way through - they were more the exception than the norm. I often commented that it was like being on a permanent hangover, without any of the 'good/fun stuff' from drinking alcohol!! Take care and good luckCheers Sherone xx

Hi Lis.. AC can be seriously hard work.. I remember a lady that did AC at the same time as me.. I stayed in hospital for days trying to escape and she would play golf in the afternoon after the iv !!!!.. You seriously need to speak to your Onc about the fact that it is not improving..If you are actually throwing up continually, you can easily dehydrate and that is not a place you want to go.. If it is severe nausea then there are many drugs they can use to assist you.. There are a large variety they can try to settle the feeling down. (I had to cave and take the drugs even though I hate them.. but it was not a choice i really had in the end )For your consitpation they used to give me colloxyl and senna and it seemed to work but also keep away from the codine drugs if you can (they make it worse).. I like pears and prunes too (if you can stomach them)..and I would never ever tell you to harden up.. AC is tricky !! hope you can find a better place with the next dose.. Cheers, Sharon xxx

Thank you Sherone - my oncologist was going to admit me on my 1st round but then decided not to for some reason so I might try that for the next! I really appreciate you sharing your journey with me, it is reassuring. I agree with having permanent hangover!! Lis xxx

Yes so many I've read & been told about are fine on AC :-( I've just come home (back to Tas) to have the remaining treatment so when I get into new oncologist I will be begging them to help!!! Did you get offered a variance to treatment or this isn't an option? Thank you so much Sharon, really appreciate you sharing with me! Lis xxx

At the time 2005 I am unsure if there were too many options.. I did not ask and I was not told.. I just worked my way thru my week in - week out and week getting ready. There will be a very good reason your onc has chosen AC and this may be a topic for discussion when you next see them.. Before you go in.. Make sure you write a list so everything is covered.. Sharon xxx

Chemotherapy, please help! | BCNA Online Network

18 Replies

KatieP
Member
12 years ago
Hi Lillisee,

AC is disgusting... how are you going? I have just had my fourth AC treatment and for the last 2 treatments I have been so emotional. My husband can't handle me anymore & is staying right away from me, can't say I blame him. I am normally wiped out for at least a week afterwards - severe nausea, can't eat, fatigue, etc. Unfortunately I got all the great nausea drugs but they made me really constipated which made the nausea worse. Coloxyl and senna didn't help, just gave me really bad stomach aches. Then I took Movicol which gave me diarrhoea, and then I didn't want to eat anything because I couldn't stop pooing!

The good news is that I am moving on to taxol now, sometimes called paclitaxel (spello!). However I am really freaking out about that too. It is once a week for 3 months and gee I hope I deal with it a bit better.

Katie
Lillisee
Member
12 years ago
Thank you for following up on us! I was a lil better in the first few days (maybe due to stronger drugs & Valium) but seemed to go down hill after that & it lasted longer...good 12 days before feeling less seedy! So emotional this time round too...bloody big sook!!! Felt great this week which has been nice...only to be knocked down again on Tuesday!! Just have to count them down I guess!! Good luck to Rentro5 and anyone else that is currently being treated xxx
SheroneB
Member
12 years ago
How was your 2nd round Lillisee and LoveRuby? Hoping that it was a bit more pleasant than the first...

And Rentro5 - good luck with yours next week too.

X Sherone
Rentro5
Member
12 years ago
Hi everyone ;) just read thro this post and wondering how the last treatment went? I'm starting my first chemo next week and really hoping for the best but expecting the worse ;( got my onco app tomz so will find out what sort i'll be having..
LoveRuby
Member
12 years ago
Hi Lillisee, I'll be thinking of you on 27th and hoping it goes much better this time. My oncologist told me the first time is always the worst, if that helps at all. I'm up for my 2nd dose on Friday 5th June, just a week behind you. I still feel nauseated with awful ringing in my ears. Let's just hope we get through these 6 months quickly and that things get easier. I'm also told Taxol is gentler than the AC (small mercies!).

All the best x
Lillisee
Member
12 years ago
Thank you AlyB - I will ask about Stemetil!

I thought I was strong but Chemo gave me a good run for my money!! x
Lillisee
Member
12 years ago
Thank you so much Ruby - its really awful isn't it. you poor thing, I couldn't look after myself let alone having 3 children to think about.

I have my next round on Tue 27 May...and am freaking out! Just hope its not as bad as the initial time! I hope yours is also better - I'll let you know how I go!

Take care xxx

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Chemotherapy, please help!

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