tac 1st treatment

Thanks for your reassurance and encouragement Pip, yes the list is a bit daunting but I believe I can do this....although it may well be a rocky road. Yep I think pramin or someting similar will be my new friend:)

Im glad you mentioned work, I was becoming a little stressed out about it, I work in a school in admin and i have about 15 weeks of sick leave left which should get me through the chemo.My gp just said that I may just have to realise that a large part of 2013 may have to be at work. Its crazy though I miss work and all my friends there, plus i think its the normality that I miss.

Did you have any problems with taking the dex?

Also Pip did you have radiotherapy...ill be having 5 weeks after a months break from when chemo finishes. I hope to go back to work during that time though and just have afternoon appointments at the end of the day.

Thanks again

Hi Jackie

I bet you have read the list of side effects and it sounds very scary....well thats how i felt anyway!

Look its doable, i really didnt have many of the sides effects.

My main side effect was nausea but the pramin helps with that and they can always change your anti nausea drugs if they need too.You can do it !.. i was pretty fit like you and my oncologist said i sailed through it even though it didnt feel like that to me at times. For me i was usually sick for the first 7 days then i had 2 weeks to recover before doing it all again.

I had 10 months off work to do all my treatment, i dont think i could have worked while undergoing chemo... so my advice would be just relax at home maybe some nice beach walks and do things you enjoy to keep your mind off it.Losing your hair is very hard also mine fell out 2 weeks after the first chemo, i got myself a lovely wig that was nicer than my own hair and it was a similar style to what  i had , for me i would put on my wig and go shopping and for me looking the same as before was important, it made me forget what i was going through for a while.

Wishing you all the best ... x

Pip or Carmel, if you are still on here any key advice for me - I am starting TAC in 10 days... a little scary but my oncologist seems to think that I may do well on this, he says Im fit, 'healthy', not carrying any weight, non-smoker etc. The other option I has was AC and other chemo total of 30 weeks.....just seemed to much for me, although not as strong chemo he said.

Thanks jackie

Hi Carmel ,Yes i was having cravings like being pregnant ! but i felt disgusting needed to eat every couple of hours ,and yes i had baked beans on toast ! I was lucky i have had my older sister and husband preparing all my food for me this last week . I am feeling better today ( day 7 after tac) thankgod, yes i had the neulasta injection the day after but i wore a patch on arm for bone pain ( norspan) i think its helped no pains today ?and i was taking Pramin for the nausea next time i will start the Pramin before i start to feel sick, i will ask for nexium if my heartburn continues , thanks for the advice if you got through it i am sure i can as well.

Pip

Pip I finished 6x TAC on Dec 22nd (really screwed up xmas) I suffered with bad reflux after the first one & went back to the chemo ward & saw the doc & he put me onto nexium & I stayed on it right the way through until just a week or so ago. The nexium didn't quite cut it though so I also had pariet to take starting the day before chemo for about a week to ten days while my stomach was really bad. The other thing I found that helped was eating custard sometimes, & porridge or semolina, but my saving grace was potatoes !  No-one could tell me why it helped ...possibly because they are dense or starchy ?? I would have them microwaved in the jacket & then  a little grated cheese. Sometimes when I could handle it I would add baked beans. It sounds gross when I think about it but it worked. I never had any cravings through three pregnancies but I'm sure chemo made up for it. My GP said ...."I will never say this again but eat what you like while you have chemo !! "  I stayed on the medication till I felt brave enough to come off & kept some in reserve in case I needed them. Do you have neulasta injection the day after your chemo ? could this have something to do with you back pain......I had terrible pain in the hips & legs from it. Talk to your doctor, they will be able to give you something. Good Luck with it all. It will be over soon & the benefit outweighs the side effects. Carmel

Pip I finished 6x TAC on Dec 22nd (really screwed up xmas) I suffered with bad reflux after the first one & went back to the chemo ward & saw the doc & he put me onto nexium & I stayed on it right the way through until just a week or so ago. The nexium didn't quite cut it though so I also had pariet to take starting the day before chemo for about a week to ten days while my stomach was really bad. The other thing I found that helped was eating custard sometimes, & porridge or semolina, but my saving grace was potatoes !  No-one could tell me why it helped ...possibly because they are dense or starchy ?? I would have them microwaved in the jacket & then  a little grated cheese. Sometimes when I could handle it I would add baked beans. It sounds gross when I think about it but it worked. I never had any cravings through three pregnancies but I'm sure chemo made up for it. My GP said ...."I will never say this again but eat what you like while you have chemo !! "  I stayed on the medication till I felt brave enough to come off & kept some in reserve in case I needed them. Do you have neulasta injection the day after your chemo ? could this have something to do with you back pain......I had terrible pain in the hips & legs from it. Talk to your doctor, they will be able to give you something. Good Luck with it all. It will be over soon & the benefit outweighs the side effects. Carmel