Cumulative Side Effects of Chemotherapy
Hi, I have had surgery for BC in left breast and lymph nodes which has been follwed by chemotherapy. I completed my last session last Tuesday and have found the side effects this time very intense. Apologies in advance for the topic, it is not pleasant.At first, Following my final infusion I was unable to go to the toilet and since then (after using coloxyl and prunelax) I have experienced 'urgency' and have had to rush to the toilet frequently. I feel nauseous and have had pain in my stomach. Until this cycle, side effects were unpleasant, peaking n the expected days, etc. but this has been been really brutal. Is this normal? I am so looking forward to things settling down and I am grateful for the excellent care that I am receiving from the amazing oncology team. In about three weeks I will commence radiotherapy which I will receive every week day for five and a half weeks then I will see my oncologist and go on hormone blockers for 5-7 years. I understand that the side effects of these are unpleasant but as I am well passed menopause I believe that this will not be as bad as if I were a younger woman. I am 69 and was working .5 in an academic position until my diagnosis. I know that I am not going back to that position, this experience has been life changing and I have noticed some cognitive changes. They are not 'severe' but I am nowhere near as sharp as I was. I am accepting that and just hope to recover. Is it normal to experience such intense side effects on the final round? Kind Regards, Anni
BYO Cold Cap?
Hi all, I have just found out that my hospital (Monash) doesn’t offer the cold cap for chemo. The breast care nurse I spoke to was very disparaging of them, saying there was no evidence they worked, which surprises me as they seem relatively common in better hospitals. She said the only option was to BYO frozen caps in an esky - has anyone here tried this? Was it successful? How do you keep the caps cold enough?
Chemo Tablets?
Hi all. I was diagnosed Triple Negative in late Nov 2023. Went straight on to Chemotherapy with lots of negative reactions, including anaphylaxis. Then had Surgery to remove lump and one lymph node which was all clear. Just finished 4 weeks of Radiation. Now my Medical Oncologist wants to put me on Capecitabine tablets for 6 months. I can't seem to get a straight answer as to why I need this as well as everything else. I was just starting to feel a bit more 'normal' and looking forward to life again. Has anyone else used these tablets that can give me an honest opinion. Thank you.
Hair cut before cold cap?
Hello there! I am going to start chemo soon and am going to use a cold cap. I've read your hair may still fall out so I'm wondering if I should still make a hair appointment to get it cut pretty short? Did any ladies with the cold cap get their hair cut short before starting chemo or should I just wait and see how my hair goes before taking drastic measures? And while you're at it, any tips on withstanding the cold cap? xxI'm still about - my next update -
Haven't felt like coming in here much and seems I'll need to move onbto another area perhaps.... So my Mammogram etc in january after finishing radiation in July - breast clear. 1 ticked off. I've begun chemo for colon, omentum spread and 3 nodes......first round was shite - especially when they told me to not take any laxatives etc.....as expected I would get diarreah.....but no I had a horrific 4 days and ended up in ER needing an enema - plus colitis.....so draining and uncomfortable.....so am doing it "my way" and have just done round 2....whacked day 1 arvo but lots of energy day 2.....I go home with one attached and had that disconnect yesterday, did too much yesterday perhaps and about to go lay down. So the plan is fortnightly chemo, til at least May - follow up with Peter Mac clinic...see if spread has stopped....reassess if operate.....thats basics...as I can't be bothered with full explainations sorry ..... but doing ok. Just got to kick it's arse outa mine !!! Hope everyone is doing ok. regards and best wishes.
Medications for Chemo: Dexamethasone etc.
Hi All, I’ll be starting my first chemotherapy, TCHP on Monday. My oncologist has prescribed me with 8mg Dexamethasone twice a day on the day before chemo and once daily for the next 3 days. On top of that, I’ll also be on anti-nausea meds: Netupitant and Palonosetron on the day of chemo. It just seems like so much! It freaks me out a little for taking so much steroid med. I’m wondering if I can try not taking Dexamethasone for my first chemo and see how I go? Has anyone done this? Thanks!
Thank you for this online forum
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed late June/ early July and had my first chemo treatment on August 1st - docetaxol/ carboplatin/ herceptin/ perjeta- yes Im all the positives! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has posted in the past as I found searching for side effects in this online community very helpful. It’s all very overwhelming and knowing that others have had a sudden runny nose and a cough a week after treatment was extremely reassuring. So again - Thank you all!
fatigue will it ever end
I have completed my Doxorubicin and Cyclophasphamide (8 weeks of fortnightly treatment) and after the last "top up" i was super fatigued, could only last 2 hrs before eyesight goes and i have to lye down. They said this was normal after the last one and it will go away .... it has been 4 weeks now and no change. I have Hashimotos ( underactive thyroid ) so i was wondering if anyone else has not recovered with their fatigue or has anyone else also got hashimotos and what effect did the chemo have on your medds Thanks