Does chemo side effects get worse the more you get?

Hi Mary

Sorry you had to join us here.But on a positive note its really great to be able to come on here and have a good rant or ask any questions that you need to as we have all been there,are there or will be there and understand totally how we all feel.
I finished chemo at end of march and yes 3rd one was the worst for me.I think as the first 2 went really well that i wasnt prepared for been hit with a tonne bricks on the 3rd!!!!That said last 3 werent great but i was better prepared mentally for them which made them tollerable.
Like you for 10 days after each one i couldnt tollerate any food hated the sensation and couldnt taste it anyway.Cant even look at creamed rice now as it was all i could manage to keep hunger away.
I hope you feel better and last 3 are ok for you .

xxW

Oh thank you, it's nice to talk to people in the same boat. God I'm dreading the next chemo as today I'm just feeling right again. Maybe as you say mentally ill b expecting it next time. The sick feeling and taste in your mouth is the worst. I love my food but I've got a turn against it now. I probably will hate the sight of Bovril after this as its the only thing I can taste now. I will so enjoy life when all this is over. We had to cancel a three week med cruise I was going on for my 50th. How your life can change around but as my surgeon told me, this time next year ill be ready for a big holiday.

You know you will.it was today last year i hadthe biopsy and sunday will se the year in diagnosed.I cant believe how fast the year goes!!!!!I have last herceptin in 2 weeks.I was early stage too with 2 tumors and dcis but the chemo completely cleared the tumors even before surgery.You know the taste comes back so quickly amonth after and it was bck to normal.Set your sights on that cruise for this time next year you will be amazed how fast it comes around.Oh and the chemo will be a very distant memory.

Hugs and good thoughts
xxw

So glad I read this post as was wondering all that myself. I have one done of 8 (4 x AC and 4 x T). Felt exactly as Mary describe the first week was a write off but the following two have been ok. I went to work on one of the days I was feeling bad but I will have to nip that in the bud as it was the worst day of my life.!!

Its great getting honest replies as its so much better to know whats ahead of you instead of people saying it will be grand!! I had heard as well that it gets worse as you go throught it. So enjoy the good days now though!

THanks!

I woke up this morning with a mark on my shoulder looks like a bruise but doesn't feel like one, not sore . There's always something, and you worry when you see something strange.

Oh God I couldn't consider work I just wouldn't have room for it in my head at he moment. My first two were ok but third one wasn't great but then it was only three I four really bad days. I do feel my energy levels have gone down even on the good days.

I was out just for a few drinks and a meal last night and when I got in to bed I got really upset just fed up having to put a wig on when I go out, it's most uncomfortable and it's not my hair and just hated been like I am, going through treatment, no hair, feeling off sorts, arranging your life around treatment I just couldn't stop crying but a big hug from my husband who reassured me I was half way through and hat very soon I'd be feeling normal again. Just sometimes it gets to you but I was fine this morning.

I'm not familiar with the terms used what is AC & T? I'm getting six sessions of carbo platin and taxotere alongside her ceptin which I get for a year.

Hi mary
I had 6 tch sessions too and used to wake up with what looked liked bruises too.Dont think its anything to worry about but mention it next time your in anyway.

xx

Sorry what's tch? Oh good ill say it to them on Monday week. It'll probably be gone by then.

TCH is taxotere carboplatin and herceptin xx

Oh great I've learned a new term which is my term Thanks

Hi Wicklow Lady,
Have read your recent posts, well done on getting to the halfway mark of the dreaded chemo. I have just completed my 6 rounds of TCH on Friday. (Can't believe i have just said that) I'm not going to tell you that it wasn't at times absolutely awful but the thing is I got through it. (On saying that I'm propped up in bed here with little energy) Christmas is only a few weeks away, you'll get there,
Shirls

Yes I won't be sorry when this part is over not looking forward to the next three. You sound similar to me although I'm eostregan negative. Do you know why some have the lumpectomy first like yourself but for me it's not till after the chemo.

Hi Wicklowlady,
No I really don't know why some of us have the lumpectomy before the chemo and others have it after. I was reading somewhere today when they described comparing cancers and their treatments like comparing apples with oranges - everyone is unique. God damm chemo brain I can't even remember where I read that now
Shirls

I have a work colleague who was diagnosed the week before me, she has chemo every two weeks and has had an op already. She's under the same oncologist as me and I will meet up with her again on Monday and ill ask her what kind she has it might give me some idea.

Hi

I finished six rounds of TCH a year ago this month for me they did get worse each time ten horrible days and ten okay days. Here I am a year later able to eat and drink whatever I like without thinking about it. I had my surgery after chemo and then 33 rads in January and February and it feels like a lifetime ago.

Remember however bad it gets it is worth it in the end the oncologists and surgeons out there do an amazing job and cancer is not a death sentence which is what I thought it was when I was first diagnosed.

Good luck with everything

Thanks Madge it's people like you that keep me going. Yes I had about ten bad days and then the next ten are fine which is nice that at least you do get some good days. Oh I can't wait till this is finished and feel normal again and can do normal things without thinking about chemo. I am having my surgery after chemo too. How much time is there between end of chemo and op and op and rads?

I just feel so safe under Jane and Janice they are my angels and I know this is all part of the healing process just wish the chemo end of it was over but I'm halfway through last one Christmas Eve !!

No we are lucky as the this type of cancer is so cureable thy told me this time next year I'd be ready for a big holiday and by God ill be saving one

Hi
I had five weeks between last chemo and surgery. Radio was supposed to start six weeks later but as this was the week before Christmas and I have young children I asked could it wait until after Christmas so there was eight weeks between op and radio.

The worst part of radio was tiredness I think at times I was even more tired than on chemo stuff and sore but definitely no sickness. Finished the end of feb finished herceptin in June went back to work part time in September have some bad days still a little stiff in the mornings but loads of good days

As the surgeon said to me if your going to get cancer this is one of the better ones to get as it is so treatable. The reason for chemo first is for faster growing cancer as it shrinks the tumour in some cases completely removes it! Reduces extent of op too. It is a relatively new way of doing things so long term stats not available yet but all indications are good.

Look after yourself
Madge x