Do Chemo treatments get worse each time?

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rjjj
rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just wondering........i have been told by people that with each treatment you will have more side effects and try to take one day at a time but can't help but worry, can anyone help?

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  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #2
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    Treatment Woes
    Interesting post! My sister in law, who was a long time chemo RN was correct when she told me that the way I reacted to my first chemo would by and large set the tone for subsequent infusions of the Beast killing poison! I was queasy, but never threw up...not the first time, nor the rest of the times.

    This is not to say it was a walk in the park! For me, a few things made it "worse". The fatigue was cumulative; I eventually entered a Twilight Zone of exhaustion which I didn't know existed. That exhaustion made me "cranky", and weepy. Rather like a 2 year old at the supermarket who is a few hours past naptime! We are also known to get a REAL condition called "chemo-brain". Cognitive function suffers, we feel as if early Alzheimers is setting in, and it is scary to think that that this may be who we will always be! Thankfully,it does reverse itself! And on those days WAY past treatment, you can still use it as an "excuse"if you ever feel addle-brained!

    If your white count drops, and your DR says you need a shot of a white-boosting drug called Neulasta, it can be painful. It does a great job of creating white cells, and does so by speeding up its production in the bone marrow. Being as we have 206 bones, and they are now all working overtime, 48 hrs after the injection our bones can ache for 3 days or so. You can take Tylenol to help with that.

    I know the Kindred Spirits in here will weigh in and help you make your way to Life After Cancer!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • Wibby
    Wibby Member Posts: 27
    #3
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    Mine Didn't
    My side effects were about the same for each infusion. I never got anything new after that. I got thrush(?) every time, but knew how to recognize it and start treatment for it earlier. Psychologically each treatment got easier for me because I knew what to expect. The one symptom that got worse each time was the fatigue. By the last treatment I was dragging, but also exultant knowing that it was the last. After my third treatment, I received Reiki Therapy as part of an experiment one of the docs at my cancer center was doing. It was amazing. I needed no additional anti-nausea drugs after that treatment (I had been averaging about 3-4 pills in the days immediately after treatments. My energy also seemed to come back much quicker. Unfortunately the study was concluded and I was unable to find anyone to provide the therapy on my next three treatments.

    I would have to say that my first treatment was by far the worse for me as I kept waiting for something else to happen. I didn't know what to expect. As it turned out, my thrush got really bad after the first treatment because I didn't know what to report. I still had it going into my second infusion - the thrush got into my vocal chords so badly that I couldn't talk - made teaching a drag! One of the side effects of the thrush medication gave me severe gut pain and back spasms because of it. I ended up going to the emergency room at 3 a.m. After that initial treatment, I was much better prepared and knew what was coming. I didn't like it, but I knew I could handle it.

    One thing that really helped me with my treatments was keeping a journal. Then I could go back and see when my throat started getting sore or when I was so tired I just wanted to hang out on the couch. The journal made my journey less frightening for me when I could look back and see that the side effects do go away. I had six treatments of TAC every three weeks, so the third week after treatment was good - I could eat and taste again! Then I went back and did it all over again.

    Sorry I rambled on so long. I hope some of it helps. I wish you the best of luck in your treatments. Just know that you can do it and we are all here to support you!
    Libby
  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133
    #4
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    It varies with each person and the drug you are getting
    I had 12 straight weeks of Taxol/Herceptin. I went in on Fridays (sometimes Thursdays). And would start to feel normal again on the day I had to go back for my infustion. With Taxol I had progressively worse allergic reactions each week so I eventually had to switch to Abraxane. The bone pain seemed to increase with each visit, but it did eventually go away post-treatment. With Herceptin, my reaction (fever/chills) got progressively worse with the first 4-5 treatments and then went away. I continued Herceptin for a year and really didn't have many side effects.

    And as many have mentioned, the fatigue symptoms seemed to accumulate with me, too.

    Every phase of treatment seems to present its own set of issues. So taking it one day at a time is helpful. Sometimes I would research what to expect for the next phase of treatment....because I like to have an idea of what's ahead....but I tried to keep my focus on the present.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #5
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    You can do this!
    Well, everyone is different but I can share my experience. I had 4 rounds of AC and 4 rounds of T. (Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol) My first treatment was fine during the infusion, but when I got home I had mild nausea. I took my meds though and stuck to a bland diet for a few days and I was ok. The second treatment though was different. I felt unwell during the treatment and was nauseus for a few days and dizzy and jittery for about a week. For the third treatment, my onc. added a bag of aloxi to my chemo. hoping it would improve my nausea but instead it actually made things worse. I became ill as soon as the aloxi entered my vein. My sister said I turned gray. I was ill the rest of the day with vomiting and felt crappy for about 5 days with delayed nausea. I did not get the aloxi for the next 2 AC treatments but the nausea and dizziness was still a bit worse with some vomitting after each infusion. Overall though it WAS DOABLE. I did briefly consider refusing the 4th AC infusion though! The good news is that the last 4 rounds of Taxol were a million times better. My onc. reassured me they would be and he was right. I had moderate bone pain(which I'll take any day over nausea)and fatigue for about a week after each treatment. Some people have a harder time than that with Taxol but most I'm told do not.

    In general, looking back chemo did suck, but it was not anywhere near as bad as I had feared it would be. As most will agree, its definitely doable. I had my treatments on thursdays and took that day and the friday as sick days and went back to work on the monday. I was tired but was able to manage. I am a teacher and luckily 3 of the AC treatments fell during summer vacation. If not I probably would have taken a few more sick days, but who knows...

    You will definitely be ok. Keep posting here with your questions; there are so many kind people here who will share and support you through this. I wish I had known about this site during my treatment. Take good care and hang in there, Eil
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #6
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    same-ole, same-ole
    I had 10 chemo treatments, three weeks apart in 1986 and '87. Then in 1988 I had to start all over and had 12 treatments, three weeks apart in '88 and '89.
    For the better part of 4 years I was taking or trying to recover from chemo.
    And for me, the first treatment and the last treatment were pretty much the same-ole same-ole, as were every one in between.
    I would be in bed for about 3 days after each treatment...well, maybe I COULD have got out of bed, but eh, LOL. Then the 4th day through the 7th day I was just tired and cranky. After that I had two whole weeks when I was pretty much myself. I never had blood counts too low to allow for the next treatment, or mouth sores, or any of the other dern-its so many of the women and men talk of here on the boards. I was just tirrrrrrrrred a lot, but I worked around it and asked for help and pampered myself on the 'sick days'.
    When all that was over, I went right into 5 weeks of daily radiation treatments and except for mooooore fatigue, I made it through ok.
    The main thing to remember is that whatever it takes to get you through is whatever it takes....and you are WORTH IT.
  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    #7
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    Thanks for the inspiration
    Today I woke up to find out that Moopy was already up and about and doing things. Not only that, she herself had crossed out Day 10 on the ChemoCalendar. She positively pestered me to take her out for breakfast: she didn't eat a lot, but she ate some of everything. Then we went humidifier shopping. We wound up buying one at Sears - Moopy couldn't resist a hit and run mission on Women's Clothing and wound up with a couple of cute tops. Once a Moopy, always a Moopy.

    While we were driving home - it's a nice, sunny, fairly warm day - Moopy observed that getting out was a reminder of what our life will be like again. Actually, I had a really nice time as it was. I mentioned this thread to her - the common wisdom that the first is the worst because of the uncertainty and the rest is more of the same, only more so. Not a walk in the park by any means but a fight worth whatever it takes to win.

    I can't wait until Moopy starts feeling a little stronger so that she can experience at first hand the wonderful community of SURVIVORS over here!

    Joe
  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #8
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    Aortus said:

    Thanks for the inspiration
    Today I woke up to find out that Moopy was already up and about and doing things. Not only that, she herself had crossed out Day 10 on the ChemoCalendar. She positively pestered me to take her out for breakfast: she didn't eat a lot, but she ate some of everything. Then we went humidifier shopping. We wound up buying one at Sears - Moopy couldn't resist a hit and run mission on Women's Clothing and wound up with a couple of cute tops. Once a Moopy, always a Moopy.

    While we were driving home - it's a nice, sunny, fairly warm day - Moopy observed that getting out was a reminder of what our life will be like again. Actually, I had a really nice time as it was. I mentioned this thread to her - the common wisdom that the first is the worst because of the uncertainty and the rest is more of the same, only more so. Not a walk in the park by any means but a fight worth whatever it takes to win.

    I can't wait until Moopy starts feeling a little stronger so that she can experience at first hand the wonderful community of SURVIVORS over here!

    Joe

    Ahhh, Joe...
    I can't remember whenever a post has given me such 'warm fuzzies' as yours did.
    It is so great that you and your dear Moopy are once again beginning to experience the good things of life together. It does make all the hard work worth it. Can't wait to meet her. :)
  • Wibby
    Wibby Member Posts: 27
    #9
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    Another reply
    My husband reminded me of a suggestion from a friend of mine who is a chemo nurse. She told him not to cook any of my favorite foods the first two weeks after chemo as I would not like them as well after treatments due to the association. So we set up a rotation of foods that I could easily tolerate especially during the first two weeks, avoiding my favorites. I'm sure it got boring for him, but he never complained. Once my taste buds started to come back after about two weeks, I craved salty foods first and then just before my next infusion sweets. I pretty much ate what I wanted for the couple days just before chemo. and then it started all over again. I never want to see tuna noodle casserole (went down real easy) or shephard's pie again. But then, we never had it much before cancer.
    I wish you well in your journey!
    Libby
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #10
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    Mine were pretty much the same each time....
    As others have said, everyone is different. This was my second cancer's worth of chemo within 6 months, so it could be I was already sensitized....

    Day after, 'hampster in a wheel' day...HIGH energy (probably from the anti-nausea drugs)...I worked all day (self-employed computer consultant, I had no choice).
    Day 2, morning I felt great, again...worked till about 1 p.m. Then got tired, went home.
    Day 3, I felt pretty rocky all day. Slept ALOT. Ate scalloped potatoes (STILL love them, to this day...lol!).
    Day 4, woke early, baked some crescent rolls. Ate 4 or so. Felt MUCH better. Ate special fried rice from a local place for lunch...after that, back to normal...
    Day 5, back to work. Normal except I craved protein, so I always treated myself to a BIG turkey sandwich for lunch.

    I think that knowing that it was almost over helped ALOT on day 3...the routine of it was, in a way, comforting.

    I'm rooting for you, sweet soul!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • Derbygirl
    Derbygirl Member Posts: 198
    #11
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    Don't expect side effects
    Don't expect side effects because we're all different was the best advice I received early in my treatment. Most of us experience side effects and there are ways to treat them. I had 4 rounds of C/T with IV anti-nausea meds and a sedative. I was drowsy the day of treatment and never became sick. Fatique which was a cumulative effect was my biggest problem. A diary was kept during the first cycle following treatment and each subsequent treatment presented the same problems on about the same days. I rested often, ate small frequent meals, kept a positive attitude that it would be finished soon, looked forward to week #3 when I would feel somewhat normal again and visited this site often for information from those who have been there. Good Luck!
  • cnwrn
    cnwrn Member Posts: 28
    #12
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    Everyone is different
    Hi:

    Before you read my experience, remember everyone is different, and my was unusually severe. The first cycle of Adriamycin/Cytoxan went well. I also had a pre-treatment dose of Aloxi and Decadron IV, and had taken Emend. The first 2 days were fine. I thought, this is great, no problems. I was then nauseated for about 5 days, and then tired, but feeling mostly OK until my next treatment. I did also have diarrhea, but not frequently enough to be worrisome. My treatments were scheduled 2 weeks apart. The second treatment was again OK for 2 days, but I was tired and severely nauseated with dry heaves for the next 2 weeks. I had no appetite or thirst. I had to force myself to eat and drink. When I went for my 3rd treatment, they took one look at me and post-poned it for a week and lowered the dose. I felt a little better just by the time the 3rd treatment came. That treatment nearly did me in. I got to where I couldn't eat anything but baby food peaches and then I couldn't even eat that. I could only get chocolate milk down (and I don't even like milk). That is what kept me alive. Water tasted rancid. I had to get IV fluids a couple of times. My 4th treatment of A/C was cancelled, as were all of the Taxol treatments. My oncologist said "it was beating me up too much." I asked if this was unusual and he said, yes. The oncology nurses also said it was rare to cancel the treatment. I am an RN, but sometimes feel stupid because I don't know much about oncology (I'm am a medical/surgical nurse), but I have learned a lot more than I ever intended to on the subject! My oncologist said that it was the accumulative effect that I couldn't tolerate. But as you can see in the postings, not everyone has each treatment get worse. I hope you don't have any trouble with yours. My last treatment was Oct 10th, and I still have some weakness and fatigue, but my taste is back and I am able to eat. I lost 40 pounds during the fall from the chemo (at least I could afford to lose it!)

    Take Care,

    Cathy
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #13
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    nauseous
    I'm just telling you how I reacted to chemo to give you an idea of how different it is for each of us. I would feel fine until 30 minutes after and would bearly get home and start throwing up. All the rest of that day I couldn't keep anything in. The next day was better but still nauseous. It would take about a week to start feeling better. I started wearing a shirt that I didn't like to treatment just incase I developed an aversion to it. They must have thought that is the only shirt I had. When I got home I would put on a bathrobe. The problem was I got sick after I got home and had the bathrobe on. It was new but after treatment it still made me nauseous so I gave it to Goodwill.

    I had other minor problems but I remember the nausea the most. It did with each treatment last longer but also I would think how much closer to being finished I was. I was also very tired and could fall asleep watching tv.

    I am a five year survivor and lots of the bad stuff is fading from memory. I did like eating Chinese restaurant fried rice. It seemed to make me feel better when I could eat. The oncology nurse told me to eat a cracker or something if I felt nauseous. She said something in my stomach would make me feel better.
  • jakeca
    jakeca Member Posts: 92
    #14
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    My experience
    I have had two treatments of Cytoxan and Taxotere, my third being tomorrow. I am fortunate and will only have to have four total. I assume there are different strengths or amounts of the drugs--my infusion only takes about three and 1/2 hours. Anyway, it might encourage you to know that I have had very few side effects from either of the treatments. No nausea. The steroids make me a little "freaky"--rubber leggy and hard to sleep. I do feel some fatigue--more the second time than the first and I expect that will increase again this next time. Anyway, overall, I feel I have nothing to whine about. I am very fortunate compared to others and maybe that is how it will be for you, too!

    God is my refuge and strength.
  • ohilly
    ohilly Member Posts: 441
    #15
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    chemo
    My chemo was not bad at all - the only side effects I had were a bad taste in my mouth and my hair fell out. It did NOT get worse with each infusion, and my doctor also told me that however I reacted the first time was the way I was going to react the rest of the time, and for me, that turned out to be true.

    Best of luck - before you know it, the chemo will be over.

    Ohilly
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #16
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    Everyone reacts differently,
    Everyone reacts differently, my personal expereince was that for me it got worse with every treatment. May have been the chemo meds I was on. I was given 8 rounds of cytoxan, adriamycin, and 5FU. Now, that I look back, I don't recall reading anyone being on these meds for so long, and maybe that's why I got so sick towards the end. Maybe 8 rounds was way too much. I don't know, all I can say is I'm glad it's over. Just ask your doctor for nausea meds before you start your treatment and take it before you go for your infusion. Better safe than sorry because if you do get sick, then it's hard to get a handle on it and no matter what you'll take you will be nauseas. Good luck and hugs, Lili
  • guerin
    guerin Member Posts: 1
    #17
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    jakeca said:

    My experience
    I have had two treatments of Cytoxan and Taxotere, my third being tomorrow. I am fortunate and will only have to have four total. I assume there are different strengths or amounts of the drugs--my infusion only takes about three and 1/2 hours. Anyway, it might encourage you to know that I have had very few side effects from either of the treatments. No nausea. The steroids make me a little "freaky"--rubber leggy and hard to sleep. I do feel some fatigue--more the second time than the first and I expect that will increase again this next time. Anyway, overall, I feel I have nothing to whine about. I am very fortunate compared to others and maybe that is how it will be for you, too!

    God is my refuge and strength.

    chemo
    Hi jakeca, am scheduled for same drugs as you had -- 4 treatments 3 wks. apart, concerned about side effects mainly, and long term affect of the chemo - can you advise? thanks

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