How long does this last..........

Crystlesmom
Crystlesmom Member Posts: 20
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had my first chemo TAC last Thursday......how long does this last? I can barely type this How do you women get through this............I don't know if I can do this again.......I'm a wimp, I guess.........
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Comments

  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    Not a Wimp
    It will pass, Crystlesmom, and you're not a wimp for feeling so badly. I can tell you that after completing 6 rounds of TAC last April.

    I felt the same way as you during the first round, especially the first week. The steroids are making you jittery. I could not sleep the entire first week after the first treatment. My husband, Aortus, posted on this board for help, back in January. If you don't have Ativan, you might ask your onc. about it. It is an anti-nausea med but will also help you sleep.

    The second week will be better, and the third even more so. Just take it one step at a time. I used to tell myself: just make it through this day, this hour, this minute, these seconds. As the song from that Christmas program says, "Just put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking through the door."

    In the meantime, post any time with any questions or concerns or just feelings you want to share. Someone who understands will be here. And we all have shining lights to guide you through the tunnel.
  • padee6339
    padee6339 Member Posts: 763
    I don't know
    I don't know how long it lasts. I had taxotere/carboplaten and had hardly any sick side effects at all - just the hair falling out. These ladies will be more of a help than I am. I can only tell you that you are strong and you will get through this with flying colors. I will keep you in my prayers Crystlesmom. Hang in there!
    Pat
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    padee6339 said:

    I don't know
    I don't know how long it lasts. I had taxotere/carboplaten and had hardly any sick side effects at all - just the hair falling out. These ladies will be more of a help than I am. I can only tell you that you are strong and you will get through this with flying colors. I will keep you in my prayers Crystlesmom. Hang in there!
    Pat

    When you feel you can't do it
    When you feel you can't do it any more know close you eyes and invision all your sisters in pink reaching out there hands to you to pull you up on your feet, give you strength, wrap there arms around you to help you when you feel as if you cannot help yourself.
    We are here for you the worse will pass, and in time it will feel like a terrible nightmare that you are just waking from.
    tjhay
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!!!!
    You are absolutely NOT a wimp!!! You are a fighter, a warrior, a sister in pink, and it is not an easy journey! As TJ so eloquently said, we are with you, and will do whatever we can to help you. Look at how many posters we have in here; none of us is particularly strong alone, so we come here for the same reason you do. We all need to connect with fellow warriors and be given the courage to face the Beast. All feelings are normal~ fear, tears, exhaustion included! But also know this; it does get better, it does get to be a part of your past, and the cure is NOT worse than the disease, even if some days it seems like it just might be.
    Hold tight, dear sister, and don't give up! Every treatment down is one closer to you being finished, and that will be such a wonderful cause of celebration for all of us!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    the little engine that could.
    We all feel that way to a certain extent. My friend was positive she would not go to her second treatment because the first was so bad. But then you get over it and realize you are doing this for a very good reason, and you continue.
    When it comes to the first time because it is so foreign, thinking that we are allowing someone to deliberately poison us, but it does get better, I promise.
    Let us know how your next one goes.
    Cat
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    You aren't a wimp. Chemo is
    You aren't a wimp. Chemo is awful. I didn't have to have it, but, others here have and got thru it and you will too. Just come here when you need encouragement and we will support you. I hope it gets better for you!
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    You will survive this.
    Crystalsmom- I just finished 4 rounds of A/C, then 3 rounds of Taxol. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. The very first treatment was by far the worst, extreme nausea and feeling like I had the flu with aches and pains. I needed to have IV with fluids a few days after. I told the nurse that I didn't think I could even do one more treatment. Day 10 after treatment, things will get better. I did get through it one minute at a time. From that point forward, the doc added Emmend to my premedications. The Emmend helped a lot but it was still tough going. I also felt like a wimp because I kept reading and hearing that other people went to work and felt okay. I started asking people, who said that they went to work, what chemo they had. They had totally different chemo than me. I have met a chemo friend who is going through the same horrible experience you and I are having. You will get through it and in the long run we will have learned just how tough we are. My thoughts are with you. Scout
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    Praying for you
    Just want to send you strength Crystelsmom to help you thru this!

    Love, Jeanne
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    I had a hard time on chemo
    I had a hard time on chemo also and I'm not a wimp. Some people just have a harder time than others. Hang in there. Post what types of problems you are having and someone else will have had them and might be able to give you tips on helping with it. Or you can ask your onc or nurse.
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    It will pass
    I had TAC as well Crystlesmom, and it is not an easy regimen. But, you can feel good that it is an aggressive treatment that will give you your life back once you're done. When I first started, I was afraid that the bad feeling I had would never end. I will never forget when my oncologist said, "you will always recover" from each treatment. She was right. Each time I thought that this time I would feel awful the entire time. Each time I was wrong. I always recovered. You'll recover, too. If you have specific complaints like nausea, mouth sores, etc. make sure to let your onc. know. They have solutions for almost anything these days. I was on a few anti-nausea meds, anti-mouth sore meds, and meds for a finicky GI track. These really helped me to carry on with my life, even through chemo. You will make it through this. Usually the second and third weeks were OK for me.

    Mimi
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
    Hi Crystlesmom
    No way are you a wimp. Chemo is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my whole life. I just finished #3 of ac friday and have 1 more to do a week from friday then its on to taxol and herceptin. But Im half way thru after next treatment...

    You can do this...We all help each other get thru the hard times and we seem to muddle thru. The fatigue is hard but it seems to get easier each day after treatment is over. Make sure to rest alot, take cat naps and dont push too hard.

    Hang in there...were all in this together

    Hugs
    Linda t
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    YOU CAN DO IT!!!
    I know you are feeling bad but it will pass. You will get through it. Look at how many woman on this site who have made it through. You are not a WIMP. You are just having a rough time on chemo. Talk to your Onc. I told them before chemo I had a weak stomach and to load me up on all the anti-nausea meds they had to offer. They give me anti-nausea meds with my chemo, I take a pill every 6 hours for anti-nausea and I take another pill for anti-nausea at bedtime. I take these for however long I need to until I don't feel sick. You can get these on a 24 hour refill even so you will not run out or have to wait for 30 day insurance issues or have them give you a month supply.

    It will get better and then so will you.

    P
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    aztec45 said:

    YOU CAN DO IT!!!
    I know you are feeling bad but it will pass. You will get through it. Look at how many woman on this site who have made it through. You are not a WIMP. You are just having a rough time on chemo. Talk to your Onc. I told them before chemo I had a weak stomach and to load me up on all the anti-nausea meds they had to offer. They give me anti-nausea meds with my chemo, I take a pill every 6 hours for anti-nausea and I take another pill for anti-nausea at bedtime. I take these for however long I need to until I don't feel sick. You can get these on a 24 hour refill even so you will not run out or have to wait for 30 day insurance issues or have them give you a month supply.

    It will get better and then so will you.

    P

    Does it get worse going from
    Does it get worse going from AC to Taxol. My onc said that when i go on Taxol she is not even going to give me the Emend anymore, Said I won't need it. So now I am confused.
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    Kat11 said:

    Does it get worse going from
    Does it get worse going from AC to Taxol. My onc said that when i go on Taxol she is not even going to give me the Emend anymore, Said I won't need it. So now I am confused.

    Taxol
    Kat,
    Taxol is mild compared to AC.
    Never had to use the anti-nausea meds with Taxol.

    You will do fine.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member

    Taxol
    Kat,
    Taxol is mild compared to AC.
    Never had to use the anti-nausea meds with Taxol.

    You will do fine.

    Hugs,
    Margo

    Thanks Margo

    Thanks Margo
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    Taxol
    Kat- Taxol is easier than A/C for me. I continued with Emmend and Zofran for the Taxol, but I am easily nauseated. I am not doing the last Taxol due to fingers and feet that are numb and some hearing loss. Good luck to you.
    Scout
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    You can do it Crystlesmom!
    You can do it Crystlesmom! You can do it for Crystal, your daughter, right?

    Praying for you

    Kylez
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    Then I am a double wimp!
    Please do not feel like you are a wimp! You are going through the most brutal treatment to have the most wonderful life and I don't believe bravery was a requirement. I admire everyone that has to go through chemo. I feel like wimping out on Rads (but I won't) which I know is not as bad as chemo. It's not a good thing, but I think more tolerable. Deep breath......and know you will get through this like all these other women have because we women are tough cookies!! Cookies....did someone say cookies?....great....now I'm hungry for cookies!!!! :(-) Pammy
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    I am so sorry that you are
    I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time with chemo. You will get thru this! We will help you!

    Sending you lots of hugs!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member

    I am so sorry that you are
    I am so sorry that you are having such a rough time with chemo. You will get thru this! We will help you!

    Sending you lots of hugs!

    Hang in there!
    Hang in there. Every step (treatment) you have puts you closer to the END of your treatment. You are a lot stronger than you think you are ... and you can do it. If/when you start thinking you can't do it ... just remember that you've got all of your cyber family out here and picture us all being there with you ... holding your hand and giving you big hugs. You'll do just fine.

    hugs.
    teena