IF this is cumulative, I am in trouble next time, re: chemo!

Poor thing
Nancy,

So sorry your first was so tough on you. I remember leaving a friend's house to "take a nap" before going to a movie. I went home, fell asleep and woke up 14 hours later. Fortunately my husband was smart enough to call them and beg off the movie.

As tired as you are, it is doable. It may not get any worse for you. It's not carved in stone that it gets worse. Please tell your onc about how you're feeling. They have so many meds to help with so many things.

Will keep you in prayer, but there is an end to all this horror and you'll get there.

marge

mwallace1325 said:

Poor thing
Nancy,

So sorry your first was so tough on you. I remember leaving a friend's house to "take a nap" before going to a movie. I went home, fell asleep and woke up 14 hours later. Fortunately my husband was smart enough to call them and beg off the movie.

As tired as you are, it is doable. It may not get any worse for you. It's not carved in stone that it gets worse. Please tell your onc about how you're feeling. They have so many meds to help with so many things.

Will keep you in prayer, but there is an end to all this horror and you'll get there.

marge

Hugs...
Nancy,

Unfortunately for me each treatment became worse, not so much energy wise but sickness wise. My worst day came actually two days after treatment. You're chemo drugs determine when it releases in your system, but from all I've been told the first 48 hours are the worst. Those are the days you are "toxic" and have to watch who comes in contact with your body fluids. As each day goes by you will notice your energy level getting better and better. I always had my chemo days on Friday so I had the weekend to re-coop. By Monday I would be back to work but moving at a much slower pace. By the following weekend I had almost bounced back completely.

Marge is right, you need to tell your oncologist your side effects. Mine always had this big long list they would read down and I would answer yes or no to them. Sleep is a good thing since your body is going through it's own personal battle.

Hugs,
Lorrie

so sorry
I did not have chemo...so can't relate..but sending good thoughts your way..

Denise

jessiesmom1 said:

Cumulative chemo effects
Nancy, you CAN handle this. You WILL handle this. You MUST handle this. After all, look at the alternative. You have too much to live for to give in to this beast that is cancer.

I had 4 rounds of A/C and 12 rounds of Taxotere. The A/C rounds were not too bad but the Taxotere rounds knocked me for a loop. The fatigue is undescribeable. Only someone who had been on chemo or has something like MS or lupus can really understand what you mean. I remember days when getting undressed to take a shower, taking a shower and getting dressed again was my entire activity for the day. I even used a plastic shower chair because standing up to take a shower was just exhausting. The A/C rounds were 2 weeks apart. I usually felt better by day 10 - just in time for the next round. The Taxotere rounds were once a week. I usually felt better by day 6 - again, just in time for the next round.

While everyone handles chemo differently, I did find that the effects were cumulative. There were more issues and they seemed to be more intense with each round. That being said, with all 16 rounds of chemo I never had to skip one. I had one round postponed by 2 days because I got dehydrated and had to be given IV fluids instead of chemo. I was absolutely determined to give the treatment by best shot and get it over with as soon as possible. I marked each chemo infusion day on the calendar and happily crossed them off as completed.

You are in good company. The Pink Sisters are here with/for you. We have been there and done that. IRENE

First was worse
For me the first chemo was the worst one. I had 4 rounds of C/T not sure what yours is. I had my tx's on Fridays and Sunday was always my crash day. I did not have a cummlative effect with mine. We are all different and all handle tx different. I do know you will do it!! God Bless
(((hugs))) Janice

MAJW said:

Misinformation...
Nothing I have been told or read about chemo says " your chemo drugs decide when it releases in the body" nor anything about being toxic for 48 hours and having to watch who comes in contact with you..or your bodily fluids.....I know that applies to men with prostate cancer and have radiological "seeds" implanted..I specifically asked these questions as we had an infant grandson at the time I underwent chemo and 3 older ones and that my husband is a big time "kisser"....lol. I was told by two different oncologist that there was no problem...the drugs are in your system the moment they enter your body...

Hang in there Nancy....you can do it!...I did get more fatigued with each infusion..and I am very fortunate that I didn't work and could rest whenever I wanted or needed to. The first infusion and Neulasta injection is a real shock to the body...I hAd a nasty reaction on Saturday with the Neulasta after having had it on Tuesday...but not with the next 3...along with severe diarrhea, with the first infusion but, again, never again...I was religious with the anti nausea drugs and never had the first wave of nausea....I hated losing my taste buds ...I just experimented with different foods...

Keep us posted...we care
Lots of hugs,
Nancy

My oncologist told me (and
My oncologist told me (and maybe I'm miss-informed) that certain chemo drugs attack your cells at different stages. Some your cell counts are their lowest after day 5, others around days 10-15. The oncology triage nurses told me the first 48 hours whomever cleaned up after me (whether I threw, up or wet the bed) would have to wear gloves.

Here is part of an article I found online:



The medications that you receive during your chemotherapy are very strong. We use them to kill the cancer cells in your body. Because they are so good at their job, they can also be toxic to others who come in direct contact with you. It is important that you know about the precautions you need to take during and after receiving chemotherapy. These precautions will help those around you avoid contact with toxic and dangerous chemicals.

Chemotherapy drugs are broken down and excreted (removed) from your body once their job is done. This usually happens in the kidneys and sometimes by the liver/intestines.

The chemotherapy drugs are strong, that even as they are being removed from your body, they can still be toxic and dangerous to others. For example, they can cause abnormal changes in DNA, they can alter the development of an unborn baby, they may be able to cause other kinds of cancer and some may cause localized skin irritation or damage. This occurs by others having contact with the toxic by-products once they have been eliminated by your body. That is why it is important for you to take certain steps to ensure that people around you do not become sick.

How long do you continue these precautions?

Different chemotherapy drugs take different lengths of time to be removed from your body. To be safe, you should continue all precautions until 48 hours (2 full days) after the completion of your chemotherapy.

My source -
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/bone_marrow_transplantation/hic_chemotherapy_precautions_during_and_after_treatment.aspx

Boppy_of_6 said:

First was worse
For me the first chemo was the worst one. I had 4 rounds of C/T not sure what yours is. I had my tx's on Fridays and Sunday was always my crash day. I did not have a cummlative effect with mine. We are all different and all handle tx different. I do know you will do it!! God Bless
(((hugs))) Janice

I didn't do chemo, but, it
I didn't do chemo, but, it sounds like your symptoms are what a lot have. Hoping that your first one is the worst for you.


Hugs, Kylez

I feel for you dear! I hope
I feel for you dear! I hope you get all the rest you need.

Eva