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second round of chemo question
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Jan 09, 2013 - 4:08 pm
Hi--- How many people who had a relatively manageable (symptom-free) time with the first round of chemo had a difficult time with the second round? How many people had a (relatively) easy time with both? Thanks. |
Joined: Jan 2010
My second round was definitely more difficult than my first. I had no appetite and thrush in my mouth, diarrhea and major fatigue. I realize that some of these side effects were probably in part due to the radiation. But the effects from both are cumulative, at least they were for me.
Joined: Feb 2013
I am just wondering why you have second rounds of chemo, I thought you did the six weeks of radiotherapy/chemo, when is this second round and why?
regards
Joined: Jan 2010
The second round of chemo is typically done during week 5 of a 6-week rad/chemo treatment regime. The purpose of the chemo is to make the cancer cells more susceptible to the effects of the radiation.
Joined: Feb 2013
My sister has a picc line in with a bottle attached 24/7 and 5 days a week, isn't that the chemo? She did have a one off dose of mitomycin drug you all mention but she was told that would only be given once. I wonder why she won't be getting the second round?
Joined: Nov 2012
I had mitomycin along with 5fu for the first round of chemo then just 5fu for second round. Hope you & your sister are coping well. My sister is just about leaving Oz & will be here with me in UK on Thursday. We have no sunshine this week, so I hope she has packed some! Liz x
Joined: Aug 2012
I would never say that the treatment was easy, but I will say that my side effects from chemo were similar both rounds. My white blood counts got dangerously low and I needed neuprogen shots, which were not much fun at all. Take one day at a time, expect that you will do well, adopt and maintain a positive attitude, and before you know it, you will be cancer free!
Joined: Mar 2011
There was no difference for me between the first and second round of chemo. I did not have major issues with either round.
Mike
Joined: Jun 2011
second round was far worse for me ...ended up in hospital for three days.
Joined: Dec 2012
wow. Thanks everyone. I guess there's no clear answer; some do , some don't have a tougher time with round 2. I guess I'll know soon enough which one I am. Round 2 starts Monday.
Joined: Jan 2010
As is evident from our comments, everyone's experience is their own. It's always good to know others' experience and be prepared for anything, but wise to not expect that yours will be the same. I hope you will have a decent weekend and be ready to go into round 2 on Monday. Just keep your head up and you'll get through this!
Joined: Dec 2012
everyone is different as you can tell from the comments. Up until the 2nd round of chemo everything was going smooth until the last day. I was unhooked on a Friday.
it started to hurt to urinate. i P'd into a cup to keep the urine off my "area" and had a cold tissue ready to place on the uretha when I was done. the burning came through the uretha. Just had to grin and bare it :) --DRINK LOTS OF WATER to dilute the chemicals coming out of your body!
The itching wasn't as bad at this point, I was itching worse a bit before this, but I used Benadryl and that helped the itching so I could at least sleep.
The pain from being raw in my "area" was helped from Dr giving me a stronger dose of the hyrdrocodones. I used these sparingly (but was sure to use before I went to bed)
Over the weekend, I just stayed on the couch with gown on and a sheet to cover me. I used the sitz bath with 2 TBSP Epsom Salts and sat there for 15 min. several X a day I then went to the couch and applied a cold cloth soaked in Domboro to the area for 10 min. "air dried" and then applied the silvadene.
Monday was Christmas Eve and I forced myself to get up, take a shower, get dressed to hang with Family & Friends for a few hours. (Made sure to have my bag of tricks with me when I left the houae LOL) Came home and I crashed. I continued my "routine" for almost a week, by New Years Eve I was feeling much better and I ventured out of the house.
I also drug myself out of the house the day after Christmas because I was suppossed to have a RAD TX but the Dr said things down there needed a break. (Dr gave me a week off)
I completed my RAD TX Yesterday and I took today off of work to do NOTHING!
The funny thing is, now that I look back on it, I can remember how shitty I felt, but------I DID IT, It is DOABLE! WE are strong and we will heal---the most important thing is to get this cancer OFF of us! (that is what I told myself everytime I got on that table, "Get it off of me")
Best wishes for a speedy recovery -- Drink lots of water!!!!!!
XO
Joined: Dec 2012
Thanks very much to all who posted their experiences... it's all been helpful....
Joined: Apr 2013
I had a PIIC line put in twice for my two rounds of chemo. I was never nauseous due to the patch and pills, minimum hair loss. Other than feeling tired it went very good for me. I did have problems with radiation.
Joined: Mar 2013
I had a very difficult time with sleeplessness, anxiety, nausea and mouth sores the FIRST time. The second time I knew what to expect, gazed out the window and refused to watch the chemo hookup. I took the meds for nausea, used the rinse for sore mouth, spent the entire week with my husband trying to stay busy and it was easier. The second round, I would only check the amount of chemo finished about once a day ... I kept in mind that this was it, my last 4 complete days of chemo. Good luck with your second chemo.