Chemo side effects

CathyViolet
CathyViolet Member Posts: 5
in Breast Cancer #1

I was diagnosed with triple negative on the right and ER/PR positive on the left.  Found cancer in the left breast after double mastectomy to deal with mass in the right breast.  I began chemo 4 weeks ago. Am having third round of A/C tomorrow.  This is really the first time i am scared.  I had terrible side effects after the second treatment.  Infection, cough, sore throat, constipation, flu symptoms, bone pain.  Have been given an antibiotic which is almost done.  Am taking  Neulasta as well.   Can anyone tell me if this is typical for symptoms?  I am so scared that the symptoms will be worse with the third and fourth.  Have Taxol 12 treatments scheduled after the A/C finishes.  I need some help and support.   Feeling so lost and lonely and sad.  Hav also been started on antidepressant.  

Comments

  • twnkltoz
    twnkltoz Member Posts: 169 Member
    #2
    So sorry you're going through

    So sorry you're going through this. I did not get any infections, cough, or sore throat on A/C. I did have the bone pain and fluish feeling, which is from the Neulasta. I was nauseous the first two or three times, then not again. Fatigue was my biggest SE. 

    Sending you lots of hugs and positive thoughts! Hang in there, and remember this is temporary. 

  • Just_lori6
    Just_lori6 Member Posts: 76
    #3
    Side effects

    Hello, sorry to hear of your side effects. I am scheduled for my 4th AC on the 17th. I should've been done with AC & on to taxol by now but my white count keeps going down so I keep getting rescheduled. I felt sick with my first treatment & just slightly sick with the second & 3rd. I have a cough that lasts about 2 days after each treatment.I did get the flu like symptoms after my second treatment as I am taking the neupogen shots (5 shots after each treatment). I have pain pills left from my double mastectomy. I take just one right after each shot & I don't get the pain or flu symptoms at all. My Dr gives me a new RX if I need for the neupogen symptoms. My first two I was okay. By the 3rd I was a nervous wreck anticipating the worst. After My 3rd the worst symptom I had was fatigue. Try not to worry (I know easier said than done), I think as we go we get down how to avoid symptoms. I write down all my symptoms & ask the nurse each time I go in for advice. I am telling myself the taxol will be better (I've heard it's easier), but I am worried about how it is going to go because I need to get back to work. 

    I know how you feel (lost, lonely, sad). I feel the same often. I don't have family here, just me & my husband. Everyone tells me to take it easy and not worry about getting back to work but every day when my husband leaves for work I want to cry. I feel like everyone is just out there living while I am stuck at home trying to get through this. I think all the time that this has to be a bad dream & i am going to wake up soon but it is not. Your not alone.... Me & all The Ladies On This Sight Are Here With you. Just write whenever you need to. I do & everyone is so nice & helpful.

    Best wishes for you tomorrow~

    Lori 

  • CathyViolet
    CathyViolet Member Posts: 5
    #4
    Just_lori6 said:

    Side effects

    Hello, sorry to hear of your side effects. I am scheduled for my 4th AC on the 17th. I should've been done with AC & on to taxol by now but my white count keeps going down so I keep getting rescheduled. I felt sick with my first treatment & just slightly sick with the second & 3rd. I have a cough that lasts about 2 days after each treatment.I did get the flu like symptoms after my second treatment as I am taking the neupogen shots (5 shots after each treatment). I have pain pills left from my double mastectomy. I take just one right after each shot & I don't get the pain or flu symptoms at all. My Dr gives me a new RX if I need for the neupogen symptoms. My first two I was okay. By the 3rd I was a nervous wreck anticipating the worst. After My 3rd the worst symptom I had was fatigue. Try not to worry (I know easier said than done), I think as we go we get down how to avoid symptoms. I write down all my symptoms & ask the nurse each time I go in for advice. I am telling myself the taxol will be better (I've heard it's easier), but I am worried about how it is going to go because I need to get back to work. 

    I know how you feel (lost, lonely, sad). I feel the same often. I don't have family here, just me & my husband. Everyone tells me to take it easy and not worry about getting back to work but every day when my husband leaves for work I want to cry. I feel like everyone is just out there living while I am stuck at home trying to get through this. I think all the time that this has to be a bad dream & i am going to wake up soon but it is not. Your not alone.... Me & all The Ladies On This Sight Are Here With you. Just write whenever you need to. I do & everyone is so nice & helpful.

    Best wishes for you tomorrow~

    Lori 

    side effects

    Thank you Ladies for sharing your experience.  I am right there with you sharing the same feelings and emotions.  I have # 3 today and am worried.  I know I need to try not to worry.  I have nothing else to do with my time.  I watch TV, try to medidate, read, clean house, do laundry, dog walk.....my husband has been great.  It feels like such a long journey.  We just moved to Hilton Head SC and barely know anyone here.  My family has been popping back and forth but I know they have their own busy lives.  I am very graterul for this site.  I've read all I can find on this TN cancer and treatments.  Thanks again.  I will stay in touch.  Cathy

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    CathyViolet said:

    side effects

    Thank you Ladies for sharing your experience.  I am right there with you sharing the same feelings and emotions.  I have # 3 today and am worried.  I know I need to try not to worry.  I have nothing else to do with my time.  I watch TV, try to medidate, read, clean house, do laundry, dog walk.....my husband has been great.  It feels like such a long journey.  We just moved to Hilton Head SC and barely know anyone here.  My family has been popping back and forth but I know they have their own busy lives.  I am very graterul for this site.  I've read all I can find on this TN cancer and treatments.  Thanks again.  I will stay in touch.  Cathy

    Sending you positive vibes

    as chemo will suck the life out of yo, then send you nesr the edge of insanity!  Sorry - but that was my experience..  However - chem therapy treatments try to save our lives ...

    any high fevers, loss of breat, rapid heartbeats - go directly to ER.

    please so check in when possible ...

    strength courage and HOPE for a cure

    Vicki Sam

  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 531 Member
    #6
    CathyViolet said:

    side effects

    Thank you Ladies for sharing your experience.  I am right there with you sharing the same feelings and emotions.  I have # 3 today and am worried.  I know I need to try not to worry.  I have nothing else to do with my time.  I watch TV, try to medidate, read, clean house, do laundry, dog walk.....my husband has been great.  It feels like such a long journey.  We just moved to Hilton Head SC and barely know anyone here.  My family has been popping back and forth but I know they have their own busy lives.  I am very graterul for this site.  I've read all I can find on this TN cancer and treatments.  Thanks again.  I will stay in touch.  Cathy

    good luck today

    Good luck with your chemo today. I did find my fatigue and muscle weakness got worse with each round, but as others have said, make sure you are frank with your onc with what side effects you're having. My onc decreased my dosage by 20% for my last chemo, it made a huge difference in how I felt and she said it would not affect the effectiveness of the chemo against the cancer.

  • CathyViolet
    CathyViolet Member Posts: 5
    #7
    Puffin2014 said:

    good luck today

    Good luck with your chemo today. I did find my fatigue and muscle weakness got worse with each round, but as others have said, make sure you are frank with your onc with what side effects you're having. My onc decreased my dosage by 20% for my last chemo, it made a huge difference in how I felt and she said it would not affect the effectiveness of the chemo against the cancer.

    Appreciate it

    thanks everyone.  I appreciate you feedback.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

  • CathyViolet
    CathyViolet Member Posts: 5
    #8
    Puffin2014 said:

    good luck today

    Good luck with your chemo today. I did find my fatigue and muscle weakness got worse with each round, but as others have said, make sure you are frank with your onc with what side effects you're having. My onc decreased my dosage by 20% for my last chemo, it made a huge difference in how I felt and she said it would not affect the effectiveness of the chemo against the cancer.

    Dear ladies

    Dear ladies.  

    Had my third A/C today.  NO side effects so far.  Last time it was a few days before I felt any side effects but I will keep you posted.  

     

    Thanks  Cathy

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #9
    CathyViolet said:

    Dear ladies

    Dear ladies.  

    Had my third A/C today.  NO side effects so far.  Last time it was a few days before I felt any side effects but I will keep you posted.  

     

    Thanks  Cathy

    Thank you for the post

    We are thinking about you Cathy ...  smooth sailing I wish for you during through balance of your treatment 

    Vicki Sam 

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #10
    CathyViolet said:

    Dear ladies

    Dear ladies.  

    Had my third A/C today.  NO side effects so far.  Last time it was a few days before I felt any side effects but I will keep you posted.  

     

    Thanks  Cathy

    Cathy

    I don't know it'll they told you, but I was told to take Claritin after the nuelesta shots.  Just for a day or two.  It took care of the flush feelings and the bone pain.  I only needed Nuelesta shots with some of the chemo.  I never had Taxatore, but I know I needed it with Adriamicin and I think the other one was Halovan. One of the best things was drinking fluids to wash the chemo out our your system.  

    Glad that you are doing better today, but check with the nurses about the Claritan, it made all the difference, and once the anti-depressants kick in that too should help.  I don't think any one realizes how hard this disease is until the hear, you have cancer.  We hear so many things on tv, in ads, Bill boards, etc. about how far they have come with the disease, and it looks like they have come so far with breast cancer...

    They have as far as new chemos, extending lives, better anti nausea meds, etc.  But the one thing I don't think the can find a "cure" for is the fear that we all experience when we are told "you have cancer".  That is why this support group is so helpfull.  We have all been through this and do understand.  I know the men and women on the site have been so helpful, especially at the beginning when I didn't want to worry my family, and friends who had no experience would just say, your ok, or breast cancer is no big deal, they have come so far.  It may not have been a big deal.for them, but it sure was a big deal to me.  

    So glad you are here and it should get better. A/C is a hard combo.  That was the one that I was the site kestrel with.

    Wish you the best and so glad you found this site. There is always someone who has experienced what I had questions or fears about and they were all so willing and helpful.

    Hugs,

    Carol

     

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #11
    Wondered how you were doing

    Wondered how you were doing now further down the line.......  One thing that I will say is that when you feel better and you will, then start to get out and about again, Hilton Head is a stunning location to do so.  wonderful place, I wish I had those beaches to walk during and after my treatment.  Hope that sea air helps your recovery, is there not some groups there you could join to make friends, either cancer related or otherwise?

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