Help with Managing Side Effects

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simonalucas2007
simonalucas2007 Member Posts: 3
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi,

I was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. My first chemotherapy started April 1. I am currently taking Taxol and Carplatin for the next 12 weeks. I am having a hard time managing the nausea and vomitting. My doctor has prescribed me the Sacuso Patch, every oral medication available and I am currenty getting Emend and another nausea medicine of chemotherapy days.

 

This has been really hard on me as I am only 25 years old. Is anyone having the same problems or can anyone please help me with how to manage and get through this. Thank You

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  • alabama_survivor
    alabama_survivor Member Posts: 85
    #2
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    So sorry you're having to

    So sorry you're having to deal with this.  I did weekly Taxol but had Adriamycin and  Cytoxin first. The most I had wAz very mild qqueasiness.  Most of my problems were with ,low blood counts and extreme fatigue.  Make sure you are staying in close contact with your doctor and make sure you're not getting dehydrated. 

  • simonalucas2007
    simonalucas2007 Member Posts: 3
    #3
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    alabama_survivor said:

    So sorry you're having to

    So sorry you're having to deal with this.  I did weekly Taxol but had Adriamycin and  Cytoxin first. The most I had wAz very mild qqueasiness.  Most of my problems were with ,low blood counts and extreme fatigue.  Make sure you are staying in close contact with your doctor and make sure you're not getting dehydrated. 

    Thanks. I am definitely been

    Thanks. I am definitely been in contact with him, just looking for ways to manage the nausea. Thanks for you help :)

  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #4
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    simonalucas2007 said:

    Thanks. I am definitely been

    Thanks. I am definitely been in contact with him, just looking for ways to manage the nausea. Thanks for you help :)

    Hydration is the key for me

    I am on different drug Halaven. I take Zofran every 6 hours, trying to drink 10 glasses of water every day if you cannot hold water try to use straw to slow down or ice chips. fresh mint chopped and infuse in water helps me. I also made ice cubes with fresh ginger and going to try them too, I eat very Small portion, soups, juice smoothie. Staying well hydrated is more than food.

    Please keep us posted. Best to you

  • simonalucas2007
    simonalucas2007 Member Posts: 3
    #5
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    New Flower said:

    Hydration is the key for me

    I am on different drug Halaven. I take Zofran every 6 hours, trying to drink 10 glasses of water every day if you cannot hold water try to use straw to slow down or ice chips. fresh mint chopped and infuse in water helps me. I also made ice cubes with fresh ginger and going to try them too, I eat very Small portion, soups, juice smoothie. Staying well hydrated is more than food.

    Please keep us posted. Best to you

    Thank You. This was the first

    Thank You. This was the first week where I was able to hold water down and I have been drinking lots which really seems to be helping. The Zofran didnt work well but I am finding the Dexamethason every 4 hours is helping. I still have periods of naseau but this week has been much better. I am really going to try the ice cube trick though. Thanks so much for that.

  • alabama_survivor
    alabama_survivor Member Posts: 85
    #6
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    simonalucas2007 said:

    Thank You. This was the first

    Thank You. This was the first week where I was able to hold water down and I have been drinking lots which really seems to be helping. The Zofran didnt work well but I am finding the Dexamethason every 4 hours is helping. I still have periods of naseau but this week has been much better. I am really going to try the ice cube trick though. Thanks so much for that.

    I was told they have too many

    I was told they have too many things you can try so I shou never be queasy. I do know a couple people that have had problems. Sometimes  changing premeds can help, or even getting additional iv fluids can make you feel better,

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #7
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    alabama_survivor said:

    I was told they have too many

    I was told they have too many things you can try so I shou never be queasy. I do know a couple people that have had problems. Sometimes  changing premeds can help, or even getting additional iv fluids can make you feel better,

    what helped me ...

    sucking on ice chips = helps with mouth sores

    ginger tea - helped with my continuious nauseous feeling

    adding a splash of cranberry juice, lemonade or crystal lite to water helped me stay hydrated ==

     

    hoping for better days for you.

     

    Strength, Courage and HOPE for a Cure.

    Vicki Sam

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    #8
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    Wow!  I am reminded we are

    Wow!  I am reminded we are all so different.  Taxol did not make me feel ill, as far as nausae or queasiness.  I had anti-puke drugs I took for a few days after my AC infusions, but I did not need them for taxol. 

    I do remember my onc's NP telling me that there was no reason for me to puke from chemo.  If the prescription they gave me did not work -- two anti-puke drugs and on steriod -- I was to let them know and they would prescribe something else.  Have you asked?

    After AC, I did taxol.  I do remember how I felt, not sure how much of that was taxol and what may have been because of the accumulation of weeks of AC and then taxol.  I had aching hips for a few days after an infusion of taxol.  I had coughing and breathing things that went on with the taxol for a few days.  Taking an allergy pill took care of that, anazingly.  The breathing was a bit of a problem, though, if I took too deep of a breath (catching my breath or coughing).  Once I finished chemo, that cleared up.

  • alabama_survivor
    alabama_survivor Member Posts: 85
    #9
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    desertgirl947 said:

    Wow!  I am reminded we are

    Wow!  I am reminded we are all so different.  Taxol did not make me feel ill, as far as nausae or queasiness.  I had anti-puke drugs I took for a few days after my AC infusions, but I did not need them for taxol. 

    I do remember my onc's NP telling me that there was no reason for me to puke from chemo.  If the prescription they gave me did not work -- two anti-puke drugs and on steriod -- I was to let them know and they would prescribe something else.  Have you asked?

    After AC, I did taxol.  I do remember how I felt, not sure how much of that was taxol and what may have been because of the accumulation of weeks of AC and then taxol.  I had aching hips for a few days after an infusion of taxol.  I had coughing and breathing things that went on with the taxol for a few days.  Taking an allergy pill took care of that, anazingly.  The breathing was a bit of a problem, though, if I took too deep of a breath (catching my breath or coughing).  Once I finished chemo, that cleared up.

    You are right.  We are all so

    You are right.  We are all so different.  I did 4 DD bi-weekly A/C's followed by 12 weekly Taxol's.  After A/C, all I wanted to do was sleep for about 3 days after treatment.  Only had mild queasiness, but after week 2, white count started dropping.  The Nuelasta would get it back up just in time for the next treatment.  Also, hemoglobin was down a little bit.  My biggest problem was just extreme, the body ain't gonna do it, fatigue.  With the Taxol, the Benadryl always made me sleep the day of treatment.  After the first few treatments, again had problems with low white count, and hemoglobin went down below 9.  Again, extreme fatigue, neuropathy in hands and feet, darkened sore fingernails that lifted from the nail beds (never lost any, and had no problems with toenails), and also got a bad, blister-like rash on hands and forearms, that spread to other parts of my body.  That sounds horrible, but it could have been a lot worse. 

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #10
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    I had four infusions.  Can't

    I had four infusions.  Can't recall names but the two most common chemicals and because they also added anti nausea drug just before honestly did not feel ill at all as far as vomiting, a little queezy but very little.  Whatever they gave me worked first time, I was lucky.

  • Gm2873
    Gm2873 Member Posts: 65
    #11
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    Side effects

    Sipping ginger ale over crushed ice helped me, along with Zofran every six hours. My oncologist also had me on ativan every six hours. It's for anxiety, but an off label use is for nausea. You might ask your doctor about that.

  • Lilly9
    Lilly9 Member Posts: 155
    #12
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    Gm2873 said:

    Side effects

    Sipping ginger ale over crushed ice helped me, along with Zofran every six hours. My oncologist also had me on ativan every six hours. It's for anxiety, but an off label use is for nausea. You might ask your doctor about that.

    Italian ice  - you freeze

    Italian ice  - you freeze like popsicles.   They helped me tremendously and some days were the only thing I "ate"

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #13
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    NO advice-just hugs...

    NO advice-just hugs...

  • jay_rogers
    jay_rogers Member Posts: 14
    #14
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    Vomiting and Nausea are

    Vomiting and Nausea are common side effects of chemotherapy. It can be controlled with preventive medications and other measures. Risk of nausea and vomiting during and after chemotherapy depends on chemotherapy drugs you receive. Specialist can discuss with you the benefits of treating your breast cancer with chemotherapy against the risk of these rare effects occurring.

  • LouisaP
    LouisaP Member Posts: 62
    #15
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    jay_rogers said:

    Vomiting and Nausea are

    Vomiting and Nausea are common side effects of chemotherapy. It can be controlled with preventive medications and other measures. Risk of nausea and vomiting during and after chemotherapy depends on chemotherapy drugs you receive. Specialist can discuss with you the benefits of treating your breast cancer with chemotherapy against the risk of these rare effects occurring.

    The cancer center I go to

    The cancer center I go to puts the anti nausea meds right into the chemo. They also give you meds to keep at home. They adjust the meds during your chemo & also based on the treatment before, so our Dr's have different protocols. Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. Hope it gets better when Dr changes the meds.

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