chemo

Hi am new to all of this and on 3rd cycle of chemo for oesophageal cancer.  Was managing well with diagnosis and first two cycles however this last one has floored me emotionally.  Am on Capecitabine plus 8hr session once a cycle.  Feeling low tired yet terrible sleep problems, nightmares then cannot get back to sleep.  No appetite and just feel so anxious too all the time.  Really hard for my partner too.  I am due for surgery in May but the thought of more of this chemo and feeling like this is unberable.  I know I should be bearing up better as many others have worse to face than me.  Anybody else gone through this awful chemo low ????

  • Hi CJM,

    I did 4 cycles of EOX chemo for Oesophageal Cancer and I found that the Crappycitabane's side effects accumulated over time, as did the impact of the infusions. All that really helped me was sleeping around the clock for a day or two after the infusions, then forcing myself to be active - mainly dog-walking nothing extreme. The good news is that two weeks after ending chemo most of the side effects had gone, food tasted normal and my appetite returned. Four weeks after chemo, I was my normal self again apart from my toes feeling cold all the time.

    Chemo blues are pretty common, especially if you were almost symptom free before chemo.

    Hang on in there - these are just side effects and understandable stress.

    Best wishes

    Dave