Managing in between chemo

Hi all,

I was feeling like a moan today as i'm feeling terrible after only 1 session of chemo last Thursday for breast cancer. I'm 36. Just looking for words of advice / tips or anything that has got people through. I'm aware this will  get worse as time goes on, i've no energy and just feel rubbish. I have a lovely purple and red rash covering my neck and chest currently. 

I felt the worst i ever have this morning and could have just laid on the floor and gone to sleep. I've eaten and feel slightly better and managed to rest. I'm trying to do as much self care as I can at the moment. Just one of those days I think. 

 

  • I can relate, I had chemo number 5 last Wednesday.
    It doesn't necessarily get worse with each one, my first one was the worst (then number 5, 4 was one of the better ones) I think it was the shock to my body on the first one once you know what to expect it gets a bit easier. Although I found my side effects varied with each one, so you may not have a rash after your next one, I had really bad acne twice but not on the other sessions. 
    Just do whatever it takes to get you through.
    I still tried to get up the same time, eat 3 meals a day and go for a walk try to be as normal as possible although sometimes though you just can't
    If you want to sleep all day then sleep.
    Same if you want to eat cheese sandwichs all day then eat them. I had a weird craving for cheese sandwiches!
    If you can't go far then don't.
    For me I found eating helps a lot  I don't take all the steriods they give me, I hated the side effects, I take sleeping tablets, I have reflexology. 

    Try and plan something in your good weeks and have something to look forward to.

    I hope you are feeling better today..






  • Hi I hav just had my second dose of EC & feeling ok 

    I have done exactly as advised steroids & nausea tablets

  • Hi,

    Hope you are well and thank you for your response. It's so helpful to hear others experinces. I just had cycle number 2 and don't feel half as bad as i did last time, just a bit sicky but not too bad at all. 

    You're right doing what you can to get through. I think it was helpful for me to track my worse days in my first cycle and kind of prepare for them better this time round. I also had the cheese sandwich craving haha this time it's tomatoes on wholemeal toast which I guess isn't bad haha. 

    Planning for the good weeks has been key. 

  • I'm glad cycle number 2 was better for you.

    I've just finished the 6, 6 wasn't too bad either although I tended to feel more sick through the cycles.

    I also had a egg yolk craving, my partner was eating the whites and now he's off eggs as he ate so many of them.

    I hope you get many more good weeks