Hi I'm banjobob I hope your chemo is working for you. I'm not a cancer sufferer myself but my mother is. I hope you don't mind me contacting you? My mother is 82 years old and has been diagnosed with cancer. The doctors have been unable to locate the primary so they are going to treat her with chemo. I know different people have different reactions to the drugs they are given but could I ask you what is your experience please? My mother has not as yet suffered any pain thankfully and hopefully won't have you had pain issues? Her diagnosis is that her cancer is incurable and that the chemo will only reduce the symptoms but I worry about her quality of life. If I'm asking too much of you please accept my apologies I don't want to cause any upset I'm just trying to come to terms with her condition and understand what she is going to face. Thank you for any assistance you can give me.

Hi there pls don't apologise! This is a site to help people who need to talk! As i found out everybody reacts differently but the nurses are brilliant and send u home with pills and numerous leaflets to read! The main thing that i have learnt is for her to drink lots and lots of water to flush it through! And take the antisickness pills as directed! My side effects seem to peter off after a wk and i hope it will be the same for your mum! I had a 75yr old lady next to me the first time and she was in a similar position to your mum! Quite a character and took it in her stride! Bestwishes xx

Hi Chrissy,

I found after chemo that the insomnia was more a side effect of worrying about the future than the chemo! Quite understandable really. 

I can't comment about the different chemos as I was on a different regime (EOX) but the side effects do tend to accummulate the more cycles you go through. Drink plenty of water and eat anything that you can keep down. Homemade soup and powershakes gotme through the worst of my chemo - that and lots of sleep followed by long walks with my dog. 

Best wishes
Dave

Hi it's Audrey here. I had no 4 on FEC-T. I had to double the steroids up the day before. I have had two sleepless nights, really tired but my mind seemed active. I asked the nurse and she said the steroids could have caused this. Last day today, I have not had any side effects as yet, still early days. I had terrible nausea despite anti sickness drugs for about 10 days on FEC. Hope you manage a full nights sleep tonight x

Hello Chrissy,

Hope you managed to sleep ok last night. Insomnia is a horrible thing when it happens, tossing and turning in your bed spending hours there with nothing happening. Last time it happened me, it was the night before my driving test which obviously I failed and not sleeping all night was obviously a contributing factor. So I think Dave has a point when he says often it's because we are worrying about the future. 

I came across this page which I think will interest you. The long walks Dave describes could help whether you have a dog or not ;) A warm glass of milk and a bath may also do the trick. I do hope this link is helpful and will give you some tips on how to cope when you face insomnia.

Don't hesitate to give our nurses a call too on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm - they may well have some additional suggestions for you.

Best wishes,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Chrissylemon. I know it's awful waking up so early especially when you feel so tired. I am putting my sleepless nights down to the steroids. The first three treatments made me so tired, most nights in bed for nine and sleeping until about ten next day. It is day three after last session so started the injections today. Do you take them daily for seven days too? I go to a support group in our local hospital, it's called Maggies, think it's a national charity. I enjoy chatting informally to others going through same at different stages. There seems to be many variants of treatment. Hope you have a restful day and catch up on some of your lost sleep. Take care x

Hi there! Yes am finding it hard to sleep and have been awake since 4am! I am not on any injections what are they for? The other problem is constipation which is so painful! Am drinking lots of water and taking dulcoease which is starting to work a little! Feel v low and it seems such a long way till this nightmare will end! My partner has been great but am sure he must be fed up at times! Sorry to rant on but not in a good place at the moment! I know from the last time i will feel better soon! So i need to shake myself down and be positive again! Take care xxx

Hi there. The injections are to stimulate white blood cells I believe. I administer them myself, really easy to do. I understand how you feel I had terrible constipation and stomach pains until the laxatives started to work. The low days are awful too, I live on my own and at times feel isolated, the positive side of that is I don't have to put an act on and pick myself up when the dark days pass. Knowing that in a few days we will feel better helps, but it's still hard to get through each day feeling tired and unwell. I hope you feel better soon and get positive again very soon. Try and catch up on sleep when you can as I find the tiredness brings your mood down too. Take care and best wishes x

Hi chrissylemon good to hear your able to take the side affects just able to take it !! When I was diagnosed last year u was able to take the side affects thought did cause some discomfort until October when the chemo stopped working and they upped a new dose and I because I'll really ill people thought I was on my death bed luckily now I'm good and just on chemo once a week I have had lots of support off the grandchildren and kids