Afraid of Chemo-side effects

Hello Everyone, I have breast cancer. Stage2 Her2 weak+ 2.5 CM. I had a lumpectomy 6-6-05. And not yet chemo and radiation. I hear so many bad things about the chemo.Did anyone have doxorubicin,cyclophosphamide(CTX),fluorouracil(5-FU) treatments, and how did it go? I'm afraid of having heart damage,or any other organ damage.Anyone out there have any of these problems? It would be nice to hear from you soon. Thank you, and God Bless You !!! Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann, I am Maryann from New York. I have been stage IV with Inflammatory Breast cancer (the worst of the worst - very aggressive) for 5 1/2 years. I was diagnosed in January of 2000. I have done Adriomycin (the red devil), Taxol and Cytoxin at that time. I took daily Tamoxifen for 4 1/2 years. I was in remission for 4 1/2 years. This past fall I had a relapse. I currently take Carboplaten, and Taxotere three weeks out of the month, get herceptin weekly and take Femara daily. I did not do the chemo you are doing, but can talk from experience. I would rather have taken all I take then let the cancer grow and take over. Everyone reacts differently, and I can't promise you will have an easy time of it. You need to drink LOTS of water before chemo and after. You should also ask for a prescription/samples of nausea med's to take for the following 2/3 days after chemo. You can request "Hydration" the following day or two after receiving chemo. It is a bag of IV saline and extra IV nausea med's. It really helps. Plan ahead. If you are working, schedule chemo late in the week so that you have the weekend to recoup (day 3 is always the worst for me). I plan on sleeping and take out for that day. I keep crystallized and pickled ginger on hand, string licorice/tea and hard candy. Chemo is not easy, but it is doable. I worked through my first bout of chemo and only missed one day. I am currently not working, but I am a single mother of teens, I cook, clean, shop, paint bedrooms (slowly), and I just sanded a bench to be stained. Now even though the cancer spread to my lungs and liver, I am now NED (No Evidence of Disease) and I credit, the chemo/hormonal's/adjunct treatments, my oncologist, my family and lots and lots of prayers! Please email me at madubois63@aol.com if I can answer any questions. Good luck and God Bless.


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[StephN]

One always has to try to put out of their mind everything they have ever heard about chemo and side affects. Each person is different. Don't go looking for side effects that aren't there.

I took Adriamycin and Taxotere my first go round. I did not seem to have any lasting heart damage from this.
My friend took excactly what you are scheduled to have, and did quite well. She was in good physical condition - a dancer - going in, and her side effects were quite manageable. She is doing very well now.

Nausea is something we hear about - but did not bother me in the least. I ate what I wanted - or what the mouth sores allowed me to tolerate.

Any side effect that presents itself report to your doctor's nurse case manager, and she will see that you get what you need to make it easier to get through.

Just remember also that we are in a new age of chemo treatment and they do a lot of things to make us more comfortable that were not available in the past. Most everyone on this board will tell you that chemo was easier than they expected.

Rest will be very important - so make sure you can get some peace and quiet when you need it.

Thank you for writing back. I have a ? for you. Did you have stage2her2+2.5CM, b.c when you where on your first round of treatments?I'm getting braver.(For getting chemo.) With my trust in God I will pull threw this.May God Bless You Also, Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann. I was diagnosed with Stage 1 and had a lumpectomy in 2002 and then CAF, same as you. I was terrified of chemo. I was 50 at the time and did not have any heart damage or other organ damage. My PCP (primary care provider) did an echocardiogram before I had chemo to check my heart and so that he would have a baseline study to compare with if I started having symptoms. I still wonder if I did the right thing by having chemo but I am also still No Evidence of Disease (NED) 3 years later. I always recommend getting Dr. John Link's book Take Charge of Your Breast Cancer as a guide, along with Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, and don't be shy about asking questions. Breast cancer is complicated.

AlaskaAngel

Mary Ann: This is my history in a nut shell. The cancer was much worse than what you have - my point...I did well and am still here. Of course, everyone is different Keep a diary with ALL ailments that bother you. Tell you chemo nurse!!!!! She will decide whether you should see the onc that day or if it is something not so important. Your chemo nurse can be your best friend. She can give advise, pamphlets, she handles all medical applications for work and free medications, handicap parking applications and she can give you samples of nausea med's when you can't afford them.

Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Modified Radical Mastectomy (Left side only) Tram flap reconstruction
42 Lymph nodes removed (Left side) 24 nodes removed, 5 +
Her2+ ER+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol (Chemo) 8 treatments every two weeks
Tamoxifen (daily Hormonal) taken until relapse diagnosed (4 1/5 Years)
Rads 32x
NED - went back to college, changed careers and loving it!
Stage IV Mets to lung/liver/far right nodes 10/4
video-assisted surgery w/pleurodesis
Herceptin (Weekly IV adjunct therapy)
Taxatiere, Carboplaten (chemo - three weeks out of the month)
Femera (Hormonal - Daily)
Lupron (Three month shot Shuts ovaries does)
4/26/05 NED


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Hello Mary Ann

I was also scared stiff at the thought of chemo but found it far easier to manage than I ever expected. I did a lot of reading about how to best manage the potential side effects, and with the anti nausea medications that were prescribed, I was surprised by how well I felt. I decided early on that chemo was a means to an end, and I was going to do all I could to help myself get thru it in a positive way.

I had AC and Taxotere and had no nausea or vomiting. I tried to eat sensibly (no junk or fatty food, coffee or alcohol) and drank lots of water. I also went to acupuncture weekly throughout the 6 months of chemo and I feel that helped with preventing side effects, including fatigue. I got really tired towards the end but I kept working, rested when I felt like it and exercised when I could. Every little helps.

My white blood count fell after the first chemo so I had a Neulasta shot after very infusion to boost the cells. And I got myself a wig and scarves and hats etc so I was ready for when my hair started to fall out. When I started to lose it I got it all shaved off at once and just put the wig on! No bad hair days for quite a while!!

Be good to yourself and pace yourself for the days when you may need a bit of a break. You will be surprised by how well you will manage!

All the best

Cheers
Pauline

Keep in mind that age and health status seem to play a role in whether one is ofered or can tolerate chemo. In my mom's case, 4 different oncs woudl not offer her the chemo or herceptin. Mom is 68 with moderate emphysema and stage 2 er+ her2+ cancer. some seem to breeze through chemo while others have major side effects. My mom had very little problem with the radiation beyond the normal sunburn. They were surprised how well she did. She seems to have no problem with Arimidex.

Dear MaryAnn--This is all wonderful advise from wonderful people who've been through it all! I hope it gives you courage and a positive outlook and you'll go through it all with flying colors. I want to add a comment to Rich's post, that we shouldn't let anyone say age is a negative. My oncologist didn't hesitate to put me on chemo, even though I was 74 last year when I was DX'd . He has been with me through two other bouts in the last 20 years and he knows I am a fighter. You decide to be one, too! There is a lot of love and good advise on this site, and we all pray for each other and cheer each other on! Hang in there! Best wishes, Tricia

Mary Ann,
Part of your fear comes from bad press, part from the unknown. I was 45, in excellent health and never took more than an occasional aspirin. I cried like a baby through my first chemo session because I was so darned scared! They ended up giving me a sedative. Apart from a little nausea and fatigue, I sailed through weekly chemo. I was even able to walk my dog three times a day.

I think the point everyone is making is that while there are common side effects, we all had unique experiences. About the only thing you can count on is losing your hair! You'll find a rhythm and get in the groove. You'll learn as you go.

You WILL be able to do this because you HAVE to.

Dear MaryAnn, Wait til you hear what a baby I was. The first day I had chemo, I went home and waited to die. It's funny how your fears take over. My throat burned terribly and I called my whole family around my bed for comfort and they watched me "burn." We all thought that this was a normal part of the chemo effects. Finally, we called the doctor and they told me to take pepsid.They had forgotten to tell me about it that day. AS soon as I took it, the burning stopped. It's funny because I had never had heartburn my whole life and I didn't recognize that it was that. It seems that they have relief for all the side effects these days. God Bless- Cathy

Dear Mary Ann, I just wanted to wish you well with your chemo. I see you are from Junction city. I grew up in Stevens Point. I now live in Minneapolis. I was diagnosed with stage 2 , Her2+++, 4.7 cm tumor 2 nodes pos in March. I had a masectomy and am now half way done with my chemo, I had AC and taxol w/Herceptin. It is definitely better than I thought it would be. No serious side effects. good Luck!
Laurie