How can I handle Chemo better?

I had my 1st chemo treatement Wednesday.  Steroids kept me up the 1st night couldn't sleep.  Then the 2nd day woke up vomiting.  The 2nd day was soooooooooo hard every cell in my body was crying for help.  It was hard to eat and sleep.  Plus the pain from the white blood cell count has my neck in horrible pain.  I'm a very positive person, but found myself thinking I don't know how I can even handle 7 more of these treatments.  Minutes of the day drag by with just trying to get thru the day.  I'm so sensitive to medication I typically just need 1/2 of the dose of any medicine previously prescribed before chemo.  How can I convince my oncologist I don't need such a strong dose of chemo and steriods?  I don't know how I'm going to go on with the treatements.  I'm a single mom with a 20 year old son who is helping me as much as he can.  Thank God he is home from school and can help me during some of my treatments.  How can I stay positive that I'm doing the right thing?  HELP!

hi sorry for what your going though I know vitamin D3 helps with chemo as the chemo cause a vitamin D deficiency vitamin D3 is use to as a method of preventing or treating alopecia (thats your hair falling out ) induced by chemotherapeutic agents. most of the bad side efects can be allso be eased by just takinh vitamin D3 with you chomo treatment

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Hi Pat Z,

I too am very sensitive to drugs and my first chemo treatment was the worst.  I could not function at all, my eyes were scrambled, I could not write, I was a mess.  It felt like I was hit by a semi (whatever that feel like).  I had a very hard time with the steroids.  I did accupuncture with my chemo treatmens and that was a God send.  My oncologist told me he wished more of his patients would consider accupuncture.  It helpled with the nausea, I was never sick once.  My doctor and I decided that I could cut back on the steroids, I think because the accupuncture was working so well with me.  Steroids are to help with the nausea and I was having accupuncture to help with that. 

I have to tell you that my first chemo was the worst and after that it got better.  I had 4 cycles of cytoxin and adrimycin, 4 cycles of taxotere, a mastectomy and then 4 cycles of gemsar and cysplatnum.  I would visualize the chemo eating up the cancer cells and just go with the flow,  your body sets up a cycle of good days and bad days and is pretty consistant. I knew what days would be my bad days after chemo and just gave in to it,  I lived in bed on those days and with my good days I coped as best I could.  I know that 7 more cycles seems like an eternity but believe me, you will get through, it is a tough fight but you are strong and can do it.  The cycles do get a bit better as your body gets used to the drugs.  Adrimycin and cytoxin were the worst, taxotere was better and I could actually function with the gemsar and cysplatnum,  I could actually drive myslef to chemo with the last 2 drugs.  One suggestion I wish my dr. pushed, was if you have taxotere and your tear ducts plug, go have the tubes put in, it will save you much misery in the long run.  I did not have the tubes put in and am paying for it now, that is my strongest advise.

I wish you the best and will be praying for you during your journey to good health.

Teresa

Hi Pat, you sound just like I did after I had my first chemo treatment. I went for 17 rounds, and when I went back for the 2nd one I broke down and cried saying I couldn't do it ... My oncologist, the best in the world, was always so sensitive and caring and told me he perfectly understood because he had been on chemo before. He told me to commit to one session at a time, and that's how I did it. I dind't even think about all the remaining sessions. I only counted "one more", and did it. I also completely lowered my expectations about how I was going to feel and behave after chemo, and allowed myself to stay in bed for 7 straight days after each round. Yes, it took me 7 days to be able to walk on my own and even think clearly after every round, but my oncologist said that was completely normal given my sensitivity to drugs, and that if that was what my body needed to do to recover, then that was it. Pat, I wish I could give you a magic recipe, but I don't have one. You have to do this because it's your way to health and survival. You cannot give cancer another chance. Rest, rest, rest, and when feeling good, do what you want. One session at a time, and you'll get done. Yes, it gets done!!! I'm praying for you.

Hi Pat Z - I think we have all said that we couldn't make it, especially after the first one.  It's going to get easier, definitely not the best of times, but easier. The second night after my first treatment I woke up during the night and told my husband I quit!  I felt soo terrible that was never going back for more.  My oncologist told the nurse I was a flight risk and that she was going to have to get out the straps to give me the next treatment.  I found that having a friend or family member commit to meeting me there or going with me gave me something to look forward to also.  Sounds funny but the last couple were kind of fun because I knew the end was near.  You will get your routine of how you are going to feel down and muddle through it.  This too shall pass.  I finished February 9th 2009.  I did 8 dose dense rounds (every 2 weeks).  The hardest part was not being able to take care of my kids because the youngest was 3.  I read the chicken soup books and laughed and kept my spirits up when I could by laughing as much as possible.  Before you know it, people won't know if you were sick before, or just got a funny hair cut ( kind of where I am right now with a little hair on my head again).  If you get nauseous, by all means take the pills!  They were my saviors for that.  I took Lorazapam and Reglan together the first week after treatments along with the steroids.  Do what you have to and take what you have to in order to get through this.  You will be surprised at how fast you will bounce back to your old self when you finish. You'll be just fine.  Hang in there!

 

Andi