It took me forever to write this blog. This is what I did, and in some cases am still doing to eliminate chemo side effects. You should
always check with your oncologist before trying any remedy. Not all of us are
the same and what worked for me, may not work for you.
Here is a list of
side effects, that I was told by my doctors, could happen during chemo:
Constipation - By
far, my biggest side effect. In fact, if I didn't have this side effect, I
think I may have become a chemo queen. I've been prone to constipation all of
my life so I knew it would be a challenge. My oncologist had me take two Colace capsules in the morning and two Senna tablets at night. Unfortunately
towards the end it stopped working and I ended up in the ER with impacted
bowels. I was also encouraged to drink 8-10
glasses of water a day. My
bowels were back to normal (meaning normal for me) about 4 weeks post chemo. To
combat it now, I eat a bowl of Fiber One
Cereal every morning along with a glass of Plum Smart Juice, which
seems to keep me pretty regular. I've found pears to work really well too. I'm not a water person, but I've
become one since chemo. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK - it really does help flush out all
those chemo toxins.
Intestinal Pain -
Primarily caused by the constipation and blockage. The ER doctor prescribed a
powder (GoLYTELY) that I mixed with Crystal Light. It didn't taste too bad
and it worked within an hour. I camped out in the bathroom all night, but boy
did it work. I think they should change the name though - GoQUICKLY or perhaps
Go-A-LOTLY. In fact, you may want to install a seat belt on the toilet if it's
ever prescribed to you. My intestinal pain went away after clearing out my
bowels.
Diarrhea - Not a side effect I experienced. My oncologist told me to take Imodium A-D if it happened.
Diarrhea - Not a side effect I experienced. My oncologist told me to take Imodium A-D if it happened.
Fatigue - This
was a cumulative side effect. I was pretty used to fatigue because of my RA, so
it wasn't awful. But for a healthy person, I imagine it could hit pretty hard. I
did sleep a lot during certain times - it usually hit me about the third day
after an infusion and lasted about a week. After my last infusion it lasted a
lot longer. Walking seemed to help a
lot but it was difficult for me to get motivated. My fatigue started getting
better right before my lumpectomy. That would make it about four weeks post
chemo. Eight weeks post chemo and I'm pretty much back to normal. That will
probably change once radiation starts.
Hemorrhoids - I
was really concerned about hemorrhoids for obvious reasons (read my history).
They stared to bother me after my first infusion but they seemed to get better
as I went along. For this I used Preparation
H wipes which work very well for irritation and inflammation. After my
second chemo they were pretty much under control, just a little bothersome.
Every little flare up made me a little wacky.
Muscle & Bone Pain
- Caused by the wonderful Neupogen and Neulasta shot. The doctor switched after
my first chemo from Neupogen to Neulasta. I had slight pain with the Neupogen
but it really got bad with the Neulasta. My limbs felt like tree trunks and I came
to dread every shot. At the same time, I was thankful that it eventually
increased by blood counts. It was a love/hate relationship. Giving myself the
injection was pretty easy. When I injected the Neupogen, I alternated from
different sides of my abdomen. When I injected the Neulasta, I switched to the
upper portion of my leg. I would alternate from one leg to the other. The upper
portion of my leg was much easier for me to inject and didn't bother me as
much. For pain I took Claritin which
seemed to help a little. The muscle and bone pain got better about 2 weeks post
chemo but has recently returned. It was pretty bad after my first Herceptin
only infusion and has slowly been getting better. I actually broke down and took
a pain pill (Norco) and that seemed
to help. However, the pain pill did cause a slight rash and itching. For the
rash I took Benedryl.
Rash and Itching
- I developed a severe rash after my surgery. Before calling the doctor I tried
Benedryl at night and Claritin during the day. That didn't help at all. Next I
tried Aquaphor which was unsuccessful. As a last resort I tried Calamine Lotion
which seemed to help right out of the shower. The relief was short lived
though. The doctor prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% topical cream. It
did nothing for me. Then she prescribed Betamethasone,
Augmented 0.05% topical cream which worked much better. With the new
prescription it took about one to two weeks to fully clear up.
Loss of Hair - I
wish I had a magic potion for this side effect. I know many people use cold
caps which can be controversial. I never really lost my hair completely. I had
a light fuzz all around my head. I lost the hair under my arms and eventually
the hair on my legs. Also lost the hair down south - I'm sure you get the
picture. I kept my eyebrows, and my eyelashes thinned just a bit. I eventually
lost all of my nose hair.
Eight weeks post chemo and my eyebrows are actually starting
to thin - very strange. The hair on my head is starting to fill in a bit more.
My leg hair is back - I have to shave about once a week. The hair under my arms
has grown a tiny bit - I've only had to shave once. Down south hasn't grown at
all and my eyelashes are about the same. My nose hair hasn't grown back.
Nausea - It was
rare that I felt any nausea. When I did, the doctor prescribed Zofran and that seemed to do the trick.
He also prescribed Compazine which I
used once. I didn't like the way it made me feel - it made me dizzy. He also
prescribed Marinol which is supposed
to help with nausea and appetite. Because Zofran
worked so well for me, and I obviously didn't have any problems with my
appetite (gained 13 pounds), I never used the Marinol.
Vomiting - I
vomited one time after my first infusion, which was caused by the pain pill I
took on an empty stomach. Before and after every chemo I tried to eat small meals.
Dry Skin - Shortly
after my first infusion I started getting these big dry patches on my face. I
tried all kinds of creams and lotions and nothing worked. After a lot of
experimenting I finally found a great regimen that actually improved my skin.
At night I would wash my face with CeraVe
and after that I applied Cetaphil
(in a jar). Now here is where I made a wonderful discovery - in the morning,
instead of washing my face with CeraVe
cleanser, I washed my face with CeraVe
lotion. I'd put it all over my face and wet a wash cloth. Then I would go in a
circular motion with the wash cloth and wipe it off. When I did that, it would
take all the dry skin off. At that point,
if I wasn't going to wear makeup that day, I would apply more Cetaphil. If makeup was going on, I
would apply Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital
Sunscreen Cream which I got in the makeup class given by the American
Cancer Society (Look Good... Feel Better). My skin is better than it was before
chemo. I'm hoping the Lancome product isn't too expensive because I would
really like to continue using it.
Acne - I developed horrible acne after my first infusion. Look under dry skin (see above) and see my routine. It worked for acne too. Cleared it right up.
Acne - I developed horrible acne after my first infusion. Look under dry skin (see above) and see my routine. It worked for acne too. Cleared it right up.
Neuropathy - I've
always had a bit of neuropathy from past surgeries. A couple of the toes on my
left foot would get numb and tingly and I have a portion of my left leg where
they removed tissue for my reconstruction which is completely numb. I did
fairly well during chemo, until I had my last infusion. At that time my whole
left foot went numb and tingly and it affected my right foot but not as bad. I
also had problems with my hands. It really affected my fine motor skills making
it difficult to button my shirt. Luckily it only lasted about a week post chemo. I'm not sure how it
would have been, if I had continued with all six infusions they originally
wanted me to have. I didn't find anything to counteract the neuropathy. It went
away before I could address the problem with my oncologist. Eight weeks post
chemo and I just have the same neuropathy I've always had.
Mouth Sores -
Before chemo I made an appointment with my dentist and had a thorough cleaning. During chemo I brushed and flossed after each meal. I used, and still use Biotene toothpaste. I
also made sure to always have water
on hand, and kept my mouth moist. I carried a water bottle with me wherever I
went. I was fortunate not to develop mouth sores. My doctor prescribed, MW: Diphen-Lido Visc-Maalox-NYST Oral Susp.
- where do they get these names? Fortunately, I never had to use it so I can't
say whether it works or not.
Low Blood Counts
- This is a side effect I did have all through chemo. To counteract I used
Neupogen which didn't work too well for me, so I was switched to Neulasta.
Low Ejection Fraction
- Ejection Fraction measures how well your heart is pumping. This can be a side
effect of taking Herceptin which is
a targeted therapy for HER2+ tumors. The doctors keep a pretty close eye on
your heart during treatment, ordering a Muga Scan every three months. My
ejection fraction did drop but came back up pretty quickly after skipping a
dose of Herceptin. The research I
did indicated that 30 minutes of
exercise a day can help improve your ejection fraction. I started walking 30 minutes a day and it seemed
to help mine. Lowering your salt intake
can also help. I have another Muga Scan
scheduled for the end of January.
Abnormal Liver
Enzymes - When my ALT test was elevated I got really concerned that either
my liver was damaged or the cancer had metastasized. Then I learned an elevated
ALT could be a side effect of chemo. I immediately stopped taking Norco because
it contains Tylenol, which can damage your liver. When I had my next blood
test, it was back to normal. It got slightly elevated again during chemo, but
always came right back down.
Watery Eyes and
Blurred Vision - This is a side effect I did get. It seemed to be worse right
after an infusion and it lasted about a week. My oncologist told me to use Restore Tears. I bought the product, but
never used it. I hate putting things in my eyes. I had it on hand in case it
got unbearable - which it didn't.
Bloody/Cracked Nose
- Got this one. I think because everything dries out so much, your nose gets
bloody and cracked. I read on various support sites to use aquaphor. I asked my
oncologist about it, and he wasn't too keen about me putting stuff in my nose.
He said you have to be careful because it can be absorbed into your lung and
cause problems. That's all I needed to hear. I lived with the bloody/cracked
nose. I tried to moisten it with water
in the morning and that seemed to help. It took about one week after each chemo for that to subside.
Runny Nose -
Another side effect I have. I've read on the internet that it's caused by the
Herceptin. That remains to be seen. Right now it seems that it's caused by lack
of nose hair. There really isn't anything there to stop it. I'll have to report
back on this one once the hair in my nose starts to grow. Then I can tell you
if it's the Herceptin. In the meantime, I carry a tissues. It's not a constant drip for me - it's occasional.
Chemo Brain - I'm
not sure I'm experiencing this or not. Occasionally I will be doing a task and
start another task ,while in the middle of the other one. That could just be
old-timers disease - I'm really not sure. I don't feel like it's much different
than before I started chemo, except for the fact I'm more aware of it. I guess
the jury's still out on this one.
Infection - I'm
happy to report I've experienced no infections while on chemo. Yipeeeeeeeeeee!
Must be the antibiotics they pumped in me after every chemo infusion or it
could be I'm a neurotic nutcase when it comes to spreading germs. I wore a mask when I entered any type of medical
facility while my counts were down. I also used a ton of hand sanitizer. When I wasn't using hand sanitizer, I was washing my hands. I stayed away from
crowds and kids when my counts were down. I bathed daily and dried my
skin gently. I carried Neosporin
around in my purse and used it on all cuts and scrapes. I wore gloves when I washed dishes (didn't do
that too often because Robyn was home - thank you Robyn!!). I kept my whole body moisturized so I didn't develop any cracks or sores. I didn't
eat fresh vegetables when my counts
were down, and I monitored my temperature
daily. I also didn't share a bathroom
the whole time during my treatment. In the infusion room they have you flush twice when you use the restroom.
I did that at home as well, with the lid down. My doctor also said to stay away
from pet droppings - no problem!!
Fluid Retention -
I got a slight amount of fluid retention. I tried to limit my salt intake so it never got
unmanageable.
Appetite Changes
- Yeah right. I had a few days after every infusion where I didn't eat a whole
lot but I always made up for that. I would lose two pounds and gain back four.
It's got to be that Italian eating gene I've inherited.
Taste Changes -
This I did have, but obviously it didn't affect my appetite. I had a slight metallic taste which was caused by the Taxotere. Water starts to taste really yucky
when this happens. I found that cold water tasted much better than warm water. About
three weeks post chemo my taste buds were back to normal.
Bleeding Problems
- Never had this one.
Urination Changes
- Didn't have this one either.
Chemo Pause -
This one has been a challenge and eight weeks post chemo nothing has changed. I
was pretty close to being in menopause before my diagnosis. I had already gone
through the night sweats and also had hot flashes on and off. I went almost a
year without my monthly visit from Aunt Flo and then she returned for a couple
of months and went away again. Once chemo started the night sweats and hot
flashes got so much worse. I spend most of the time freezing one minute and
burning up the next. This also contributes to my insomnia. There has been no
sign of Aunt Flo and I don't expect a return. I haven't talked to my oncologist
about this, but it's on my list for the next appointment. For now, I try to
dress in layers. I feel like a chemo version Mr. Miyagi from the Karate Kid -
hats on, hats off. Sorry, bad joke.
Insomnia - I
suffered from insomnia long before chemo started. But I must admit, it did get
worse. Usually on the nights right after the Neulasta shot and also the few
days pre and post chemo when I had to take steroids. Another thing keeping me
up lately has been the hot flashes. As mentioned above, chemo pause makes
sleeping uncomfortable. I'm hot one minute and cold the next. I have a special
hat for sleeping that's made of cotton. It's green so I call it "my little
green giant hat". I spend most of the night taking it on and off.
Occasionally I will wake up in a cold sweat. I've tried so many things. Luckily
I don't require a lot of sleep but it sure would be nice to get a good night's
rest. This is one side effect I haven't solved. I guess it deserves a chat with
my oncologist. My oncology nurse said something about melatonin, but I've never tried it. I'm cautious about sleep aides
because I don't want to become dependent. Thinking too much will also keep me
awake. I really need an on/off switch installed on my brain. I will report back
on this one when/if I find a solution.
Emotional Effects
- This was also a big one for me due to past health issues. It took me awhile to wrap my head around the fact I was facing another health crisis. My doctors were very honest and told me it's possible to get Flesh Eating Bacteria again during treatment. That was/is my biggest fear. My doctor prescribed Ativan, which I took before every infusion, and
sometimes before a procedure. I also took it occasionally on the nights I was stressing about treatment and possible side effects. Eight weeks post chemo and now I just take it before
my Herceptin infusion. I've weaned myself off of all the prescribed cancer
medications and I'm back on my RA meds. That may change once radiation starts.
It's a long list of possible side effects and it can be quite
overwhelming before you start treatment. When I started chemo I was terrified.
I was sure I would get every side effect - but I didn't. The ones I did get were typically pretty mild. In fact, if it wasn't
for the dreaded constipation which was exacerbated by my other health issues, I
think I would have come through chemo very well. Even taking that into
consideration, I still think I did well. My RA pretty much went away while on
it, which was wonderful. Was chemo easy? No, of course not. But it wasn't as
bad as what I had envisioned. So if you're facing chemotherapy in your
lifetime, it is doable. Once it's behind you, the memories will fade, and life
will get back to normal. I'm eight weeks post chemo and I'm feeling pretty
good. I can't speak for the long term side effects, but I'm hopeful there won't
be any.
I will add to this blog post as I think of more side effects.
I'm sure there must be some that I have forgotten. HMMMMMM - Chemo Brain?? :)
