Hair loss (increased shedding really, not clumps) began during the 2nd chemo. Nausea was more frequent and stronger during 2nd chemo. Same with fatigue. Recovery time was slower. After chemo and back home - nausea and fatigue were constant.
What are the symptoms of chemo treatment?
Hair loss (increased shedding really, not clumps) began during the 2nd chemo. Nausea was more frequent and stronger during 2nd chemo. Same with fatigue. Recovery time was slower. After chemo and back home - nausea and fatigue were constant. Sleep helped with his fatigue, Compazine helped with the nausea. I've also heard good things about ginger.
How long does a chemotherapy session last?
Before your treatment starts, you will: Have a blood sample taken. Meet with your oncologist so they can check your health and blood test results. Meet the nurse or other health professionals who will give your treatment. Have your blood pressure, …
What happens after my chemotherapy treatment is finished?
Treatment & Care: Chemotherapy Day 111: Chemo Round 2 was no match for me! But the cold I caught a few days later was brutal. Overall, my second round of chemo went much better than the first...thanks to an adjustment Dr. Soule made based on my round one experience (she extended my steroid to be taken for three days after chemo, instead of just one, though with smaller …
Are the side effects of chemo getting worse?
What to expect at each chemotherapy visit. Each chemotherapy visit lasts 1-6 hours. This includes time with your medical and nursing teams. At each visit, your blood counts will be checked. You may be given anti-nausea medications and other treatments to …
Is chemo easier the second time?
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
Do chemo side effects get worse with more treatments?
Most types of pain related to chemotherapy get better or go away between treatments. However, nerve damage often gets worse with each dose. Sometimes the drug causing the nerve damage has to be stopped. It can take months or years for nerve damage from chemotherapy to improve or go away.
What is second-line of chemotherapy?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment (first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated.Jun 9, 2020
How do I prepare for second chemo?
Stay healthy and strong.Take it easy.Don't compare your body to how it was before chemotherapy.Drink lots of water.Go for a walk every day, if possible.Try to eat something. ... Read the provided handouts regarding chemotherapy and its side effects.Try acupuncture to help alleviate pain and nausea.More items...•Feb 4, 2014
What are the signs that chemo is working?
How Can We Tell if Chemotherapy is Working?A lump or tumor involving some lymph nodes can be felt and measured externally by physical examination.Some internal cancer tumors will show up on an x-ray or CT scan and can be measured with a ruler.Blood tests, including those that measure organ function can be performed.More items...
What should you not do after chemo?
9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•May 5, 2021
How effective is second-line chemotherapy?
In three phase III randomised trials of 5-FU-based first-line therapy enrolling a total of 1080 patients, 20% of them went on to receive second-line chemotherapy, with a response rate observed as 13.3% (95% CI, 6.8–22.5%), and a median survival from starting second-line therapy of 5.6 months (Chau et al, 2004a).
What are the signs that chemo is not working?
Here are some signs that chemotherapy may not be working as well as expected: tumors aren't shrinking. new tumors keep forming. cancer is spreading to new areas.Jul 31, 2019
How many rounds of chemo can a person have?
During a course of treatment, you usually have around 4 to 8 cycles of treatment. A cycle is the time between one round of treatment until the start of the next. After each round of treatment you have a break, to allow your body to recover.
How do they clean the house for chemo patients?
Tips for a clean homeClean bathrooms and high-touch surfaces daily, more often if someone in the home is sick. ... Wipe counters with soap and water to remove germs and dirt, then use an EPA-approved disinfectant.Launder cleaning rags and clothing in the warmest water possible, then place in the dryer.More items...•Aug 4, 2020
Do you eat before chemo?
Before chemotherapy begins, a person should eat a healthy diet and try to maintain a moderate weight. A healthy diet should include various fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, whole grains, and legumes.Jul 29, 2021
How much water should you drink during chemotherapy?
The goal is to drink at least ten 8-ounce glasses of fluid every day. That amount should increase if you have diarrhea, vomiting, or a fever. Don't count on thirst to tell you when you need to drink. Always keep a beverage with you, so you can take sips throughout the day.
Before You Start Chemotherapy
Meeting with your oncologist. Before you start chemotherapy, you will meet with your medical oncologist. He or she will review your medical records...
Questions to Ask Before Chemotherapy Starts
Before chemotherapy starts is a good time to ask questions. These may include: 1. Learning more about the schedule and side effects of your specifi...
Planning For Your Chemotherapy Treatments
Preparing for side effects. Depending on the most common side effects of your chemotherapy, your doctor may recommend planning for nausea and vomit...
What Happens on Your First Day of IV Chemotherapy
You may want to bring a friend or family member on your first day of treatment. This person can support you and help you remember information. You...
Giving Chemotherapy With A Port
Before your first appointment, you might have minor surgery to put in a port. This is a round metal or plastic disk that the IV goes in during trea...
How Long Does IV Chemotherapy take?
Your IV chemotherapy can take minutes, hours, or several days if you have continuous infusion chemotherapy. You do not need to stay at the hospital...
After Your IV Chemotherapy
After your treatment is finished, the nurse or another team member will take out your IV. If you have a port, it will stay until you finish all of...
How long does it take to recover from chemo?
A full course of chemotherapy for early or locally advanced breast cancer is usually given over 3-6 months.
How long does chemo last?
Each chemotherapy visit lasts 1-6 hours. This includes time with your medical and nursing teams. At each visit, your blood counts will be checked. You may be given anti-nausea medications and other treatments to reduce some side effects. A friend or family member may be able to stay with you during the visit.
How is chemo given?
How chemotherapy drugs are given. Most chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer are given by vein (through an IV) in an outpatient setting at a hospital or clinic. Often, a combination of 2 or 3 chemotherapy drugs is used. At each visit, an IV is inserted into your arm, allowing the drugs to drip into the bloodstream.
How to contact Komen Breast Care?
If you or a loved one needs more information about breast health or breast cancer, call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636). All calls are answered by a trained specialist or oncology social worker in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET.
What to do before chemo?
Before you begin chemotherapy, talk with your health care provider about possible side effects and whether you need to have someone drive you home after each visit. Learn more about things to consider before chemotherapy begins. Learn about short-term side effects of chemotherapy. Learn about long-term side effects of chemotherapy.
What is a port a cath?
Port-a-cath (port) Some people have a surgical procedure to insert a small device called a port-a-cath under the skin of the chest. This may be called a “port”. One end of the port goes into a large vein near your heart and the other end is just under your skin. Chemotherapy drugs can be given through the port.
What is the first cycle of chemotherapy?
The first chemotherapy cycle is the time to see what specific side effects you experienced. Remember, for all the problems that you might have, there is a solution. Never suffer in silence. Ask for help. Following sessions are usually easier, because you know what to expect. Even if it seems that there is a huge mountain ahead of you, just know that time passes very quickly. Before you know it, you have finished all your chemo sessions.
How does it feel to take a syringe for a second day?
Most people will feel the effects of treatment during the afternoon of the second day. You might feel fatigued and a loss of appetite. During these days, it is very important to prevent nausea.
Where is Dr. Sarita Retief?
Dr Sarita Retief is currently working as a clinical and radiation oncologist at Nelspruit Mediclinic in the private sector. She completed pre- and post-graduate studies at the University of the Free State.
