FabSwingers.com forum: Chemotherapy

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it? "

A long time ago.

Hard at first. Then you learn to live with it.

The main issue to try and explain is that there are different treatments and different cycles of treatments.

This is brilliant to read.

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/chemotherapy/planning/your-chemotherapy-plan

Key is support and mind set. It’s like being hit by a bus. But people will get through it

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thanks. I’ll take a look. We’ve googled all the questions but its all very general. Wanted some first hand experience

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it? "

I beleive different kinds of chemo therapy treatment can have different side effects. My heartfelt best wishes goes out to anyone in this situation x

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By *isaB45Woman
over a year ago

Fabville

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it? "

Best wishes and big hugs xxx

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By *acktar74Man
over a year ago

leeds

I can only tell you how in impacted my mother. She worked but the tiredness was the real issue. It drains you physically.

I think you forget that you are ill and rest is important

Hopefully employer is supportive

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thanks. I’ll take a look. We’ve googled all the questions but its all very general. Wanted some first hand experience "

From when I did it. Years ago

Vomit. Being hit by a bus.

Hot sweaty and dreadful.

That was the first session.

I had 4 sessions.

I was very lucky as my flat mate took time off work to look after me.

My tongue seemed to grow. It was hard to sleep. I bruised easily.

Forgetting things was annoying as it seemed to effect me. It can also lower your sex drive. Partly I think because you feel like shit.

I didn’t last long in reality. And of course it worked. My diet changed. It’s ironic I was healthier then as I was eating better. Thanks to my flat mate.

So my key things

Rest

Drink and eat well

Rest.

It’s horrible and you feel like crap.

But it’s liveable.

I hold that helps. And good luck to you both.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Thanks. I’ll take a look. We’ve googled all the questions but its all very general. Wanted some first hand experience

From when I did it. Years ago

Vomit. Being hit by a bus.

Hot sweaty and dreadful.

That was the first session.

I had 4 sessions.

I was very lucky as my flat mate took time off work to look after me.

My tongue seemed to grow. It was hard to sleep. I bruised easily.

Forgetting things was annoying as it seemed to effect me. It can also lower your sex drive. Partly I think because you feel like shit.

I didn’t last long in reality. And of course it worked. My diet changed. It’s ironic I was healthier then as I was eating better. Thanks to my flat mate.

So my key things

Rest

Drink and eat well

Rest.

It’s horrible and you feel like crap.

But it’s liveable.

I hold that helps. And good luck to you both. "

Thank you. Hubby is annoyingly upbeat about it. He’s not in denial, but he’s taking the “positive attitude” to the extreme. It’s more of a “fuck it, challenge accepted” attitude. I’m finding it harder to cope than he is

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Thanks. I’ll take a look. We’ve googled all the questions but its all very general. Wanted some first hand experience

From when I did it. Years ago

Vomit. Being hit by a bus.

Hot sweaty and dreadful.

That was the first session.

I had 4 sessions.

I was very lucky as my flat mate took time off work to look after me.

My tongue seemed to grow. It was hard to sleep. I bruised easily.

Forgetting things was annoying as it seemed to effect me. It can also lower your sex drive. Partly I think because you feel like shit.

I didn’t last long in reality. And of course it worked. My diet changed. It’s ironic I was healthier then as I was eating better. Thanks to my flat mate.

So my key things

Rest

Drink and eat well

Rest.

It’s horrible and you feel like crap.

But it’s liveable.

I hold that helps. And good luck to you both.

I over think anyway as most people do.

It’s for a reason and he will get better.

Key is you talk. My flat mate was amazing. But also worried. We helped each other.

My recent ex experienced it with her husband. A few years ago. I am seeing her today so will ask how she copied.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it? "

Husband had it a while ago. He says it makes you sick for a few days and makes you feel really down and tired. Session lasts anout 2-3 hours. He doesn't think you could work. Rest and support from family and friends is essential at that time.

We assume it would depend on the type of cancer and the treatment though.

Stay strong and poditive.

Mrs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it? "

Big hugs to you OP.xx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it?

We assume it would depend on the type of cancer and the treatment though.

Stay strong and poditive.

Mrs "

Thank you xxx

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it?

Big hugs to you OP.xx"

Thank you.. I, apparently, need them more than he does !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Any one had it ? How did it make you feel ? How long does a session last? Can you still work while having it?

Big hugs to you OP.xx

Thank you.. I, apparently, need them more than he does ! "

That’s sometimes the case.xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There are different chemotherapy treatments for different cancers. My son had a stronger chemo and was unable to work. A friend and had it and could work at the same time. The course lengths vary too.

It can make you tired, nauseous and confused amongst other things.

I would say talk to a Macmillan nurse, they are experts in chemo and the best person to advise you. They will also know about the particular treatment you are having. If you don't have a McMillan nurse yet then ask for one ASAP.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I tried to work through chemo. I failed. After my third session I just admitted defeat and took the time off.

I'm not gonna lie, chemo is shit. It makes you sick and tired and weak. But, it doesn't last forever, and it sure makes you appreciate when you don't feel shit.

Rest as much as possible, enjoy as much as you can on the days you don't feel like death warmed up. Also, cherryade was the only thing that seemed to get rid of the horrible sticky taste in my mouth aside from brushing my teeth 100 times a day.

Good luck to you both

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My ex wife had it. Intravenously first which lasted around 5 days (from memory) this really took it out of her and she was so tired and spaced out, had some unusual side effects like numb feet, reactions to cold/ heat and nausea. She then went on to tablets for another 5 days which didn't effect her as much. Each cycle was fortnightly and she had 10 in total.

Got worse as it went on as it was cumulative.

She is fine now though

Treated privately and it felt more like a business than a hospital. It does affect people differently though, some people worked through it. If you want to chat more happy to do so via pm.

Best wishes.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would also add make sure someone is supporting you and you can talk and offload, sometimes the people looking after someone else can be neglected and neglect themselves which can have a massive impact.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I would also add make sure someone is supporting you and you can talk and offload, sometimes the people looking after someone else can be neglected and neglect themselves which can have a massive impact."

Totally agree.

It's often harder for the family i think. I didn't tell anyone but my partner at the time and my best friend i was sick just because I didn't want anyone to worry. (Silly of me at the time obviously but yaknow...)

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38

"Thanks. I’ll take a look. We’ve googled all the questions but its all very general. Wanted some first hand experience

From when I did it. Years ago

Vomit. Being hit by a bus.

Hot sweaty and dreadful.

That was the first session.

I had 4 sessions.

I was very lucky as my flat mate took time off work to look after me.

My tongue seemed to grow. It was hard to sleep. I bruised easily.

Forgetting things was annoying as it seemed to effect me. It can also lower your sex drive. Partly I think because you feel like shit.

I didn’t last long in reality. And of course it worked. My diet changed. It’s ironic I was healthier then as I was eating better. Thanks to my flat mate.

So my key things

Rest

Drink and eat well

Rest.

It’s horrible and you feel like crap.

But it’s liveable.

I hold that helps. And good luck to you both.

It is a very difficult situation and one that you can come out of the other side from. I think positivity can be a massive factor in coping with this. Though I understand how worried and frightening it is.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Best wishes OP...

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By *iss SJWoman
over a year ago

Hull

Mine took three hours each time. The first one was two hours but it caused me so much pain in my arm they said they would spread it over three hours to make it easier. They were lovely at the centre where I had mine and used to come round with sandwiches and boiled sweets and cups of tea and coffee. I always took a kindle to read. My mum came with me a couple of times but mostly I went in my own. I made my appointments for a Friday afternoon so I didn’t have to take too much time off work and had the weekend to recover. Chemo gets worse the more you have though so I ended up taking time off the following week after it. I never had a full week off though and managed to get into work as much as possible.

Everyone’s chemo is different depending on which cancer you have and you also react to it differently. I didn’t loose any hair but the nerves in my feet and hands and face became super sensitive so anything cold would cause a feeling like an electric shock. I was also taking chemo tablets which are huge. First time I took some, I drank some water to help them down and the effect of the cold water made my face feel like it had been tasered.

I still have issues with numbness and pains in my feet.

I live on my own so had to rely on myself to get my own food and drinks. You’re so worn out it makes it hard and your taste buds are all weird so you don’t feel like eating much which doesn’t help when you need to keep your strength up. When I could eat though, I had everything and anything I fancied just to keep me going. At work they always knew I was feeling better when I ordered a bacon sarnie at break.

I got through it though and it seems like a million years ago now. They are making improvements all the time and working on ways to improve the side effects.

I took the same attitude as your hubby and remained positive throughout. I really think that it’s the best way and to just take things as they come. All the best to you both xx

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By *uxom redCouple
over a year ago

Shrewsbury

We both have, I got really fat and felt rough.

Dick 1 hour long session didn't appear to have any side affects

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Update. after speaking to oncologist today, He won’t be having chemo, or it’s highly unlikely. There’s no “good” cancer, but this is one “of the better ones” as it’s very slow growing. Multiple tumours on liver mean the amount of chemo needed would probably cause liver failure. This probably started in the small intestine, so a liver transplant is pointless as the new liver would likely just be reinfected. So it’s just a case of living with it with monitoring...it’ll knock a bit off his life expectancy but other than that, just have to live with it. Monthly injections to control serotonin production and stop him flushing like he’s going through the change. We are both up beat. Silver lining is as a cancer patient he is now exempt from prescription charges

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Obviously that should read yesterday, we’ve been up all night talking

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By *eeBee67Man
over a year ago

Masked and Distant

Hugs n best wishes to you both. Glad it's a "better" type.

Don't forget Macmillan are there for both of you. Not been through it personally, but both my in-laws went through it and Macmillan helped us all.

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By *aveyIOM1970Man
over a year ago

douglas

This is so true

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By *iss behaving2019Woman
over a year ago

East Yorkshire

I had a very hard regime of chemo! 24/7 week on, week of! It is very difficult to describe what the affects are like. Macmillan where great and got me through it! Keep a positive mind! Good luck!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I had a very hard regime of chemo! 24/7 week on, week of! It is very difficult to describe what the affects are like. Macmillan where great and got me through it! Keep a positive mind! Good luck!"

He’s sickenly positive ...nothing ever gets him down ...chemo is apparently not an option

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38

"I had a very hard regime of chemo! 24/7 week on, week of! It is very difficult to describe what the affects are like. Macmillan where great and got me through it! Keep a positive mind! Good luck!

He’s sickenly positive ...nothing ever gets him down ...chemo is apparently not an option "

I'm sorry to hear that chemi won't work...that's such bad news. Maybe that's how he's getting through this, to put on a brave face. I am sure he will worries sick about you and other stuff. Maybe he feels he needs to be brave. That may not always be the case as things progress.

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By *om and JennieCouple
over a year ago

Chams or Socials

T had 6 sessions in 2016 followed by a stem cell transplant in 2017 for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The chemo varies on the combination you have - he had R-CHOP. He sat in a big comfy chair & they pumped it through his arm.

Side effects were hair loss, weight loss, mouth ulcers, sickness a few days after a session, tiredness.

He tried to work as self employed but couldn’t due to nature of work & risk to health.

See your dentist & get a prescription for Colgate Duraphat toothpaste. Pineapple & Anbesol liquid is good for mouth ulcers.

The SCT was far worse than the chemo treatment xxx

Wishing you the best of luck - I highly recommend Macmillan for help & advice. They gave us a grant for a short break xx

J x

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By *nabelle21Woman
over a year ago

B38

"T had 6 sessions in 2016 followed by a stem cell transplant in 2017 for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The chemo varies on the combination you have - he had R-CHOP. He sat in a big comfy chair & they pumped it through his arm.

Side effects were hair loss, weight loss, mouth ulcers, sickness a few days after a session, tiredness.

He tried to work as self employed but couldn’t due to nature of work & risk to health.

See your dentist & get a prescription for Colgate Duraphat toothpaste. Pineapple & Anbesol liquid is good for mouth ulcers.

The SCT was far worse than the chemo treatment xxx

Wishing you the best of luck - I highly recommend Macmillan for help & advice. They gave us a grant for a short break xx

J x"

My late husband had prostrate cancer. Chemo,radiotherapy and trial therapys didn't work and left him feeling even worse with such awful side effects.

It's was a really terrible time for everyone concerned and my heart goes out to those in that situation xx

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