Breast Cancer Support: Chemotherapy & Radiation Hints and Tips

The following are some hints and tips that may help those of you just starting your treatments. When I was going through chemo, I never read of anyone's experience detailing the process of chemo. So many women have a great fear of having chemo. I was one of them. When I went for my first chemo, the nurse walked me into the chemo clinic and I felt as if I was being led to the electric chair. I had no idea what was going to happen to me and what I was going to feel...whether it was going to be painful, or what. I would like to briefly tell you what my experience was, in hopes that it will help to eliminate some of your fear.

I had chemo in my HMO's Onclology Clinic. After registering, seeing my onc and waiting a short while, I was taken into the chemo room. This large room was full of recliner chairs, with chemo nurses busily attending to their patients. It was a very comfortable atmosphere. At my facility, each recliner had a small tv attached to a movable arm, which allowed one to watch tv, if they chose to. I was taken to my recliner and as I sat in the chair, the nurse put a warm towel over my arm. After a short time, she started an IV, which contained premeds of steroids and anti-nausea medications, etc. Some women have a port-o-cath or a picc line inserted so that chemo treatments can be administered directly through these devices, which saves the veins. Some of what you are given in your treatment may make you slightly drowsy and cause you to doze for short time. It is very comfortable. The chemo drip is then started. Aside from the prick of the needle, for me there was no pain or uncomfortable feelings. I actually took a newspaper or book to read. Some women do have reactions from Taxol and that is the reason it has to be administered slowly, initially. If you are having AC, the nurse will do a manual push of the Adriamycin, as it has to be administered slowly (15-20 minutes). Once the chemo drip is finished, the nurse will hang a bag of normal saline solution, to flush the veins. Once this is done, the treatment is over. The whole process can take about 4-6 hours. At the time chemo administration is finished, you still feel very normal. Later that evening or the next day is when the queasiness starts (AC). The queasiness equates to the queasiness that is experienced with first trimester pregnancy or the beginning stages of flu. It lasts for about 3-4 days (for some, a little longer), then you begin to recover. Some women do have a more difficult time with nausea and vomiting...but, for the most part, extreme nausea and vomiting are no longer the norm, as there are a lot of good anti-nausea meds that help greatly, today. The doc just has to find what works best for the patient. Some women have problems with fatigue. I did not have any fatigue problems with AC, but "crashed" on day three of Taxotere, remaining fatigued for a few days, after which time I bounced back (from fatigue) as if nothing had happened...aside from a sore tongue and residual joint, bone and muscle aches. Remember, though, that everyone is different and some women do have severe reactions. Chemo is definitely not a walk in the park...but it is quite "doable".With the Taxanes (Taxol and Taxotere), you will feel pretty much normal, until day 3. Around day 3, you will begin to feel very fatigued, with total loss of energy (crash day). Best to just lay in bed and rest. You will start to have bone, joint and muscle aches, possibly a sore tongue, which can be helped with "magic mouthwash" (ask onc for a prescription) and other side effects. Side effects will last for a few days and then you will start to recover. Recovery may take about a week. Most women say that Taxotere and Taxol are a breeze compared to AC. For me, it was the opposite. AC was a breeze. With AC, I had queasiness, headaches, sinusitis and periods of dizziness. Taxotere kicked me in the patoot, causing bone, joint, muscle aches and pains, sore mouth, sciatica, coccxydynia and arthritis. I did not have any queasiness, with Taxotere. Some women experience numbness and tenderness of fingers, hands, feet and toes. This is called neuropathy and is usually temporary. It may last for a while, post treatment, as will the bone, joint and muscle aches (feels better after a year).

- Drink plenty of water before, during and after chemo treatment. This will help to flush the excess chemo through your system and your bladder, and will help to keep the bladder from becoming irritated.

- If you have AC, don't be frightened if your urine is red or pink tinged, for 1-2 days post administration. It is the Adriamycin (aka Red Devil).

- Don't look at the whole picture. Take baby steps...one treatment at a time. Focus only on the current treatment or test and then move on to the next one. When you go through 6 weeks of rads...don't look at the whole 6 weeks ahead of you. Focus on getting your treatment done for that day, then move to the next day, and so on. Before you know it, your treatments will be over and done with.

- Take your nausea meds on time, every time...even if you feel you do not need them. It is the anti-nausea med that is keeping you from feeling so bad.

- If you have nausea or queasiness, eat frequent, small meals, during the day. Dry toast, crackers, cool drinks, such as smoothies, ginger ale, shakes, etc. Eat dry cereals or whatever your tummy can tolerate. It is very important to get SOMETHING down, even if it is ice cream. If that is impossible, drink as much fluid as possible, during the day, to keep hydrated, and notify your doc.

- Do not eat sweet, greasy or spicy foods, unless you can tolerate it.

- You can take ginger caps in between nausea meds, but check with your onc, for approval. I use to take two ginger caps before heading to my chemo appointment and then took them in between my nausea meds.

- Ask your onc about taking vitamin B6, B12 and Glutamine, for neuropathy. I took B6 and did not have any problems with neuropathy from the Taxotere.

- For itchy eyes, put cool compresses on the eyes. Take a container and put ice cubes and water in it. Take a wash cloth and cool it in the water. Put the wash cloth over the eyes and just rest a bit. Repeat until the itching stops.

- It would be wise not to eat the foods that you normally love, during the queasy days after chemo, as this will cause you to have "flashback queasiness" when you see or smell those foods, after treatment is over. It may cause you to dislike them, forever.

- If your nausea meds are not working, call your onc and have the prescription changed. They have really good anti-nausea meds, today, and it is not necessary to suffer through chemo nausea. Have doc change prescriptions, until you find what works. A new anti-nausea med (Aloxi) came out a while ago. One dose last 5 days. It is administered, via IV, 30 minutes prior to the chemo infusion. There is also Emend, which I hear is quite good. I took Kytril, as Aloxi and Emend were not on the market at that time. I have recently come across some information that "seabands" work just as good for chemo nausea as it does for anesthesia nausea , sea sickness and morning sickness. You may want to give it a try. If it does work well, it would be a blessing to those who cannot afford the cost of anti-nausea medications, or as an addition to nausea meds. I think the seabands run about $9.00 a pair, or less.

- You will lose your hair between days 14 and 19, though rarely, it has been longer for some women. Your scalp will feel sore and prickly just days prior to it falling out. That will be your clue that the time is close. Some women have more fear of losing their hair than of the cancer, itself. Just remember, your hair will grow back. AND...you will be able to try new styles as the hair begins to grow back in. My hair actually started growing back in after the 4th AC, only to have some of the growth fall out, after the first Taxotere. It then started to grow back...but that is when my lashes and brows fell out...go figure.

- Your eyebrows and lashes will thin considerably or your will lose them altogether. Take an eyeliner and line your eyes. With your finger or a q-tip, smudge the line so that it is not too harsh. Draw in your eyebrows, with eyebrow pencil. Do not draw a deep, hard line. Sketch it on, lightly. Then take your finger and smudge the line, by rubbing, lightly, back and forth. This will take the edge off of the line and it will look more natural. You will have a normal appearance until they can grow back in.

- If you choose to wear a head covering, shop for your wig, scarves or hats, prior to chemo. You can find some very nice headscarves at The BeauBeau. They come in many colors and designs and are prestyled for fit. I think these scarves are so beautiful that I am contemplating purchasing a few...just for style wear.

Visit the Bookstore for an excellent selection of readings on the chemo experience...inspirational stories of hope, survival and more.

Hints 'N Tips