Symptoms during chemo

A little sum up of my symptoms during chemotherapy in case you are going through something similar. Every person has different side effects and a lot of other things can affect how you feel. Try to stay positive and focus on what you can affect!

My first three treatments consisted of epirubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide, repeated every third week, total of three times. Just before the treatment I had to take a potent tablet to avoid sickness. During the first four days I received corticosteroids as well and after that injections stimulating the bone marrow for a week.
Main symptoms during the first week: fatigue, needed to sleep a lot (the steroids disturbed my daily routine), dry eyes, mouth and skin, loss of taste, nose bleeding. Light sickness that gets better with some fresh air! Second week was better and third almost like normal.
I felt a bit better after the second than the first treatment and worse after the third. Menstruation might have affected things as well…
Concentration issues and mood swings… well, isn’t that expected in some way? Can’t say for sure how much the drugs contribute, definitely not making it better!
My hair started falling just before the second chemo.

The following three treatments consisted of docetaxel. I was warned that it would be tougher and they were right of course! I was still taking steroids the first days and then the injections.
During the first days I felt more tired and had flu-like pain all over (including the jaw) after the third day. Lasted a couple of days but luckily nothing that usual painkillers couldn’t solve! Probably a little tingling as well. Then I started experiencing heavy breathing and high heart rate (talk to your cancer team if you have such symptoms), turns out my blood count was low. Got better during the third week. Dry mucosas now as well and loss of facial hair.

Might sound scary when you hear it all at once or when you experience some of it in the middle of the night. If you are lucky it’s not that bad. Keep in mind that the risk for side effects is bigger the more treatments you have. If you are worried seek help. Most symptoms can be treated. Exercise helps a lot. Make sure to take extra care of yourself during this process! Do what you feel like doing when you have the chance. Rest when your body needs it (listen to your body and not your brain then!)

Don’t forget to love and be nice to yourself!