AC and SE

mpieterse

Hi there, I have just had my 1st round of AC last Monday. Was extremely tired rest of the week.  This week constipation problems & painful heamrroids.  Does each cycle (will have 4) get worse or do you become more used to it?

NatsFan

Hi MP - I had 6*TAC.  For me the effects were cumulative, but in some ways subsequent treatments were a little easier than the first because I knew what to expect.  For instance, now that you know fatigue will be an issue for you the first week after treatment, you can plan for it - take off work if possible, limit your social schedule, get to bed early, plan for naps, etc.  Also, now that you know constipation is an issue, get some colace or similar meds and start taking them right away to avoid the issue.

If you haven't already, you may want to check out the Chemotherapy section of BCO.  There's a thread just for women who started chemo this month - they're as new at this as you, and you can share tips and and experiences together.  

Good luck - chemo is not a walk in the park, but it is doable. Hang in there!

MiamiBC

For me, each round was about the same.  The think the constipation is mostly from the anti-side effect drugs.  I found that starting the Coalace a day or two prior to treatment helps a lot.

Rose_d

For me for some reason the 3rd AC was worse than the others. I was worried the 4th would be even worse but it wasn't. I was thinking maybe it had to do with how fast they pushed the A but we'll never know I guess.



The stomach issues I thought were the worst. The combo or constipation, heartburn and neausea just meant that I was always saying "my stomach is a wreck!". For the most part it got a lot better the week after the treatment and once I switched to Taxol the issues went away completely.



Good luck with your next treatment! I finished chemo a month ago and remember thinking in April when I started that I would never be able to say that. You will get there!



Rose