Meds - Do I want to take these?

Anonymous

Hi,

I couldn't find a ACT forum so I hoep that youa ll can help: What does Decadron do? Zofran? Copmazine? Emend?  Anti-nausea is great, swelling and weight gain not!

Please help!

V

gonegirl

The first is a steroid that will help stop allergic reaction. The others are anti nausea. Allergic reaction can be dangerous.

SelenaWolf

The anti-nauseants are important, as well.  I took them throughout chemo and did not experience any nausea or vomiting.  Nada.  I have a pathological dislike for vomiting, so - for me - that was key.  And I didn't gain any weight, although some women have reported that they do.

Denise-G

You need those meds during AC.  Impossible to avoid them from what I know from experience and the experiences of others.  They make your life easier.

As for the anti-nausea meds - Emend is the miracle worker and the others help.  As my Oncologist told me - take them.  No need for heroism.  He said in this day and age there was no need to be constantly nauseated as Compazine and Zofran are the tip of the icebert in anti-nausea drugs.  If they don't work - there are others!

Good luck to you!!!! 

ruthbru

Your main goal is to get through chemo in one piece. You don't want a life threatening allergic reaction, and you don't want to be chained to a toilet throwing up to the point of dehydration. Take the drugs exactly as prescribed. You do not want to mess around with them, they are key to making chemo doable. 

IMO most people who gain weight during chemo do so because of a reduced activity level and eating too much comfort food. I kept as active as I could during chemo, ate what I could stand, but not too much of it, and did not gain weight.

gonegirl

Ok. To be fair. The steroids bloat you. It is part of the gig. But you will lose that weight not long after chemo. The steroids also can make you hungrier, from what many say. But what is a few pounds compared to saving your life? The weight will come off. Maybe not immediately, but it will. And meanwhile, as what was said before, you don't spend all your time over the toilet and you don't have a dangerous allergic reaction.

Leah_S

Just one comment about steroid bloat. When I was on A/C, I was taking steroids for only 3 days of each cycle. Since I had dose dense, that meant every 2 weeks, or 6 days out of a month. I had no steroid bloat, as I understand that comes with long-term steroid use.

Best of luck with your chemo.

Leah

ruthbru

I AC dose dense also. No steriod bloat either, but, man, was I wired!!

Anonymous

Ok, this is helpful.  But this is my second time through.  First time was last summer and spring with TC x4.  I had so much bloating and swelling that needed a prescription diurectic for months and also gained weight. A lot of weight which I just finally lost the rest of this week (up 40 lbs; now down 38, so normal for me).  And yes I was not very active but I never was and although I have a good plan for weight stability and exercise this time, I know that part of what happened before was the meds so I am nervous.

V