5 FU

Orchid73

Hi, is anyone on 5 FU chemo treatment ? This is my second chemo batch and (first was a different cocktail) I have just done third session. One more to go then done -then mastectomy. I have daily neupogen injections from day 5 for 5 days. I am having horrible groin pain and I am just exhausted - sleeping a lot. Any hints and tips to help or is it just the cumulative chemo ? Drinking lots of water and trying very hard to eat more protein. This is Day 7 since chemo day. Thank you

Meadow

Orchid, welcome! I did not have that treatment, hoping others who did will see your post and respond soon. Hang in there, you are almost through it. Yes, cumulative effects...just when you poop out, it is over...whew!. Continue what you are doing, water, rest, make sure you eat. Sounds like you are doing great, even though it may not seem so. Again welcome and keep us posted

HoneyBadger47

Hello Orchid,

I had 12 cycles of Taxotere and 4 of neoadjuvent FAC, so 5-FU was in my cocktail,

I did not have nupogen or neulasta. I think some doctors order it automatically. Mine did not and I was glad. I didn't want it. I did get anemic but not to the point of needing anything for it. Maybe someone who has had nupogen can weigh in on the possibilility of that adding to your groin pain. I hear it causes terrible bone pain. Saw a tip that Claritin helps.

I was able to work during my chemo. I think it helped me mentally and phsically. I had chemo on Fridays, so I took that day off. I had the weekend to recover a bit.

Our bodies all seem to handle chemo so differently. I was able to work but the next person will say they couldnt get out of bed for a week. That doesn't make me tough...it just made me lucky. There seems to be no rhyme or reason on the side effects.

I agree with Meadow. You are doing the right things. I drank lots of water (which I hate to do), ate a lot of protein and I exercised. A lady who had been through chemo before told me if she could give one piece of advice it would be to exercise. Go for walks, even if it is just around the block. It helps get it out of your system and releases some endorphins. Then again, hugging a dog or cat releases endorphins too!

The other thing I did was to drink a homemadebroth my husband made for me. I think he found a recipe called "bone broth." It was a broth made from vegetables and minerals. That really, really helped me to take in fluid. As I said, I hate water. I would warm it up in the microwave and sip on it.

I wish I could offer more words of wisdom. You can do this! Be extra kind to yourself. Do nice things for youself. You are almost done!

Please keep us updated on how you are doing.

Orchid73

Meadow and HoneyBadger47 thank you so much for your replies. It's just good to 'talk' to someone who understands the chemo journey. It is Day 10 now and I am in the daylight ! I know that exercise helps so have been doing light yoga and qigong when I can and a lot of meditation which helps. Now I just want to be quiet and no noise. I get lower back pain after the injections and I am using a heat pad on the area which helps. I know - only one more session to go then I have told my friends that I want balloons and streamers !! Next is surgery - I will have a mastectomy (left) and 2 lymph nodes removed but will deal with all that when it comes. This certainly teaches you to take each day as it comes and even each hour sometimes. I've not been at work since I finished the first batch of weekly chemo as I had problems with weight loss and lack of energy. I've now been given 'booster juice' as I call it that is helping build me up more plus eating a lot of protein. Thank you for the bone broth suggestion I will google that one. My Doctor described the chemo as running a marathon and now at the end you need all your strength to get over the finish line. Head down keep going.👹🥊🥊🎀🍀🍀🎈🎉