Chemotherapy, I'm Ready to Quit

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helengj
helengj Member Posts: 8
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Help. In less then two months how did I go from a healthy, active 51 year old on no medication to a woman who had a lumpectomy and feels like shxxx after her first chemo session with a bag full of pills.  Can this possibly be good for me!!!! 1.3 tumor,clean margins, triple neg, stage 1....8 weeks of chemo seems excessive and I'm worried about the long term effects.  Did anyone out there opt out of chemo with my stats?  I feel foggy, dizzy and nausea.  I've already lost 7 pounds in less then a week that I can't afford to loss.  Given triple neg responds well to diet and exercise....has anyone approached treatment through diet and exercise.  I'm suppose to do 4 weeks of AC followed by four weeks of TX.  Does it get worse each session?  

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  • mamaof3bugs
    mamaof3bugs Member Posts: 198
    edited November 2010

    Triple negative responds well to chemo not diet and exercise.  Diet and exercise do help with lowering reccurence but not with the inital diagnosis.  They go at TN with the big guns because once you are done with chemo there is no pill you get to take for five years to lower recurrence.  I would hightly suggest following your prescribed chemo treatment.  TN is a high aggressive form of BC please do as much research as you can before you decide to quit your chemo.  I just finished with my treatment on Friday (4 DD AC, 12 weekly taxol and 36 rounds of rads) I never thought I would make it this far but I did and you will too!  Good luck and I hope you feel better.

    Angi

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited November 2010

    Helen,  I would continue the chemo.  I was diagnosed stage IV ibc with bone mets and like you, did not want to do chemo.  I went through 8 months of chemo and the worst se was fatique and a bloody nose.  It's not fun, but a year later I'm as close to NED as stage IV can get.  Please continue the chemo.

    Terri

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  • Poppalicious
    Poppalicious Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2013

    Sorry to hear that chemo has been rough on you!  I am 2 months past my last chemo date and in hindsight I am glad I did it.  I found that my worst cycle was my first time but everyone differs.  Continuing with treatment would be the best, but it's a really personal decision.  My advice would be to join the Nov chemo thread to get emotional support and practical advice (e.g. drink lots of water, eat whatever you feel like during this time etc) to help you through this difficult period, don't be afraid to contact your oncologist to get any anti-nasea meds, and take it easy on yourself (e.g. don't plan to do anything the week after chemo so you can just rest at home when you are feeling foggy, get others to do things for you etc.)  If you are finding it truly unbearable, be sure to bring up with your oncologist to see if there are any other alternatives. 

    Hopefully the second round won't be so rough, all the best!!!

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  • ravdeb
    ravdeb Member Posts: 3,116
    edited November 2010

    Continue the treatments. I was diagnosed at close to age 51 as well. Chemo was very hard on me. After 3 DD AC, I had to stop it and was in the hospital with an infection. I fought with the doctors and I was put on Taxol 12 weeks after that. The Taxol was easier on me. I then did the radiation.

    I'm not saying that chemo doesn't have long term effects. I don't know exactly what it did to my body but I DO know that it could have possibly saved my life. With triple neg you MUST do the chemo and do it BIG the first time. That's what they know right now with triple neg.

    It's not easy. Keep writing. Keep in touch with those who are going through it now as well. That's how I got through it. You can do this!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited November 2010

    So sorry you are going through this. SE can be the worst when you are going through them.

    I'm not a triple negative but I do understand what you're going through. I too was a very healthy active 49 yo who took no drugs healthy weight, no issues etc. Now I have all sorts of aches, some neuropathy, chemopause, no hair, no boobs, arm numbness etc. What I do realize is except for the no boobs/arm numbness this is temporary.

    My first tx was worse than my 2nd. Now that I know what happens I take the drugs as soon as I know the SE is starting. Makes a huge difference. I will be going for my 3 tx tomorrow. That will mean I'm 1/2 done. Total time for chemo is 3.5 months out of my life for me.

    I figure getting mets will be a lot more painful than going through a few months of chemo now. Granted even I could stop chemo and still continue Herceptin and Arimidex but I know how important it is to have the chemo too. You don't have Herceptin or Arimidex/Tomaxofin in your arsenal but chemo is supposed to work really well on triple negatives. I hope you give this chemo some more time.

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited November 2010

    Helen, you need to hit your bc as hard as possible right now, and that means continuing with chemo.   While I'm all for natural healing, and having reluctantly gone through chemo myself two years ago, I can tell you now I'm so glad I did.  As strange and crappy as you feel, it's all temporary.

    As far as what to expect with future infusions, I found the major SEs were pretty much the same each time, with maybe a new minor one thrown in here and there.   But what can be cumulative is the fatigue.  There are several natural things you can do to help ease the discomfort.   I used healing touch massage, for example for overall well-being.  If your weight loss is due to nausea, dried ginger or foods containing ginger can help settle your stomach.  And the vitamin supplement  B6 will help ward off neuropathy from the Taxotere. 

    In addition to joining the November 2010 chemo thread, check the Forum Index above for the Triple Negative Forum.  You'll find a lot of support and information on those threads. 

     Hang in there!  We all know how hard it is, but there absolutely is light at the end of the tunnel.    Deanna

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  • BonnieS
    BonnieS Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2010

    I am halfway done with my chemo (have had 3 out of 6 treatments), then will have a lumpectomy and radiation.  I felt like totally giving up on the chemo, too.  My side effects seem to be cumulative and hard to deal with.  The fatigue is generally at its worse the week following treatment.  The nausea is amanageable with meds, but for me the worst symptom is how bad everything tastes.  I cannot eat any bread products, crackers, etc., nothing hot and seem to be living on water, milkshakes, protein drinks and ice cream.  Sometimes yogurt.  All this liquid has given me the big "D" so them I add an Imodium to the mix of drugs.

     My chemo cocktail is TCH.

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  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited November 2010

    Helen, sorry to learn your problem. I also  had the same problem while I was on chemo. but I did not quit. I know it is very hard to deal with it. You try lot of fresh juices  with hony. You can even try carot juices, brocoli juice, clear soup made of mixed vegetables which will give you strength. Chewing  dry fruits also helps. If you belief in food supplements, you can take anti-oxident tab, protein powder, multivitamines etc. But dont quit chemo, my dear ! you must try to complete by hook or crook if you want to carry a new life. New life after BC is really wonderful.

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  • helengj
    helengj Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2010

    The day after I posted I read all the side effects of the medicines I was given.  Dizziness seemed to be a side effect of everyone of them.  I've always been susceptible to dizziness and realized I was suffering from Vertigo due to the medicines.  They prescribed a drug to treat vertigo and two hours later I was my old self.  It felt like I was losing my ability to think, talk and function.  I've has a great week and I'm ready to go back for another dose of chemo.  
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  • Tg5471530
    Tg5471530 Member Posts: 111
    edited November 2010

    Glad to hear you are feeling better.  I just wanted to let you know what I learned about the nausea after my chemo.  It did seem to get a little worse the more I got.  But my nurses always said.  There is NO reason for you to have much nausea!  There are many meds to help keep it away and many more to take when you do get sick.  Plus, I finally took their advise to come in for some fluids a few days after my chemo to help with the nausea.  I didnt think I was dehydrated but you know what?  It worked!  After a few hours of fluids and IV nausea meds (something I already took in a pill) I felt better!  So we just made that part of my schedule.  I wished I had given in earlier.  Good Luck and God Bless!  You can get through this!!!!

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  • KansasKay
    KansasKay Member Posts: 33
    edited November 2010

    Hi - My situation was much like yours.  Chemo was suggested as "insurance" but I said I was NOT taking it.  It was a personal choice for me and my situation.  I worked in medical labs for many years and saw patients coming in for lab tests prior to their next round of chemo.  It was hard to read the look in their eyes.  Some almost seemed to be asking that their numbers be too low so they wouldn't have to go through another round.  Some told me that they didn't care what happened, they were "fighting the cancer" as long as they could drag themselves in.  Some were happy that they could mark another round of the treatment schedule.  Knowing that I knew as a Medical Technologist colored my feeling about each situatuation.  I'm sorry but I formed an opinion that I would NEVER be the one sitting in the chair for the tests as I could not put myself through that experience.  Then, to find out that my doctor wanted to give me very toxic drugs for my situation seemed to be overtreatment.  We each have to make that decision based on life experiences, the support system we have (in my case - don't have), and whether we are willing to go to the full extent of what may be offered. 

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited November 2010

    Don't quit!  You are triple negative and that is a whole different ball game.  While we have no guarantee that we will never have to fight this beast again by taking the chemo - you must remember - it's the only shot you will have at it.  I wanted to quit after each of my chemos and had every dang side effect one could have, yet I managed to work full time throughout it all and raise my 15 year old grand-daughter alone, as I am also a widow.  I got through it all - it seemed as though it would never end - but it did and I thank God everyday I persevered.  We have no other drugs to take after our initial treatment and this triple negative stuff is a sneaky, insidious beast.  At least by taking the chemo, you are fighting with a gun that's shooting some heavy duty bullets.  It's a crappy choice we have to make, but at least you will know that you have done all you could to kill it.  I do admit that I don't have great confidence that I will never have to deal with it again, as there are a lot of recurrences, especially lately, however, I don't think I could live with the regrets of shoulda, coulda or woulda either. 

    I wish you all the best,

    Linda

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  • helengj
    helengj Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2010

    Made it through the second round.  Had acupuncture during chemo and I think it made a difference.  I don't feel 100% put I'm making it through each day better then the last treatment.  Thanks for your advice and support.  

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2010

    Way to go helengi!   I made up a chart with the numbers 1 though 8 on it and crossed them off after each chemo..I kept it in my office...celebrated at half way done..talked on here..talked to friends..tried to keep busy and exercise when I felt like it..made sure I did "something" on the weekend off my off week..was looking into acupuncture but by the time I found out my insurance would pay for it I was almost done...

    I'm really interested if this acupuncture works for you...keep us posted ok?

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  • helengj
    helengj Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2010

    I'm planning on doing acupuncture with each chemo session, will let you know how it goes.  I've been trying to figure out what to wear on my head.....I tried the wig yesterday and yanked it off after an hour because it itched and pinched.  I'm a designer so I'm obsessed with figuring out what looks best on my head.....I think I figured it out.  I bought some silky type thing that was pretied and it looked a little weird so I put on the pretied scarf thing then took a long crinkly scarf and tied it around like a head band and made a bow in the back.  It looks great, much better then a square scarf and the bow in back that goes down my back looks elegant. One more problem solved!

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