Throat problems after A/C chemo treatment #1?

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LCH033
LCH033 Member Posts: 83
edited January 2015 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I had my first A/C chemo treatment last Thursday and my shot on Friday; about 3 hours after the shot my throat got tired and tight and I began getting really hoarse got really sick with all the side effects from the chemo and shot at the same time Saturday and to top it off was constipated.....yes, it was Hell!! Sunday was a blur and complete chemo brain; Tuesday I still didn't have a voice so I went in for a blood count and my white blood cell count was down so they gave me fluids and steroids through my port and put me on antibiotics for 5 days. Today I am quite improved, sore throat and still tired with energy spurts however it's taken me a week to get better.

Has anyone else had throat issues after A/C chemo?


Thanks,

Lara

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited January 2015

    Lara, I am so glad you are feeling better. AC chemo is powerful stuff, and it affects us all in various ways. It sounds to me that you may have had a bug that made you feel bad too, with the low white count you are more likely to catch one of the hundreds of viruses cold, flu, etc going around right now. I can tell you that the effects of chemo are cummulative...the more rounds you have the more you will feel the effects. I hope you just got off to a rough start and next round you will tolerate it better. I got in the routine of taking something to keep my bowels going, for me just increasing my juice intake, grape juice worked great, was enough. You will again be constipated after the next round, now you know what to expect so you can plan accordingly. You can do this, chemo is tolerated better than ever before with some great new meds for nausea and side effects. I am sorry you are going through this! I looked at chemo, the cure to save my life, as my ally in the fight, and I wanted to fight hard. I am sure you do too. Hang in there!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited January 2015

    Make sure they watch you after your shot next time; if your throat felt tight, it could be a sign of an allergic reaction, on top of everything else. Best wishes. Hope the next round is better.

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  • LCH033
    LCH033 Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2015

    Thank you both for your replies. Meadow, I am leaning more to your thought as I was fighting allergies prior to chemo and now that I am feeling better and on antibiotics; I have a sore throat but the tightness is gone and my energy is coming back. It has taken me a full week to recover from A/C #1 and I know my energy will be the challenge now until February 5th and #2. I have 4 total and then I will start Taxol.....Any pointers on what to expect with the Taxol? I will have 12 treatments once a week then radiation.

    I know now to prepare to be constipated and take something, Senokot and/or juices the day before through the weekend to keep the pipes moving. I guess round 1 is a bit of a learning curve as no one is exactly the same. Chemo is it's own hell and I know A/C is some harsh stuff; I still have my short little haircut 7 days in, however I know within another week I'll be buzzing it off.....already have a tracing of my eyebrows.

    Kbee....I also had in the back of my mind as well as my Mom's, that it could be an allergic reaction; however since it didn't get to where it progressed to breathing issues or swallowing issue and it just lingered like an illness; we spoke to my nurses every day and then got me in for fluids and steroids. I would ask for a silent moment of prayer from each of you as with this thought my Mom lost a dear friend who had her first round of throat chemo last week and had a horrible and fatal allergic reaction and died as a result this week; her name was Jo and she was only 52 years old.

    I thank God I am able to handle the chemo and no matter how sick I get during; I will beat this and be a survivor.

    God Bless you both and thank you!

    Lara

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited January 2015

    Lara, that is terrible about your mom's friend. So sorry. And Kbee is so right, make sure it isnt an allergic reaction. As far as the taxol, again, everybody is different, I can say for me the fatigue was way better on taxol, and by that time so very welcomed to not be so tired. I did have and still have neuropathy in my feet, even a year out from treatment, Unfortunately nerve damage CAN be a side effect, the degree can be from very mild to severe, most people tend to run in the mild to moderate zone if they have it, me in the moderate I would say. But some people tolerate it very well, and we believe that is going to be you too!. And prob before your second AC round, you may be sporting the very fashionable baldy look...I really kind of enjoyed it I have to say!. Hair was one less thing to worry about while I was focused on the fight. I hope it doesnt bother you too much, it is temporary and will grow back. .Hugs to you

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  • LCH033
    LCH033 Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2015

    Meadow, I am a little concerned about the nerve damage as I already have some nerve "issues" in my cervical spine due to degenerative disks so I already have numbness in my fingers and tingling so I am praying it doesn't make it too much worse. Any suggestions on how to prevent or minimize the nerve attack?

    Today the bone pain is beyond moderate and started yesterday;I am taking Claritin however it's not helping and I really don't want to take a pain pill or zanax to start my day; I thought I had already experienced the bone pain side effect from the shot; apparently not and it hurts and is quite debilitating today and annoying to say the least as I was beginning to feel so much better!

    I am pretty much ready for the baldy stage, Lol. When I got sick after A/C 1 the little hair I still have was too much! I'm at day 9 and still have my hair however I have a wig and ball cap fun wig and scarfs on the way so I am ready; it will grow back and at this point has become the least of my concerns; which is funny as in the beginning it was so horrific a thought. My mindset and perspectives have truly changed over the weeks.

    Thank you for your input; Hugs to you as well!

    Lara

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  • rosiesgirl
    rosiesgirl Member Posts: 89
    edited January 2015

    Hi Lara,

    I have experience throat problems on AC that have gotten worse with each treatment. After #3 my throat has felt like it is lined with razor blades. I have my 4th and final AC this week and am not looking forward. I will start weekly Taxol after the AC with Herceptin and Perjeta every 3rd with Herceptin continuing for a year. I hope that the SE are better with the T-HP. I worry about reactions to Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta. It scares me, but not being able to have the treatment scares me even more. I know that is my best bet to beat this thing.

    Hugs!

    Joy

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited January 2015

    I had tons of problems on AC - I didn't have too many throat problems, but I developed allergies fast and furious.  Through much trial and error during AC, I realized I became allergic to dairy and gluten.  And 3 years out, I am still highly allergic today.  No previous problems.   So please just watch the allergy issues and do tell your Onc about your throat. 

    I write a breast cancer blog and hear from hundreds of breast cancer patients.  For 90% of us, Taxol is much better and more tolerable.  It still has plenty of its own struggles, but all in all, much easier to handle.

    Wishing you well....


     

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  • LCH033
    LCH033 Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2015

    rosiesgirl; I am sorry to hear of your SE on the A/C and fears of the Taxol, etc to come. I will also do 4 of the A/C and then Taxol with the Herceptin and I know it has different side effects. I was thinking about taking Benedryl the day of A/c and the next day with the shot to maybe alleviate possible reactions that could have allergic tendencies. I plan on talking to my nurse first. However the tightening of the throat with me was/is a little scarey. I wish you the very best with your treatment and your fight!

    Denise; I will pay attention to the allergies and notify my nirses of anything out of the ordinary. I am finally feeling better however my sleep paterns are changing and I can't seem to get to sleep at night even after a zanax and trazadone. I seem to get a "second wind" around 8:00 pm; as well as I get so hot at night with the bone pain and aching. Where is your BC Blog? I would love to read them.

    Thank you both for your input, it is very much appreciated! Good luck to you both during and after!

    God Bless,

    Lara

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