Please tell me chemo gets a bit easier

d, we all respond differently, but, based on my experience, you shouldn't be feeling so bad for so long after your first treatment. It is probably bc you have a cold. I would consult with your MO and let them know how you are feeling. I am assuming they are doing routine blood work before the infusion...? Your white blood count could drop and compromise your immune system. Don't let it get out of hand. Drink lots of water, walk if you feel like it. I felt fine the first few days after infusion, then had 4-5 crappy days, then felt better again before the next round. I tried to stay as active as I could, but it was challenging at times. I worked PT and tried to keep my normal routine. My third and fourth infusions were the worst, bc my blood count was so low and it made me feel tired with heavy legs. I hope you feel better soon:).

I am on weekly treatment number four, and am much less tired than I was the first week. Lots of little SEs, but this week I actually went to the gym and ran (or rather, I ellipsed, or ellipticalled? -- carefully and not very fast) the day after chemo. So it can get easier! I'm doing my best to just enjoy feeling good and not count on it, since I imagine it could be temporary.

Good luck!

Hi dlittkemann,

Hope the comings days are easier on you. I gather from what you wrote in prev posts that you are on Dose Dense ACT. So 4 AC every 2 weeks followed by 4 Taxol every 2 weeks.

The first week after you take AC is going to be all sorts of yuck. Take your nausea meds on time. Do not skip or try to brave it. Just take your meds and wait for day 6. Day 6 evening is from when I would start feeling human again. By day 8 life seemed close to normal (the new normal), I could be a productive member of the family. Be kind to yourself. Drink lots of fluid and wait for day 6. It follows a very set pattern. Some of the SEs became more pronounced as I went into cycles 3 and 4, like dry mouth and acidity. Some of the SEs like ear ringing were gone

I am on weekly Taxol, so I cannot say much about how DD Taxol will be. For starters you will be done with 8 weeks and I have to do 12 weeks. Weekly Taxol is better tolerated as it is divided in 12. That being said, I have not taken any nausea meds on Taxol. There was not much downtime on Taxol when I started. However, now as I go in for Taxol 9, I can feel that I do not have as much energy as before. Taxol had its own set of SEs. For now focus on getting AC done. If I can do it, so can you. Sending you hugs.