Does it get easier after chemo?

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Awheeler
Awheeler Member Posts: 6
edited November 2020 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Good morning, ☀️

I’m on day 3 past chemo #4. For me these next three days are the hardest as far as feeling sick 🤢 I’m just wondering, I’ll be done with chemo in December and will continue on with herceptin and Perjeta. Does life get easier? Does life return to some sort of normalcy?

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited November 2020

    What chemo are you on? Sorry it's being so sucky to you. I think H&P is well tolerated by many.

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  • Awheeler
    Awheeler Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2020

    I’m on taxotere, heparin and Perjeta every three weeks.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited November 2020

    Taxotere is tough and will likely get tougher, I had a different taxane, abraxane, like a cousin drug but had to have the dose reduced due to SE’s but after that, H&P was a breeze and kept me stable for 4 years so far.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2020

    It got easier for me. I am relatively side effect free at this point. Not totally...but what I do experience is fairly minor.

    I don't get diarrhea or constipation anymore. I am much less fatigued since now my hemoglobin is back to my normal level now, although periodically I do have a week or so of feeling wrung out.

    I do experience Achy joints, and just started getting a little tingly in my feet when I lay down. Crampy muscles sometimes (not so much lately).

    Most of this I blame on Arimidex, except for the tingly feet. Not sure if you will be doing hormone therapy, it does have side effects of its own.

    All in all, these effects are minor and, for me, a good diet and being more active tends to help lessen whatever discomfort I may have.

    I forget about cancer sometimes, that's how normal I feel on good days


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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited November 2020

    Awheeler, in my opinion, yes, things will get better, but it’s going to take time. I’m not her2+ so I don’t know a lot about the herceptin/perjeta, but I did have chemo. Don’t minimize it, or try to power through it or rush it. You are being treated with powerful medicine. Practice extreme self-care. If you are able, during this time of chemo, do less than you normally would. Simplify things in your life where you can. Ask for assistance and delegate when possible. Recognize the things that are not significant and let them go. Allow you body to receive the chemo and let it do its work.

    I had chemo once every three weeks for six treatments. I did more things on the 3rd week before every chemo appt because I felt better. The week of and week after chemo, I took things easier. I stopped trying to me everyone’s demands, including my own. It was a good time to assess my life, what was working, what was not, and make some adjustments. Over time, I moved in to a new normal. I think the same can happen to you, too.


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