Chemotherapy | 6 Common Side Effects

Chemotherapy, the other dreaded C word.  Chemotherapy as a treatment option for breast cancer can be very scary.  It is given to slow or stop the growth of these rapidly dividing cancer cells.  For me, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, my fear was that I would need chemotherapy.  I knew enough about the side effects of chemotherapy to know that I didn’t want any part of it.  Then it hit me, the C word that turned out to be worst than hearing that you have the big C.  Chemotherapy for 20 weeks! Perhaps this would be a mild version that won’t bring with it all the side effects that you hear about?  Not the case!

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

The type of chemotherapy that is prescribed is based on the type of cancer that you have.  Your cancer type is dependent on the estrogen, progesterone, and HER 2 results of  your tumor.  In my case my tumor was positive for estrogen, and progesterone (weak but positive), but negative for HER 2.  This essentially means that estrogen and progesterone were feeding my tumor.  My chemotherapy medications that were prescribed were, Adriamycin (also known as the red devil), Cytoxan, and Taxol.

March 2, 2016

This was my first chemotherapy day, but first I had an appointment at 6am that day to have my lifeport (central IV line) inserted.  This was all to surreal to me.  Was this really happening?  It was that morning that I realized there was no turning back.  I was officially starting treatment for my breast cancer.  Port placed with no issues, now on to the cancer center for my first treatment.  Thank god that my support system was there by my side.  My husband, my mom, and my cousin.

I could barely maintain my composure while signing in for my first treatment.  My cousin was right there to take over the signing in process for me.  The tears would not stop falling, therefore I could no longer see the paper work that I was completing.  I immediately rushed into the nearby restroom, before I totally lost it.  Actually, before the door could close behind me, my mom was there to comfort me.

Chemotherapy or not?

Did I really have to do this? Technically no, I could have declined treatment.  Fortunately,  I forged ahead for my children.  I wanted to be around as they grew up and I knew I wanted my healthy, happy life back. For this reason, I knew I what I had to do.   Based on my cancer type, and treatment prognosis, I was told that I could beat this.  I thought to myself, I can’t win a fight, if I never get in the ring…so through those doors I walked for my first chemotherapy treatment.

Later that night

By 8pm that same night, I felt a wave of nausea hit me like a ton of bricks.  What was this?  Wasn’t I told I would start experiencing side effects 2-3 days following the treatment?  Regrettably, the side effects  progressed to headaches, and an overall feeling of motion sickness that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING could relief for me.  I often described the feeling after that first treatment as being similar to being stuck in a small canoe, in the middle of rough waters,  for 3 days.

Let’s just say, it took a lot of convincing by the oncologist and encouragement by my family to get me to go back for round 2.

Common Side Effects

Side effects vary depending on the type of chemotherapy.  Side effects can also vary person to person.  The 6 most common side effects are;

• nausea and vomiting
• loss of appetite
• weight gain
• hair loss
• weakness
• early menopause

My Effects

Yep, you read correctly.  Loss of appetite, but ironically, weight gain.  What an oxymoron.  Essentially I experienced every side effect listed, plus some. Multiple prescriptions were added to counter each side effect.

Side effect of chemotherapy. Nail beds bruised, darkened, and swollen. At the same time, also starting to lift.

Chemotherapy not only attacks the cancer cells, but also attacks healthy, normal cells as well. I developed chronic cystitis (bladder infection), along with the separation of my nails from the nail beds.

Both of which were miserable, and at times extremely debilitating.

Can you imagine going to the bathroom every 1 hour around the clock?

On top of that having to washing hands with each trip to the bathroom, with already brittle and delicate nails, some barely attached.  What a horrible experience.

My tongue became discolored and looked like what I described as giraffe tongue.  Meanwhile, my mouth was dry, and I had a constantly running nose.

 Separation from the nail beds finally stopped, and this was what was left.

Finally, my nails are growing back!

There always seemed to be a new side effect, or a delayed reaction.  Going through chemotherapy was a beast.  For this reason, a piece of my heart is broken, every time I hear of someone having chemotherapy as a part of their treatment plan.  Consequently, I hurt at the possibility of someone experiencing the side effects that I endured.

Side Effects Don’t Stop There

Furthermore, hair loss was such a big adjustment for me.  On March 17, 2016, I said goodbye to my hair.  Details about that experience will be shared in a separate post.

Of course, I share my story not to discourage you, but to encourage you through this journey.  I did it.  20 weeks and all 16 of my scheduled treatments were completed.  All things considered, I endured through the hardest times.  I am a testimony that you can, and you will make it.

God Bless.