Your story made us feel like we have a friend on our side. You are inspirational and I am in awe. You have really done the right thing in sharing your treatment. I hope your AC 3 and 4 are kinder to you than me. I never thought this day would come! I had my 3rd round this Monday and I already feel so much stronger in dealing with it – hoping that continues! Shes on 2 lots of chemo. Whitlock would try to eat, but it would come right back up. I’m angry that my cancer is triple negative – that it’s aggressive and fast-growing. I hope the next round of chemo is easier for you xxx. Related: I Thought My Body Was Broken (So I Fixed That). Chemo is notorious for hitting harder on the third day, in part because of medications given to counter chemo side effects. There were times when she didn't have the energy to leave her bed. People love me. This path might be awful, but there are some bloody good people along the way too. I was just a kid when my mom was going through chemotherapy and couldn’t fully grasp how much of a toll it took on her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Some say the first and second are the worst. I’ve decided to share my experience fully but I caveat it with this: this is my experience and these are my symptoms. So far worst has been the dry mouth like you have eaten a handful of flour, but that has now passed. x. I’m really sorry you have to go through all this repeatedly, Mim, it sounds like such a lot of suffering. Although I had read about 2nd chemo worse than 1st for some. Some people think chemo side effects are limited to vomiting and chemotherapy hair loss. They also had to reduce the strength on both the taxol and red devil due to the side effects. Then I ask my Oncology nurses how long after chemo will I feel better and they recommended keeping a diary. Hoping the next two go easier on you. On week 3 try and get as much fresh air as you can as I think this really helps. I wonder if some people think a lumpectomy is minor surgery. For guys, the reason has to do with the way chemo drugs target … I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going though during this time but your strength, determination and sheer power will get you through this. Towards the end of the regimen it'll be 2 days to a week or so that you'll feel like shit after a treatment. Sending you so much love, light and many more big hugs. This too shall pass. I’m half way through the worst of it and I have 6 days to make the most of feeling well, to play with my children, to laugh with my husband and to catch up on all of the calls, texts and emails. This time in her stomach. AC stands for Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and Cyclophosphamide. First set of Chemo was an intense cocktail chemotherapy, Adriamycin and Cytoxan known as the “Red Devil” that was very potent but for the most part I did very well – nausea controlled by meds, tingling and numbness in hands, some upset stomach, back pain, lost of appetite and food tasting bland and red blood cell count decreasing. I have been hospitalized cause I had no white blood cells, but I felt fine. Chemo day was a rough day (the cold cap process is very tiring), and I was pretty beat by the end of it, but I bounced back the next day with the steroids. Friends do call but I can’t answer the phone, I’m not happy enough to talk and my mouth is sore. Then I found your post. It’s so difficult to articulate it sometimes but it means a lot to have your support x, Oh Mim, I read your post and I could hear the pain in your words, the sadness and the anger. Just 8 days after officially being diagnosed with breast cancer, I received my first dose of chemotherapy. I feel your anger, but also your pain at going through this bloody awful thing. Deb said that was brilliant and again was encouraging and gave me all the benefits of doing that too. Does chemotherapy cure cancer? Like I had a good excuse not to use it next time. I have to say that my first 2 treatments with the Adriamycin were the worst! I’m hoping all the best for you. Commonly reported side effects of doxorubicin include: severe nausea and vomiting, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. X, Oh thank you thank you lovely Katie!! Thank you for sharing xx Ps Debs does sound amazing and lovely! x #twinklytuesday, Thank you so so much Claire, what you have said is more than enough and it means such a lot x, Honestly – I don’t really know what to say, but I always read your updates and I didn’t want to read & run again.