Do chemo side effects get any better the second time around?

Posted by howleegirl @howleegirl, Jun 12 9:45am

Do chemo side effects get any better the second time around? (Wishful thinking?)

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 12 10:06am

Hi @howleegirl, I updated the title of your post to reflect your question. I read the difficult news that you posted yesterday here:
- NED (no evidence of disease) and back to terrified again: Anyone else?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ned/
It must be such a blow to learn that your husband's cancer has returned. It's hard to manage the side effects of treatment the first time around. But when you know what is coming, well ... I can only imagine the rollercoaster of emotions that you and your husband are facing - fear, anger, resentment, and bit more fear, and of course wishful thinking.

The side effects may be different than the first round depending on what chemo or chemoradiation protocol will be used this time. What chemo is being recommended?

howleegirl | @howleegirl | Jun 12 10:19am

Thanks for your post. Not sure yet about the chemo. Will know more on Friday.

199 | @199 | Jun 12 10:54am

In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @howleegirl, I updated the title of your post to reflect your question. I read the..." + (show)

I had to go back on the same chemo G/A that I was on before my 4 month "break". The side effects are about the same for me. I think the bone pain and peripheral neuropathy may start up a day earlier than before. My hair loss took a bit longer. The good news is 67% decrease in my CA 19-9. Will see what next week's CT scan reveals. Colleen, the moderator, is right about the "rollercoaster of emotions", but hey, better than pushing up daisies!