Topic: How sick did you get?

Sounds like your mom will be on Adriamycin, probably with Cytoxan. The shorthand for that is AC. Do you know how many rounds she's getting? AC is usually x4 if not combined with another chemo. With a taxane or with 5-fu, it's usually x6.

Everyone reacts differently to the chemo, so it's hard to say how your mom will be. The vomiting should be controlled with meds. With AC, the hardest days are usually days 3 and 4 of the cycle (infusion day is day 1), and for me, I basically just curled up in a ball those days and didn't move. Didn't have pain so much as just really felt like crap, and any exertion made it worse.

I'd suggest reading through the chemo board, too--you'll get all sorts of perspectives there.

My recently deceased Stage IV bc mom was on a variety of chemos for 5 1/2 years. My kids are 6 and 9, and my mom lived with us for the last 3 1/2 years. Between my treatment and my mom's, they have been exposed to all sorts of things. They have been through the deaths of three grandparents in seven years, all cancer, plus of course Mommy's got cancer. Some of this you just can't shield them from. But I understand your concern, and I won't lie--my kids were scared to see me feeling sick from chemo, especially my older one. She really hated it when "chemo weekend" rolled around. But we all got through it, and they're fine. In some ways it's better for them to see the reality of things rather to imagine in their minds what's going on. But you have to decide what works for your family.

You're a good daughter. I know how hard this is, especially having been both the caregiver and the patient. I actually found it much more difficult emotionally being the caregiver. Hugs to both of you.

I had 6 tx of FEC (like AC with 5Fu). 

Because your mom was hormone positive they may give her a taxane insead of the 5fu, so maybe AC and then T.

Unless your mom has serious emotional/coping issues, she will not be writhing/moaning with pain.  As mentioned by Nash, she will probably feel quite lousy during the first few days after tx.  I, too, found that days 3 and 4 were the worst.  I would say it was like having a bad hangover and morning sickness (all day), combined.  I kept fluids up (lemonade tasted best, cut through yucky taste in mouth) and for those bad days I ate whatever my body wanted/tolerated best, which for me was high carb/fat stuff I don't typically eat (Macdonalds food, deep dish pizza, etc ).  The rest of the time I kept to my usual lean protein high vegetable/salad diet and I was ok. 

Taxotere (which I didn't have) can bring some other side effects (joint pain etc) and the doctors will suggest pain meds for those.

Also make sure she is vigilant/aware of all things she can do to avoid constipation, as this is a BIG complaint with chemo.  Lots of fluids, fruits, stool softeners (which I never took, but I did take a good quality probiotic acidophilus daily, which really helped keep me regular) and ensuring there is a good amount of fiber in the diet, can all help with this.

Just love and support and encourage your mom, and be there for her as much as you can, even if just on the telphone hearing about her side effects.  Would she benefit from a support group?  Would she participate if one were available?  For most of us I think this forum is most helpful for that - knowing we are not alone, knowing there are others going through the same thing, knowing that we will get through it, and knowing we can whine or vent or whatever we need to do to get through it all.

Hugs and best of luck!

Laura