I feel like giving up on Chemo
I was diagnosed with Stage 2 non invasive ductal carcinoma in March 2025 at 35 years old. I completed 12 weekly rounds of chemo but rounds 9-12 caused me to have fevers and loose strength every week. I have now started the red chemo but I feel even weaker and am worried the chemo will kill me at this rate. I’ve told my Dr I feel weak but she hasn’t done much about that. She prescribed me a lot meds for nausea which have their own side effects that I’m already dealing with. I have no strength. Has anyone else gone through this or something similar?
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Hi @sophialguerrero, I am new here but saw your post. I am currently on 12 weekly treatments and just made it to the halfway mark. I am sorry that you are feeling like this and your doctor has not done much about it. Don’t give up, maybe some adjustments can be made to make it somewhat more bearable for you. Are they providing you the nausea medicine in your pre-meds through the IV or for you to take orally after treatment? Hang in there and let me know.
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have you talked to the chemo nurses about what you are experiencing? I found them to be really good sources of information because sometimes patients give them more information about issues they are having. The chemo nurses sometimes hear more from patients about things they have tried for dealing with side effects & what has worked or not worked. Or if your dr has a PA or nurse practitioner, try talking to them. My dr’s PAs are very helpful.
Don’t give up.
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Just seeing your post. Chemo is so very hard and there were many times where I looked at my husband and said, I don't want to do this anymore. Looking back now, it was rough, hardest thing I've ever done so far. I was as week as a baby deer on an ice pond. If you saw the movie Bambi, that was me when he was trying to stand on his own. I did get weak, BUT it's not forever. Talk with your chemo nurses, let them know how you are feeling. Take time for yourself. I napped every day during that phase. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I did ask my oncologist about dialing down the steroids, which helped me considerably. They didn't give me extra energy, I felt like they zapped my energy instead of giving me any. I also got some infusions for being dehydrated, too. That also seemed to help.
Sending you hugs,
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Hi and welcome again, @sophialguerrero. We're so sorry you're having such a difficult time, but we're glad to see the support and great suggestions you've already received here. In addition to the above, can you also discuss with your oncologist the possiblity of a lower dose of chemotherapy? Sometimes a lower dose is just as effective, with less side effects. You can read more here:
Please let us know how your discussions go and if you can find some relief. We're all here for you!
—The Mods
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Also, @staystrong25 welcome to you as well! Congrats on getting halfway through — wishing you good luck for the second half. We're all here for you also! Let us know how we can be helpful to you.
—The Mods
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