I took 5FU chemotherapy for six weeks along with 28 radiation treatments. Before I started I wanted to find other peoples firsthand experiences with the drug. There was a lot of medical information, a long list of side effects from my doctor but not very many personal stories.
Six Days a Week
Every Monday afternoon I drove to my oncologists office in Branson, Missouri and underwent radiation. When I finished, a nurse took my vital signs and hooked me up to 5FU via a port that had been surgically implanted two weeks prior. The incision for my port was still a little sore and honestly still is even though it’s been three months. I hate needles and would cry every week during this part of treatment. After being hooked up, I received a black fanny pack that held a battery powered pump, the chemotherapy, and extra batteries. The tubing ran from the port (below my right collar bone) to the fanny pack. You can hide most of the tubing under your clothing which is nice. If I went shopping, I used the fanny pack like a purse and just slung it over my shoulder. It goes everywhere with you; morning, noon, and night. At first it was hard to sleep with and a little uncomfortable. Taking a shower or a hot bath was quite a feat since it’s just like an I.V.; you can’t get it wet at all. I used plastic wrap and water proof tape to keep my port dry. I looked forward to Saturdays when I was briefly unhooked from the chemo until the following Monday. Six days a week with a chemo pump for six weeks; I thought it would never end. Towards the end of treatment I became very fatigued but I was still able to drive myself.
Side Effects
If you’re squemish you should stop reading. This article is all about honesty and letting someone else know what to expect on 5FU. I personally experienced some really bad stomach pain that couldn’t be controlled without using some mild pain pills. It felt like my stomach would tense up and then relax again and this happened every minute or so. It wasn’t unbearable until about four weeks into the treatment. I did have some nausea but most of the time I could control it with Zofran and Compazine. I recommend taking nausea medication before your stomach gets upset. I didn’t think I would need it and ended up losing my breakfast in front of about 15 people one morning. Peppermint tea is also a complete life saver for stomach upsets. I grow my own peppermint or buy organic leaves. It helps with nausea, gas, and even the pain I had. It contains menthol and sort of numbs you from the inside out. Lavender also helps with nausea and I recommend keeping a few plants around the house. I also experienced some really hardcore diarrhea, fatigue, and a bit of dizziness. The worst part of it all for me was a general sick feeling that’s tough to describe. I would compare it to when you feel like you’re coming down with something (the cold or the flu) and it isn’t full blown yet, but you just don’t feel good. I didn’t want to be in bed all of the time, but I didn’t feel good enough to go hiking or sit through a football game either. Taking my dog for a walk, puttering around in the garden, or sometimes just doing laundry wore me out.
The Good News
Now that I’ve shared all of the bad news, let me assure you there is good news. I got to keep all of my hair, six weeks is a small amount of time compared to the rest of your life (it does end), most nurses and doctors who deal with cancer patients are compassionate, and if I can make it through this stuff that means that anyone can. Before I knew it, that part of treatment was over and I got a four week break to recover. I start six months of Folfox soon and I’ve heard it has some pretty nasty side effects. Maybe the doctors were starting me off slow with 5FU, taking it easy on me, and now they’re pulling out the big guns? I know I’ll make it through this treatment as well and soon it will be another experience I can hopefully help someone else with.
