Hi @ItsHitTheFanNow Honestly it's not so bad once it starts. Waiting and not knowing how it will affect you is really hard. But once you get a routine going it'll be easier.
I've been on weekly paclitaxel since April, 3 weeks on, one week off, with a dose reduction of 75%. Weirdly I haven't lost my hair until now. I cut it shorter in June, but it just thinned and ... stayed. These last two weeks - yeah. Don't really want to shave it as I don't want to freak my 4 year old out, but it might grow back weirdly. I'm going to look into a wig but they tend to make me look like a clown (small head). I've got some culturally-appropriated cheap and colourful African print turbans that I like (my awkward white guilt made me apologise for wearing one today even though the (black) Sister on the ward was admiring it. Christ.) And now autumn is coming I, like Top, already have a range of comedy bobble hats. This is my second ride on the cancer fun bus & in 2011 with FEC pumped into me I tried cold capping but it was worse than the chemo for me! Hate being cold, still feel a bit funny when I get things out of the freezer. Bit of PTSD there. But everyone is different & they look different & more comfy than they were back then, lots of women on my ward use them.
My advice would be don't take the steroids and anti sickness unless you need them -- as they all give you side effects. Then you can't work out which is chemo side effect or drug side effect. I can't sleep if I have steroids, they just don't agree with me. I only have what they give you before chemo, along with Piriton, which makes you drowsy. I try and nap during chemo, I feel better afterwards if I do. Take a book; podcasts; layers for too hot /too cold; snacks; drinks. Can go on and bloody on with the waiting and the different faffing about. Hours. If I feel ok I can get a lot of admin done! There's wifi so I could even work should I feel inclined. I don't though. I listen to The Archers & doomscroll.
You might get on better with steroids etc, so I would suggest try everything once if you DO feel nauseous. If it doesn't work, tell the chemo nurses the next week, and they will give you a different one to try. There are many antiemitics. I have tried all of them. NONE of them work, I am v unlucky. I am always amazed when people say '...so I took an anti-sickness tablet and my nausea went away.' And I'm like: 'How? Why? What a miracle! You are blessed!' etc. But clearly they are designed to work, so they do, for many people.
Nausea is my main issue, starting on day 3. It was ok for weeks, as it would just be day 3 & 4, and then go away, & so I knew it would, & could mentally deal with it, then as the weeks wore on it stayed. I took a two week break recently and it's back to just 2 days. Cannabis helps it, tho', which isn't terribly practical sometimes. I told my oncologist when none of the drugs worked that I going down the CBD & THC route & she said she couldn't condone it. (actually she could have, as you can now get medical cannabis prescriptions in the UK, but I digress) But then she said 'between me & you, I've heard it works well' : )
Absolutely terrible diarrhea joined my party too, but that's easily solved with Immodium & eating a plainer diet, so I can cope with that. A young registrar was very excited to tell me that chemo is designed to hit fast-growing cells such as cancer cells (duh) but sadly anything gastric is also comprised of fast-growing cells too, hence gastric issues of all stripes, and the cells in your mouth too are fast-growing, so they'll be v. keen on asking you if you have mouth ulcers. I've never had one.
All the side effects are cumulative, so mine have got worse as the months have worn on. Tiredness is a given. I feel generally washed out and yuk but in no way at death's door. Mentally it might get to you. & chemo brain is real. I'm on antidepressants, which have definitely helped me, but that's a personal choice as I'm stage 4 & that's a horror show if I stop & think about it. I've done 13 sessions of pax. I'm aiming for 15. Possibly 18, but that will be it, because of risks of neuropathy which has luckily been fine for me. Will then transition onto a tablet and hormone form of treatment.
I hope I haven't made it sound worse than it is. I am AMAZED I have got through 13 Paclitaxels & feel relatively ok sitting here typing thousands of words. SORRY. & I haven't even had any steroids!
Final thing that I hope may be of comfort: when oncologist told me I was to have IV chemo, I cried and cried and cried (deviation from original plan of tablet treatment as I got v. ill and it all got delayed too much). But I've barely cried since. (anti-depressants are good for that...). I'm getting through it, & just accept good days and bad days. You can do it.