Chemo Regimen FAQs: AC + Taxol/Taxotere chemotherapy (ACT, TAC)

• Nausea and vomiting: These can occur-CAN occur-but aren't nearly as prevalent a side effect as they once were. Usually you'll be given medication to take directly after your treatment, and this should reduce this nasty symptom to general queasiness, if not eliminate it completely. You may be one of the unfortunate women who gets sick anyway, but take heart; you should start feeling better after about 3 days.

• Hair loss: Sorry. No two ways about it, you'll lose some or all of your hair. This will probably happen 2 to 4 weeks after your first injection. Prepare by deciding on a wig, head gear, or if you're simply going to "go naked." It also helps to cut your hair short before it falls out. Somehow, going from short hair to no hair is easier than long hair to bald. And remember: hair loss means ALL of your hair. So you can put away the razor for awhile, your legs and underarms won't be needing it.

• Increased risk of infection: You'll be losing white blood cells; the drugs will destroy some of them, along with the cancer cells. You'll be at your most susceptible starting 10 days after treatment, and extending to the next treatment. In fact, you'll get a blood test before each treatment to make sure your white blood cells aren't TOO depleted, putting you at too great a risk of infection.

What can you do about this? The usual things you do all winter to prevent a cold; avoid crowds, wash your hands often, stay away from people who are sick. Remember, an infection you get now will be more serious than a cold, so use your common sense. Don't put yourself at unnecessary risk.

• Loss of appetite/metallic taste in your mouth: After AC + Taxol treatment, many women report having a metallic taste in the mouth after treatment. This can certainly cut back on your appetite! Not much you can do about this one. Try to eat small meals if that's what you can manage, enough to keep you going. Don't eat spicy foods in an attempt to "drown out" the metallic taste; it won't work, and may give you mouth sores. Speaking of...

• Sores in your mouth, on your lips, or in your throat: Imagine cold sores inside your mouth-OUCH! These may crop up within a few days of treatment. Try to prevent them by chewing on ice chips during the first 5 to 10 minutes or so of your injection; this works for some women. Avoid spicy foods, or anything that might irritate your mouth-including strong mouthwash. If you do get these sores, don't figure you have to just live with them; ask for some medication. It's best to try to knock them out before they get a good foothold (or mouth-hold, as it were).

• Fatigue: As you advance through your treatments, you'll probably find yourself feeling more and more tired. This fatigue can range from mild (increased difficulty climbing stairs) to major (staying in bed all day). Try some gentle exercise, no matter how bad you feel; even walking helps. And eat enough to keep your strength up. Not eating and not exercising make you feel tired even when you're not undergoing chemo, so going hungry and being inactive exacerbate chemo's fatigue even more.