So glad they caught it as early as they did!
Some things I learned over the last year of chemo: It helped a lot to have someone else fix meals or have easy things you can fix yourself. I became addicted to Lipton's instant chicken noodle soup, jello, and crackers for the first few days after an infusion. After that I wanted stronger tasting foods. I was AMAZED at how sensitive my sense of smell was - like I felt I could have challenged our German Shepherd in a scent detection contest. Many centers do such a good job of controlling nausea nowadays. Before they started my chemo drug drip, I took a good sized dose of steroids the night before the infusion, then they filled me up with Benedryl, more steroids, and an IV drug called Emend. Then they would start the chemo drugs. They said the anti-nausea meds should work for about 3 days, which they did. At home, I had Zofran and Prochloroperzine if I needed them, but rarely did. My team gave me a Neulasta generic (Xitenzo) the day after each chemo from the very first infusion to keep my white blood cell production from taking a nose dive. I was lucky that it worked well and I did not have an issue with my blood levels dropping into the danger zone which would interrupt the chemo schedule. For the joint aches that came along with the Xitenzo shot, they told me to take plain old OTC Claritin (not the Claritin-D). Apparently when they kick the WBC production up a notch, it creates histamine and that makes you stuffy and achy. Those aches lasted about 5 days. By the time those aches were over, I had 2 good weeks of feeling more like myself and having somewhat of an appetite again.
Regarding possible neuropathy caused by chemo, I asked my team about icing my hands and feet during chemo to hopefully ward it off. They said that I could do it if I provided my own ice packs. I did, and I do think it helped. Some drugs don't cause it, but the carbo/taxel did for me.
Wishing for the very best outcome and very few side effects for you through the whole process.
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