Approximately 2 weeks following the first treatment cycle, I developed a rash on my chest, face, head, arms and back with fever. I had developed a very low white blood cell count and had to go in to receive an injection of medication to help boost my white blood cells and was put on an antibiotic, and given a steroid injection for the rash.
I had expected nausea as I had been told by family and friends who had recently gone through chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer that they had experienced some nausea but the medication prescribed for the nausea had worked quite well for them. I have completed my 3rd cycle of chemo and have not had nausea. I also have had a few mouth ulcers but they were following the first round when I had the rash and fever. I have also had a pneumonia which developed right after the second cycle of chemo but I think it was also related to exposures to others while my white blood cells were low. My appetite is decreased as food does not always appeal to me as it did. I find that I eat what sounds good at the time and have tried to maintain my health by not skipping meals because I am not “hungry” as I would be losing more weight. I am not usually “hungry” but also not nauseated. Don’t buy in bulk when something tastes or sounds good once though, because I have found that by tomorrow it sounds horrible. My wife and daughter try to buy things that I will eat but that has changed throughout the past 3 months.I have experienced a lot of improvement with my breathing which has actually improved my activity level. They say it is due to the shrinkage of the tumor as it was quite large and impeding my airway.
My hair did come out but I am enjoying the fact that I do not have to shave as I had grown to dislike that portion of my grooming.