Needing help and insight about chemotherapy (Male 27)

[u/RainS__]

Hi, I'm Male (27 years old) reasonably fit and healthy until I got diagnosed with synovial sarcoma about a month ago. I underwent surgery to remove the tumor located at my left armpit. Luckily highly local and no found metastasis from the scans.

My chemo treatment is starting in a few weeks time and will be given daily for 4 days and repeated every 21 days for 5 times. I'm receiving Doxorubicin + Ifosfamide + Mesna. I've searched it's also called the "AIM" protocol.

This is not something I know a lot about and would like to know more before my treatment. Has anyone done a similar protocol? How have you managed the side effects? A quick search online shouts that it's a hell of treatment and I'm bound to have the worst time; making me worried. Any chemo tips, heads up/what to expect, or personal experience with recovery is greatly appreciated.

Update: Thank you all for the generous response. I now get that it would be tough but not impossible especially with your valuable insights. I’ll keep this post updated as i move towards a cancer free life. Stay healthy, take care.

[u/Swimming_Anything_27]

My husband is dealing with Ewing's sarcoma, the first protocol was these 3 medications and 2 more (etoposide and vincristine). It can't be easy, but it's far from impossible. Sometimes doctors are more afraid because children tolerate doses of these medications better. See, it varies a lot from one person to another, but what can I tell you about my husband's treatment, some doctors thought he wouldn't be able to do it because it is strong and would have many side effects, they were afraid of febrile neutropenia and high toxicity, but there is one detail, as it will be the first treatment, his body is still very strong, my husband was treated with these medications for a year without having any neutropenia or a drop in platelets, he never needed to delay treatment. Now, with medication changes and having been treated for 2 and a half years, his body finds it more difficult to recover and is weaker than at the beginning. So I tell you, you can get it right, usually the first time it's easier to recover. Research natural things that help with the side effects, and especially a psychologist as the mind influences a lot, as you can change a lot, especially your body and it can be difficult to deal with or accept. Research the AEMK method, it is known in some countries and you can get it for free, it is not invasive, it is just a complement. Good luck

PS; My husband started treatment when he was 33 years old, strong and a bodybuilder