I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
I to have ovarian cancer diagnosed in Jan 2009. I had 3 lots of chemo, operation, and another 3 lots of chemo.
The main problems I had with the chemo were gross taste in mouth and nothing tasted like it should, neuropathy of fingers and feet, these got worse with each chemo, but taste improved after about 6 weeks, fingers and feet improved but I still have neuropathy in my left foot (and right but only when I walk!). Hair loss - very slow to grow back and now have corkscrew curls! Tiredness but only realised how bad once I returned to work!
Most of the complications I had with chemo have been rare ones but then I only got diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to a rare autoimmune disease! I developed arterial bloods clots (aortic settling in left Femeral artery) just before my 4th dose, had daily blood thining injections but still developed another clot 5 days after the 6th dose! The onchologist/haematologist aren't sure if its cancer or chemo related and they don't seem to have personally come across it before so please don't worry about it!
I would be interested in hearing about plans for followup when you get that far.
Daft as it sounds Once the hairs gone it won't seem so bad! My advise is shave it now, honestly its the thought of being bald that's the worst once its gone you sort of forget about it! The first time I lost my hair I always worn a bandana or hat and it made me very conscious of looking different every time I went out (wouldn't normally wear hats anytime) the second time I gave up and just went out bald, I very soon forgot I had no hair and it worked much better for me. With the hats/bandanas I kept getting sympathetic looks, however when bald plp were unsure if I'd chosen to have my head shaved or was ill so I got treated a lot more normally which I preferred! If either of you decide to go out hatless do carry something with you, air con in shops is to much for a baldy and be careful of the sun (if we ever get any!)
Sue you sound like you live alone, I'm single though I do have a best friend/flat mate, she works full time, on one hand when she's at work it gives me time to think but as she's gone for 14 hours a day it often leaves me too much time to think!!! She also copes by not verbalising her fears and does not cope at all well with conversations regarding my lack of a long term future, in consequence we go on essentially as normal. That is why so many of us find this site useful, here we can say what we want, express fears, discuss treatments and options etc.
I am full of admiration for you managing to work while having chemo! I couldn't due to immuno-deficiency and have since been retired on ill-health which is comical really as I feel better now than when I was working pre diagnosis! I was a hospital worker so each hospital appoinment takes up a full day as I have to catch up with endless plp! I still get discount in the canteen as I'm so well recognised . You will have bad days, we all do but then again I'm sure we had bad days pre cancer but in our minds everything pre cancer becomes rosy
Mary is now half way through her chemo after completing week 9 of 18 today! If anyone is interested in this new "dose-dense" regimen, I have updated my thread with a half-time summary: http://cancerchat.cancerresearchuk.org/message/31764#31764
Hair loss is still a big deal for Mary too, as is concealing the hickman line, but she is still feeling pretty good so can't complain too much.
No it don't sound stupid, I think the hair loss is such a physical reminder that you can't avoid seeing that it makes the whole thing seem far to real. Sounds like it time to get rid of whats left it really isn't so bad once its gone, honest. Bad days are normal, you just have to except it and get up the next day refusing to have two in a row . As time passes it does get easier to deal with. keep logging on, vent if you need or just tell us how your feeling, we all car and we're all here for you and each other.
I am sorry that you have been feeling down and as Jackie has said it's a normal thing to happen to you / us because at the end of the day we are all scared and lie awake at night sometimes thinking what will happen to us. We have all probably said why me ? but at the end of the day we have to cope with it and don't let it beat us. Your mind is a powerful thing and remember that if you can stay positive then things will be ok.
I have been having these twinges as I said last week and rang the hospital so my chemo nurse told me to get my bloods done for the CA125 which I did and got the results yesterday. My count has gone up since last month so I have to have a scan on the 29th but so what if it's back I will deal with it. And if it is then I have caught it quickly.
So please remember when you are down that we are all here for you....
Sorry to hear your ca125 was up but remember it goes up for many different reasons which is why it is an unrealible test by its self! the scan should give a more accurate picture and fingers crossed will show its not back. My Ca125 was 'up' at my 3 monthly appointment but as I feel fine we're ignoring it!
Hi Sharon
Glad your feeling better today one day at a time sunshine! Once you start on the chemo cycle time seems to both stand still and fly! silly I know but the days seem to last forever and the weeks fly past, maybe thats just me lol.
Sorry to hear you have been feeling down Sharon, but as the other ladies have said - stay positive. We all have down days, and yes I have cried about it, why me, etc. But then the next day I pick myself up, put my make up on & a smile on my face & get on with things again! It's not easy, but we will get through it. I understand your feelings now your hair is falling out. But it will be fine. When mine came out I thought ooh I have quite a cute little head! Wasn't as scary as I thought.
Eileen sorry to hear about your CA125 result. I hope everything is ok. Keeping my fingers crossed for you x
Hope everyone else is ok? I'm fine been feeling really well this week. Next chemo is on 29th. Have an appointment to see oncologist tomorrow.
We've been busy sorting the garden this week and now it looks all nice and tidy so I'm looking forward to sitting out there on sunny days!
