Fed up with chemo and life

Hi I know its a weird question.I have breast cancer reoccurence spread to my lungs.i am having weekly chemo since August with tumours shrinking but mentally I am starting not coping anymore.I am so fed up with the chemo,now my finger nails turning in to purple,I have absolutwly rubbish oncologists and my husband seems to getting be fed up with paying all.the rent and cooking for me because I have numb fingers too.

I can't find any purpose of continuing with it I am only 42 and was positive but I feel I am burden for him.

How long it takes until I will deteriorate without chemo?I am just sitting at.home and don't even enjoy to get out of bed most of the times

I am sorry beeing so negative but I am really down

  • Hi Denise, thank you so much for the reply. That sounds great that you might have a complete response, your doctors pleased must be pleased. I am on paclitaxol but it is intended that I have 18 treatments (I've had 10 so far). It seems like you have had a lot more than that, I didn't think they can give you more than 18. Will they just keep you on the chemo until the cancer disappears? I have the side effects of skin rash on face and hands and arms, which is very painful. My nails are also painful. Did you use a cold cap? I am but my hair is thinning anyway... My cancer is triple positive.

     

    kibd regards 

     

    Sarah 

  • Hi Sarah I had skin rash too.on my arms and face.I went to my GP who prescribed me with a brliant cream called Epimax and the rash dissapeared that was 4 months ago i am using it daily now as a precaution.

    Oh dear dont tell me about the nails they look awful.First were purple now is between purple and yellow and some puss coming out underneath so I have to use plaster on some of them.But I am using Vaseline cream especially for strong nails and hands.Its a pink bottle.But I have seen they colouring starts bit dissapear I am trying to eat lots of fruits.

    I was using cold cap then i lost patience so didnt use it anymore.After i stopped using it all my hair fell out but I dont mind it my nails are more upsetting.I have a lovely wig and now the hair growing back so not too bad.

  • Hello Denise. I have only just spotted this chat. How much you've been through this past year! But it sounds like you are holding up really well. Yes I remember the nails....that was horrible!

    I am glad you are feeling a little less hopeless now :) Looking back to your posts from last year I can see that you've been through a lot.

    Hang on in there. The treatments are improving all the time aren't they? When the doctors give a "prognosis" it is just a statistic.  As far as I understand it, a statistic is not you specifically, it represents a large sample of people, and I think is often an old figure. I asked, and was given a very short "median" for my disease at the start of my journey. My breastcancer was spread throughout both of my lungs and my liver and more. That was back in 2011, and my prognosis for the disease, as it is now, has increased six fold. I like to know the figures because then I can try to beat them, and when I do it is a great excuse for a very big party! ;)

    Keep up the good work, try to stay as fit as you can so you are in the best place to accept treatment, and enjoy life. You might live a lot longer than you think!

    Oh, and keep pushing. And I have found asking the medics "Are you sure?" has helped me to break through some of the barriers.

    Best wishes and huge hugs,

    Mary xxx

  • Thank you Mary for your spirit uplifting post.I have realized we never should give up hope.