Hello val.a, 

Thank you for sharing your story. You write really well and I am sure your account of your allergic reaction to your chemotherapy treatment will be of interest to many on the forum. I am glad the reaction didn't last and that you were able to resume treatment with no adverse effects. 

You probably needed a bit of fresh air when you went raking up in the garden - you're brave not only because you had a major operation recently but also as it's pretty cold too at the moment! 

I am sure your experience will be inspirational to others currently going through the same thing. 

Keep writing as you have a great way with words! 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

Hi there, hope you are well.  I saw your post about your reaction to chemo and exactly the same happened to me! Just wanted to ask if you are ok?  And did you continue with your chemo treatments?  Mine was stopped after just thst one as it severely damaged my kidneys,  was told there was no other chemo I could have. So must wanted to check how you are getting on with yours.  Thank you. x

Hi, thank you for your message, and am so sorry you had to have your treatment stopped.  It was a ghastly reaction, though wasn't it?   I did persevere, as I am a stubborn old bat, but eventually they stopped it completely as the reactions I was getting were bad - couldn't walk etc. - but I have to say that I felt no better afterwards, with just the one treatment instead of two.   I shall be getting my last chemo next Tuesday, and have actually wondered if the chemo will kill me off before the cancer does!  I have found this all so difficult - feel so bad I can't even think of what to eat, let alone cook anything, so am having a bad diet, which doesn't help the situation. However, have managed to grow some vegetable seedlings, and trying to plant them in the garden to aid my recovery when it begins.  I have to sit on a seat to do so, and look like a drunk, as I stagger around... How about you?  What have they come up with instead?  Keep up your courage - it is difficult.  I started out a bit cocky - I will beat it, and invented amazing turbans, coloured wigs etc. etc. but in the end, got apathetic and just wander around bald, like an old bloke in drag!  Val

Dear val.a thank you so much for your reply.  Yep I too thought I was going to die!  They gave me a break for half an hour then continued with the chemo but at a slower rate.  The next week my bloods showed a critically low GFR (kidneys) and I was admitted to hospital twice for 4 days each on fluids to get my GFR back up.  It went up slightly but not enough to continue with that chemo. My consultant said that there was no other chemo he could give me, so I move straight to radiotherapy. My hair was falling out in handfuls so I shaved it all off the day before they said chemo wasnt continuing!!  So I am looking like a 70 year old MAN!!!   Bit of a delay with starting radiotherapy due to covid but due to start in a few days time, but I am worried about the side effects of that as well !  But I am already compromised by now having the chemo so I need to do this...the chemo side effects are rubbish and I totally agree with what you are saying.  Carbo/taxol is brutal but lets hope it does its stuff for you.  I too am going to grow some stuff. Wanted to do carrots but cannot get seeds anywhere so hubby has come back with seeds to grow peppers so that will be interesting.  I havent been to a shop since mid January before my op and I miss it!  Sending you positive thoughts and please message me amy time as would love to hear how you are getting on,  take care. x

Hi Catwhiskers (you are a cat lover?  I have a Havana Brown who is nothing like he is supposed to be..)  thanks for your reply.  I like to write, so if you get me going, I won't stop.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to navigate this site, as I had hoped to write encouraging stuff for others, but as it is, have felt progressively worse and worse, which apparently is normal, though nobody told me, and also my fingers have been so numb and 'frozen' have been hitting all the wrong keys, so couldn't write much anyway.  Fingers not too bad today, but am very clumsy.  Feet are weird too, like the skin is two sizes too small for my feet!  Yes, difficult to find seeds, but if you persevere on Google, you will find some seeds people still have some.  Try Suttons.  Beetroot is very good for you, and you can cook the leaves too, which are delicious, rather like spinach, and FULL of goodness.  Lovely with butter on, and a poached egg!  Can't wait for mine to grow.  Those of us with cancer need as much nutrition as possible.  I understand cancer loves sugar.  Probably why I got it in the first place.  I also have diabetes, so life is difficult!  A sense of humour helps...I Just yearn for meringue...

Hi val, yep me too. New to this site and not quite sure if I am pressing the right buttons etc. Screen freezes often so not sure if I am posting messages or not! Once I came across this site I usually look/write most days and I get great comfort from speaking to people who are facing/have faced similar to me. So did you have an op? What was your diagnosis as I understand carbo/taxol is not just for gynae cancers.  Also the covid has not helped as this has delayed my radiotherapy which is frustrating as I still have further treatment after this. Best make a move to get out of bed now as it looks like a nice day outside PS yes big cat lover.

Hi Cats.  This time last year I was a constant visitor to the quacks.  I gave them concise symptoms, but they took no notice, though they found I had nearly no vitamin D.  I told them I was sleeping day and night non-stop and that couldn't be right.  I asked what was wrong with me  "I don't know' replied the doc!  I gave up and went back to sleep.  However, I woke up one night with stomach pains and the feeling of nausea.  I KNEW I must go to A&E.  I thought maybe appendix, though the pain actually wasn't too bad.  I wouldn't have gone if I hadn't known I should. Turned out I had pancreatic infection, gall stones and cancer of the ovaries, though the latter diagnosis was delayed as cancer doesn't show up in my blood.  Anyway, had major op early December where they found it had spread and to the lympth node in my groin.  Hmmm.  Not good.  Doing research it turns out that not many women survive this kind of thing, so my future is a bit daunting, though never say die!  I am experiencing pain in my side at the moment, and wondering if that is the gallstone, or something else.  When I said I KNEW I must go to A&E, it's because I am a bit psychic, and always go on my instincts which usually prove to be correct, so I am hoping that the spirit guides that led me to that KNOWING did so because I had the chance of survival if I went then - so that gives me rather a lot of hope.  However, as a Past Life Regressionist, I have a somewhat different approach to life and death to many others, in that I know that whatever my death-date might be, I shall be 'going home' and have no worries.  However, would like at least another 20 years, bringing me up to 100 to get more stuff done!!!!  Time will tell!  Tell me about you and how you feel about your situation.  This Corona virus is a bummer, isn't it, but who knows, while you don't want a delay, perhaps there is a reason for it - a better drug will turn up, or your situation will improve...the thing is, if you can try and not worry, that is the key!  All the best