Hi,

Talk to your cancer nurse about how they might be able to manage your side effects better. I made the mistake of not doing this until after my second round and suffered 3 weeks of retching and diarhea that could have been avoided. 

On the plus side, the side effects were worth suffering for me as I was incredibly lucky and I'm still here 8 years after a stage 4 diagnosis. 

Good luck!

Dave
 

Hello Owl58,

                     you are really asking how much do l really want something,and am l willing to pay the high price of getting it?.l have little doubt that in answer to the first part,you would definitely want a positive outcome.For the second part it appears that you wish to pay the cheapest price possible,don't we all despite learning over the years that buying a fudge never results in a satisfactory resolution.

l got hit with chemo/radiotherapy pre surgery for stage 4 bowel cancer that subsequently spread to the liver,then post surgery chemo.The pre treatment destroyed a body function that thankfully due to my age was no longer required but sadly missed.The post op treatment destroyed the nerves in my feet resulting in permanent neuropathy,It takes a few years for the body to learn to compensate,and the brain to learn to define the difference between what it wants to constantly tell you.and what it actually needs to.So thats the cost side,which in all  probably took 2 years to plateau,and a further 3 years of gradual minute improvement.

On the plus side over that first two year period l managed to build a new home,with gritted teeth,  stubborn determination,and knowing when it was time to collapse into bed to rest before going again.The next three years saw us move into and enjoy our new home,creating a garden and finishing touches.A further three years,making eight in total has been filled with the pleasure and satisfaction of living in a beautiful location.During all of this time llooked after our flock of sheep and small herd of belties.l should also add that looking at me now you would never tell my previous medical history,and that l have dropped several years in my appearance repaying the lost years of my struggle,diagnosed at 62 l will be 71 shortly and still going like as train,but these days more like a daily hardworking goods shunter with time off for good behavhour than a mainline express

l will leave you to judge whether the price paid was worth the gain,all l will say is that it does not come cheap,it is bloody expensive, its fair to say at the beginning there's an awful lot of pain with little sign of gain,but the reward for me has been exquisite and by far the biggest and most satisfying achievement of my life so far..

Good luck with your journey and the destination you choose to be taken too,

                                                                                                                             David

Hello,

Just completed 3 rounds of chemo for Primary peritoneal cancer. Like you, I had no idea what chemo would be lik/ how it would affect my body.

For me, I think the first round was the worst as the effects came and went,every day there was something new and I didn't know what to expect or how to cope..

I had a skin rash/ vaginal candida, felt completly worn out on some days, had awful long leg bone pain, which really was the worst symptom. lasting 4 days,felt as if i could not put one leg in front of the other. Nausea, luckily no vomitting. I treated the first round of chemo as the experiment round.

I contacted my oncology nurse and we talked about the symptoms and how I could improve them.

The second and third rounds produced similar symptoms, but I was much more aware of how i could control them to make it more of a positive experience and less stressful.  You must carry on.

My message to you is to go forth with the chemo - I have had a tremendous response to it and am now booked for major surgery next week to remove the cancer (the size of a large grapefruit) and it has shrunk rapidly.

I have already been advised that I will have 3 further rounds of chemo once I am post surgery..Iv'e got my supplies in for that.

I realised very early on, that dealing/ coping with cancer treatments is half symptoms/ half positive attitude and determination to get through it. It's a HUGE shock when you are told a diagnosis of cancer-hits you like a bulldoser delivering a blow to the gut.  Treaing my cancer like an enemy - I'm at war with it....

Be determined and carry-on OWL58 - wishing you all the best.