Struggling through Chemo
Comments
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@GorgyS I cried at my last chemo, and I generally don't, make sure you ring the bell nice and loud. 😃
My radiation oncologist called me today, and they are back to 3 weeks, excluding the area at high risk for damage to my heart and lungs, they felt there was no safe way of treating that area, and it was a low risk area for cancer. The higher risk areas can all be zapped. I'm happy enough with that. No breath holding required, hooray.0 -
@GorgyS I took my nurses in some morning tea on my last chemo (some of the bcna bakers delight fun buns and chocolate boobs AKA arnotts royals, which really do look like chocolate boobs 😄).
The breath holding is about 10 to 20 seconds, the lovely ladies treating me let me control when I take the breaths in and hold, it's only about 3 to 4 times each treatment. No big deal really, I am lucky as I've done a lot of breath control with singing, playing woodwind musical instruments and also with meditation and qigong, so I'm used to controlling my breathing. Apparently that helps as they said ladies who do breath work and or meditation, yoga etc don't usually have problems with the breath holding.
@Katie46 I didn't get the stiffness until right at the end / after chemo too... it's getting better very slowly over time.
Good to hear that you now have your plan sorted. I'm having 25 fractions over 5 weeks so the lower dose over a longer time. Apparently it is the same overall dose they just give it differently...0 -
That is a good outcome @Katie46 after the assessment the medical team conducted.
@Coastiejas, I think I can hold up to 20 sec. Just tried and will keep practicing.0 -
Hi all, I had my first radiation treatment today, and so far so good. Having right sided treatment means I just have to lie there and do nothing, no breath holding required. I came out feeling like nothing had happened. The treating team were lovely, and I was sent home with a big tub of sorbolene. Only 14 more to go!
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@Katie46 the radiation is a bit of a breeze so far after chemo isn't it! You're even crusier as you don't have to do the breath holding! Each fraction is over pretty quickly, the most time seems to be spent positioning you before they laser beam you! I got sent home with a tube of moogoo but I've also been using qv cream and qv bar instead of soap. I was told no long hot showers and only pat the area dry. Basically treat your skin like a newborn baby! I've got 22 left to go now before I ring the bell again 🔔
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@Rona I thought of you today, and how they played "maneater" while you were having your radiotherapy! Today they played "live it up" Mental as anything while they were zapping me and I couldn't stop laughing, thinking boy this really is living it up.. lying here with nothing on my top with my arms above my head!,0
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Oh Coastiejas, that’s funny. I’ll never hear Maneater again without thinking about that day, as you probably will too with”live it up” 😂.
I have just got home from my 16th fraction, my collarbone is starting to go a little red and becoming itchy. I’m trying to wear a crop top now but it still feels uncomfortable so I think it’s time to ditch the bra altogether. I don’t have big boobs (one actually 😂) so thinking a baggy shirt with a t shirt underneath to squish the one I have.Looking forward to 2 days off of radiation before my last 9! I’m nearly there, it has gone so fast!Hope all you ladies are going ok.Oh, and I found out today that Genesis (where I’m going) is fazing out the breath holding technique next week 😩, typical! Strange as it sounds, I’m actually glad I got to experience it.0 -
Hi all glad to hear you are all doing well. @GorgyS did you get to ring the bell?
I've completed 5 rounds of my 15 radiation fractions, and so far no discomfort or redness. Right sided treatment involves me just lying there and relaxing, and it's weird to finish the session and feel like nothing has happened. They dim the lights for me, and I just let my mind wander.
My hair is growing through dark at the roots, my eyebrows are starting to make an appearance, and today I noticed a black hair growing on my chin faster than my head 🙄 whyyyy!!!!!
I am making my way through a jar of meredith goats cheese, and tonight we have sushi!!
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@Katie46, I had my last chemo on Thursday, but no one asked me to ring the bell. I also did not ask, as I was not sure how it worked. I left quietly, leaving two boxes of chocolates for the nurses and thanking them for looking after me. I am happy, relieved, and proud of myself for what I have gone through so far.
I am glad to hear that you are going well with radiation and hope others are going well too through the treatment.2 -
@GorgyS well done on finishing chemo!!!! 👏 🥳 it's so good to be finished isn't it!?
I'm 7 fractions down , 18 to go with the radiation. So far so good, it's a bit like a sicfi experience...you get loaded into the alien mother ship / starship enterprise and then do some breathing while it makes whirring and clicking noises, then you pop out again, all done!! Sent home to lather in cream 3x per day...apparently you can't overdo the cream!
@Katie46 the hair never grows back where you want it to.....I had to buy a lady shaver to deal with my face fuzz!
My eyebrows are starting to come back very slowly and in exciting news I am getting small eyelash hair stubs too!
It's like being Doctor Who...we're regenerating...
Glad you're enjoying that goat cheese 🐐 and sushi 🍣 @Katie46
@Rona did you have your chinese meal yet?0 -
Happy Friday! Another week of radiation done, no discomfort and a very faint pink blush. 1 week to go. My hair is starting to look like a very close buzz cut, and I'm probably going to have to start shaving my legs soon 😔
Hope everyone is doing ok 🙂0 -
Hi
I just want to say what an amazing group of ladies you are and what great banter.
I have an oncologist appt on Monday and the rest of my lymph nodes out the following Monday.
I feel having someone who knows how you feel plus added humour must help you all
Stay positive and keep up the laughs..
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Hey Katie, great news! We are all so close to the finish line now, what an experience 😊.
Hairy legs again 😩, mine have come back with a vengeance! I caught myself looking at the small hairs starting to grow on my hands today 😂. Chemo was almost worth having smooth legs.
My hair is looking buzz cutty too. I’ve decided to have a “coming out” party at work where I lose the hats for good. I look like a totally different person without my long curly locks. I truly look like Annie Lenox now.I have 4 sessions of 25 left with radiation and I’m eyeing off that bell!!I’m seeing a Dietitian next week to help with my weight loss, I just don’t seem to be able to maintain my weight. Consequently….. I haven’t had that Chinese meal yet!My veggie garden is bursting with 400 plus cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage which I am very much looking forward to! I’ve kept very busy, not even sure if I’ve come to terms with what I’ve just been through??Hi Alfie, how long ago did you have your first op?
Have you been down the “Chemo path” yet?
We have had some good laughs along the way. Let us know how you go on Monday.Enjoy the weekend everyone 😊0 -
Oh and congratulations on the eyebrows and eyelashes Coastiejas! 😊0
