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gurneys's avatar
gurneys
Member
10 years ago

Anxious about my last round of chemo..

My last round of chemo is coming up next Tuesday and whilst I know I should be celebrating this it has also left me feeling a little anxious. I guess whilst I have been having chemo I feel like I have been actively doing something to rid my body of this cancer. Yes, the side effects sucked but I was doing...something. Now that it's coming to an end I feel like that it is now out of my hands. It's hard to put into words. This has left me feeling quite anxious. I'm sure this is kind of a normal emotion to feel....?

The docetaxel has revealed some new side effects this week - namely the burning sensation of my hands and feet to the point where I can no longer wear shoes. My toe nails hurt so much that when my three year old accidently stood on my toe yesterday - in socks - I squealed in pain. And shoes just seem to touch so many sore spots that I've given up - thongs it is in this cold Melbourne weather!

The results of my genetics test have been delayed which in turn has delayed my radiotherapy decisions. I also had to confirm with work this week that I was returning to work at the beginning of term 3. Whilst I am planning to, I am worried as my brain isn't quite functioning "normally". I am finding it quite hard to focus on things for too long to the point of starting to say something and then forgetting what I was talking about halfway through a sentence! Chemo brain. Gotta love it but hope it doesn't impact too much on my teaching.

Eyelashes? Gone. Eyebrows? Nearly all gone. Another dark ring added to my finger nails to commemorate another round of chemo. Picc line? An absolute God-send.

One more to go.

x-S

chemotherapy

6 Replies

  • gurneys's avatar
    gurneys
    Member
    10 years ago

    Vitamin B! I'll look into it. Saw my oncol yesterday and she suggested it was nerve damage so she's reducing the dosage of my last chemo. One to go!

  • gurneys's avatar
    gurneys
    Member
    10 years ago

    Celebration is needed! Best of luck with your last chemo too.

    x-S

  • Cook65's avatar
    Cook65
    Member
    10 years ago

    The anxiety is normal. I also remember feelings of grief and loss when my treatment finished. After 16 months of going to the hospital and see the same faces every 3 weeks, suddenly I was on my own with it all. I was actually going to miss everyone. But the fact is, the doctors will keep a really good eye on you for some time to come. We get to the stage that we have done all there is we can do to try to ensure that we are rid of cancer for ever. Although there are no guarantees that we have done enough, you get to a point where you move on and start to live life again. The worry will rear it's ugly head from time to time but I tell myself that I have no control over what happens tomorrow, so I will make the most of today.  That works most of the time lol. Congratulations on getting through chemo. Karen xox

  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    10 years ago

    Sympathies! I hated Taxol far more than A/C, partly because I never had nausea. I know exactly how your feet felt when stood on, I would start getting anxious if anyone walked close! And got worried about being able to walk. The good news is it didn't get much worse, and gradually has improved immensely. I don't know if it was coincidence, but improvement coincided with starting taking vitamin B. Check with your oncologist, but it may help.

    good luck with it all and getting back to work.

  • LeeLyn's avatar
    LeeLyn
    Member
    10 years ago

    We should throw a party, my last chemo is on Tuesday as well.

    Good luck with the rest of your treatment.

    Take care ????