Forum Discussion
Hi and well done doing 4 chemo cycles. I guess you have only 2 more. I found they got harder as I went along, but really all you have to do is turn up and have the chemo. And endure the side effects, Good luck and I hope it passes quickly. You have come so far, just keep going.
Fortunately most people find radiation much easier. I have now finished both chemo and radiation. My biggest side effect is tiredness which can last quite a while I am told. I too am mentally tired, I suspect this is just part of the overall tiredness.
It's interesting wondering how others will find you after you go through this treatment. I feel I have been changed by it. On the positive, I think my priorities have changed for the better, I am more patient about little things, realizing they are just trivial. On the other hand I seem to be less inhibited and say what I really think more and I seem to shock people occasionally with what I say. I have less need to please people perhaps? I am tougher in some ways.
I have less energy so I have to ration it.
I am now retired but when I worked I worked very hard and it was very important to me. I regret working so hard now, I realise I should have focused more on my family, my health and hobbies, and less on my job.
You sound younger than me. I think the changes are exciting and if people can't cope with them, too bad. You have been through a life altering experience, of course you have changed as a person.
It's great you have a growing bucket list. Having cancer brings home to us a simple truth that we are mortal and our time alive is short. You want to make the best of your time. Wonderful. It's one of the positives of cancer.
It's tough going at present but you are almost through chemo, so keep going. My counsellor gave me an article about research that showed being positive does not improve outcomes and being not positive does not make for worse outcomes, so it's ok to feel down sometimes, it won't affect the success of your treatment. Good luck. Karen