Chemo Side Effects

Chemo is the worst part of treatment. I found my side effects varied a little each time. I kept a daily record of how I was feeling and what side effects I had. I would then get advice/medication to help with these from the oncologist. My chemo nurse was also wonderful with advice about handling side effects. I had nausea, headaches, sore eyes, fatigue, heartburn, aches and pains, diarrhea and constipation, oral thrush and a yuk taste in my mouth. Things that helped were medications for nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation and oral thrush. When the aches and pains were really bad I used Endone and nurofen. I also tried hard to exercise (walking) most days and think this helped with most side effects. I also drank heaps of water even when it tasted awful. I just kept ticking off the days until next chemo, made the most of the days when I felt ok. Went out for lunch and even had 3 weekends away during the weeks that my immune system was ok. I had 18 weeks of chemo and found it actually went very quickly. It is 8 weeks since my last chemo, 5 days since my last radiation treatment and I do feel well and have energy again. I found it helped to just look at one step at a time. Just think about what you can do to get through the yucky days, what you can do to prepare for the next chemo, what you can do to reward yourself when you feel better. The women on here are the best support as they truly understand what you are going through. My family were wonderful but even though they tried they did not really understand how it was for me. One day soon you will be through this too and life does get better. Meanwhile get help with the side effects you have, let others help with everyday tasks and lean on us to get you through the awful bits. Deanne xxx