Seeking chemo tips and advice
Hi everyone. I'm a 49yo single mum recently diagnosed with locally advanced Stage III ILC. I had the boob removed three weeks ago and it's healing fine. I'm now looking at six months of chemo (w...
Forum Discussion
Good luck with chemo. Some people find it difficult, others less so. It’s almost impossible to know until you start so some flexibility in planning is useful! I had chemo ten years ago and things have moved on - if I was starting now, I’d be asking your day oncology centre what they provide in the way of cold cap (it might preserve your hair) and ice treatment for hands and feet (it might prevent peripheral neuropathy which can affect fingers and feet). Both may extend the time of your chemo sessions, but both are worth considering.
Most people find that if they are going to
have nausea, it presents quite early in the piece. Medication will help. Fatigue may take longer and is distinct from just being tired of it all, which happens to most of us! For the record, I had no nausea and no fatigue, I worked throughout chemo. If you have a reliable person to accompany you for the first few sessions, it can be useful, just in case you feel unwell. Most people get to recognise a pattern quite soon, on and off days, and can schedule their activity accordingly.
Six months sound daunting but it passes, sometimes quicker than you would think. It’s rough medicine but for many of us it seems to have worked, so count your sessions down. At the three month mark, you’re halfway there! Best wishes.
Most people find that if they are going to
have nausea, it presents quite early in the piece. Medication will help. Fatigue may take longer and is distinct from just being tired of it all, which happens to most of us! For the record, I had no nausea and no fatigue, I worked throughout chemo. If you have a reliable person to accompany you for the first few sessions, it can be useful, just in case you feel unwell. Most people get to recognise a pattern quite soon, on and off days, and can schedule their activity accordingly.
Six months sound daunting but it passes, sometimes quicker than you would think. It’s rough medicine but for many of us it seems to have worked, so count your sessions down. At the three month mark, you’re halfway there! Best wishes.