Chemo thoughts please

I can remember the Dex! Aweful!After a few cycles, my doc ( also from Newcastle Mater) took me off dex as my body was otherwise coping. Sleeplessness is aweful. as soon as I cam off dex I coped so much better. having chemo is otherwise not so difficult. It is usually a good dday. I like to chat with other paateinds and staff.  You get to see the same faces each time you go. Things that help me cope better were driking lots of fluid... but I got sick of water... weak ginger cordial ( Buderim)much more soothing. I also found green  or peppermint tea much more tolerable than coffee. My har started falling out aftenr the second A/c tretment... eyebrows, lashes... etc The look Good Feel Good programme was excellent. They teach you how to put onmake up and ties scrves. You Tube also had heps of scarf tying ideas. It was heaps of fun learing new ways to feel good about yourself.  Alos I became a fan of nail polish. Lots of layers help to same my nails.  I foud it was well worth the investment in OPI. Some ladies swear by D Lewin nail hardener.Keep an eye on the veins in your arm. If they get eally sore, they migth be getting blocked. I ended up getting a port. This proved heaps easier for the staff as my veins are small. Also I now have ongoing Herceptin every 3 weeks... for 12 months... so it was well worth  the investment. If your veins are big and strong, you might cope better.  Chemo is poisonous to so many parts of you body where you least expect.We all get a different array of side effects. Social fatigue is also common too. I found I ould cope nearly as well with shopping malls. They can be overwhelming.  It is worth sticking in ther with trament. You have to beat this disease. You will be amazed how stong you will become as a result of perservence. I finished my chemo in March lasst year...and it wasn't til July till I started to feel stong agoind... just pace yourself.

You will find the staff at the Mater excellent. We are truly lucky to have a cenre of excellence on our  doorstep in Newy.