Day 50

Hi Annie, I've just finished four rounds of chemo (TC) and I just wanted to let you know that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I was a regular at the gym before my surgery too and I think going into this as a fit and healthy person does help you get through it. I suspended my gym membership but in hindsight I wish I'd kept it going. While there have been days - usually days 2-5 after the chemo - when I was exhausted I could have continued to do some light exercise at the gym later in the three week cycle when I felt almost normal. I do keep meaning to start walking regularly but it's been so cold and wet in Melbourne where I live. As a result I have gained two kilos.  If you keep going to the gym though, you can probably avoid that. But as the others said don't worry if you can't. It's more important to be kind to yourself right now.

I had a lot of other symptoms apart from tiredness/lethargy but they were all fairly mild and usually went away after the first few days - coated mouth, inability to taste, bit of an itchy rash, slight nausea, dry eyes, thrush, difficulty sleeping at times (due to dexamethasone) and slightly feverish on day 3/4.

I guess I'm lucky in that I just do a bit of work from home for my husband's business so I haven't had to worry about a jo as such. If I was working though I think I would have had to take two or three days off in those weeks immediately after the chemo. I was in and out of bed on those days, just reading or dozing.

By far the worst thing for me has been the hair loss. The thing with that is that even when the chemo is over you still have no hair to speak of (unless you count some sparse wispy strands) and it's going to take months, years even to get back to where it was.  Ah well, we just have to make the best of it. If you can, get yourself a nice wig. It's not like having real hair but it makes going out in public a lot easier (for me anyway).

I think it's good to read all these posts and other information - you need to be aware and prepared for the what could happen but also keep in mind that most of the bad stuff probably won't happen. Just take care of yourself and let your family and friends take care of you too and you will get through this. I'm confident that life will get back to normal - it's just going to take a little while. Best of luck Annie.

Janet :)