Post Chemo Life
This is my first week clear of the three week chemo cycle. I am officially finished. Next up for me is a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction in three weeks Everyday this week I have felt my an...
Forum Discussion
Hi there @kmakm i finished chemo in oct 2016 and I felt EXACTLY the same as you. At first I felt a bit vulnerable but relieved at the same time that I had finished chemo and although the chemo was a shitty thing I also felt very “protected” as such as I knew it was doing the job of keep the stray nasties away if I had any. Then when I finished chemo I thought just like you. “Time to get on with life and all it entails” but it’s not as simple as that love
i had bad memory issues for a few months after and constantly got the shits with myself and this shitty disease. I thought I’ve had the treatment so fuck off and leave me alone now.
But i want to let you know how I handled it and to let you know it does get better. Firstly once I accepted that these are the side effects and this is how I’m going to deal with them it was better
1. Memory loss - accept that I have memory loss and accept I have to write everything down to remind myself. I used to have post its all over my desk at work when I first went back. My memory is so much better now but I still use a list and write stuff down at work just for that reassurance and have stopped beating myself up for forgetting shit all the time as I just write it down and I still say I’ll make a note so I don’t forget. Also if I need stuff for home. I leave the empty packet or box in an enviro bag on the front seat of the car and then I remember to grab what I need and I’ve accepted it and fine with it now. Hubby also knows to leave the empty packet on the kitchen bench so ican put it on the front seat of the car. And I either write an old fashioned shopping list or use coles online as I can go check the pantry to see what I need too
2. Hot flushes - I think I told you before I slept on a towel put the air con on and had a squirty bottle in my hand bag , in the fridge and by my bedside so I could spray my face when I had one I also swapped to a cotton doona rather than a feather one so it breaths better and I could cover up the bits that were cold and leave it off the body parts that felt hot. The feathers doona just felt too heavy. You can also buy those cooling mats I’ve seen them in the tv direct shop you can lie them on your mattress and just pop the sheet over the top I wish I saw them when I was going through the hot flushes. I told you too mine stopped almost overnight in July last year I thibk is a major contributor to your sleeplessness and you should definately talk to your gp about it. It certainly won’t be helping your memory either like @primek mentions too
3 fingernails. - mine went to the shitter too during the taxol so initially I went and put the acrylic nails until the good new nails grew out and then upgraded to just gel polish to keep them strong. And I still do this now. I have two remaining dodgy ones but I use a lady that works from home and I have them done every three weeks so it’s way cheaper than a traditional nail bar and it helps heaps still now thsts for sure. Just helped with the tenderness immediately as I wasn’t bashing the tips of my nails on anything breaking them off and they were still tender from the neuropathy too. I didn’t have issue with the darkening with my toenails but still get the gel polish done on them every 6 weeks or so
4.fatigue - I still needed a nap through the day for around 6 months later too. I remember whinging to my oncologist about it and he’d say “Margie it’s only been 6 months” he said that at the 12 month mark too! I see him end of this month again. It takes time to recover love I could only work part time to start with for that reason. I can go all day now no worries at work and feel great but bomb out about 7.30. If I need to go out late on a weekend I still need an arvo nap if I want to stay up!
You can’t push yourself too hard too soon it takes time and the sooner you accept it the better you will be with it. That worked for me. It’s the new normal I guess is the best way to put it. Keep up the counselling if you think it’s helps but let your family know too you still need a hand this is an ongoing thing that takes time to get better. Don’t push yourself too hard too soon you’ll just get pissed off with yourself and that will fuck with your head too.
try and get some fresh air too and time for yourself each day I find walking my dogs in the morning alone helps me clear my head and plan my day. I still just take each day as it comes and am far more chilled out than what I used to be. If it doesn’t get done today I can do it tomorrow. Try not to sweat the small stuff love and just have a laugh when you have a brain fart that’s what I do now.
You have your surgery to focus on now and get through so it definately is still about you remember that. Biggest hug. Margie xx
i had bad memory issues for a few months after and constantly got the shits with myself and this shitty disease. I thought I’ve had the treatment so fuck off and leave me alone now.
But i want to let you know how I handled it and to let you know it does get better. Firstly once I accepted that these are the side effects and this is how I’m going to deal with them it was better
1. Memory loss - accept that I have memory loss and accept I have to write everything down to remind myself. I used to have post its all over my desk at work when I first went back. My memory is so much better now but I still use a list and write stuff down at work just for that reassurance and have stopped beating myself up for forgetting shit all the time as I just write it down and I still say I’ll make a note so I don’t forget. Also if I need stuff for home. I leave the empty packet or box in an enviro bag on the front seat of the car and then I remember to grab what I need and I’ve accepted it and fine with it now. Hubby also knows to leave the empty packet on the kitchen bench so ican put it on the front seat of the car. And I either write an old fashioned shopping list or use coles online as I can go check the pantry to see what I need too
2. Hot flushes - I think I told you before I slept on a towel put the air con on and had a squirty bottle in my hand bag , in the fridge and by my bedside so I could spray my face when I had one I also swapped to a cotton doona rather than a feather one so it breaths better and I could cover up the bits that were cold and leave it off the body parts that felt hot. The feathers doona just felt too heavy. You can also buy those cooling mats I’ve seen them in the tv direct shop you can lie them on your mattress and just pop the sheet over the top I wish I saw them when I was going through the hot flushes. I told you too mine stopped almost overnight in July last year I thibk is a major contributor to your sleeplessness and you should definately talk to your gp about it. It certainly won’t be helping your memory either like @primek mentions too
3 fingernails. - mine went to the shitter too during the taxol so initially I went and put the acrylic nails until the good new nails grew out and then upgraded to just gel polish to keep them strong. And I still do this now. I have two remaining dodgy ones but I use a lady that works from home and I have them done every three weeks so it’s way cheaper than a traditional nail bar and it helps heaps still now thsts for sure. Just helped with the tenderness immediately as I wasn’t bashing the tips of my nails on anything breaking them off and they were still tender from the neuropathy too. I didn’t have issue with the darkening with my toenails but still get the gel polish done on them every 6 weeks or so
4.fatigue - I still needed a nap through the day for around 6 months later too. I remember whinging to my oncologist about it and he’d say “Margie it’s only been 6 months” he said that at the 12 month mark too! I see him end of this month again. It takes time to recover love I could only work part time to start with for that reason. I can go all day now no worries at work and feel great but bomb out about 7.30. If I need to go out late on a weekend I still need an arvo nap if I want to stay up!
You can’t push yourself too hard too soon it takes time and the sooner you accept it the better you will be with it. That worked for me. It’s the new normal I guess is the best way to put it. Keep up the counselling if you think it’s helps but let your family know too you still need a hand this is an ongoing thing that takes time to get better. Don’t push yourself too hard too soon you’ll just get pissed off with yourself and that will fuck with your head too.
try and get some fresh air too and time for yourself each day I find walking my dogs in the morning alone helps me clear my head and plan my day. I still just take each day as it comes and am far more chilled out than what I used to be. If it doesn’t get done today I can do it tomorrow. Try not to sweat the small stuff love and just have a laugh when you have a brain fart that’s what I do now.
You have your surgery to focus on now and get through so it definately is still about you remember that. Biggest hug. Margie xx