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tammyp26's avatar
tammyp26
Member
14 years ago

Round 5 - I keep getting back up

Ok so I made it through round 5 - one more to go woo hoo! Round 5 once again saw me down for the count on a couple of occassions - terrible aches and pains, I seriously felt like I was an 80 year old - could barely get off the couch and when I did move had terrible back spasms that made me stop in my tracks - really agonising and had me in tears. I probably should have gone to hospital as had a fever as well - but sometimes it's just not that easy. Anyway I slept and slept some more and went to the Dr's to get endone and that definitely helped. I also had terrible dizzy spells and came so close to feinting a couple of times, at the supermarket of all places. Not a good feeling. The fatigue continues - I start off the day well and then fade fast about 5pm (just in time for the busy part of the day) - it's hard when you have a family to organise but kids are terrific and really help out when I need them to. Another new symptom has been watery eyes - oncology put that down to the chemo drug too. My eyebrows and eyelashes are still holding on, but getting quite sparse. My hairs starting to grow back, so looking forward to not having to wear a wig - wonder how long that will take? Had my radiotherapy planning appointment and that begins on 27 August. As a result of that appointment I have my first ever tattoos - little blue dots on my chest and sides - really attractive stuff. That's so they know where to zap you when you go in for treatment every day. So radiotherapy will be treatment every day (9 day fortnight) for about 5 1/2 weeks and then that will be it - all over (except if I get selected for the clinical trial drug) - so finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. Not looking forward to Round 6 but so glad it's the last one. I know it's going to be another few weeks of tough times but then hopefully the radiotherapy will be a walk in the park compared to this - well that's what I've been told anyway!

2 Replies

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hey girls

    Congrats Tammy, wonderful news, nuture yourself until you recover the last chemo side effects, well done, very happy for you, champers by the ocean sounds like a fitting way to salute and say goodbye x&$?/// chemo!!!!!

    With regards to wigs just wanted to say I would not step foot out of the door without having mine on but since starting rads I wear a beanie or lil hat every day now and have had my wig on once in 3 weeks.  It is a good feeling not having to wear the wig all the time.  My hair is growing back slowly but I am getting it shaved off again so it can grow back totally chemo free.  Some people believe it is the way to go and others say I am silly, oh well each to their own I say.

    Mich xoxo

  • Janet_Plummer's avatar
    Janet_Plummer
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Tammy, I'm at a similar stage to you - one more chemo to go (my fourth) and then radiotherapy. I'm getting the watery eyes too and looking forward to getting rid of the wig. I don't go out in public without it but I  am starting to hate the dammn thing.

    Just tought I would mention that at a preliminary consultation a few weeks ago, my radiotherapy doctor told me I could have little stickers or somthing like that if I didn't want to have the blue dot tattoos (which I definitely don't). I hate the idea of having to go through the rest of my life permantly marked as a cancer patient and having to dress to conceal blue dots on my body on hot summer days.  So if the idea of the tattoos does bother you - as it does me -  make sure you ask about the alternative temporary way of having your body marked.

    Good luck with the rest of your chemo and the radiotherapy too. Janet