Still going well on chemo

I had my fifth chemo today, the second of eight weekly doses of Taxol (paclitaxel) after finishing three cycles of three-weekly FEC. So I'm past half way and sailing through pretty easily so far. I’ve been working full time since just before the second chemo, except for treatment days, and I’m finding tiredness on a few days of each cycle is the main side effect apart from being hospitalised with neutropenia in the first cycle.

I did find in the past few weeks I was trying too hard to be superwoman, taking on a big project involving long hours at work, pushing myself to work on days when I should have taken time out, and having super-busy weekends cooking treats to take to functions and parties. Last week I ended up bursting into tears in my boss’s office for no good reason, so I am hoping to take it a little easier from now on. I realise I don’t have anything to prove.

Now I am working out the new rhythm of weekly treatments, and making sure I schedule in some down time and some fun things to look forward to each week so it is not all work and chemo.
Speaking of fun things, I thought I would share a little photo journey of how I spent time in the ‘good’ third week of my first three cycles.

Cycle1 – not good, in hospital with a fever and my hair falling out by the handful

Cycle 2 – In a 5 hour dragon boat marathon on the Derwent River in Tasmania

Cycle 3- at a reunion picnic on Shark Island in Sydney harbour with people I worked with 25 years ago (I wore a wig for this one so I didn't have to start every coversation with cancer)

I'm sorry for those of you having a hard time, but for me so far, chemo has been very do-able, so there is hope!

Viv