Update - Chemo Fallout
Good afternoon all!
Just a quick update on how I’m travelling. I feeling much better and am slowly getting my energy back but still get very tired and run out of power if I do too much in one day or two as was the case this week. Our middle son has now left for his big adventure, travelling the world for the next 6-12 months, but since his departure we have been left with a cyclone to clean up after. We were away over in Sydney at the time, upon our return home we were welcomed with shit (pardon the language) everywhere. He obviously left in a hurry because catching up with friends was obviously more important. Together with all the laundry to be done I spend valuable time sorting everything out, grrrrrrrrrrr! Normality has now been restored thank goodness.
Well chemo fallout just keeps on coming. This week also had me attend a couple of medical appointments, one being my eye specialist and the second being my breast surgeon. My Dry Eye issue has finally been sorted out and now I only have to put tear drops in twice a day and eventually cut that back to nothing, so hopefully this will be the end of this issue. He said that it is a very common side effect along with other vision issues of chemo treatment. So my question to BCNA and Cancer Council and other organisations is, ‘why isn’t such a common side effect stated in the plethora of information that we receive when we are diagnosed with cancer and undergo chemo?’ I also asked about taking Tamoxefin and eye problems, very rare and he has only read about one severe case, he assured me that the medication will be fine. I trust him.
I am still dealing with the itchy head, despite numerous phone calls and several recommendations from fellow BC patients, nothing seems to be working and I have now resorted to strong non drowsy antihistamine tablets to keep it at bay. I have asked the receptionist of my oncologist three times for any suggestions and the receptionist just does not get an answer back. I am getting rather frustrated as the expert isn’t helping me, I’m trying to avoid having to make an appointment to see the oncologist but may have too soon. Hot flushes are still a constant daily occurrence but are not so intense, I’m taking Vitamin E to help with this. I went to a women’s clinic and the specialist doctor there prescribed me Clonidine should I need it. I have not resorted to that medication yet. She also gave me information of other medications should my menopausal symptoms become more severe. There was a lady who commented about this on my last post so I hope that helps.
And now, my dam nails are starting to lift. Really, is there anything else!!!
My breast surgeon was very impressed with how well my breast has recovered from the radiation treatment (five weeks now). I told her about the ‘David Dean Radiation Burn Cream’ and she noted it and is going to research it. I still have internal scar tissue from the surgery that needs massaging daily and tenderness and painful twinges occur every so often which I was told was normal as my breast is still healing from the radiation.
I have been taking my Tamoxifen (Genox) for a month now and so far I have had absolutely no side effects, feeling very blessed and hope it stays this way. This is the brand that my pharmacist recommended because of the reactions that I have with some medications.
Our move to the UAE is an ongoing saga so we are now planning a holiday to Europe for seven weeks in early August. These two things were my long term goals to get me through this dreaded disease so plan B is now being put into action. We are really looking forward to the break.
Love and hugs from the west,
Sue
