Forum Discussion

JessicaV's avatar
JessicaV
Member
12 years ago

Can I continue my training during Chemo?

The reason for my question about who gets debilitated with chemo is that  I am trying to work out if I will have to defer my training. I have just begun a 5 year training to become a Jungian Analyst, and the training is so much about being human and coping with what is hard about being human, and understanding what is going on under the surface, and we also each have twice-weekly personal analysis sessions with a wonderful, deeply trained analyst throughout.

The analysis sessions have really come into their own since I got my diagnosis, and my breast-cancer journey, and my analysis, and my training to become an analyst are all helping each other.

I believe my healing journey is going to provide the focus for my intensive research study and thesis I have to do in the 4th and 5th years of the training. And I am really interested in the dreams I had that 18 months ago about being dead and making an heirloom for my children, and another about being invaded by a crowd of pallbearers that seem now to indicate that unconsciously  my body knew something was wrong. I would love to work with dreamers with their  pre-cancer dreams, pre-surgery dreams, chemo-dreams etc, ie the dreams that accompany breast cancer in a range of ways.

I am sure that going through this whole breast cancer healing process is going to make me a much better Analyst, and may even lead me to a specific aspect of the work that I am meant to work in.

It may also sound weird, but I have begun  waking with vital information coming into my mind as I wake: on Saturday I was 2 days post-surgery and I woke with the words, "Well, you've got your cure now," in my mind. It felt true.

. The course is 5yrs long and consists of about 6 three-day training meetings a year in Sydney, Melbourne,Auckland and Perth, with 22 other students, and a lot of reading and discussing and also our own clinical work during. The training committee are very flexible but it really depends on whether or not I am in a fit state enough of the time to do my work and attend training sessions.

So Robyn, your post saying it seems to be mostly attitude related gives me enormous hope that  I may be able to continue my training even if I do have chemo. (If I do have to defer it wont be the end of the world but will put me behind my fellow trainees, and I'd prefer to continue)

I would love to know more about the things other than walking that help with the various symptoms. Also does swimming help?

2 Replies

  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    12 years ago
    I swim nearly every day at the moment. It is fantastic exercise for the whole body and is really helping with my arm and shoulder recovery (I had 8 lymph nodes removed as well as the mastectomy, back in May last year). You would need to be careful if swimming in a public pool with regards to your immune system during chemo. I had my chemo in winter so did not swim for exercise at that time, just walked. I agree with Robyn about attitude being important with how you handle chemo. I looked at what I could do to help myself and did everything I could. I learnt to ask the onc for medications to help with any side effects and to take these to help if needed. However, it does depend on your physical fitness to begin with and also a bit on luck. I was unlucky and got an infection during my fourth round of chemo and ended up very ill in hospital for 3 days. I never really recovered from this until after my 6th and final chemo. Up until then I walked for exercise and found this definitely helped with recovery each cycle. Very interesting reading your ideas about dreams. I had a dream before I started chemo in which I died. It sounds a bit morbid but it actually helped me to feel less afraid of having cancer. In the dream it was a very peaceful experience where all the stress just melted away and I simply went to 'sleep'. I woke up in tears but actually felt at peace with whatever might happen in the future. I felt like I had faced the worst case scenario and was not afraid of it. I think it has helped me to concentrate on the positives of my journey and feel ok about everything. I'm doing everything I can to stay well and enjoy life but if the worst happened then I would be able to deal with that too. I think getting through chemo is a matter of going with it rather than fighting against it. Eat what you feel like, rest when you need to and exercise gently when you can. Look after your mouth care (I used Biotene too) and take whatever medications you need to to counteract the side effects. Best of luck with your study and with chemo if you need to have it. Take care. Deanne xxx
  • Deanne's avatar
    Deanne
    Member
    12 years ago
    I swim nearly every day at the moment. It is fantastic exercise for the whole body and is really helping with my arm and shoulder recovery (I had 8 lymph nodes removed as well as the mastectomy, back in May last year). You would need to be careful if swimming in a public pool with regards to your immune system during chemo. I had my chemo in winter so did not swim for exercise at that time, just walked. I agree with Robyn about attitude being important with how you handle chemo. I looked at what I could do to help myself and did everything I could. I learnt to ask the onc for medications to help with any side effects and to take these to help if needed. However, it does depend on your physical fitness to begin with and also a bit on luck. I was unlucky and got an infection during my fourth round of chemo and ended up very ill in hospital for 3 days. I never really recovered from this until after my 6th and final chemo. Up until then I walked for exercise and found this definitely helped with recovery each cycle. Very interesting reading your ideas about dreams. I had a dream before I started chemo in which I died. It sounds a bit morbid but it actually helped me to feel less afraid of having cancer. In the dream it was a very peaceful experience where all the stress just melted away and I simply went to 'sleep'. I woke up in tears but actually felt at peace with whatever might happen in the future. I felt like I had faced the worst case scenario and was not afraid of it. I think it has helped me to concentrate on the positives of my journey and feel ok about everything. I'm doing everything I can to stay well and enjoy life but if the worst happened then I would be able to deal with that too. I think getting through chemo is a matter of going with it rather than fighting against it. Eat what you feel like, rest when you need to and exercise gently when you can. Look after your mouth care (I used Biotene too) and take whatever medications you need to to counteract the side effects. Best of luck with your study and with chemo if you need to have it. Take care. Deanne xxx