Last chemo
Last chemotherapy. ..hoorah.
Still have 9 months of Herceptin. So last cycle of fluid retention, trunkal oedema, fever like symptoms. ...hopefully. Each day from next week on is healing and recovering. Celebration cake was cut today. The butterflies represent a new beginning....cancer free.
4 rounds of AC chemo, 12 weekly treatments of taxol....so 16 treatments all up and it is done.
Side effects I experienced in last 6 months:
Nausea
Gastritis
Bloating and severe wind
Severe constipation
Loose bowels
Fluid retention
Trunkal oedema
Weight gain
Steroid weight redustribution such as moon face, high tummy
Tingling and numbness in toes
Balance changes
Double vision
Faintness
Flushes
Conjunctivitis
Bleeding and lifting toenails
Brittle and distorted fingernails
Muscle and joint pain
Breathlessness
Skin rashes
Hair loss (but if course)
Hair regrowth....loss of colour
Blood noses and nasal drip
Tears and fears
And last but the worst is the overwhelming fatigue that does not go away with rest.
And I was very lucky with no major issues, no illness and no need to be hospitalized, others are not. Of course I had a portacath put in under general to make this journey easier also. That will be removed next year.
No other word for it but endurance. I may not be an Olympian but the prize of life is so worth it.
Endurance
?n'dj??r(?)ns,?n-,-'d?-,-??/Submit
noun
1.
the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
"she was close to the limit of her endurance"
synonyms: toleration, bearing, tolerance, sufferance, fortitude, forbearance, patience, acceptance, resignation, stoicism
"she had pushed him beyond the limit of his endurance"
stamina, staying power, fortitude, perseverance, persistence, tenacity, pertinacity, doggedness, indefatigability, tirelessness, resoluteness, resolution, determination;
Dunkirk spirit;
informalstickability, guts, grit, spunk;
informalbottle
"the race is a test of endurance"
2.
the capacity of something to last or to withstand wear and tear.
synonyms: continuance, continuity, continuation, lasting power, durability, permanence, longevity; constancy, stability, changelessness, immutability; rarelastingness, everlastingness
"Edward III had a vested interest in the endurance of Balliol's rule"
