I have been having chemo since march with minimal side effects until a month ago. Now I am having difficulty walking, cooking, washing and am feeling very weak. Are there any exercises I can do to regain my strength. I live alone
i am having a lumpectomy on 14 Feb plus removal of lymph nodes. I now have walking aids and am having a stair lift fitted
DearWhiskin
Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community, I hope you find it supportive. My name is Gillian and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.
I am sorry to read you are experiencing new and worsening symptoms including weakness. We normally say if you are experiencing a new symptom, a symptom that persists, gets worse or is changing then you must make your healthcare team aware.
As we do not have access to any NHS medical notes on this platform it is difficult for us to diagnose. Due to some of the symptoms you have described we would always err on the side of caution with leg weakness and mobility changes. We are unable to tell you why you are experiencing it, but we would like you to look at the symptoms of Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) and see if you have any of the symptoms such as numbness, pins and needles, leg weakness, difficulty walking, urinary symptoms such as difficulty passing urine or bowel problems such as a constipation or difficulty controlling your bowels. MSCC is a rare condition, but one that is potentially serious, so we advise not delaying and seeking help as soon as possible to investigate this matter.
There are other reasons why people can feel fatigued while on chemotherapy, but it is important to let your healthcare team assess this.
We want you to prioritise contacting your chemotherapy unit on their 24-hour emergency number. If you are unable to contact them or don’t have that number, please contact 111. If any of your symptoms worsen or you feel seriously ill, then you need to dial 999 or go to an A+E.
If they are able to rule out anything worrying, please come back to us and we can discuss exercise and activity further.
I hope this information is helpful. You can always call one of our nurses directly if you want to talk over your concerns or require any further support.
Best wishes
Gillian,
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us.
KDf
