One Step at a Time

These new battery tools are a real help. Have bought a small battery leaf blower which is a revelation! I'm also a fan of long handled garden tools. 

Got a battery lawnmower and strimmer my blower is a 2 stroke 

I am having the same problem. Always been so lively and energetic. That is one of my problems. 

I have to just go with it. Do the best I can. Now passing time on here. Positive move. So enjoying being involved with like people. 

Good luck with the chemo - I have just come out of mine, started in February. Now having three months off before radiotherapy!!

Best wishes

KrisPy

I'm in the Highlands and walk for at least an hour every day no matter whether it's raining or the sun is shining. It's a great way to relax and my companion has to get his exercise too.

Here's photo I got last week whilst walking on the towpath of the Caledonian Canal.

And here's a photo of my daily walking companion.

Do you mind me asking what side effects you had, what can we expect in the real world.  Not what Google search finds!  My other half has his first oncology appointment this morning to work out treatment plan, and I am really worried.  I was lucky, caught early enough not to need any.

Cheers got picc line change and blood tests and then catcg up with doctor today . Going pitch my tent at hospital haha 

Hi it depends ehat chemo they hoing to give him . I had tingling fingers headaches upset stomach going yo toilet lots uuk and feeling weak 

Morning five0

Indeed side effects can vary person to person person dependant on treatment.

I was on a course of Hormone therapy (HT) before I started chemo, then had yet more hormone therapy a few weeks before the actual treatment.  I then had Docetaxel infusion (by cannula).  (HT to stop testosterone getting to cancer cells)

HT left me very fatigued and tired and I got a lot of hot flushes.

The chemo went well for the first session, but had constipation as a result of all of the steroids beforehand.  Then I began to feel very tired and got a lot of stabbing pains in my limbs for a few days.  No nausea at all fortunately and was able to eat and drink normally (but I am on a daily steroid - Prednisolone - as well).

Second session hit me harder strangely, felt like I had been hit by a bus!! So fatigue and pain again (and paracetamol!).

By the third session I was getting a lot of tingling in my fingertips and my nails started to go a strange colour - mentioned to my Oncologist and they dropped the dose to 80% from fourth session.  This is Peripheral Neuropathy and something to watch out for as the nerves at the fingertips can be damaged.  Mine seem to be coming back a bit now, and I can do buttons up but still seem a little clumsy at times picking things up...

Fourth to sixth went the same way - however I did find that the "good " week got shorter and shorter and the effects kicked in quicker each time - a cumulative effect.

I had my infusion over 30 mins which was very quick considering it is toxic stuff, and I could see others who were there for hours.  The whole process took about an hour and a half for me.

I did get a very upset stomach (not nausea which was covered by tablets) which prevented me from sleeping for the first few nights and I did discuss with the team - who then gave me some antacid tablets which were brilliant, no problems afterward.

So - once on chemo, use the diary book and note everything down and discuss with your oncologist and with the infusion team on the day, use that opportunity to speak to them about anything which is worrying you.

I was also paranoid about temperature - mine fluctuated wildly - and I have a good in-ear digital thermometer. I did end up in A&E  and on the ward once due to a high temp (Sepsis is the potential issue here). I only had "spikes" for some unknown reason.

Other cumulative effects included brain fog (not helped by the HT), gaining weight ( HT again), loosing hair on head and body (Chemo and HT - my beard has stopped growing due to HT!).  HT also messes with your emotions on top of all of the other stuff.

Good luck with the session and the treatment - let us know how things are going.

And don't forget there is never a "daft" question - ASK it!!

Best wishes

KrisPy

nearly forgot - and lost my sense of taste! Very odd indeed.  I am enjoying food by smell and texture only at the moment, but hopeful of getting the taste back in due course.  Very strong tastes get registered and then dissipate - I get heat from spice but not the taste.