Positive Polly 3.0

Good morning Feather it’s great that you have got through your first week and before you know it you are at the end of your second week. I fully understand your point regarding reading through experiences from members on here and can remember feeling frightened to death of all these symptoms and side effects. My oncologist also did this long list of side effects I could possibly experience on my first appointment and I was petrified. One thing I was told was we don’t get all of them! If you get side effects they are usually gradual as the weeks pass. I kind of resented reading these experiences at first but realised they are important and members need this space to express reality that happened to them. As the lovely Nicola told me, those that don’t experience harsh symptoms would not probably feel the need to come on here. I suppose we cannot sugar coat cancer treatment. Where I eventually needed morphine for pain there were some that managed on alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol. It can be harsh but short and you do have good or bad days for a while. Even after all my treatment and months down the line you can still suddenly feel a pain that starts the worrisome cycle of fear and most were just unfounded and just post treatment niggles. Best to make sure though by keeping your team informed of any changes. Don’t forget that our imagination has a part to play in this but not to say we are making it up but stress has a lot to answer for. Great you are happy with your medical team and that’s a massive bonus!  Glad you are getting lots of support from people around you and before you know it it will be over. 
Julie

Feather 653

It is lovely to hear from you.  And please don't worry about not engaging with some of the posts, I think we all understand that at any given point we would rather not be aware of the potential pitfalls.  In the early days I couldn't even answer the phone when the hospital rang, I wanted to bury myself in a little nest and not hear or see anything, I was in complete denial.

I didn't have fluctuations in how I felt during treatment, so don't worry about the chemo/radiotherapy not doing its job.  What I did have was a strong reaction to my first dose of chemo (I had six months of systemic chemo first) and the second lot was cancelled until my liver levels recovered.  Thereafter I only had 75% of the dose, but my oncologist was totally unconcerned about it and said the body can sometimes have a knee jerk reaction, so perhaps that has happened to you.

But I am full of admiration in how you are counting the positives!  Keeping that attitude will help see you through this and of course we are always here should you need support.

Irene xx

Hi Feather,

There's no need to feel you have to weigh in on each one! Folks are probably pretty tired of how often I do! 

First week down and you are off and running! There were certainly ups and downs in my progress but nothing major. 

It's interesting to gp back through my journals for that time period. In my head it's most wailing and hand-wringing, but when I read them, I held up better than I'd have thought possible and certainly better than I remember.

What a lovely thing, to get little Happy Posts from friends and supporters!

Keep powering through.

Hugs

Suz