My first session of chemo I still managed to work as my body had not been bombarded with chemicals before and I was quite fit and healthy other than the cancer in my breast. Huge problems getting the bowels to work and loads of laxatives before finding the right amount to keep ticking over.
The 2nd chemo session not so easy. Knock on effect and energy levels plummeted and was no longer able to work. Sickness and diarrhea really awful.
The 3rd chemo the worst of all. Within 3 days of getting the chemo I got intense burning of the throat. A bit like having heartburn but at the back of the throat, and this happened Friday evening when no oncology nurses on duty and no one to get medical advice from until Monday morning. Everything I tried to eat or drink had no effect on the burning. Really simple remedy was told after bearing the pain and discomfort all weekend was to gargle with salt water, gargle with soluble aspirin and take gaviston and rennie remedies. Honestly, felt so wretched at one point, death seemed more appealing rather than continuing through this hell.
But 8 days after the chemo finally feel like the black cloud has lifted. Chemo has the effect of I can only describe like a Harry Potter Death Eater sucking the life blood out of you along with any remain joy left in your life. But was blessed today with a really dear friend who came to cut my lawn for me and tidy the garden and I sat out side some of the time and just felt lifted by spending time with a joyful person who sorted out plants and flowers for me and made everything look pretty. I know this is all temporary but it does make one question is this really the best way to tackle cancer when it very nearly kills you off in the process of get rid of it?
Spending time in the garden I found was really uplifting and really the best medicine of all.
