How did you feel after end of chemo?

the end of chemo is kind of like hitting a wall after you think you swerved the first one.

Suddenly we are at loose ends, the bounce back we had in between ends up declining because the cumulative effects of the chemo are still there. and while we don’t have the infusion we are still tired.and we don’t have those appts set.

I don’t think I ever went wooooo because yes radio still to do and I was still bald, and still had a sore mouth, and food was gah, and still achy and well just tired. But i tried doing more things outdoors, more walks when i could, I finished chemo late Dec, did radio in Dec/Jan  finished mid Jan.

and tbh, I felt reticent to climb a ladder until at least mid may. It is going to take time to get the chemicals out, and your body to start feeling less gah.!

but remember to tell your team of any on going side effects and try to enjoy the small things. I am on year 3 after and still have aches and letrozole was more aches, also be aware brands matter and if you have bad side effects tell them u need to change.

it also becomes less fraught after the first year, but welp no, we don’t go back to the eay it was before, but we go on and hopefully here can find people who get that

radiation was quick and mostly painless, get some good water based cream you got this

I actually feel a bit sad to hear this, Sansa35c942. I'm still undergoing treatment but this is such a contrast to what I've seen happen when someone finishes at my chemo unit. They ring the bell and everyone stops to gather round and clap and cheer and wish them well. Chemo is a really big deal that takes up so much of your life for a significant period of time and it would have been nice for someone at your unit to have acknowledged that you did that.

As for what's to come, it's understandable to want it to be all over with as soon as possible but when you feel ready, take a bit of time to give yourself a pat on the back for what you've achieved on getting through this phase and celebrate with your family before moving on to the next.

All the best to you and sincerely, well done! x 

Thanks for the reply. It really does help knowing others understand, and to help keep perspective. It was hard because chemo hadn't even been on the cards until after pathology came back in Jan after my mastectomy. Then I was upped from stage 2 to stage 3 due to spread and the plan changed from expecting just radio to add chemo and hormone therapy. 

I think just being able to get out and do more exercise and see people is really going to help now, especially with mood and more normality. Xx

Thanks for the reply and good to hear how supportive your unit is. My nurses have been so kind but changed from round to round depending on what room a chair was free in on the day. Only 10 chairs over 3 rooms. Reflecting, it has been similar at the end of each round and they are all so busy bless them. Thank you for the support. Xx 

I know how you feel I think. The nurses become very important to you but you are just one of many. My usual nurse wasn't on shift on my last chemo and that made me a little sad. 

There was a bell on the unit and towards the end I noticed that in 4 months I'd never heard it rung. That made me feel better because nobody would have persuaded me to ring it. I never felt end of chemo was an end it was just a step, one of a few! 

Good luck for the rest.

I totally understand how you feel, I was the same. I had chemo before surgery and although my lovely nurses asked if I wanted to ring the bell, I said no. I was very aware that some people on the ward were not as fortunate and were on chemo for the rest of their lives, It didn't feel right. 

After surgery, 18 targeted therapy injections, radiotherapy and 3 years of zometa infusions, at the end of the final infusion my nurse asked if I wanted to ring the bell, I explained why I was unsure and she that the first time you sit in the chair and the last time are the times you remember and it can help to make it feel final. I rang the bell, didn't feel ecstatic, but I did feel a sense of relief that it was all over, apart from 10 years of letrozole! Hope that helps and good luck withe rest of your treatment.

i was similar, at first they said radio and pills, but then it was chemo after onco test the best thing is when food starts to taste normal again. i wont go back to heavily processed tho when i was on chemo husband made pasta w ready made sauce disgusting it was

Hi Sansa35c942 

Whilst the nurses are always kind, my own unit is the sort of place where there are always people in the waiting room waiting for a chair. I have sat out there for almost 2 hours when things have got a bit backlogged. So I am not surprised there was no special recognition of it being your final session. I doubt if the nurses have anything flagging that for them anyway. I think the moving onto other treatments also takes away any sense of finality. It will take your body some weeks to recover but gradually you should feel more normal and hopefully put it all behind you. 

Some units have a bell to ring. Mine doesn’t and I don’t think I would want that, but I think it’s important to find some way to mark moving on from this phase to the next. After my chemo for my primary cancer finished (sadly I was metastatic and had more treatment the following year), we had a short holiday just before radiotherapy started as a way of celebrating a milestone. 

I am definitely looking forward to being able to go on holiday again! Xx

That is an interesting point Molly23 because I was talking to someone yesterday during treatment who is at an advanced stage in her journey and there were two bell rings while we were there. She said she hates it because she will never get to do that. It was pretty sobering.