Recovery after Chemotherapy

HI. It's been a while since I had my initial surgery and chemo. I think I went back to work a couple of months after chemo ended. I was on a phased return which was important for me, as I do remember feeling quite overwhelmed by the pace and intensity of the workplace. Having now had a lot of treatment, my advice would be to do your recovery properly - what ever that means for you. Listen to your body - it will let you know if you are overdoing things - and rest when you need to. The night sweats - do you think they may be down to having had a surgical menopause? I do remember getting frequent hot flushes / night sweats after chemo ended (I think chemo supresses them) which took a while to go. If you do go back full time, can you have things arranged so that you can take a step back in the afternoons when you might feel tired? That way you can monitor your energy levels/recovery time. It's about trying to find a balance between getting back to normality but also acknowledging what you have been through and its ongoing impact on you both physically and emotionally. Good luck!

My surgery was in October too, and last chemo in March, Carbo/taxol treatment

I too am thinking about the return to work, but waiting until I have my follow up oncology app which was cancelled on Tuesday past, and no app rescheduled yet, which is worrying me. Just go back when you are feeling less tired throughout the day, will you be on your feet much at work?

I have found no relief from the flushes, some days they are worse than others, last night was the first night I don't recall hurling the duvet off several times a night.  The gp gave me a medication that apparently helps but I only took it one day as it caused a very dry mouth and insomnia after one tablet.  The last 2 days I have been using a back rub full of essential oil and natural products and have noticed the flushes have been greatly reduced, something in the make up of that must be helping!!!  Apparently coffee, booze and other unhealthy nice things can contribute to the flushes, so it's a good idea to look into that. 

X

Sounds like you are in a similar place to me.

I think going into a full menopause following surgery has been really hard along with coping with the roller coaster of chemotherapy.

I hope your appointment comes through soon.

I had mine 2 weeks after last chemo,seems no real "normal" recovery period -everyone different.

Also told I'd need to adapt to the new normal for me!

I think Im just really impatient to get life back on track,definetly over did it on Saturday and paid the price the rest of the weekend!

Best of luck for your recovery

Got my appointment, 21st may, that's 11 weeks since last chemo which I'm worried about as in my head anything could be going on inside me since finishing treatment, but my gp said they would have left you so long if they thought there was any risk in doing so, so holding on to that in hope. 

The hot flushes are rotten, worse than the fatigue I think. I'm not going back to work until late summer, giving myself as much time as possible, if there was another household income I wouldn't bother but needs must

I hope you get back to 'normal' soon, and keep well in the future x

Hi

My experience was that the follow up was really a catch up,discussion regarding how things are now,follow up plan and ,probably most important to me, a discussion regarding genetic testing.Waiting 40 days now for results of BRCA screening!

I am planning phased return very slowly in early July

Still get bad days where i feel exhausted,twitchy and numb as during chemo but physically and mentally I'm much stronger.

Getting fed up of 4am wake ups with night sweats,I read an awful lot at night!

Take care and best of luck for a steady recovery!

Hi, I was told I'd get my bloods done, as after only one chemo my ca125 has been in normal range, and ct scan showed nothing, and would see the oncologist 6/8 weeks to see if everything was still good. It will be 11 weeks if the appointment isn't cancelled again.  For some reason I can't feel positive that the bloods will be ok, will know soon enough! 

I opted for the genetic testing too, was told it would be a 3 month wait for the result, that was on 21st Jan, still waiting, that's more nerve wrecking I think. 

I have read that turmeric with black pepper supplements is good for hot flushes, I'm not sure but willing to give it a go, nothing worse than tossing and turning roasted throughout the night is there? 

All the best for your return to work, and keep us informed of your recovery x 

Hi

I’ve just been catching up a bit on the site and read your message.

I hope your appointment went ok today. I’m thinking of you.

I have asked for someone to phone me at home with the results of yesterday’s MRI and CT as otherwise I have to wait and drive up next Tuesday not knowing if I will be continuing the trial I am on or not. I prefer to get whatever news in my own home than driving there and having to drive back on my own. My children would come but they have booked Tuesday and Wednesday off as should be my drug days.

X

Hi

I’ve just been catching up a bit on the site and read your message.

I hope your appointment went ok today. I’m thinking of you.

I have asked for someone to phone me at home with the results of yesterday’s MRI and CT as otherwise I have to wait and drive up next Tuesday not knowing if I will be continuing the trial I am on or not. I prefer to get whatever news in my own home than driving there and having to drive back on my own. My children would come but they have booked Tuesday and Wednesday off as should be my drug days.

X

Hi Sussex, I'm just home from my appointment, won't know the blood results until Friday, they will ring me, feel quite positive at the moment, despite testing positive for BRCA 1 which I found out last week. After today, if the tumour markers are still ok I will be getting reviewed by phone by a oncology nurse every 4 months roughly and will get the bloods done at drs a fortnight before the review. I will update on Friday.

I hope your results are good also, I'd much prefer to hear the results at home. Please update and let me know xx

Hi I just noticed you have joined brca 1 group.  I see you had a 1c ovarian cancer.  Mine was the same stage but in fallopian tube, was your hg serous?  Just had my 5th Carboplatin infusion, but have been here before so I keep telling myself I will get through.

best wishes to you Sue