Chemotherapy Support Thread

Thanks Robin

On and up for both of us. I’ll be back at Weightwatchers trying to undue all the harm I’ve just done (lol). 

Take care

love Karen x

1962KI

Hi Karen sorry to hear the chemo's proving a bit tough. I looked back on my notes and yes, week 2, food did taste like cardboard so I had extra hot chillies and curries. Even then the taste wasn't quite there and I lost a bit of weight as a result. I could smell things as I cooked a proper spag-bol from scratch and the smell of onions fried in butter and Oregano had my mouth watering. After we'd eaten it I asked if it was Ok, my hubby said delicious but I couldn't taste a thing! Taste came back by cycle 4 but I was still eating less than I used to. (No bad thing)

I suffered badly with nausea on day 8. My Oncologist said take my anti nausea pills from day 6 even if I didn't have  nausea and it worked. (So I took the pills for 5 days from day 6)

The chemo nurses gave me several bottles of antiseptic mouthwash to cope with the tongue ulcers which did get sore. I also found fizzy drinks irritated so stop drinking that.

I also had the constipation, for which I took Laxidol and diarrhoea a few days later (had Immodium to hand)

I still walked 3-5 miles every day, except for day 8 when I'd end up going back to bed. I think that's why I didn't have fatigue and muscle pain, just PN

Crikey, how did you manage to break your foot? Hope it's not too painful.

I'm about 10 weeks out of chemo and it's now a distant memory, except for the PN. My buzz-cut is coming on nicely and I'm happy to go au-natural. Had a few looks but if anyone questions me I'm happy to talk.

Big hugs, Barb xx

Hi Barb

Thanks for this, it’s useful to find out other people’s experiences, I certainly find them helpful.

Would you believe I broke my foot by standing on a small stone and going over on my foot. Taking stuff to the recycle bin in my own garden, whoever said recycling was good for you.

I’ll try adding chilli, see if anything improves .

Glad you’re through this, I can’t wait. Hopefully will all be over in less than eight weeks (fingers crossed).

Take care

love Karen X

Hello All

I felt that I needed to do something to recognise that I got through my six cycles of chemotherapy, to celebrate my love of nature and also to give a lasting legacy whatever my outcome may be.  I have arranged for six trees to be planted in a forest-may they flourish. 

Congratulations on finishing chemo and what a fab thing to do

love Karen x

Hi Karen,

I’m so sorry that chemo is throwing you a few curve balls at the moment. I finished chemo in January this year and found that cycles 2 and 5 were the worst ones for me. Luckily they were the only 2 cycles that I experienced sickness and diarrhoea.

I’m with you too about the bone pain. The Pelgraz injection after each cycle drove me mad. I ended up taking Oramorph for it. Luckily it only lasted about 3 days for me.

With regard to taste, I was given an excellent bit of advice by a lady over on the ovarian forum. Have you tried peach juice? I found it took the metallic taste away. I used to buy a tub of the ‘Nature Forests’ peaches and drink the juice. Very classy I know but it worked for me! If that doesn’t work, your GP can prescribe ‘Gelclair’.

I totally get what you say on the weight loss front too. I was on hormone inhibitors for 3 yrs after my primary surgery and put on 3 stone. When I came off the meds, I lost weight and got back into my favourite jeans. Fast forward to now and I’m putting the weight on again after my latest surgery. I’ve got a permanent colostomy, which I’m fine with, but my diet is back to being awful again. After 12 weeks, my body still can’t handle any tasty fruit or veg. The only healthy thing I can process is a banana!!!! Even though having a stoma has saved my life, I’m still upset that my digestive system doesn’t like chocolate either. I did think about going back to Slimming World but can just imagine the group leader’s expression if I told her that I’m unable to eat anything healthy lol. And every week it would be ‘never mind Liz, you’ve put on another 2 lbs’!!

As for my hair, I also had it shaved off week 2, after cycle 2. I was starting to model the ‘Friar Tuck’ look, which is never good lol. I also had my first re-growth shaved off again in March and it’s definitely coming back much thicker now. My eyebrows and eyelashes are better than ever too. If I want to feel glamorous, then I put my wig on. Otherwise I'm happy to potter about flaunting my new crew cut.

Fingers crossed cycle 3 is a little bit kinder to you. Just do what you need to do to get through chemo. If that means an extra Jaffa cake or 2, so be it. And look after that broken foot of yours! 

Take care,

Liz x

Sending you a big hug for tomorrow, Robin. Fingers crossed cycle 2 goes more smoothly for you and is less eventful.

Take care,

Liz x

Thanks Liz, I really appreciate the advice in your message, I’ll certainly give the peach juice a try. Also thanks for letting me know what medication I can get from the doctors, if I can ever find them (really think they’ve gone into hiding). Lol

Most of my hair has gone now, but I’ve just had my brother shave it again, as it was driving me nuts.

Good luck with your treatment.

love Karen xx

You did make me laugh with the comment about your doctors. I got a text from my surgery this morning offering me a telephone review to make sure I was receiving all the support I needed and that I was on the correct mediation following my cancer diagnosis this year. Hello???!!! They clearly haven’t noticed that I was diagnosed nearly 5 yrs ago. I’ve taken them up their offer just to see what they have to say.

Anyway I just wanted to say well done on shaving your hair off. It makes life so much easier and hubby is happy as we’re out of the door in 20 mins now, instead of the usual hour that used to include a lot of faffing around with the hair!

Take care,

Liz xx

Liz just to encourage you - wanted to say that Weight Watchers have a different ethos to Slimming World and you might find it more helpful. There’s no public declaration of weight lost or not, plus no food is considered a “sin” - instead you learn to eat what you like but to save points for it, and treats are part of it. It operates more on the glycemic index than SW does, I believe.