I have not been on here much of late, but thought it would be good to update you all on my cancer journey so far.
I have now finished 6 rounds of chemotherapy. In my case it was not as bad as I had feared in terms of side effects and I managed to eat and drink normally as well as get out walking with my dogs, and kept my social life going. It was disruptive in terms of keeping going with my hobbies as appointments, and feeling rough got in the way of regular activities.
I had peripheral neuropathy, but they reduced and then stopped the Paclitaxel to prevent long term damage and that has now resolved. I have found the fitting of the cannula for chemo one of the most challenging things, and there was lots of talk of fitting a PICC, but they never seemed to get that sorted (too much discussion and no consensus between departments) I have dreaded each chemo for that reason.
I lost all my hair and my identity and have been living with 4 different personas
Grace, the shy stay-at-home bald girl
Tracy, who is an animal lover and dog walker. She has long platinum blonde hair and wears a cap
Maude, is gregarious wearer of turbans
Lisa, looks just like me - she is a very good wig! People have said to me “well at least you haven’t lost your hair!” LOL
Not sure what the new me will look like, but my hair is definitely growing back since I stopped the Paclitaxel and so are my brows and lashes! YAY
Last week I started chemo-radiotherapy: 25 rounds of radio and cisplatin on week one and week 3
Last week was gruelling with chemo on Monday, and instead of lounging around at home resting in recovery, I had to get to the hospital, which for me was a 2 to 3 1/2 hour round trip plus 2 hours in the hospital. The radiographers are lovely however, and very amenable. They have altered appointments to the middle of the day to avoid rush hour. One day I was supposed to arrive at the hospital at 7.30 am!!!! This week has been much easier so far and I am already over 1/4 of the way through.
I am told I will have brachytherapy the week immediately after the last radio.
Hope my post is not too long winded, and that it maybe helps somone who has this ahead of them to see you can get through it all. It is tough, I won’t deny, but I am taking one day at a time. Currently ticking off each appointment on a list and having a minor celebration when I reach a weekend (feel like the weekends in radio are like little safe islands of peace and tranquility). I can definitely see the light at the end of the treatment tunnel now.
