Long term effects ?

Hi It’s soooo hot here I might melt! Glad to hear all had gone well with your treatment. Chemo and radiotherapy can have some after effects. I have some residual neuropathy in my fingers and toes. I was told it it hadn’t gone within 6 months or so I’d be stuck with it. It did lessen but didn’t go completely. I feel the cold a lot more than I did before chemo (so to be in shirts and T-shirt is actually really nice!) and I feel I’ve developed some arthritis type effects in my hands - my wrist clicks a lot when I knit certain stitches, my hands and fingers often feel achey and I do t have as much grip in them as I did. Some days are fine, others not so good. I’m not taking anything as it’s rarely painful enough to warrant it bout it’s definitely there. I mentioned it to my onc and the registrars ive seen but they weren’t really interested. Gynae is their specialism. They suggested it’s my age but I’m only just 59 and I definitely didn’t have these problems before. I’ve read some anecdotal evidence on the web that suggests chemo can aggravate or exacerbate arthritis. I recently had physio for bursitis in my shoulder and the physiotherapist said she’d heard similar stories and certainly didn’t dismiss me as I felt the doctors had. I may go to my GP and ask about vitamin B if it continues as certain b vitamins support the nervous system 

And yes, it’s not unusual to still be feeling tired at this stage. Keep well hydrated and pace yourself. If you’re struggling with fatigue then ask your GP to check your bloods in case you’re anaemia or have a vitamin deficiency. 

I think people often feel we should be “back to normal” when treatment ends but that’s rarely the case. I think we need to take care of ourselves, build up gradually and seek help where necessary. It’ll be interesting to hear what others think on this. 

Sending you lots of love and good wishes x

Hi , you know I tend to agree with Fairycake , here its still very early on since you had your treatment and although I didn't have chemo or radiotherapy my GP said its taken over 12 months for my body to start to maintain my weight and I do take vitamin d, zinc and c supplement for some defiency I have, maybe worth asking if there is anything that may help you from your medical team. 'Normal' hum not sure I know that yet for so long I wanted to get get to normal but realising that its a new normal I am going to have to get used too, plus a few other medical problems that are frustrating when they don't know why its happening they just know its happening but until they rule everything out then I feel very much in limbo so I understand your questions and again fairycake is right about getting bloods done just to rule out vitamin deficiency if there is then there is supplement to help and it may help your energy. But be gentle on yourself its still very early after treatment, I think people don't understand that we are all different and we react to treatment different some bounce back quickly some just need that little bit longer.

Sending you gentle hugs

Nearly forgot , I am currently in London and its hit 38 here on my watch and gone very muggy. Think a thunderstorms is on its way.

Hello Fairycake 

i have had 6 rounds of chemotherapy. 

I have been suffering with pain in my neck, shoulder. It started from shoulder and now is in lower back. 

It is worse at night and in the morning. I have never suffer with back pain but I feel it seems to be getting worse. 

It has been going on for over a month. I have been told by friends that it is the side effects of the treatment. 

I knew that I had a very bad knees but they also are worse than before. I have been advised to eat  fresh garlic every morning with water. This is good for inflammation. I have been taking that on regular basis. One of my friend advised me to start taking joint fuel capsules from the health shop. That is helping my knees a lot. I have only started about a week ago. 

My toes also feel funny and uncomfortable. 

At at times I feel very tired and depressed. I keep pushing myself to do things. I make sure I go for a half an hour walk every day. It is not always easy. I have to push myself to do things. When I finish walk I am exhausted and need to rest for a long time. 

Hope others will give some ideas about this subject and how they are overcoming these difficulties

lots of love

Rahman xxx

Hi Little Critter,

I didn't have chemo but I had radiotherapy and brachytherapy in September 2017.  I already had M.E. and fibromyalgia (over 20 years now) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, all of which are much worse now and I have never got back to how I felt before all the surgery and treatment, which wasn't great at the best of times but was certainly better than I feel these days.  I feel I have aged hugely in the last couple of years (I'm 63 now) and my aches and pains are far greater than they have ever been.  How much of this is down to the whole cancer thing or whether my other health issues would have progressed I will never know, but I struggle hugely these days sadly.  My hands are particularly bad too and never used to be but I thought that was more a problem after chemo than RT so not sure on that one! I don't tend to go to the G.P. these days except for prescription reviews as I don't really have one that I feel I can talk to, they keep changing!  

I hope you start to feel a bit improved soon, especially when this awful weather cools down!

Hugs, Lesley xx

Hello, a lot of what you say resonates with me because I am almost 8 months post surgery and am still having a lot of abdominal pain. I had brachytherapy in February and am still feeling the effects. I have no energy, not sleeping very well as I can’t lie on my side or front, my ankles are swelling which is very uncomfortable. Taking water tablets which have helped not not eliminated the issue. I’ve had a second scan and the doctors can’t seem to explain to my satisfaction why I’m not feeling better. I honestly thought by now I would be back to what I was before so I’m really struggling with this new normal. I tried going back to work but couldn’t manage even on reduced hours so I’m off again. Finding it hard. My GP has been very supportive and I’ve had lots of tests. I was vitamin D deficient so taking supplements as I can’t bear to be out in the sun when it’s this hot!

So yes do go and see you GP. Worth getting checked and explain your mood too

x

Hi everyone, thank you for your replies, very helpful and insightful, I thought you would all come up with some answers for me ! I suppose in the scheme of things when I think about it  the chemo did do some damage. Probably because I was neutropenic at the end of my 5 sessions (unable to have 6 because of the low blood count) After I posted yesterday I tried to think back to when this really started, I had a cold 4 weeks ago, 3 days later all gone, BUT when I think about it now it might have been a bit too much for my already compromised immune system ????????? perhaps it has triggered something, or just my body going into overdrive to try and fight of the cold bug ? I will follow your advice to make an appointment next week with my Nurse practitioner and have a chat, she is wonderful and has been very supportive, I shall ask her about blood tests. 

Thank you all once again and I will keep you posted, hope that wherever you are it is a bit cooler 

LC

XX