1. You will get good days, bad days and ugly days I was always confused by what people ment to say, when they said they had a 'good day' after chemo. Whilst in the slow process of recovering from my third FEC I can tell you, for me, this means getting through the night with more than 3+ hours sleep, accomplishing the day without the severe nausea to the point where I can eat dry pasta and managing to go for a 30 minute walk within 5 days after my 'hit'. An ugly day is basically when you are so whacked you have to take four tries just to finish brushing your teeth in-between 30 minute breaks! 2. Chemo is like a very bad hangover The main reason for this, lays in the longevity of the 'recovery days'. You get sick, groggy, grumpy and tired for around 9 days before it begins to lift as oppose to 9 hours, then the fun of the 'lesser symptoms' start (Nail infections, mouth ulcers etc) 3. 40% Mind and 60% Matter on a 'good' chemo day I am a huge believer in PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). However, I have learnt the hard way that chemo is not all 'thinking positive'. I am telling you now, when you are feeling faint from brushing your teeth for too long or standing up over the sink, the longer you push through it, the worse you will feel in the short term. Listen to the early warning signs of your body, push through the minor and take it easy on the tasks you used to carry out without thinking. 4. Don't be lazy
After what is said above, It is important to note the days you are on the route onto recovery, as these are the days you can push your PMA and in the long term will make you feel so much better, both physically and mentally. One of the toughest parts of Chemo, is undoubtedly deliberating when you are strong enough to carry out these physical decisions. Learn to read yourself and know the difference between your body giving up or your fat arse that just can't be bothered to walk. 5. Appreciate your taste buds right now! Imagine loosing your taste buds for 10-12 days with the backdrop of gut wrenching nausea. I can honestly claim that the greatest pleasure in life, is nothing more than being able to taste and appreciate, real salted butter on half toasted bread, dipped into a free-range, runny sun-coloured yolk, with a dash of pepper. My first experience of this 9 days after my first FEC literally sent me to tears it was that freaking good! Knowing my taste buds will return is what gets me through to the next cycle. 6. Hair loss is as big a deal as you make it Yes it can be upsetting at first, but its just hair... It will grow back, stand up, be the cliche cancer patient and own your new found baldness. 7. Despite all of the above, it is not that bad Take each moment as it comes and don't think about how long you have left until the next cycle, or you may just lose the strength to make it through the next one. Tell your medical team if you are a sickly person, etc, before chemo so they can help make your life easier by giving you more tools to fight yourself with, once equipped for the struggle it gets so much easier. These people are here to help you, don't be the struggling hero. |
A ' no holds' page about my life with incurable advanced Breast Cancer, in the hope it will give a realistic, detailed account to other young women going through the unfortunate illness.
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September 2023
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