Now that chemo is over, what can I expect?

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mom2greatkids
mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I took my last treatment Tuesday. I'm achy and fatigued today. I will remain on Avaistan for two years. What can I expect now? How long will it take for my body to recover from the chemo? While my last CA-125 was down to 14, I am still scared. I suppose that's normal. I have noticed that when I don't feel as well physically, I do not cope as well mentally. I guess everyone is that way.

What advice can anyone give me as I attempt to begin my life over. It's been on hold since my husband's death last April.

Thanks.

Carla

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  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #2
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    Carla
    Oh my heart ached when I read that your husband recently died and you are dealing with cancer treatment!!!

    Please don't think this is being glib. I highly recommend you read O. Carl Simonton's Getting Well Again. This book helped me understand the mind-body connection, the effect of stress on the body, and helped me to work through major stressors that might have contributed to my health problem, uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

    You will be in surveillence and need to be tuned into any changes in your body so you can tell your doctor.

    I continue to work hard at not being anxious (please lower your stress, Carla). It is hard now that we are not actively getting treatment. I felt kind of helpless. I work at eating healthy and exercising regularly. Another good read is Sirvan-Schreiber's Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life.

    Hang in there. I think your body will stabilize and you will enjoy a good quality of life after the challenges of chemo.

    My best to you. Mary Ann
  • JoAnnDK
    JoAnnDK Member Posts: 275
    #3
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    daisy366 said:

    Carla
    Oh my heart ached when I read that your husband recently died and you are dealing with cancer treatment!!!

    Please don't think this is being glib. I highly recommend you read O. Carl Simonton's Getting Well Again. This book helped me understand the mind-body connection, the effect of stress on the body, and helped me to work through major stressors that might have contributed to my health problem, uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

    You will be in surveillence and need to be tuned into any changes in your body so you can tell your doctor.

    I continue to work hard at not being anxious (please lower your stress, Carla). It is hard now that we are not actively getting treatment. I felt kind of helpless. I work at eating healthy and exercising regularly. Another good read is Sirvan-Schreiber's Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life.

    Hang in there. I think your body will stabilize and you will enjoy a good quality of life after the challenges of chemo.

    My best to you. Mary Ann

    life after chemo
    Carla, after chemo, I immediately started pelvic radiation which, in many ways, was almost worse than chemo. Once that was over, I was back to normal 4 months later, as good as I had ever been except for the neuropathy, which is still affecting every day of my life.

    So, chin up and look forward to a kind of normal in a few months.

    I am reading the Simonton book and WOW, such wonderful ideas.

    JoAnn
  • Mwee
    Mwee Member Posts: 1,338
    #4
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    Life in NED
    Congrats on entering this new phase. Yup, the fear is normal, but I think we all handle it differently. Since you're asking for advice... here's my 2 cents. Give yourself ample time for your body to recover from the chemo. As your body recovers, I think you'll find that your mind will clear also. Do the best you can at enjoying every day. When I start feeling sorry for myself, I don't have to look far to see how lucky I am. And, if you get overwhelmed, ask for help. Oh, you should start really feeling better in a couple of weeks and more like your "old self" in 3-6 months.
    (((HUGS))) Maria
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #5
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    Mwee said:

    Life in NED
    Congrats on entering this new phase. Yup, the fear is normal, but I think we all handle it differently. Since you're asking for advice... here's my 2 cents. Give yourself ample time for your body to recover from the chemo. As your body recovers, I think you'll find that your mind will clear also. Do the best you can at enjoying every day. When I start feeling sorry for myself, I don't have to look far to see how lucky I am. And, if you get overwhelmed, ask for help. Oh, you should start really feeling better in a couple of weeks and more like your "old self" in 3-6 months.
    (((HUGS))) Maria

    expect to be happy
    that it is done!!!!!!!!!!!!. You will be tired for a few months, so pace yourself. Don't try to do too much too fast. Take good care of yourself and try to eat healthy. Enjoy the dance...val
  • AnneBehymer
    AnneBehymer Member Posts: 738 Member
    #6
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    A new life
    I to have just finished my treatment and I am wondering the same thing. The fear is normal at least for me I was scared that without the chemo will the cancer come back, the chemo has been killing the cancer and now I am not getting the chemo. I have left post here and have gotten good advise and I also talked with my mom I now am just enjoying being in remission and that is what I am focusing on. We are starting a new life you can't go back to the way things were before you were told you have cancer because things change so much. I am looking forward to what God has for the new me I know I am not going to be able to go back to work because of the toll this took on my body and that I will be on social security and that is hard since I am only 45 wait tomorrow I will be 46 lol. But now I am looking at going back to school and taking a writting course I have always loved writting and I have had a few things published. I am looking forward to finally living my dream of becoming a writer I hope lol. Just dance for now and enjoy your remission you have earned it.

    Anne
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #7
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    Take it easy
    Carla,
    Congratulations! When I was at a hospital in Mexico receiving integrative treatment, there was a 30 year cancer survivor there, who had also received treatment there when he was fighting his disease. One of the wisest things anyone has said to me was by him: "After you finish treatment, rest for a year." I am sure that the timeframe for recovery varies from person to person, but his estimate was pretty accurate for me. I completed chemo in Feburary of 2010. My energy level was pretty limited for about a year. I was always relatively tired in the evenings. I was dealing with some new issues, that may have been triggered by the chemotherapy, Hashimoto's for one. If you find that your energy level flucutates, you may want to see if some other condition is affecting it. Once my Hashimoto's was treated, I had more energy, but the biggest change in energy I felt was after I had a root canal tooth pulled and had two cavitation this past March. I think having a low grade infection really saps your energy when you are trying to recover from treatment. I can't say how much the maintenance Avastin affected my energy level because I discontinued it around the same time that I was first receiving treatment or Hashimoto's. So although I attibute the fatigue to the Hashimoto's, it could be linked, at least in part, to the Avastin. Ther are a number of books out there and classes as well that can help you learn to manage your fears. It is scary coming out from under the security blanket of chemo, distasteful as it is, but it gets easier with time. Take care
  • kikz
    kikz Member Posts: 1,345 Member
    #8
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    Tethys41 said:

    Take it easy
    Carla,
    Congratulations! When I was at a hospital in Mexico receiving integrative treatment, there was a 30 year cancer survivor there, who had also received treatment there when he was fighting his disease. One of the wisest things anyone has said to me was by him: "After you finish treatment, rest for a year." I am sure that the timeframe for recovery varies from person to person, but his estimate was pretty accurate for me. I completed chemo in Feburary of 2010. My energy level was pretty limited for about a year. I was always relatively tired in the evenings. I was dealing with some new issues, that may have been triggered by the chemotherapy, Hashimoto's for one. If you find that your energy level flucutates, you may want to see if some other condition is affecting it. Once my Hashimoto's was treated, I had more energy, but the biggest change in energy I felt was after I had a root canal tooth pulled and had two cavitation this past March. I think having a low grade infection really saps your energy when you are trying to recover from treatment. I can't say how much the maintenance Avastin affected my energy level because I discontinued it around the same time that I was first receiving treatment or Hashimoto's. So although I attibute the fatigue to the Hashimoto's, it could be linked, at least in part, to the Avastin. Ther are a number of books out there and classes as well that can help you learn to manage your fears. It is scary coming out from under the security blanket of chemo, distasteful as it is, but it gets easier with time. Take care

    There will be aches, pains and fatigue
    but there will also be a feeling of such relief and happiness that you can move ahead and feel good. I am so happy every day because I feel good. I don't want to sound like a pollyanna but I am grateful to be alive. At times I am still amazed when I am driving down the road because I wasn't up to driving during most of my treatment. I like the feeling of independence when I go shopping or do anything by myself because for so long I had to have someone with me, even push me in a wheelchair. Life is good "right now" and that is a lot to be thankful for.

    I wish you the joy of recovery.

    Karen
  • carolyn45
    carolyn45 Member Posts: 100
    #9
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    kikz said:

    There will be aches, pains and fatigue
    but there will also be a feeling of such relief and happiness that you can move ahead and feel good. I am so happy every day because I feel good. I don't want to sound like a pollyanna but I am grateful to be alive. At times I am still amazed when I am driving down the road because I wasn't up to driving during most of my treatment. I like the feeling of independence when I go shopping or do anything by myself because for so long I had to have someone with me, even push me in a wheelchair. Life is good "right now" and that is a lot to be thankful for.

    I wish you the joy of recovery.

    Karen

    Take it easy!
    Don't expect too much out of yourself too fast. I liked Kate's idea of a year off. You'll have good days and not so good, but respect that your body has run a sort of marathon it was never intended to run, and you need to recover. You may find, as I did, that more negative feelings come up after treatment than during, as you'll finally have to space to process this enormous change in your life. My two cents worth would be to look at everything that arises, but don't attach to any of it. Every emotion or state will change, for sure, so welcome whatever comes. Sometimes a part of myself would feel like an angry, terror filled child, and I would try to welcome that part as a mother would tenderly welcome her child. There will be moments of such joy, too, just to be in remission and able to be "normal." Enjoy the ride as best you can, and keep us posted. Carolyn
  • Cafewoman53
    Cafewoman53 Member Posts: 735 Member
    #10
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    You have already gotten the best advice
    Rest and recover things will improve some faster than others. Do things to stengthen your mind and body and enjoy each and every day!
    Colleen
  • JoWin615
    JoWin615 Member Posts: 150 Member
    #11
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    Carla, thanks
    for allowing me to ride on the coattails of your post. I finished my treatments in June, and I, too, needed the same advice. Every response here has been super helpful. I am finding that as I recover, I am very fatigued, especially at night, followed by insomnia. Bummer!

    So sorry to hear about your husband. That is a double whammy - hope things get better for you soon.

    Jo
  • Susan777
    Susan777 Member Posts: 97 Member
    #12
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    I just finished Oct 6th
    I got a magazine called CURE. In it there was an article about the period after treatment called "Transition". There are a several symptoms during this period. Being scared because your "chemo blanket" as been taken away. Some people are very depressed. Some have anxiety that the cancer will return and fret over not seeing the Doctor as often as before. Some people want to forget that they ever had cancer and bury the emotions deep inside. A lot of people need some therapy during this time. Also anti depressants and anti anxiety meds. I think it is all normal and the support that we receive here and from family is what is helping me. I went to work yesterday for the first time in almost 6 months. I am still on state disability through January, but i wanted to go into the office for a few hours each day to try to be "normal" again. I was nervous and weepy on the way in....but once i got there and started on a few projects it wasnt so bad. Hang in there!
  • zarkapopovic
    zarkapopovic Member Posts: 30
    #13
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    Life After Chemo
    Hi Carla,

    I ended chemo in June and am on Avastin maintenance indefinitely. In that period I had an acute colon infection that was cleared up with 2000mg a day of antibiotics and my chemo brain seems to have subsided some. However, I had insomnia and started having hot flashes. Both are better now but were pretty bad. My neuropathy is a little better. I am now sleeping quite a bit more and don't know if it is from cumulative exhaustion or what. Every person heals at a different rate and my blood tests are nearly normal again. It has taken several months.

    I am taking B-6 for the neuropathy and some other supplements (no multivitamins because of the copper and metals in them) along with blood pressure meds to counteract the Avastin. I really need to incorporate more exercise and find something to do to keep busy. I notice that I struggle with being hopeful and feel scared a lot.

    I sort of agree that it may take a full year to move forward and to rebuild your system all depending on how healthy you were prior to chemo and what you eat now.

    Thanks for your post and know that there are many of us out here in the same boat. We can help each other move forward one step at a time.

    Zarka
  • Susan53
    Susan53 Member Posts: 178
    #14
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    Susan777 said:

    I just finished Oct 6th
    I got a magazine called CURE. In it there was an article about the period after treatment called "Transition". There are a several symptoms during this period. Being scared because your "chemo blanket" as been taken away. Some people are very depressed. Some have anxiety that the cancer will return and fret over not seeing the Doctor as often as before. Some people want to forget that they ever had cancer and bury the emotions deep inside. A lot of people need some therapy during this time. Also anti depressants and anti anxiety meds. I think it is all normal and the support that we receive here and from family is what is helping me. I went to work yesterday for the first time in almost 6 months. I am still on state disability through January, but i wanted to go into the office for a few hours each day to try to be "normal" again. I was nervous and weepy on the way in....but once i got there and started on a few projects it wasnt so bad. Hang in there!

    Good advice Susan
    I was having a very hard time with the fear, the sadness, the depression and lots of other things. I felt that I should be happy that there in NED and I found myself worrying more and more. It got to the point that I went to a counselor and have been working with her. I found myself reading the Livestrong book and found that all my feelings were very normal. Wow did that ever make me feel better that I wasn't crazy, the way that I was feeling. I don't know why I missed the information about after treatment ends and the emotional sides. I guess I would say read what ever you can about this emotional roller coaster after treatment. I am now 8 months post treatment and feeling better everyday mostly about myself. Please do not hesitate to see a counselor if you are experiencing problems dealing with your fears. One of my main issue is that I do not have a CA125 blood test as a marker. The doctor will do a ct/scan once a year, and see me every three months. He says listen to your body, which seems very hard for me since I really didn't feel anything wrong and I had 4 different types of cancer growing in my body. I find that I am working past the fear and trying to enjoy life as it is today. I remember reading the comment made by Nancy that she wished she didn't spend so much time worrying. I didn't know Nancy but I can wrap my head around that. Sorry for rambling. Your teal sister, Sharon

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