Life after Chemo

vanessamood

  It has been two years and a half since my chemo but it seems like life will never be the same.  I never feel 90% and it seems like it is one physical element after another. Am trying very hard not to get discouraged but it is  hard. Was always so healthy until this came along and am now declared NED. Thank you God but just was wondering if others are having  some physical problems also. Mine have been acid reflux, ears throbbing, tiredness, Bowel problems,stomach upset etc. Thanks for listening, just need to talk to others that understand and not feel alone. 

kimberly sue 63

I dont think any of us ever

I dont think any of us ever feel the same after going through chemo. My friends and family have constantly told me, "you have to find a new normal". Remember you are not alone!! Kim

NoTimeForCancer

First, isn't so wonderful to

First, isn't so wonderful to have a place and "talk" to others who have walked the same journey as you and understand without needing explanations?

Second, there are days I wonder what if I didn't have this?  I also think if it means no one else in my family ever has to go through this I will gladly carry this for them. 

Hang in there and find something to celebrate everyday.

Alexandra

Life after Chemo: Emphasis on Life

I don't know whether to blame my long-term side effects on hysterectomy (hernia, rectocele, adhesions), on surgical menopause (joint pain, weight gain, short-term memory loss, cognitive decline, vaginal dryness) or on chemo (peripheral neuropathy, fatigue) or on all of the above. The reality is 1) they decrease quality of life, 2) they are not going away any time soon and 3) they are of low priority to oncologists.

My late grandma used to say: If You Wake Up and You’re Not in Pain, You Know You’re Dead.

childofthestars

Alexandra said:

Life after Chemo: Emphasis on Life

I don't know whether to blame my long-term side effects on hysterectomy (hernia, rectocele, adhesions), on surgical menopause (joint pain, weight gain, short-term memory loss, cognitive decline, vaginal dryness) or on chemo (peripheral neuropathy, fatigue) or on all of the above. The reality is 1) they decrease quality of life, 2) they are not going away any time soon and 3) they are of low priority to oncologists.

My late grandma used to say: If You Wake Up and You’re Not in Pain, You Know You’re Dead.

Alexandra

I love your late grandmother's philosophy ) 

M

Susan P

Alexandra said:

Life after Chemo: Emphasis on Life

I don't know whether to blame my long-term side effects on hysterectomy (hernia, rectocele, adhesions), on surgical menopause (joint pain, weight gain, short-term memory loss, cognitive decline, vaginal dryness) or on chemo (peripheral neuropathy, fatigue) or on all of the above. The reality is 1) they decrease quality of life, 2) they are not going away any time soon and 3) they are of low priority to oncologists.

My late grandma used to say: If You Wake Up and You’re Not in Pain, You Know You’re Dead.

Life after Chemo

My last Chemo will be April 2 -- its been 2+ weeks since my most recent tx so I am feeling great right now --not to minimize anyone's experienceI am just so darned happy to be able to function  again!  12 yrars ago I had a severely disabling stroke  stilll cannot walk without cane nor use my left ar m at all - still paralyzed on the left--poor concentration - shot short term memory balance - attention & slow thinking proiblems stroke fatigue  etc--  I pretty well just described what c chemo does to us  I;'m physically weak & unsteady to begin with - so Chemo made it nearly imopossible for me to function with activities of daily living  stroke causes uncontinence  nerve signals to brain. I';m physically unable to use a toilet that does not have a right hand assist bar - we try to only go places where my husband can go in the bathroom with me - so going out the "high pee" days right was ater chemo was a no go

 

I'm 61 and have had 12 yearsa to deal with a life-changing event & create coping skills

 

I have been soo dependent on m yhusband the last year I have felt totally  useless & a real burdon  lots of depression & crying I've been feeling much better emotionally - knowing I will be able to regain the level of independce  I had at home before Chemo. Yes, I have quite bad neuropathy - for me mild pain & pohysical discomfort is manageable with mind over matter.  it's the emotional despair that was ruining what quality of life I had --couldn't keep up with church & quit ladies service group for the year --lonely year.

 

I'm solo happy & excited toi know that with no more txs for now I can at least enjoy life to the best that my disability wiill allow - it wasn't that bad  life.

 

there is no  going back to pre cancer we are different- maybe wiser- people now.  there will be emotional & physical residue from this for a long time - hopefully

& having a good quality of live with love ~ friends & family will be worth the leftover ukky stuff.

 

 

 

Susan  P

 

My favoirite quote " Be who you are ... say what you feel ... those that mind ... don't matter & those that matter ... won't mind" ... Dr Seuss

 

 

 

 

 

vanessamood

Susan P said:

Life after Chemo

My last Chemo will be April 2 -- its been 2+ weeks since my most recent tx so I am feeling great right now --not to minimize anyone's experienceI am just so darned happy to be able to function  again!  12 yrars ago I had a severely disabling stroke  stilll cannot walk without cane nor use my left ar m at all - still paralyzed on the left--poor concentration - shot short term memory balance - attention & slow thinking proiblems stroke fatigue  etc--  I pretty well just described what c chemo does to us  I;'m physically weak & unsteady to begin with - so Chemo made it nearly imopossible for me to function with activities of daily living  stroke causes uncontinence  nerve signals to brain. I';m physically unable to use a toilet that does not have a right hand assist bar - we try to only go places where my husband can go in the bathroom with me - so going out the "high pee" days right was ater chemo was a no go

 

I'm 61 and have had 12 yearsa to deal with a life-changing event & create coping skills

 

I have been soo dependent on m yhusband the last year I have felt totally  useless & a real burdon  lots of depression & crying I've been feeling much better emotionally - knowing I will be able to regain the level of independce  I had at home before Chemo. Yes, I have quite bad neuropathy - for me mild pain & pohysical discomfort is manageable with mind over matter.  it's the emotional despair that was ruining what quality of life I had --couldn't keep up with church & quit ladies service group for the year --lonely year.

 

I'm solo happy & excited toi know that with no more txs for now I can at least enjoy life to the best that my disability wiill allow - it wasn't that bad  life.

 

there is no  going back to pre cancer we are different- maybe wiser- people now.  there will be emotional & physical residue from this for a long time - hopefully

& having a good quality of live with love ~ friends & family will be worth the leftover ukky stuff.

 

 

 

Susan  P

 

My favoirite quote " Be who you are ... say what you feel ... those that mind ... don't matter & those that matter ... won't mind" ... Dr Seuss

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite quote

God, I do not ask you to make life easier but I ask you to give me the strength to face all my troubles.

Susan P

vanessamood said:

My favorite quote

God, I do not ask you to make life easier but I ask you to give me the strength to face all my troubles.

life after chemo

Vanessa -  fro m what I've read conmcern about "life after chemo is a rea lconcern for us - at my last tx the patient liasonRN/ soc ial worker gave me a bookl;et from the Canadia n canvcer society  titled "life after chemo"

 

some of the topics are on inimacy /sex & why our self esteem & body image prevent us from being comfortable with our partners. and how we will still have fatigue as our bodies try to r ecover from a year ( for me) of poisoning my body to kill cancer.

and as vain as it sounds

when we were going through treatment - we weere kind of the center of the universe - cards- concern- calls. sympathy- care etc  and all oi fthe sudden we are on our own bald scarredtrying to keep up with a normal life dealing with the neuropathyand all the other unseen residue.

 

there is a cancer wellness group in Calgary( 1 hr away) I have literature on it - one ongoing session/  deals with life after tx" would love to go - but I can't drive - due to stroke - that's one of the reasons this site is  a Godsend to me

 

even though I thank God I am where I am in this journey  I believe something I read that says you will never be where you were before dx & tx - I was glad to read that I' dealbetter with facts & want to have realistic expectations

time to reinvent ourselves to a new normal

 

I don't miss the chemo but the nurses & patients were kind of fun -I took my last Txs at a smasll center approx 20 chairs instead of the mega cancer center in Calgary

 

in summary it looks like this stage of the  journey isa normal and solmething else to deal wiith.

 

it is getting better & I am getting stronger when you consider I laid around for the better part of a year I sstill am regaing strength.

I've got to lower my expectations  of myself and live the best life I can with the chemo resisdue & my physical disabilities-- that's  just how it is & we willl get use to it - don't have to like it.

 

 

Best of luck,  Vannessa

 

Susan P from Alberta Canada & TX & WY

 

 

 

 

 

JoWin615

Alexandra said:

Life after Chemo: Emphasis on Life

I don't know whether to blame my long-term side effects on hysterectomy (hernia, rectocele, adhesions), on surgical menopause (joint pain, weight gain, short-term memory loss, cognitive decline, vaginal dryness) or on chemo (peripheral neuropathy, fatigue) or on all of the above. The reality is 1) they decrease quality of life, 2) they are not going away any time soon and 3) they are of low priority to oncologists.

My late grandma used to say: If You Wake Up and You’re Not in Pain, You Know You’re Dead.

Tee hee hee, Alexandra!

(There should be a "like" button on here).  I love your late grandmother. That saying begs to be cross-stitched!

Vanessa, I commiserate with you completely. There is an awful moment when chemo is done, and the end-of-chemo party is over, when you sit up and think, " Wait, what?"  As Susan P said, everyone around you thinks you should be instantly back to normal, when here you are - bald and feeling like crap. I, myself, have old age to add to Alexandra's list of things on which to blame my physical complaints. Oncologists are definitely not interested in that one!

Right now I am doing what we do best - waiting for my appointment this afternoon to find out if my latest scan shows a second recurrence. 

Cheers and good luck to us all. 

Jo

poopergirl14052

JoWin615 said:

Tee hee hee, Alexandra!

(There should be a "like" button on here).  I love your late grandmother. That saying begs to be cross-stitched!

Vanessa, I commiserate with you completely. There is an awful moment when chemo is done, and the end-of-chemo party is over, when you sit up and think, " Wait, what?"  As Susan P said, everyone around you thinks you should be instantly back to normal, when here you are - bald and feeling like crap. I, myself, have old age to add to Alexandra's list of things on which to blame my physical complaints. Oncologists are definitely not interested in that one!

Right now I am doing what we do best - waiting for my appointment this afternoon to find out if my latest scan shows a second recurrence. 

Cheers and good luck to us all. 

Jo

Chemo

.....never really had long life after chemo...three months then nine months...let me tell you I loved every minute of it! I needed to feel as I was part of something. unfortunately it didn't last. Chemo is my new normal now for the past three years....radiation also for six weeks last year. Dr. Said two more to go..then scans and " we. Will take it from there". Really praying I can get to have a nice long remission . This is normal for us..hubby says it beats the alternative .....stay strong...val