Post chemo recovery
Comments
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Hopefully the pain is justTeddyandBears_Mom said:8 weeks out - Strange neuropothy issues
I now have hair all over my head. Still have bald spots too but at least top, sides, back all have something. It is very soft and white.
Brows and lashes continue to fill in. Brows are white and short - right side way thicker than the left. My lashes are very short but I am putting mascara on for the heck of it. Makes a total mess but still fun. Thank goodness for QTips!
I have a marked improvement in my breathing and energy this week. I am now able to walk at a fast pace for 10 minutes. I met my goal. Now, my new goal is to try the elliptical this week. :-)
Also, over this last week, I used the cool cone dialator a couple of times. It worked well. So glad Chris shared that finding with us.
Neuropothy - My feet are "waking up" and my left foot is hurting now. The back of my heel feels like I am pulling the tendon apart when I stretch my foot. It aches off and on. And, my toes burn more. The ball of my foot aches if I stand up for an extended period of time. It seems like the pain would have been worse early on, not this far into my progress. My right foot isn't hurting at all. My right leg is still numb but doesn't hurt either. I have one finger on my right hand that hurts. My hand strength is better but still not what I would call strong. I'll take better! Improvement is what I want over time.
Something to note: I had a day where I had a huge sense of well being. I felt great spiritually, emotionally and physically. I'm generally an upbeat, positive person. And, before cancer I had a lot of days where I knew my world was awesome. It was nice to experience that feeling again. Life is good and well worth the fight to still be here. Every day is special.
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
Hopefully the pain is just the tail end of the neuropathy and will soon go away. Tomorrow will be ten weeks for me since my last chemo and I noticed a lot more energy between eight and nine weeks. For the past few nights I haven't taken any Percoset before going to bed - I had been taking half a pill for the pain in my left hip. I walked around outside this morning with Spunky, my little dog, and had no pain.
I'm so glad you're feeling better, Cindi! I think emotionally is just as important as physically.
Love,
Eldri
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Ladies, Thanks for yourEZLiving66 said:Hopefully the pain is just
Hopefully the pain is just the tail end of the neuropathy and will soon go away. Tomorrow will be ten weeks for me since my last chemo and I noticed a lot more energy between eight and nine weeks. For the past few nights I haven't taken any Percoset before going to bed - I had been taking half a pill for the pain in my left hip. I walked around outside this morning with Spunky, my little dog, and had no pain.
I'm so glad you're feeling better, Cindi! I think emotionally is just as important as physically.
Love,
Eldri
Ladies, Thanks for your replies. I'm glad I posted Gardena. I almost didn't because I wasn't sure I had enough info to help anyone. But then decided to share the feel good day since our emotional spirit is important too (Eldri!).
Eldri - so glad your body is finally getting over the chemo hit. I'm sure Spunky missed a healthy Mom! :-)
Nancy - take care of yourself and finish up strong!
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
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Of course we like to hear our friends joy.TeddyandBears_Mom said:Ladies, Thanks for your
Ladies, Thanks for your replies. I'm glad I posted Gardena. I almost didn't because I wasn't sure I had enough info to help anyone. But then decided to share the feel good day since our emotional spirit is important too (Eldri!).
Eldri - so glad your body is finally getting over the chemo hit. I'm sure Spunky missed a healthy Mom! :-)
Nancy - take care of yourself and finish up strong!
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
I use to say a quick prayer of thanks everyday for my perfect life, until it started to fall apart with my husbands health woes. Then I thought, I still have everything I had before, just in a not so perfect (to me) way. When I lost my husband, I wasn't sure anymore, but found peace and happiness again, then this. Well, sometimes I need to be put in my place and be able to feel real peace and happiness in the everyday minutes. I loved to hear you experience great feelings again. Hugs Nancy
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(((Nancy))) it gonna getunknown said:Of course we like to hear our friends joy.
I use to say a quick prayer of thanks everyday for my perfect life, until it started to fall apart with my husbands health woes. Then I thought, I still have everything I had before, just in a not so perfect (to me) way. When I lost my husband, I wasn't sure anymore, but found peace and happiness again, then this. Well, sometimes I need to be put in my place and be able to feel real peace and happiness in the everyday minutes. I loved to hear you experience great feelings again. Hugs Nancy
(((Nancy))) it gonna get better. Get those next two chemos in so your body can start to recover. Much peace and happiness to you!!
Love,
Eldri
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10 Weeks Post Chemo - NeuropothyEZLiving66 said:(((Nancy))) it gonna get
(((Nancy))) it gonna get better. Get those next two chemos in so your body can start to recover. Much peace and happiness to you!!
Love,
Eldri
Wow! Can't believe it has been 2.5 months already... Time does fly.
I posted this on another thread and decided it needed to be on this one...
My neuropothy is getting more painful now as my numbness is wearing off. My toes, heels and the top of my left foot hurts like crazy. I can't put any pressure on to top of my foot and stretching my achiles tendon really hurts. My legs are also more achy now. I have been using the elyptical instead of the brisk walking I was doing in hopes that would be easier on them but it doesn't seem to make a difference. On a good note: my breathing has improved a lot and I can go 20 minutes at 4.5 - 5.0 MPH. That is huge progress!
Also, I noticed that my feet get really cold at night when I'm in bed.
Other than the above, I'm feeling pretty good. Still have to rest in between stuff but my strength is returning.
Oh, my hair continues to grow but I can still see some scalp. My "used to be blond" hair is coming in very white on the sides and back and what looks to be black on top! I might end up looking like a reverse Oreo!! lol
Love and Hugs to All,
Cindi
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I'm 12 weeks out from my lastTeddyandBears_Mom said:10 Weeks Post Chemo - Neuropothy
Wow! Can't believe it has been 2.5 months already... Time does fly.
I posted this on another thread and decided it needed to be on this one...
My neuropothy is getting more painful now as my numbness is wearing off. My toes, heels and the top of my left foot hurts like crazy. I can't put any pressure on to top of my foot and stretching my achiles tendon really hurts. My legs are also more achy now. I have been using the elyptical instead of the brisk walking I was doing in hopes that would be easier on them but it doesn't seem to make a difference. On a good note: my breathing has improved a lot and I can go 20 minutes at 4.5 - 5.0 MPH. That is huge progress!
Also, I noticed that my feet get really cold at night when I'm in bed.
Other than the above, I'm feeling pretty good. Still have to rest in between stuff but my strength is returning.
Oh, my hair continues to grow but I can still see some scalp. My "used to be blond" hair is coming in very white on the sides and back and what looks to be black on top! I might end up looking like a reverse Oreo!! lol
Love and Hugs to All,
Cindi
I'm 12 weeks out from my last chemo. Cindi, LOL, at LEAST you're getting hair back on the top. Mine is coming in pure white and thick on the left side, white but much thinner on the right and I'm still bald on the top - kind of like male-pattern baldness - YIKES!!
So far not a lot of pain in my fingers but they're still pretty numb. Four of the fingernails on my right hand have come off - that hand is number than the left, and one nail on my left hand has come off so far. I think eventually, they will all fall off. My feet, especially my toes, are still numb but the feeling that needles are poking in them is, for the most part, gone. My feet are still freezing too - especially at night. It seems as it gets toward evening I get colder and colder. I started taking the L-Glutimine last week so I hope it helps with the neuropathy.
Do any of your joints still hurt? I'm still having pain in my left hip, again, especially at night. My stomach still has cramps and just about constant diarrhea. When do you have to go back to your doctor? Everytime I ask my doctor she says to wait for six months after chemo to see if it clears up on its own (in the meantime, I suffer). She also asks me if it seems to be getting better and, I guess it does. I'm not crawling around on the floor barfing and wetting my pants anymore - anything was better than what I was.
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EldriEZLiving66 said:I'm 12 weeks out from my last
I'm 12 weeks out from my last chemo. Cindi, LOL, at LEAST you're getting hair back on the top. Mine is coming in pure white and thick on the left side, white but much thinner on the right and I'm still bald on the top - kind of like male-pattern baldness - YIKES!!
So far not a lot of pain in my fingers but they're still pretty numb. Four of the fingernails on my right hand have come off - that hand is number than the left, and one nail on my left hand has come off so far. I think eventually, they will all fall off. My feet, especially my toes, are still numb but the feeling that needles are poking in them is, for the most part, gone. My feet are still freezing too - especially at night. It seems as it gets toward evening I get colder and colder. I started taking the L-Glutimine last week so I hope it helps with the neuropathy.
Do any of your joints still hurt? I'm still having pain in my left hip, again, especially at night. My stomach still has cramps and just about constant diarrhea. When do you have to go back to your doctor? Everytime I ask my doctor she says to wait for six months after chemo to see if it clears up on its own (in the meantime, I suffer). She also asks me if it seems to be getting better and, I guess it does. I'm not crawling around on the floor barfing and wetting my pants anymore - anything was better than what I was.
I still do have some joint pain off and on. Not bad though. Like you, in my hips and I was associating that to the excercise I'm doing. Not sure though... And, in some of my fingers too...
I see my surgeon April 1st. I saw my oncologist a couple of weeks ago. And, then I'm scheduled to see him again mid-April.
Sure hope you continue to make progress. AND, get hair on the top of your head!
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
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Post chemo/radiation12 weeks out
Hi, I am new to these discussion boards but thought I would chime in. Finished 6 months of chemo/radiation for stage IIIC endometrial cancer on Dec. 30.
I am feeling very good and a lot of energy now, except for weird intestinal things that come and go. Very interested to hear that many of you are having the same intestinal "burning" feelings and weird stomach issues on and off. I don't have radiation enteritis, but I certainly do feel like my intestines are not behaving normally yet. Would be interested in hearing more from others about this issue and what your doctor says about it. I swing between panicking that it's cancer returning and annoyance that it must be something I am eating. i also took some probiotics and wonder if it's making the situation worse. Thoughts? Anyone come up with a great diet post-chemo/radiiation?
Also, I wanted to share that at 12 weeks out, it finally looks like I actually have a head of hair. It's about 3/4 of an inch long all over my head. White/gray came in first then black, finer hair, so now it is salt and pepper. A far cry from my shoulder length blonde hair I had before all of this, and I can't wait till I hit about 4 1/2 -5 months when I can color it back to something that looks like me. Still, I'm happy to have hair that seems to be coming in.
I had to laugh about a poster being delighted to find a hair growing on her chin. I feel the same about hairs on my chin, or under my arms, or on my legs, or in the pelvic area. I guess about 9 weeks the chin hair came, and in the last two weeks my eyebrows suddenly rebounded (I never lost them completely), my eyelashes are regrowing near to normal, and i all of a sudden have hair growing on the other parts of my body. Very grateful to see it as I have been bald most of the time since last August.
Would be interested in hearing from other people who are post treatment and how they cope with the fear of cancer returning and what they do if they have aches and pains - do they run to the doctor or try to soldier on alone, and what's best?
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Hi Christine and welcome tochristine8822 said:Post chemo/radiation12 weeks out
Hi, I am new to these discussion boards but thought I would chime in. Finished 6 months of chemo/radiation for stage IIIC endometrial cancer on Dec. 30.
I am feeling very good and a lot of energy now, except for weird intestinal things that come and go. Very interested to hear that many of you are having the same intestinal "burning" feelings and weird stomach issues on and off. I don't have radiation enteritis, but I certainly do feel like my intestines are not behaving normally yet. Would be interested in hearing more from others about this issue and what your doctor says about it. I swing between panicking that it's cancer returning and annoyance that it must be something I am eating. i also took some probiotics and wonder if it's making the situation worse. Thoughts? Anyone come up with a great diet post-chemo/radiiation?
Also, I wanted to share that at 12 weeks out, it finally looks like I actually have a head of hair. It's about 3/4 of an inch long all over my head. White/gray came in first then black, finer hair, so now it is salt and pepper. A far cry from my shoulder length blonde hair I had before all of this, and I can't wait till I hit about 4 1/2 -5 months when I can color it back to something that looks like me. Still, I'm happy to have hair that seems to be coming in.
I had to laugh about a poster being delighted to find a hair growing on her chin. I feel the same about hairs on my chin, or under my arms, or on my legs, or in the pelvic area. I guess about 9 weeks the chin hair came, and in the last two weeks my eyebrows suddenly rebounded (I never lost them completely), my eyelashes are regrowing near to normal, and i all of a sudden have hair growing on the other parts of my body. Very grateful to see it as I have been bald most of the time since last August.
Would be interested in hearing from other people who are post treatment and how they cope with the fear of cancer returning and what they do if they have aches and pains - do they run to the doctor or try to soldier on alone, and what's best?
Hi Christine and welcome to the board!! I'm the lady who was so happy to see one chin hair - LOL! Now I'm back to plucking - ha ha!! I was afraid my hair wasn't coming back since at seven weeks after my last chemo, I was still bald. I had been given Taxotere which now carries the warning that it may cause permanent hair loss - YIKES!! However, right after that it started to come in although right about that time my left eyebrow fell off except for ONE long hair. I kind of did a comb over and drew the rest on to look like my right eyebrow that never fell out. Now my hair is about half an inch although there is still a bald spot about the size of a quarter next to my forehead on the top. I also cannot wait until I can magically turn my white hair into my favored blonde. I have four blonde wigs of various lengths so I'm well prepared when I go out into the world.
I only made it through three chemos and my oncologist said he never intended to do radiation (I was Stage II, Grade 3, UPSC) but I had every side effect listed except for mouth sores and death. My liver started to malfunction and my GP stopped the chemo for fear it would result in irreversible damage to my liver. But, I too, have continuing stomach problems. Did you have a CT scan before or after your treatment? When I had one, they found small pockets in my colon - diverticulosis, which can turn into diverticulitis, a very painful intestinal problem. Mine hasn't reached that point but my GP thought that was the cause of some pain in the left side. I also have major digestive problems - so bad that we canceled our trip to Florida. Most days I need to be within ten feet of a bathroom after I eat.
I know exactly what you mean about every little pain being associated with the cancer returning. I had some spotting one morning and called my oncologist right away to move up my three month checkup. He had his PA check me out and she found nothing although then she called me back to have me come in for the oncologist to check himself. He also found nothing and said they'd see me in three months. My GP put me on probiotics for my stomach but said some chemotherapy can cause permanent digestive problems (I sure hope not!!). It's been 14 weeks since my last chemo and I don't think my stomach problems are getting any better. As I'm typing thing I can "hear" my stomach trying to digest my half a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee. It's so loud, my husband has asked me what that noise is - LOL! I've been pretty careful about avoiding real spicy foods, milk and too many raw vegetables. I also try to not eat after 7:00 pm. I was hospitalized during chemo for esophageal erosion and I sometimes still get some pain for that although I'm off that presciption.
My worst left-over side effect is the neuropathy. Did you experience that from the chemo? I start physical therapy next week.
Let us know how you're doing. We welcome new faces to the club that nobody wants to belong to. There is usually somebody here who has gone through the same thing and can offer advice and encouragement.
Love,
Eldri
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Welcome Christine8822christine8822 said:Post chemo/radiation12 weeks out
Hi, I am new to these discussion boards but thought I would chime in. Finished 6 months of chemo/radiation for stage IIIC endometrial cancer on Dec. 30.
I am feeling very good and a lot of energy now, except for weird intestinal things that come and go. Very interested to hear that many of you are having the same intestinal "burning" feelings and weird stomach issues on and off. I don't have radiation enteritis, but I certainly do feel like my intestines are not behaving normally yet. Would be interested in hearing more from others about this issue and what your doctor says about it. I swing between panicking that it's cancer returning and annoyance that it must be something I am eating. i also took some probiotics and wonder if it's making the situation worse. Thoughts? Anyone come up with a great diet post-chemo/radiiation?
Also, I wanted to share that at 12 weeks out, it finally looks like I actually have a head of hair. It's about 3/4 of an inch long all over my head. White/gray came in first then black, finer hair, so now it is salt and pepper. A far cry from my shoulder length blonde hair I had before all of this, and I can't wait till I hit about 4 1/2 -5 months when I can color it back to something that looks like me. Still, I'm happy to have hair that seems to be coming in.
I had to laugh about a poster being delighted to find a hair growing on her chin. I feel the same about hairs on my chin, or under my arms, or on my legs, or in the pelvic area. I guess about 9 weeks the chin hair came, and in the last two weeks my eyebrows suddenly rebounded (I never lost them completely), my eyelashes are regrowing near to normal, and i all of a sudden have hair growing on the other parts of my body. Very grateful to see it as I have been bald most of the time since last August.
Would be interested in hearing from other people who are post treatment and how they cope with the fear of cancer returning and what they do if they have aches and pains - do they run to the doctor or try to soldier on alone, and what's best?
I'm glad you found this forum, such great people here. I too was diagnosed w 111C endometrial, but unlike you, I'm still in treatment -- I have completed 6 rounds of carbo/taxol and this week I start external beam radiation coupled w low dose cisplatin. And tho I don't have any diet suggestions I want to thank you for giving a time line on your hair returning. I'm four weeks out from my last carbo/taxol infusion and the hairs on my head that remained thru treatment have gotten longer but nothing else has come in. I'm missing sections of each eyebrow and my lashes are sparse... just when I'm feeling stronger than I have since I started this journey I look the most ill!
I find out today if my cisplatin/radiation starts tomorrow or next week - either way, I'm nervous about this phase of treatment. My onco team wanted me to start this protocol 2 weeks after frontline chemo but agreed to give me more time to get my strength back - I felt like I was on a conveyor belt of treatment getting my butt kicked at every corner. For me, chemo was painful, but it worked (at least so far!) Any guidance, recommendations, suggestions on the radiation process you (or anyone reading this) can give is greatly appreciated. All the best to us all~
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I so identify!christine8822 said:Post chemo/radiation12 weeks out
Hi, I am new to these discussion boards but thought I would chime in. Finished 6 months of chemo/radiation for stage IIIC endometrial cancer on Dec. 30.
I am feeling very good and a lot of energy now, except for weird intestinal things that come and go. Very interested to hear that many of you are having the same intestinal "burning" feelings and weird stomach issues on and off. I don't have radiation enteritis, but I certainly do feel like my intestines are not behaving normally yet. Would be interested in hearing more from others about this issue and what your doctor says about it. I swing between panicking that it's cancer returning and annoyance that it must be something I am eating. i also took some probiotics and wonder if it's making the situation worse. Thoughts? Anyone come up with a great diet post-chemo/radiiation?
Also, I wanted to share that at 12 weeks out, it finally looks like I actually have a head of hair. It's about 3/4 of an inch long all over my head. White/gray came in first then black, finer hair, so now it is salt and pepper. A far cry from my shoulder length blonde hair I had before all of this, and I can't wait till I hit about 4 1/2 -5 months when I can color it back to something that looks like me. Still, I'm happy to have hair that seems to be coming in.
I had to laugh about a poster being delighted to find a hair growing on her chin. I feel the same about hairs on my chin, or under my arms, or on my legs, or in the pelvic area. I guess about 9 weeks the chin hair came, and in the last two weeks my eyebrows suddenly rebounded (I never lost them completely), my eyelashes are regrowing near to normal, and i all of a sudden have hair growing on the other parts of my body. Very grateful to see it as I have been bald most of the time since last August.
Would be interested in hearing from other people who are post treatment and how they cope with the fear of cancer returning and what they do if they have aches and pains - do they run to the doctor or try to soldier on alone, and what's best?
Hi, Christine and welcome. I am right with you on the weird intestinal/stomach things. During chemo, I had intermittent pains in various places. My chemo ended mid-December last year, and those pains gradually diminished. Until... right after brachytherapy at the end of February, I came down with a kidney infection. I was prescribed Cipro and I had the same, if not more intense, kind of pains while I was on that and for a while after. I have been off of that for a couple of weeks, but ended up on heavy doses of anti-viral for another infection which I am just finishing up. I'm hoping after I am off all the drugs, I can get back to normal, but I suspect the intestinal/stomach issues might be something that I will just need to deal with. I noticed a difference after surgery (more gas pains, for example), so I suspect that that will be my new "normal".
I don't know what kind of issues you are having, but I have found that most of the time, massaging the area where I have a pain gets rid of it. I don't know if it moves gas around or stimulates the muscles to move or "uncramp" but it does seem to help.
I do take probiotics and I do feel it helps, but I did find that some probiotics made the bloating/gas worse. You may have to try a couple of different brands to see if that makes a difference for you.
Twelve weeks out from chemo, I also have enough hair to have a "look!" As far as other body hair, most began growing back about 5-6 weeks after chemo, same as my head hair, and my brows and eyelashes seem to be thicker than they were before. That last of the body hair to make an appearance was under my arms, and that has just started to grow in the last week or so.
As I am just 3 1/2 weeks out of treatment and have not had a follow-up scan yet, I am a little anxious about all of these little pains that pop up and I'm looking forward to a scan that confirms these are just some sort of weird digestive thing as there does seem to be a connection between the pains/gas and eating. Maybe too many cruciferous vegetables!
Chris
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I am 3CII with serous lesion,Gardena said:Welcome Christine8822
I'm glad you found this forum, such great people here. I too was diagnosed w 111C endometrial, but unlike you, I'm still in treatment -- I have completed 6 rounds of carbo/taxol and this week I start external beam radiation coupled w low dose cisplatin. And tho I don't have any diet suggestions I want to thank you for giving a time line on your hair returning. I'm four weeks out from my last carbo/taxol infusion and the hairs on my head that remained thru treatment have gotten longer but nothing else has come in. I'm missing sections of each eyebrow and my lashes are sparse... just when I'm feeling stronger than I have since I started this journey I look the most ill!
I find out today if my cisplatin/radiation starts tomorrow or next week - either way, I'm nervous about this phase of treatment. My onco team wanted me to start this protocol 2 weeks after frontline chemo but agreed to give me more time to get my strength back - I felt like I was on a conveyor belt of treatment getting my butt kicked at every corner. For me, chemo was painful, but it worked (at least so far!) Any guidance, recommendations, suggestions on the radiation process you (or anyone reading this) can give is greatly appreciated. All the best to us all~
I am 3CII with serous lesion, ext lympf and vasc invasion. After hysto I started with 28 rounds of rads with concurrent Cisplatin, had to skipped the last Cisplatin due to getting too emaciate, but finished the first 5. After 3 weeks off I started Doxil liposomal and Carboplatin and have one left that is postponed due to low platelets. Hope to get in this week, but amazingly they are fully booked.
Anyway you asked about recommendations. Since I had some heavy duty rads you may do much better than me, but the week after last Cisplatin was pretty bad for me with nausea and diarrhea, and none of the nausea drugs worked for me. I did find that even with nausea the worst thing was having an empty stomach, even eating a few bites actually improved the nausea, but since I had a long drive I often omitted eating as I was worried about having diarrhea on the way, but that was no good. I also did not drink enoigh while on the road fdor the same reason. But drinking a lot, addong a little lemon or something helped a lot.
I also had to rotate foods as what tasted ok one day made me throw up the next. This, hoever only lasted two weeks. If I had had someone cook for me and not having to drive so much I might not have had the same issues in other words, you may do just fine. Good luck with it and congratulatio9ns on finishing the first 6 rounds.
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Bluehyacinthbluehyacinth said:I am 3CII with serous lesion,
I am 3CII with serous lesion, ext lympf and vasc invasion. After hysto I started with 28 rounds of rads with concurrent Cisplatin, had to skipped the last Cisplatin due to getting too emaciate, but finished the first 5. After 3 weeks off I started Doxil liposomal and Carboplatin and have one left that is postponed due to low platelets. Hope to get in this week, but amazingly they are fully booked.
Anyway you asked about recommendations. Since I had some heavy duty rads you may do much better than me, but the week after last Cisplatin was pretty bad for me with nausea and diarrhea, and none of the nausea drugs worked for me. I did find that even with nausea the worst thing was having an empty stomach, even eating a few bites actually improved the nausea, but since I had a long drive I often omitted eating as I was worried about having diarrhea on the way, but that was no good. I also did not drink enoigh while on the road fdor the same reason. But drinking a lot, addong a little lemon or something helped a lot.
I also had to rotate foods as what tasted ok one day made me throw up the next. This, hoever only lasted two weeks. If I had had someone cook for me and not having to drive so much I might not have had the same issues in other words, you may do just fine. Good luck with it and congratulatio9ns on finishing the first 6 rounds.
Do you mind me asking what dose of cisplatin you were given? I was told I would be given low dose, which normally is 40mg, but because my post chemo scan showed NED the dose I'm getting is 25mg. Apparently low doses of cisplatin boost healthy cells and makes cancer cells (in my case, microscopic if at all present) more susceptible to the radiation. When I spoke to my onco nurse she thought I would not have a reaction to the cisplatin since I made it thru the carbo/taxol wo nausea (altho post chemo treatment I am experiencing slight nausea and indigestion). She said I would more than likely have more stomach /bowel issues from the radiation - and that the radiation team and the chemo team end up pointing fingers at the other as to who is to blame
One last note, I too have adominal pains -- some are consistent and others fleeting. Scares me it's cancer brewing but I don't want to live in fear. I will mention to my Dr, but w a clear scan, what is there to do?
I think this forum is so awesome and I appreciate everyone who posts and shares. I don't really talk about my dx w irl friends, so it's wonderful to have you all. Thanks for being here!
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Thanks for the timeline as to when things should start showing
Well I will have my last treatments this coming Wed. Thurs. Fri. and was wondering when things start growing again. Hopefully I will be able to have my treatments as I have a sinus infection but it is getting better each day. Guess we will see when I get to the clinic after blood test. I had read somewhere can't remember where(due to chemo brain) that it takes 5 weeks for your body to be rid of the chemo drugs. So many times I have had a pain in my body since finding out about the cancer and the first thought that comes to mind is that darn cancer growing some place else.
Thanks again Chris for the timeline. Will let you know after last treatment what body timeline I have.
Jerri
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I'm still in the thick ofgiggs100 said:Thanks for the timeline as to when things should start showing
Well I will have my last treatments this coming Wed. Thurs. Fri. and was wondering when things start growing again. Hopefully I will be able to have my treatments as I have a sinus infection but it is getting better each day. Guess we will see when I get to the clinic after blood test. I had read somewhere can't remember where(due to chemo brain) that it takes 5 weeks for your body to be rid of the chemo drugs. So many times I have had a pain in my body since finding out about the cancer and the first thought that comes to mind is that darn cancer growing some place else.
Thanks again Chris for the timeline. Will let you know after last treatment what body timeline I have.
Jerri
I'm still in the thick of treatment, only having two chemo so far. My next one is Monday. Someone asked about radiation. I had my radiation before chemo. 5 weeks of external and then 3 brachytherapy . Yes, it gave me stomach issues as chemo continues with some of that too. Though this week is pretty good. I'm looking for a return of it next week though. So far I have not had any problem with food tasting weird, but I will say my weigh fluxuates greatly, like by about 5 pounds either way last week. Has anyone else had that?
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I had the same thing with theSoup52 said:I'm still in the thick of
I'm still in the thick of treatment, only having two chemo so far. My next one is Monday. Someone asked about radiation. I had my radiation before chemo. 5 weeks of external and then 3 brachytherapy . Yes, it gave me stomach issues as chemo continues with some of that too. Though this week is pretty good. I'm looking for a return of it next week though. So far I have not had any problem with food tasting weird, but I will say my weigh fluxuates greatly, like by about 5 pounds either way last week. Has anyone else had that?
I had the same thing with the weight, Soup. It kind of depended on the diarhhea and if I could eat. I know I was dehydrated because my fingers would get all pruny. Then, all of a sudden my fingers would swell up and my ring which was falling off two days before would be stuck on. My feet and ankles would swell too and then look all bony - five or six pounds of fluid up and down. It took awhile after I was off chemo for it to stop. My GP thought part of it was my liver problems and low magnesium.
Good luck on your chemo on Monday!!
Love,
Eldri
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More about aches, pains and recovery
Hi, thanks so much to all for the posts. I think we have safely established that chemo and radiation do funny things to your digestive system. I love the poster's comment that " the radiation team and the chemo team end up pointing fingers at the other as to who is to blame".
Yesterday I happened to be driving near the cancer center where I had my treatment. I was thinking about what I'd posted here and so I just drove into the parking lot and went up to my oncolgist's office. He's not there on Mondays but his nurse is, and nobody else was there. We had a long talk. She told me that many endometrial cancer survivors have adhesions inside the colon and small intestines caused by the radiation. This causes weird intestinal issues that come and go or get better or worse, or cause pains various spots, but especially in the area where you had the radiation, in my case, on the right side. She took my hands and said, look, you can do this. just keep a journal of what you eat and how you feel and work with it, and you will be ok. try not to worry that every pain is cancer."
So I just wanted to pass that along. In addition to the 6 rounds of taxol/carbo July-December, I had the five weeks of radiation M-F, for a total of 25 doses, and it was strong - strong enough to kill the cancer in the lymph nodes I hope. Maybe digestive issues are a small price to pay for being healed.
Good luck to us all. Would love to hear any more stories about hair (ok, i'm shallow, so sue me) and when you lost what I call the "haunted" look in your eyes and face. I think that is starting to fade 12 weeks out, but i'm not positive. I feel like I've aged about 50 years since being diagnosed.
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christine8822christine8822 said:More about aches, pains and recovery
Hi, thanks so much to all for the posts. I think we have safely established that chemo and radiation do funny things to your digestive system. I love the poster's comment that " the radiation team and the chemo team end up pointing fingers at the other as to who is to blame".
Yesterday I happened to be driving near the cancer center where I had my treatment. I was thinking about what I'd posted here and so I just drove into the parking lot and went up to my oncolgist's office. He's not there on Mondays but his nurse is, and nobody else was there. We had a long talk. She told me that many endometrial cancer survivors have adhesions inside the colon and small intestines caused by the radiation. This causes weird intestinal issues that come and go or get better or worse, or cause pains various spots, but especially in the area where you had the radiation, in my case, on the right side. She took my hands and said, look, you can do this. just keep a journal of what you eat and how you feel and work with it, and you will be ok. try not to worry that every pain is cancer."
So I just wanted to pass that along. In addition to the 6 rounds of taxol/carbo July-December, I had the five weeks of radiation M-F, for a total of 25 doses, and it was strong - strong enough to kill the cancer in the lymph nodes I hope. Maybe digestive issues are a small price to pay for being healed.
Good luck to us all. Would love to hear any more stories about hair (ok, i'm shallow, so sue me) and when you lost what I call the "haunted" look in your eyes and face. I think that is starting to fade 12 weeks out, but i'm not positive. I feel like I've aged about 50 years since being diagnosed.
I am 13 weeks out from my last chemo. I always referred to my chemo look - no eyebrows, lashes or head hair as looking like ET. I do have my lashes and brows back. They aren't their normal length yet but at least the ET look is gone. And, they are not very dark yet either. My hair is completely covering my scalp now. It came back in white and black. So far, it is about 1/2 an inch long (or less). So, still waiting for it to get long enough to look like I'm a female. I agree, this does age us. But, hopefully our bodies will bounce back to our pre-cancer look. And, if not... at least give us our health back! I did not have the external radiation, only the brachytherapy. So, I don't have experience with the impacts. I can tell you though, that I still do get strange pains in my stomach and vaginal area once in a while. I'm still building my strength and have good days most of the time with a few days thrown in where I just don't feel like doing much. So, I rest a lot on those days... Neuropothy continues to be an issue in my feet and legs. And, hit harder about 2 months after I finished chemo.
My sister got me a FitBit for my birthday. Just started using it 3 days ago. It has been fun to see how much activity I do in a day. And, to my surprise, I am more active than I thought I was. I think it is going to be a good motivator to keep me moving. Kind of like having a contest all by yourself. lol
Like you, I'm looking forward to having my hair back. Still waiting to see if it is going to be curly. It was stick straight and blonde before chemo.
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
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Aah, to look female again!TeddyandBears_Mom said:christine8822
I am 13 weeks out from my last chemo. I always referred to my chemo look - no eyebrows, lashes or head hair as looking like ET. I do have my lashes and brows back. They aren't their normal length yet but at least the ET look is gone. And, they are not very dark yet either. My hair is completely covering my scalp now. It came back in white and black. So far, it is about 1/2 an inch long (or less). So, still waiting for it to get long enough to look like I'm a female. I agree, this does age us. But, hopefully our bodies will bounce back to our pre-cancer look. And, if not... at least give us our health back! I did not have the external radiation, only the brachytherapy. So, I don't have experience with the impacts. I can tell you though, that I still do get strange pains in my stomach and vaginal area once in a while. I'm still building my strength and have good days most of the time with a few days thrown in where I just don't feel like doing much. So, I rest a lot on those days... Neuropothy continues to be an issue in my feet and legs. And, hit harder about 2 months after I finished chemo.
My sister got me a FitBit for my birthday. Just started using it 3 days ago. It has been fun to see how much activity I do in a day. And, to my surprise, I am more active than I thought I was. I think it is going to be a good motivator to keep me moving. Kind of like having a contest all by yourself. lol
Like you, I'm looking forward to having my hair back. Still waiting to see if it is going to be curly. It was stick straight and blonde before chemo.
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
I smiled when I read that in your post. I was sitting waiting for my lunch at Panera last week, the server came from behind me and said "your lunch sir", and then quickly looked embarrassed when he saw I was a "ma'am". I just smiled and thanked him. I know I could wear makeup, usually my clothes are pretty female, but the back of the head is definately not girly. Hugs Nancy
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Nancy, I wish I was braveunknown said:Aah, to look female again!
I smiled when I read that in your post. I was sitting waiting for my lunch at Panera last week, the server came from behind me and said "your lunch sir", and then quickly looked embarrassed when he saw I was a "ma'am". I just smiled and thanked him. I know I could wear makeup, usually my clothes are pretty female, but the back of the head is definately not girly. Hugs Nancy
Nancy, I wish I was brave enough to go without covering my head like you and others do! I was able to do that walking my boys down the street. That was major for me. But, still haven't convinced myself to go to the store or beyond my street yet. I wear more makeup now than I did before chemo. Got used to putting eye liner on to compensate for the bald eye look! And, I just feel better about myself taking the time to do it.
I went to the dentist today and had to take my baseball cap off because it was in the way. (This cap has hair attached to it...) And, it didn't bother me to do so. Maybe I'm getting closer to a new reveal?! lol
Anyway, I'm happy to be alive, feeling pretty darn good and learning who I am in this new world of mine.
Love and Hugs,
Cindi
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