Chemo and the sun

Feelingalone74 said:

Ok thanks for the

Ok thanks for the replyJairoldi. I will definitely play it safe and avoid it as much as possible and cover up well when I have to be out. It's going to be so hard being it's summer but I definitely will do what is needed.

I'm so nervous about treatment starting in 1 week and how my body will react. It will be so hard to surrender myself to chemo treatment as right now I feel perfectly fine. But I know I have to find strength to get through it

Do u mind me asking what do they do if one gets bone pain? Does it last long?

 

Feelingalone, they did tell me to use sunscreen whenever I went outside.  Covering up is good, too. 

For the bone pain, often they recommend Claritin.  I've heard of people using Allegra.  You might ask them if there are any antihistamines you should not use, and then choose what works well for you - if you have it, which you may not.  Benadryl worked for me. Some people get bone pain from the chemo and some get it from the Neulasta/neupogen/or whatever if you have that to keep your blood counts up. Some don't have any bone pain.  My experience was that the bone pain seemed to concentrate itself in places where I'd had prior injuries, even though it had been decades since I'd broken a bone! Hot packs helped me, but the weather was cold then.  I'm not sure I'd want or need them in the summer!

You are strong and you can do this!

I don't remember being told to avoid the sun when I was getting Taxol, but I do remember that I was with Taxotere and they are in the same family of platinum based drugs. It's probably best to be a houseplant as much as you can this summer to be on the safe side. I went through chemo in the summer, too, but staying inside didn't bother me much because I really didn't feel up to my normal routine anyway. Just give yourself permission to focus on getting yourself through this by getting lots of rest and drinking lots and lots of water to flush the drugs and deal with the constipation. Everything else can wait till later or someone else can do it. 

BluebirdOne said:

For me the physical discomforts

were tough, but doable. Absolutely doable, but challenging. Nine months post chemo I am feeling pretty good. The psychological aspects have been much harder. Which surprised me, as I believe not enough emphasis or education is put on the longer term survival or shorter term non survival aspect of our cancer. So much is written about nausea, but not enough about   dealing emotionally with ourselves, our families, busy bodies, and those whom I really avoid, the “think positive” club. I find that they try to deny you the ability to accept your diagnosis for what it really is and think the cure is simply positive thinking. You will go through the chemo and/or radiation and be amazed at your physical ability to bounce back, but the every day emotional aspect can be much more challenging. Prepare yourself for that. I also have a son and daughter in law who never want to hear anything negative. Their attitude means I am affronted with family who never want to face the possibility I will die from this cancer. No discussion of what may be is allowed. So no deep discussion of feelings, long buried slights, or the absolute terror of dying from this cancer is allowed. That is almost worse than having no family at all. Almost to the day my one year anniversary of my diagnosis is here, I am at peace with what may come, I really live in the moment and am NED. I wish you much success in your treatment and hope the emotional aspects work for you as well. 

 

Denise

Denise,

I think many of our family members just can't face the what could happen possibilities. And, they can't really understand what we go through. No one can that hasn't been through it. This board is such a gift for us. We all get it. And, the support and ability to come here for just about everything helps close that supportive gap.

You are right, this is a subject not really discussed enough. It does get better over time. I think we come to a point where we do learn to live each day and put the what if in a box for the future - to be dealt with only if needed. At least that's how it is for me now. That doesn't mean that thoughts don't drift in and out from time to time. But, mostly I live with the possibility of a long life in mind.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Fridays Child said:

"Decadron glow" is not sunburn!

Just remembered something, Feelingalone.  A day or so after chemo you may have the "decadron glow" in which your face turns red and hot and feels like it's sunburned.  It will go away after a day or so.  I found 100% aloe gel to help with that.

Interesting, I never heard of that one.

Feelingalone74 said:

Denise,  I'm so glad to hear

Denise,  I'm so glad to hear that 9 months post-chemo that you're feeling pretty good! Most keep telling me the same as you that chemo is doable.. .so thankful for that and hope it holds true for me! My 1st treatment will likely begin next week.But I agree the emotional aspect is very difficult along with the uncertainties and what its. Everything does seemed to be placed on the physical role and little on  emotional roller coaster. I'm hoping physically I can get through the chemo but it's the emotional ride that I'm worried about. I know I'm going to have a very difficult time with losing my hair not looking like myself anymore  and as u said dealing with the absolute terror of dying. I know staying positive is key and tucking stuff in the other box when possible is a must but easier said than done. I too wish their was more support for the emotional challenges this poses.  It sounds like you've surrounded yourself with a good circle of support and don't let in those that might not be that helpful. I hope to do the same. I do think that it's so much harder for us going through all of this. As much as those supporting us want to cheer us on make sure we can't begin to understand what it's like emotionally.I did meet with a social worker at the center I'm going to but felt like she was more just there to listen and not offer support and guidance. . They also have a psychiatrist there that I may consider seeing to help me find strength emotionally.  

I'm so glad to hear that nine months out that you're at peace and  NEDI!!

You got this girl!

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement! 

Michelle 

 

In this order the effects of being diagnosed for me are: 1. Emotional distress, depression, etc. 2. Hair loss (see #1) 3. Chemo side effects 4. Surgery 5. Radiation 

Obviously, the shorter immediate physical effects of surgery, radiation and chemo were over quickly. The hair grew back, but I was bald or mostly hairless for 5-6 months. The emotional side is a daily struggle as we all come to terms with what is happening and what may happen. I can heal from surgery, chemo and radiation, I can grow my hair back, but the daily emotional toll all of the treatment, side effects and effort putting on a happy, positive face for others has been very difficult for me. I do consider myself very, very lucky to have this cancer, instead of others that are instant death sentences, difficult treatment, and debiliatating side effects. I consider myself lucky to have caught it so soon. I consider myself lucky because of the easy surgery, few lasting side effects and now NED. I know I am lucky, but the emotional toll keeps creeping up. I am having some deja vu about my initial dx time exactly one year ago, and it is freaking me out. If it continues I will seek professional help. In the end I feel like I can't complain knowing what others have gone through.  I hope to remain lucky! 

Denise