Done with chemo

Denise1966
Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Friday they finally disconnected the 5fu pump from me for the 12th and final time. I never thought this day would come. They checked my CEA and it came back at .7 now I have to make an appt for my CT scan and I'm starting to get nervous already. I can't wait for my body to start getting back to my new normal...I'm ready to start exercising and feeling like I have energy....How long after the end of chemo does your body start to cooperate? It's funny my mind has great ideas but my body isn't ready for alot of them yet!!!

Comments

  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #2
    survivor
    Congratulations! I was so happy on the day of my last chemo treatment also. That was Oct 31st, 2007. It takes awhile to feel like your old self. I had my reversal 2 months after my last chemo treatment. That really slowed me down alot not the chemo. It is very normal after your treatment is done to be nervous and to feel depressed. Everyone worries what if the cancer comes back. There are some good books to read on this. I joined a support group which has been a Godsend. Please be easy on yourself, those of us who have went thru treatment have been thru alot. Give yourself alot of love, rest, your favorite foods. This is a long journey, after treatment ends starts a whole new journey. God bless.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #3
    Horray
    That's great news. I'm still in treatment but when I would stop chemo before an operation, my body came back after a few weeks. It was years since I did the 5FU stuff. I still have mild numb feet.
    Keep in mind that we are all unique (just like everyone else) so your body will bounce back when it's ready. Most likely it will be rather soon.
    Congrats, you made it over the first big hurdle!
    -p
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
    congratulations!
    Congratulations on finishing!

    Good luck to you as you resume exercising and getting back to "new normal", as you say. I you feel ready and up to it, I'd start exercising anytime. Start slowly, see how your body responds. I kept excercising throughout the chemo, when I felt up to it.

    My experience is that I can get pretty fit pretty quickly after chemo (a few months). But, it's not until about 6 months that I am really back to normal. However, "your mileage may vary". It's important to do things which you enjoy and which feel good and right to you.

    Tara
  • dixchi
    dixchi Member Posts: 431
    #5
    taraHK said:

    congratulations!
    Congratulations on finishing!

    Good luck to you as you resume exercising and getting back to "new normal", as you say. I you feel ready and up to it, I'd start exercising anytime. Start slowly, see how your body responds. I kept excercising throughout the chemo, when I felt up to it.

    My experience is that I can get pretty fit pretty quickly after chemo (a few months). But, it's not until about 6 months that I am really back to normal. However, "your mileage may vary". It's important to do things which you enjoy and which feel good and right to you.

    Tara

    Congrats
    ....it is a wonderful feeling, I know. I was told it would take about a year
    to really get to feeling my old self but I seem to be moving fairly quickly.
    Ended chemo Dec. 8 and already am back to walking and painted two rooms in
    my house and am not needing to take naps, etc. But it does depend on each
    individual......I didn't have the energy to exercise during chemo but now
    I am energetic.

    Barbara
  • keepnthefaith
    keepnthefaith Member Posts: 36
    #6
    I finished chemo in December
    I finished chemo in December and am back to working and doing pretty much everything I was doing before all this "mess" started. I think my energy level is still a little lacking but other than that I feel great. Congratulation on completing your chemo. I know how nerve racking that first CT scan afterward can be - I was nervous, but everything came out clean. I think the nervousness is probably just part of this whole process.
    Good luck to you.
    Felicia
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #7
    keepnthefaith said:

    I finished chemo in December
    I finished chemo in December and am back to working and doing pretty much everything I was doing before all this "mess" started. I think my energy level is still a little lacking but other than that I feel great. Congratulation on completing your chemo. I know how nerve racking that first CT scan afterward can be - I was nervous, but everything came out clean. I think the nervousness is probably just part of this whole process.
    Good luck to you.
    Felicia

    Me too soon.........
    3 weeks and 5 days and Im done....but whose counting...hehe....congratulations and God Bless
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    Buzzard said:

    Me too soon.........
    3 weeks and 5 days and Im done....but whose counting...hehe....congratulations and God Bless

    Awesome
    You have a reason to celebrate and take that time to do so. May you be Blessed with worry free days and loving people surrounding you always. Do something special for yourself because you deserve it. Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #9
    Fabulous news!
    That's wonderful, Denise! Here's to feeling like your new self VERY soon!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #10
    Congratulations!
    Yay! Done with the 12 rounds and no more pump! Ya done good!!!! It's going to be a while until your body cooperates with you; the same with your brain. You will feel fatigue quicker than you used to, even after everything is done with. However, once that chemo stops rampaging through your system, you will feel better each week. Remember to keep drinking lots of water.

    God bless you,
    Kirsten
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #11
    That's wonderful to
    That's wonderful to hear!

    Please don't get frustrated if it takes a while to get back to vigorous exercise. Or, at least with me it took 8 months. Then afer 12 months is when I really felt back to the new normal. Walking is good anytime.

    What I'm trying to say is don't be upset if you can't do what you used to for a while. You've been through a lot and don't expect your body to do what it used to at first.

    On the other hand, if your body does spring back faster.....that's wonderful, too! You are a "go getter"!

    congratulations
    Claudia
  • daydreamer110761
    daydreamer110761 Member Posts: 487 Member
    #12
    claud1951 said:

    That's wonderful to
    That's wonderful to hear!

    Please don't get frustrated if it takes a while to get back to vigorous exercise. Or, at least with me it took 8 months. Then afer 12 months is when I really felt back to the new normal. Walking is good anytime.

    What I'm trying to say is don't be upset if you can't do what you used to for a while. You've been through a lot and don't expect your body to do what it used to at first.

    On the other hand, if your body does spring back faster.....that's wonderful, too! You are a "go getter"!

    congratulations
    Claudia

    So great to hear!
    It must be a wonderful feeling to not have to go back next week for the pump! Glad to hear it. I can't wait!
  • qwe
    qwe Member Posts: 124
    #13
    daydreamer110761 said:

    So great to hear!
    It must be a wonderful feeling to not have to go back next week for the pump! Glad to hear it. I can't wait!

    Congratulations on
    Congratulations on finishing!

    I also have the pump and use 5Fu and I do radiations to I think
    I have 7 more treatments left.And 5 to 6 weeks later surgery.Then
    more Chemo and radi.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #14
    qwe said:

    Congratulations on
    Congratulations on finishing!

    I also have the pump and use 5Fu and I do radiations to I think
    I have 7 more treatments left.And 5 to 6 weeks later surgery.Then
    more Chemo and radi.

    But qwe......
    Think of it this way qwe...you have at most 17 treatments total and your done.... God Bless ya...
  • rrob
    rrob Member Posts: 158
    #15
    Congrats!
    Congratulations! What a great feeling to be finished. I finished my chemo last June, but it took me a while before I got my energy back. I started back to grad school a month after I finished my chemo. I was finishing classes I had to incomplete when I was dx'd and had to finish them before I lost the money I had already paid. I thought I would just bounce right back with no problem, but I found I would be falling asleep on the couch at around 7:00 every night. It's now 8 months later and I can last until 10:30 or 11:00 most nights! Just don't get frustrated if you can't go full steam ahead right away. Our bodies have been through a battle and need a chance to heal. So pamper yourself, take care of yourself, and let others keep helping until you have a chance to build back up slowly. Good luck and enjoy!

    Rebecca
  • rrob
    rrob Member Posts: 158
    #16
    Buzzard said:

    Me too soon.........
    3 weeks and 5 days and Im done....but whose counting...hehe....congratulations and God Bless

    Finish line
    Buzzard,

    The finish line is in sight! For my last chemo session, my nurses threw a little party. They got me a flashing tiara, a sash, flowers, a banner, and a poster, and when I walked in the door, they had the old song "I Will Survive" playing. It was a great celebration! Now, if you would like it, I'll be glad to send you my tiara and sash for your last chemo session! If not, I'll just be sending you my prayers and lots of happy thoughts! I think it would be great if we could start the tiara chain to pass along for the end of chemo. Think about it! If I can figure it out, I'll load a picture-I was laughing and crying all at the same time!

    Rebecca
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #17
    rrob said:

    Congrats!
    Congratulations! What a great feeling to be finished. I finished my chemo last June, but it took me a while before I got my energy back. I started back to grad school a month after I finished my chemo. I was finishing classes I had to incomplete when I was dx'd and had to finish them before I lost the money I had already paid. I thought I would just bounce right back with no problem, but I found I would be falling asleep on the couch at around 7:00 every night. It's now 8 months later and I can last until 10:30 or 11:00 most nights! Just don't get frustrated if you can't go full steam ahead right away. Our bodies have been through a battle and need a chance to heal. So pamper yourself, take care of yourself, and let others keep helping until you have a chance to build back up slowly. Good luck and enjoy!

    Rebecca

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Madre
    Madre Member Posts: 123
    #18
    Congrats!!!!
    Great news for you!! I finished chemo October 22, 2008, and went back to work 32 hours a week November 3, 2008. I was tired by the end of the day but it was a good tired. By Friday I was ready for the weekend. I had my scans in December - all clear. blood work in late January - all clear. So here it is almost the end of February and I work 2 jobs (20 hours at each) and I can do more around the house (laundry, deep cleaning) and I can stay awake later than 7:30pm. I get tired but i bounce back quicker. I currently have my first real cold but I'm handling it. Trust your doctor and yourself. I think your scan will be fine but I too was nervous. It's normal. Just listen to your body and don't be afraid to live a little.

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