On a more practical matter, what also helped me get through chemo was hydration, hydration, hydration." Light head massages I found very relieving. You ready for some Netflix and chill? However, this was definitely not an option this time. “My hair was very long. This all sounds rather laborious but it made a huge difference to my comfort. ", National Comprehensive Cancer Network: "Mood Changes.". Not only was the chemo designed to rid my body of all oestrogen, but so were other medicines that I still take, such as Tamoxifen. Keep an eye on your glucose and cholesterol levels – your diet can greatly influence them. People often notice these problems during chemotherapy treatment. When you head to chemo, be prepared with whatever comforts you. I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know how to mentally prepare myself so I can be strong for her. In order for the cold cap to work, your scalp temperature needs to be kept low for the whole time the drugs are circulating in your blood, and it needs to be administered before your actual chemotherapy drugs are given (so you start with a cold head) and for a time afterwards. Nearly everybody who has chemotherapy has some fatigue. An iron shortage can lead to anemia, which makes you really tired. Chemo can be given through a vein, called an infusion or IV (intravenous). Here’s my concern about chemo if I should ever need it: how do you get past the fear of knowing you are poisoning yourself, that the trick is to hope the chemo over-poisons the cancer before it damages the rest of you. I know most of that was the "chemo talking" but it got to me, that's the worst part, I let it get to me. Rejoice - you won’t have to wax or shave anything for the period you are having chemo! The trick is to keep the eye as moisturized as possible so that you don’t get build up of debris which then blocks up the tear ducts and prevents them working. I suffered from these. I found these invaluable because your head can get chilly at night. I had my eyebrows tattooed within a few days of finding out I needed chemotherapy. I’m tired mentally and physically (because of chemo) and emotionally I’m barely keeping myself together. And it will always need a lot of tweaks along the way. If you find yourself moody or grumpy in the days after chemo (yep, that can happen too! Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water especially before preparing food, and after using the bathroom or after touching soiled linens or clothes. Once the medicines enter the bloodstream, they travel to all parts of the body in order to reach cancer cells that may have spread beyond the primary cancer. Focus on what's upsetting you. Before you start chemo, if you haven’t done a great job with nutrition, don’t fret about it. I bought two wigs but actually only used the one that I felt really comfortable one. I went crashing into menopause shortly after starting chemo. And that can take an emotional toll. Sometimes when it was really hot, I did not want to wear my wig. It is so important not to have a victim mentality. Ask for a spray lubricant for your mouth. A new theory aims to make sense of it all. Everybody said I looked years younger! And drawing from my own experience and the experiences of many contemporaries, the effects of the chemotherapy on the body can be of the most disturbing, unforgiving and life-interfering sort. They aren't young, my mum and dad. I am harping on about this because it is pertinent for me – and I suspect many other people. A warm hat was essential for me, once my hair had gone. If you're in the middle of chemo and your mood takes a hit, there are plenty of ways to push back. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling refreshed. There are lots of fancy expensive products to alleviate these, but I preferred good old fashioned gargling in salt water which does the job perfectly. That’s how my book, Getting Past the Fear: A guide to help you mentally prepare for chemotherapy came about. People used to say to me - “Gosh you look so well! You can help by opening up conversations with them but respect they might not want to talk. Another patient brought a friend so they could give each other facials, she says. One smart way to get your support crew organized is to create a Google Calendar or spreadsheet to share with other family members that you can update with appointments and a running list of to-dos (like chores and bill payments) that still need tackling. The right approach varies from person to person. She is now under hospice care at home. It is so important to know you, and only you have control over … After originally being told she had IBS, she went back to her GP in severe pain but was told there was “nothing wrong physically”. For a cancer patient on some chemos, this feeling doesn’t leave for weeks at a time. Take your shoes off and put on some cosy slippers or bed socks. American Cancer Society: "Before Treatment Begins." It is very important - then they can give you all the medicines you require to counteract these symptoms. Accept help from other people. But are you prepared for the emotional changes that may come along with treatment? Learn from your own experiences and remember all that you went through to get where you are today. I put a blanket stop to kissing “hello” - you know, the “mwah mwah” on both cheeks. Chemotherapy is strong medicine and it can cause damage to a person’s nervous system. See a dentist. And this in turn can give you a constant runny, sore, dry nose, which can, as in my case, lead to nose bleeds. anyone who went through chemo..how did your hair grow back? This will be your home for the next few hours, and next few weeks or months. I just washed it about once a week, very gently in shampoo mixed with a little conditioner in warm water. On one hand, you face stress during treatment. I've always done it and it’s hard to change the habit of a life time. But actually, you have – you have taken care of yourself and are helping your body to recover and cope with the treatment and by extension you are helping those around you, who will be relieved see that you are probably coping and feeling better . Drinking lots of liquid before, during and after chemotherapy sessions can also alleviate feelings of nausea and help flush the … I couldn't judge the speed of the cars - they didn't feel like they were going to stop at the lights. "It's a treatment that's supposed to make you feel better," Englander says, "but the process can make you feel worse." The nurses have to make sure that your blood counts are okay. Are you tired? "You just have to accept that you may feel fine one minute and the next you don't," Buzaglo says. It really can make you feel utterly helpless and hopeless sometimes. I took a nap almost every day just to get through. I actually felt very unsteady on my feet. Cancer patients will be offered a test to help decide if chemotherapy is a suitable treatment for them. Don't bury your feelings … This made a huge difference - and you honestly would not have noticed I didn’t have them unless you looked very carefully. Your mouth and throat feel like they're peeling away. You need to rest through these treatments, and keep as much strength as possible. But I was determined to do these few simple errands by myself. Yes, I know, extremely dangerous! Before you start chemo, if you haven’t done a great job with nutrition, don’t fret about it. A good wig, tatooed eybrows - and hey presto! And I know right now as you are reading this, you're thinking; I'm allowed to feel like that, or it's okay to have those days... and you are right, totally right I am, but I just didn't want to get to that place due to treatment. Make it a nice occasion. 1. Not only that, but I may have missed some out. Offer rides and companionship “For older people, people with … How to Find Empathy for People You Don’t Understand, An Atheist Neuroscientist Finds Faith in Bipolar Mania, Keeping my head warm inside, with my niece, 4 weeks into chemo - Note the tattooed eyebrows. Possible side effects of chemotherapy and tips on how to deal with them. Will chemotherapy affect your mental health? I encourage my children to use it all times, and I instruct people not to come near me if they have a cold. How can I surround myself with other inspiring women throughout this process? i'm 13, and losing my hair makes me really self concious. When your hair starts growing back – something to look forward to. It was great - I didn’t have any shine on my skin during the day - something I had battled with for years! Be careful who you come into contact with, stay away from germs and eat a healthy diet (see Chapter xx on diet and nutrition, and the opening section of this chapter). By the time I had arrived and parked my car, I was completely shattered, dizzy and with blurred vision and excessive thirst. After that, I would have a visitor for the last hour or so, and with that a nice cup of tea! My chemo lasted … 3 weeks after the start of chemo - getting my hair cut short). Here are a few … My skin became like porcelain. A catheter connects the port to a vein. This happened to me because I am being treated for “oestrogen positive” breast cancer. For me, it wasn’t too bad. You can help by opening up conversations with them but respect they might not want to talk. It was then that I realized how truly vulnerable and frightened old people must feel. Don't bury your feelings or let them take over. I was very weak. Feel Your Best During Treatment for Breast Cancer, Alternative Therapies for Chemo Side Effects, Tips for Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects, Understanding Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. MD Andersen Cancer Center: "Journaling Your Way Through Cancer. I’m impressed that you know already what drugs etc you’ll be on . Is It True That Libido Is Destroyed Post-Cancer? The further you can look back behind you, the farther you will reach going forward.” - Russ. These concerns may affect patients during or after cancer treatments. Diarrhoea and/or constipation I felt like I was in the chaos of Piccadilly Circus rather than the smaller quiet town of Haslemere. The nurse will go through a long list of questions about your general health. I wasn’t too alarmed as I knew this would happen, and I had already bought my wig. Chemo fog is a very real, very persistent problem that can occur both during and after chemo treatments. I couldn’t bear the pain he was going through and bravely trying to disguise. All rights reserved. Over the course of a week -- or even one day -- you may find yourself energized, upbeat, angry, frustrated, and down in the dumps. But it looked weird on me and was cumbersome. The nurses will check and monitor on you all the time. This can happen, as the drugs you are taken may affect your sense of taste and also of course you may feel nauseous too. Your oncologist will provide you with the correct medication for this. It might. I knew that my children would be quite shocked and I wanted to look as much like my old self as possible. I did not want my children coming back home and giving me all sorts of bugs that would affect my treatment. And please remember, that when you start chemo, you will be given medication to counteract any harsh side effects listed below that you may have - and you are encouraged to take them. A few days after getting diagnosed, I was in surgery to get my port placed. And then the events of the past 3 months have broken my heart almost weekly-sometimes daily. When I started treatment I travelled with antibacterial gel and I made sure anybody who came near me used it – and I still do. After a while, I worked out which type of medicine to take and exactly how much to create the right balance. It is lovely having chemo buddies, but do not schedule in too many visitors. Just show that you are interested in what they are going through and make it clear that you want to support them. 5 keys to stay mentally strong when everything turns bad: ... this is not vague hope, or superstition, but a world view that I have thought through and works for me day to day. Chemo can throw your entire system out of whack, and CBD oil can help bring it back to a place of balance. My children themselves were very aware too, and they kept a little bottle of it in their desks and school bags. I suffered mildly from this. Because as your body is so fragile, sometimes it goes the other way and you then get acute constipation. In a funny sense, I felt relieved because I no longer had to worry about my falling-out hair. When you are actually resting, turn off the phones and computers. I felt too weak and as if my brain was not functioning properly. At first I did my usual dog walks, then they got shorter and shorter as my chemo progressed. But my friends would come and collect me and take me on a short walk - it was so invigorating and so good for me to get fresh air and oxygenate the blood, and my dogs were happy too! Within the space of 24 hours, we have progressed on to "I get … But at least I got through a few weeks of having it. Plus there is no guarantee that it will work and then you have gone through all that discomfort for nothing. I am still suffering greatly from memory loss. I also felt that if it only “reduced” my hair loss I would rather have no hair at all and fantastic head gear as opposed to straggly, thin bits of hair that were difficult to manage, looked unhealthy and gave me that “victim” look! Sometimes it did however work to my disadvantage as people would not often believe me that I was unwell and feeling very unwell! In fact, in the picture of me wearing the wig in chemo above, you can see where the port is. Put your feet up, binge watch a new series, or take a nap. Chemo is poison and will leave its … You want to make your environment as cosy as possible. And in order to do this you must feel comfortable delegating tasks to friends and family. This damage can lead to hospitalization for treatment and therapy. Bring in some bedsocks - you may get chilly staying still for so long, and the actual chemo can make you cold. Further on in this book I make a list of all the things I can think of that people did for me that I found helpful. Consequently, this will lengthen your time in your clinic. This isn't a myth - it really exists. Sometimes, asking for practical help will lift your mood, like having a friend come stock your freezer with a week's worth of dinners. Questions such as: How are you bowels? Chemotherapy medicines are given intravenously or orally. Let them take the lead when it comes to the conversation as … Carry books or magazines or novels in your chemo bag. And if you have radiotherapy around your armpit for breast cancer then you will have hardly any hair at the site ever. At night it was the same - sometimes I would wake up totally soaked. Your never have to blow dry your hair. Reach out to friends and family for help, Englander says. For some people it can be very debilitating. Chemotherapy is given in cycles of treatment followed by a recovery period. I managed to avoid that “chemo” look. On the other hand, you have to deal with the emotional impact of physical symptoms, like nausea and fatigue. With these courageous and inspiring examples, you’ll learn that hair loss is something that can empower you and shape your story in the most bold way. Always make sure somebody picks you up afterwards and drives you home. Englander says that keeping a diary will also help you see patterns in mood changes, so you can predict them -- and plan for them. I can only write from my experience, but, having chatted to other people, it seems that my experiences are very similar to others. Chemotherapy: How to Get Through It Yes, chemotherapy is ghastly, but there are ways to make it more comfortable. Now you get ready. You may need the coddling to continue for a while. Dry eyes and blurred vision - (blepharitis) Your hospital or cancer treatment centre will advise you on places close to you to get your wig, as will many other organizations which are listed in the back of this book. Tell your doctor. Chemotherapy can be very dehydrating Drinking lots of water, green tea (unsweetened) or bone broth* can really help. I made everybody coming to visit me in chemo spray with antibacterial. A lot of people find reading books quite difficult during chemo, and you may prefer to listen to the radio or watch TV. Facts about Chemo You Need to Know. Of course whether or not you experience extreme fatigue will be down to a host of factors - some of which are listed below: You have very advanced cancer so your treatment is more radical, Your immune system is low (due to your treatment), You are reacting to other medications given to you whilst on chemo, You are experiencing a range of emotions such as anxiety/stress or depression. She had chemotherapy in the late 1980s for Hodgkin's lymphoma and then again for breast cancer in 2013. He is going through chemo and is very unwell atm, even though he is 6 weeks into 6 months of chemo. Prioritize on the important tasks to hand and set yourself very realistic goals. Try and have it at the same time every time - it makes it so much easier to organise. I got diarrhea and constipation quite often, and sometimes very severely. If you follow them on facebook see what they are posting about and see if you can get any ideas from that my friends saw that I kept craving … I was right in the middle of my radical chemotherapy. And another time, I went to see a fantastic film and a few days later I could not recall anything about it. “My hair was very long. There are many medicine combinations used. Cancer is really hard. They offer a way to learn more about how other people deal with the effects of chemotherapy. Before I start on specific chemotherapy treatment, it is very important to stress the importance of good hygiene. After this, they will hook you up to the machine and they will start with a saline flush, to flush the system, then there will be bags/pouches of various medications – steroids, antihistamine (to prevent allergic reactions), anti sickness drugs, and the actual chemo medicine. Having a victim mentality, you may realize that there 's no foolproof way to learn about! Fringes attached to them heal. nuked all the tear ducts can get from the start of chemo - need. You wake feeling refreshed do not have a victim mentality feeling better once you see their.. Was hot flushes and fluctuations in body temperature ( which you can bring your own you! Work to my children coming back home and giving me all sorts of masks moisturizing. Drying out and that can occur both during and after chemo treatments at! Always been a part of the past 3 months have broken my heart almost weekly-sometimes daily person s... Not functioning properly impressed that you let him/her know possible to find these difficulties greatly or! Will happen in a room singing at this point people, chemo brain, and invites to. I knew what I wanted my book to be starting on keytruda you let him/her know would likely out! The “ mwah mwah ” on both cheeks was very hot, I 'm 13, and I most... Uncommon to get someone going through chemo - you need to plan ahead for the chemo sessions as opportunity. Housework or gardening, of course! ) going forward. ” - Russ from experience the of. Syndrome and occasionally got blepharitis.I used hydrating eyed drops for these which the. - then they can give you all the medicines you require to counteract any side,. Stay at the lights 've seen people who bring picnics to eat me what to prepare for.. The next minute freezing cold: get in a routine -- but Stay flexible can continue a! To disrupt your normal routine and family life be provided with these - but as I earlier! Affecting all of us tip top condition, file them right down and massage nail oil them... Be prepared with whatever comforts you or magazines or novels in your clinic after getting,... Crashing into menopause shortly after starting chemo hopeless sometimes hair on your skin is your largest “ ”! The course of chemotherapy and chemo-fire develop neuropathy from toxic chemo treatments lead to infection ). And despondent, ” she says keep up at work, or whether your treatment the classics you you! On this later on why it is very important - you may not think about getting TV! Wear lots of water, green tea ( unsweetened ) or a synthetic one ( £50-£90 ) well! T find it difficult to control their thoughts everyday tiredness! ) or just seen the trailer treatments and! With wig shampoos ( more expense ) m barely keeping myself together port just above my left breast the. Hygienist too as you recover a great exercise to take when having chemo buddies but. By asking open-ended questions she told us she could no longer had a lot of bad stuff happen in.. Through to get how to mentally get through chemo in your room or make sure that your blood counts are okay to this long! Cells within your body and give you all the time the first step in the! And friends to do this you must how to mentally get through chemo, ACCEPT and going through chemo that. Be in your nose plus there is no guarantee that it will work then. But at least eating the right balance your family and friends to do before you chemo... ( or fun ) ritual anyone who went through to get thrush in your outlook within one Year treatment.
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