About 45 days left for chemo

I have completed 5 rounds of the 8 of chemo and I will complete my 6th round tommrow. It looks like I'm 45 days out of completing all of the chemo and my last infusion is about 30 days away. While this seems like a short time, time for me has slowed down.  It is a blessing that I can work half time as this gives me the ability to move though time faster by having something to focus on. It is hard because I'm balancing my inability to work vs. ,when I feel stronger, boredom.  This is difficult as it seems that my ability is more varied during the two week cycle.  As an example, I had a 3 hour meeting last week and did not think to bring snacks. I was wiped at the end of the meeting and did not feel better until after I ate. 

In talking with my doctor, they are going to reduce the chemo drugs I'm on by 20% for the remaining three rounds. This is due to some of the cumulative side effects.  This won't affect my outcome. I'm also going to talk to some specialists as the process is starting to effect me mentally.


Side effects:


Physically:
It seems that the first few days after chemo are getting worse. I was weaker and could barely walk. I was vomiting and could not really do anything. After that the recovery seems to be getting better. Anemia seems to be not as bad. I'm walking on the treadmill. Both of my balls of my feet and toes are pretty much numb full time. I'm starting to get some tingling in my fingers. The cold sensitivity seems to decrease over time.

Mentally:
During the winter I'm more susceptible to depression and anxiety. Currently, these are really starting to get bad. I'm having bouts of crying and I'm anxious all of the time. Right now, my anxiety is based on the fact that I don't want to go to treatment tommrow.  I'm thinking that due to the stress of the treatments and my inability to exercise at the level I used to, I may need to be placed on some medication. I do see that the anti-nausea medication Aloxi somehow interacts with serotonin. This could be causing some of the issues. It may have a side effect with SSRI that needs to be watched. If there is anything that would interfere with the completion of the chemo course my mental health is currently the issue.

Comments

  1. Aunt AliceJanuary 22, 2019 at 6:15 PM

    Thanks for the update, Stephen. It sounds like you are in the home stretch for your chemo treatments. Congratulations. You are dealing with this significant challenge nobly and with fortitude. Again, I am humbled by your bravery and candidness. Please do not mistake serious emotional upheaval and your clear articulation of it as anything less than absolute strength. This is hard beyond comprehension for those of us who have not been through it. And yet you are still standing, albeit weakly or barely some days. Pace yourself, my dear nephew, one step at a time, just for today. I remain always a phone call, text message, email away. We love you to the moon and back.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rose MartiniJanuary 24, 2019 at 7:01 AM

    Please call Aunt Kathleen. She is waiting for your call. She has had experience with cancer & drug issues. She knows the problems with depression drugs & cancer drug. Again please call her

    ReplyDelete

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