I was surprised today when I came into get my blood levels checked and meet with the doc to learn that my last chemo was scheduled to immediately follow. It certainly was smart to wait a week since I seem to have a lot more energy and I didn’t have to go through any of my usual ‘night before’ angst. The most problematic thing right now is the peripheral neuropathy in the feet and hands, and it looks like a sure thing that I may lose many of my nails. It ain’t pretty…and it hurts. It’s amazing how many things you can’t do without the use of your fingers. But then again, I will get a whole new set at some point, and maybe they will come back better than ever. So, everybody is telling me that I am through the worst of it because I’ve pretty much gotten all the side effects I am going to get from the chemo. That’s a good thing, since I think I got all of them! Now I am hoping that food will start to taste normal again; my hair will start to grow back, the pain in my feet and hands will subside; the reflux will go back to its regular amount. I have to wait until July to have the stents removed from my eyes – and at some point I am going to have to finish that nasty root canal. But basically, I am taking the next three weeks off to get some strength back. Then it’s on to 7 weeks of radiation and infusions of Herceptin every three weeks. No more steriods, no more Neulasta. I just have to get through the next three weeks of intestinal tsunamis and earthquakes from today’s concoction and I am hoping that much of the next six months of treatment should be tiring at the worst and annoying at best. So, I’m just gonna say it: chemo – I nail it.
I nailed it.
05 Tuesday May 2015
Posted Breast Cancer, chemotherapy, nail damage
in
I’m not sure where to start. There is so much going through my mind as I read your blog entry. You may not see it but you are accomplishing so much through this process, from further honing your narrative voice via blogging, to learning so much about who you really are and how connected you are to true self and your higher self. Wait, I guess they’re the same. And you get to see your work on yourself bear fruit insofar as you are able to really GO THROUGH this… Not around it or skid under it but through. And you know you have that connection to a higher power and to those who love you. Take it from one who struggles… You are NAILING this. XO
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so sorry Jodi that u are going through this. Sending positive energy and love your way xxoo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t believe all that you’ve had to go through! Now it is really time to put it behind you! The next months should be a breeze:-)
LikeLike
Hang in there! I’m on Taxol at the moment, five cycles in, and waiting for tye peripheral neuropathy to show up. So far nothing, but my onc said it generally develops later. You sound like you’ve had a lot to contend with. Hopefully that means the chemo is well and truly doing its job. I can relate to the watery eyes too…my lashes have disappeared now and my eyes water constantly! The things we have to go through, hey?
All the best with the remainder of chemo. Herceptin should be a breeze in comparison. I’ll be following your lead! I have rads in July and Herceptin until April ’16
LikeLike
Kate – hope the neuropathy stays away. I never imagined this would be so hard. Hope each day gets a little easier for you, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s started in my finger tips over the past couple of cycles. Bugger!!! I was hoping I’d somehow escape it. So far its just a bit of numbness, and my fingernails feel bruised and sore.
LikeLike