My cancer journey: side effects

If all goes according to plan, I’m half way through my chemotherapy! Treatment 4 is next week. I will be so glad when this is done; I’m terribly tired of being terribly tired. Fatigue, exhaustion, and just weakness are some of my daily challenges it seems.

Possibly my worst on-going side effect is “peripheral neuropathy”–tingling, numb fingers and toes. It isn’t debilitating (though the toes are affecting my balance a bit) but it’s ALL THE TIME. Especially when I want to sleep; sometimes then I just want to cut my feet off (well, not really). I hope this one will clear up after chemo stops. Sometimes it doesn’t which is a real fear.

During chemo cycle 2 I wound up in the hospital because of low platelets (transfusion) and white blood cells (given shots to stimulate production). The hospitalization had one interesting learning, which is that I felt fine despite having what the doctor described as “no immune system at all.” So I can’t just decide to go out if it’s the wrong time in the cycle–I could still be at risk for catching something. Starting with this past treatment, the doctor has reduced my chemo dosage slightly which seems to have made a positive difference.

After two battles with simply horrible constipation, I’ve made Miralax part of my typical day. Surprisingly tasteless so you can mix it in anything. Mostly I drink plain water now, just one of my changes in tastes since starting chemo. Every cycle I have a few days when just every kind of food and beverage sounds awful and I can barely bring myself to eat. I’ve lost about 40 pounds since the first of this year–which is good in its way.

My best side effects news is the ones I’m not having, though. Not having nausea (because I have no stomach, maybe?) and not having pain. Your prayers and good thoughts are certainly part of that!

Well, that’s it for now. Friday a blood draw, seeing my oncologist on Tuesday, chemo Wednesday, and pulmonary hypertension day on Thursday. Sigh.