Chemotheraphy

[Adibah]

Has anyone really experience chemotheraphy? I'd like to know if it has any side-effects and if it is painful?

[PaulB]

My best friend is currently undergoing extensive, full blown Chemotherapy. It is not painful as such but you stand a chance to lose all your body hair as the Chemo destroys all rapid dividing cells. I could write an essay on the different side effects but, if I were you, I would google "Chemotherapy Side Effects" and read for yourself as you can then take it in more easily.

[Robinia]

I had very aggressive chemotherapy a long time ago & I too could write a book, but I know that treatments have improved since then having unfortunately witnessed friends & family going through it. A lot depends on what type of cancer is being treated & how soon it's been caught. I was very ill before I started chemo, so it was very hard, but for someone who is otherwise strong there may be very few side effects.( A friend only had slight hair loss & nausea ). The thing that hasn't changed, I'm sure, is the emotional turmoil & the fear, for the patient & their nearest & dearest. Nurses & doctors are better (or should be) equiped for this side of things, & there are many support groups around. For me the people who treated me as normally as possible were the best because I felt like an alien! All the best (& PaulB and your friend) & if I can help anymore I will try. This is an excellent site http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Home

[medico]

Cancerbacup.org is an excellent site that will tell you all you need to know. These days, we're quite good at looking after side effects and so on. It's what I do.

[bluedolphin]

Here is a true story about the guy in the bed beside me in hospital..I was about a week into my treatment and he was just about to start...the doctors came in and explained about the treatment and gave him two capsules...they then started to talk to me...suddenly the guy bolts out of the room and down to the toilet...throws up the capsules walks back into the ward and apologise to the doctor about not being able to stomach the medicine....oh dear that is a pity .... said the doctor coz those 2 capsules were anti nausea capsules....so the moral of the story is dont let ur head run away with u....I experienced hiccups and total loss of appetite, tiredness, loss of hair, dizziness, but no pain at all, regarding vomiting (if it does happen) best to let fling, dont fight it, the staff will cope...u feel much better after it. I found family friends and humour the best treatment of all. subscribe to some of the joke lists on the net and if ur in hospital get someone to print them out and get them into u.... I always found that there was someone in a worse state somewhere in the hospital than me!!!! So good luck.....

[PaulB]

Thanks Noddy, very kind x

[DTourer]

I had aggresive chemo for 6 months in 2005 Mar - Aug. From my recent experience no two people respond to treatment in the same way and circumstances surrounding diagnosis and the type of treatment are rarely the same. I lost all my hair including eye brows & eye lashes within 4 weeks, suffered with nausea, mouth ulcers and piles through out. My appetite became very suppressed, I lost my sense of taste but my sense of smell became acute. It was very draining, I managed to work as normal for the first 2 months then I had to take some time out as my blood cell count took longer to re-establish after each chemo session. The intravenous drug application is not painful just uncomfortable, but it is scary the first time. It easier by number 2. What I found harder was the phycological impact and how hard it was for those close to me. My hair has grown back now, my body re-established itself quite quickly and I'm in as good if not better health than before treatment combining cycling & running each week. There is a lot of medical support but I found speaking directly to other suffers was the best way of coping and confirming that you are not alone. It's tough but lifes worth fighting for. Good luck!!

[Adibah]

Thank you all....I did it and it was as you described. To look at myself in the mirror is frightening. I'm glad I have friends. Cried daily cos I was very sad I lost my hair. To have friends like all of you at least help me understand what to expect and I wasn't so nervous when it happened.

May God bless us all and help us perservere.