CHEMO EFFECTS ON A POSITIVE NOTE

katinsak69

Diagnosed with Stage 1, no nodes, triple negative bc in early November '09.  Had bilateral mastectomy w/reconstructon on 2/4/10.  Right side skin graft didn't take.  Contracted cellulitus from my drain tubes...had to go to emergency.  Another surgery to correct the right breast.  Port placement on 4/1/10. Started the first 4 sessions of chem (taxotere and cytoxan) on 4/5/10.  Yes I was frightened a first...absolutely normal.  Toward the end of the cytoxan, felt brief sinus pressure that went away pretty quickly.  That night, I was poised like the Karate Kid waiting for the big side effects.  Had a runny nose, some sneezing, a very slight possible nausea feeling.  Took a nausea pill and it was gone.

 Day 2, some slight stomach cramping, felt a little constipated, but that is IT so far.  I am amazed, lucky, blessed, or something.  There is hope, ladies.  Don't assume you'll have major side effects.  Do not overthink this chemo thing.  Treat it as if it were an annoying fly on your shoulder, then knock it off.  I cannot think of a more appropriate situation in which a positive attitude and a bit of apathy are not just cliche, but are mental tools that can really turn things around for you. 

jancie

How one's body reacts to chemo is so different from person to person.  I wish I was one of those that actually lost weight instead of gaining 30 lbs!

However, I was one that got pretty much every side effect that was out there plus some.  I ended up being allergic to 2 nausea medications.

I ask myself would I do chemo again if I needed to?  I don't know.  In May of this year I will be one year out of chemo but I still have side effects from it that keep me from having what I call a "normal" life - a life full of energy and being mentally sharp, having a vocabulary, being able to communicate with people, I don't even want to get into the sex issues associated with chemo because that is very depressing and something I was never warned about.

I am glad you had a great experience.  Mine was horrible in so many ways but on the "bright" side, it did shrink my 4 CM tumor down to absolutely nothing so I know my body reacts well to chemo.