*Finished* Chemo

oneandun

One years worth all together.

First taxotere (and something else) drip. Then on to Xeloda pills.

Any one have info about how long it took to get over the side effects? I would love to hear from a variety of people on their experiences with this, as I am getting impatient for rapid improvement and know it does not necessarily happen that way.

Last Xeloda @a month ago:

- My sensitive mouth has improved quite a bit. But still haven't dared to try black pepper or mint toothpaste yet.

- My skin has improved a bit, not as itchy/dry. etc. Still super sun sensitive. Rashes have improved "somewhat".- and at least, no knew rashes!

- I am STILL exhausted. This one's really disheartening, and I think I may be making myself *more* exhausted by letting it depress me.

- Still foggy brained. See above point.

-Stomach's pretty darn good. (yay!)

- Feet definitely "toughening up", but I'm gonna wait a spell before losing the socks or going in the pool/ocean.

- Finger nails feel like they are *beginning* to refasten. But not to the extent where I'd dare use 'em yet as a "tool" again like I used to. They still feel like they'd probably rip right off if I did that.

etc., etc., etc.

So how about it? Info on how long it took for your chemo side effects to go away?

Thanks.

momand2kids

Hi

it has been a while- but I started radiation after chemo- so felt extra tired-- but that lifted within the month after radiation-- then slowly I returned to myself- just took a couple of months-- but each day I remember small things got better--it was thrilling!! hair was growing back, toenails did the same... I tried to focus on the things that were getting better and tried hard to notice them--- sorry I don't have more detail-it has been many years!!! Congrats on the completion!!! You will be amazed but you will someday not remember most of it.

oneandun

momand2,

"......You will be amazed but you will someday not remember most of it."....

I KNOW that is true, cuz when I finished the taxotere drip, I was finally staring to get rid of the SE's a month and a half later. I was so excited! Actually threw out the hated "chemo food" and went on a shopping trip to get my favorite normal eats. The next week, the onc. told me I (unexpectedly) had to go back on chemo. I was gobsmacked. And for the first time in the whole process, I got depressed.

Knew I had go back to the grocery store and re-buy the dreaded chemo food and it took me Four.Days. to remember the crap I had been eating daily for months and months and had just stopped eating not even a week earlier..I had BLOCKED those chemo foods out of my memory!

I think part of my problem is part of me is still not over that false first start when the tax drip ended and I believed I was done.