5 months of chemotherapy

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kamalokitty
kamalokitty Member Posts: 23
edited October 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I had the "best kind" of tumor, stage 1, no node involvement, clean margins, very, very small. And I still have to go through 16 rounds of chemo, Four "hard" over two months, and then the rest once a week for 12 weeks. I'm still reeling from the enormity of it, and yet my mind just wants to beat back the doubt and uncertainty and rah rah with the can do attitude. I am scared shitless.


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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited September 2017

    I was Stage IV from the get go and completed 5 months of weekly chemo at the end of May. It sucks but it's doable and it wasn't at all like I've seen on tv or movies. I did my 1st 5k during chemo and being bald wasn't so bad either, people are super nice to baldies. Check out some of the chemo threads like chemo in July, August, etc and and you see what to look out for.

    image

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  • Pei128
    Pei128 Member Posts: 31
    edited October 2017

    My mom will also go through about 5 months of chemo. She was also diagnosed with Stage IV from the start. She has just completed 1 month of chemo. Yay! Next monday, she visits the oncologist, then he will plan for her 2nd month of chemo. 1 month does seem to fly by very fast....

    Hang in there everyone!

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  • kamalokitty
    kamalokitty Member Posts: 23
    edited October 2017

    Today is my first infusion. I sat in the recliner and tried not to cry, but wasn't successful. The pharmacy screwed up and failed to deliver the Emend that I was supposed to take before chemo to combat nausea. I showed up anyway, and they had a sample to give me, so we waited an hour for that to work before starting in. I'm on the last bag of chemo medicine that takes an hour and a half to drip. I had a port placed yesterday. The surgery was fine, but the site is still a bit painful. So this all really sucks big time. I'm not a crier, and I know I should quit being a hero, and just yield to all of it. Instead I'm being weepy in this chair in front of all these other people. I am shopping for wigs on Amazon. So far, this infusion is already making me tired and light headed.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    sorry kamalokitty, the first infusion is often scary and it's ok to be upset. There are other difficult aspects of treatment but you'll get stronger too, it all seems to balance out. I'm hoping for easier treatments with little to zero SE's.

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited October 2017

    kk, it may take a while to sink in. Be patient with yourself. All you need to do right now is to show up:). Let the tears flow if they need to. Being scared is okay, too! It's part of getting to the other side. We all handle it differently, but you will get there. Try not to compare yourself to others. It helped me a lot to have my BFF by my side, while I was in the infusion room. The Am Cancer Society may have volunteers if you want someone to go with you! I think they also offer a free wig to chemo patients. Best wishes:).

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited October 2017

    Check with your insurance they should cover the cost of a wig. Mine did, 100%. Your MOs office should be able to direct you to a wig shop.

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