Yippee - last chemo session done!!! I wore my red wig and my lippy and went in there giving cancer the finger in my own way!!! There is a bell on the desk to be rang as people have their last treatment - and I rang that bell with all my might - gave a couple of hoots and said I'm out of here. Lots of smiles from patients and nurses. Everyone is so great in there, the nurses and volunteers and maintenance staff. I met some wonderful people - bonded and shared stuff with other cancer patients and my friend Maureen had been with me every step of the way. So I can't say it was a bad experience - obviously I would rather have not been there but it is nothing to be afraid of - nothing hurts and the nurses are very caring and will do everything they can to make you comfortable - with the help of the great volunteers as well - warm blankets, juice or a drink of your preference (no gin and tonics of course) - you can eat your lunch - a great facility in Oshawa.
The pic line is out and I can't wait to have a long shower without trying to keep it dry by sticking my arm behind the curtain and scrubbing with one arm - one of the big things I missed.
Had the ice on my hands and feet again to try and protect the nails - apparently it blocks the chemo from hitting the ends of fingers and toes - however, I do see some lifting of my finger nails - but not too bad. Nurses tell me some people lose their nails altogether - another weird and wonderful side effect. So I am hoping I can hang on to my nails. Still hanging on to my eyebrows and eyelashes which has surprised me. Hopefully this last session want affect them. The hair should start growing back now - hopefully - can't wait to have the funky short spikey hair - will be fun to play. I have never had a short haircut in my life.
I am feeling strong at the moment - the steroids being responsible for that - they give them to you the day before chemo and two days afterwards - doubled the dose with this last three treatments 'cos it hits your body harder, so I guess by Thursday or Friday I will start to crash and I am certainly not looking forward to a month of feeling rotten again - but at least I know it is done.
Dr had a nutritionist stop by to see me today during my treatment because I have lost 20 lbs - I know 'silver lining eh' - however, they don't really like to see you losing weight because they need you to keep your strength and if you are not eating, then you are losing muscle mass etc. and depleting other things from your body, at the same time as the chemo is attacking everything as well. So they like you to eat lots of red meat, iron type veg etc. But when everything tastes like drywall it is hard to get excited about food. She told me to eat just the things I really like (who would want to eat things they didn't like - lol) - but for the most part nothing does it - everything tastes the same - weird.
Next milestone is the radiation and I am sure it will not be anything near as hard on the body. However, it is 6 weeks, 5 days a week, so I am sure it will be a strain travelling back and forth every day - but I will get through it.
Can't believe how the months are going by - I long for my normal life - but I have to tell myself that my health comes first and not to push myself too much, otherwise it will just take longer to get back to normal in the long run. So I plan on sleeping for the next 3 weeks and then I know I will slowly start to get my strength back.
Love all the support I have had from everyone - and want you to keep it up because it certainly lifts my spirits and let's me know I haven't been forgotten.
So I will keep posting as long as I feel I have something to say.
Love to all.
Jeaninne
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