“Pain”,
according to Merriam-Webster: “usually localized physical suffering associated
with bodily disorder (such as a disease or an injury)” …… Usually. Physical
suffering. I would add in mental suffering.
I
have talked a lot about how I have found an outlet as well as a source of
strength for my mental skirmishes with cancer. Joining - and participating - in
a support group has helped me tremendously. I will be forever grateful for the
compassion of people living with cancer. Their unselfish ability to be so
completely vulnerable around complete strangers, their willingness to be open
and honest with their inner demons and fears, and to be able to put this
terrifying experience into words. A beauty of cancer has been my introduction
to these fabulous people.
For
those of us keeping track: The American Cancer Society says the following are
possible side effects of chemotherapy: fatigue (and we are not talking “being
tired”), hair loss, easy bruising and bleeding, infection, anemia (low red
blood cell counts), nausea and vomiting, appetite changes, constipation,
diarrhea, mouth, tongue, and throat problems such as sores and pain with
swallowing, nerve and muscle problems such as numbness, tingling, and pain,
skin and nail changes such as dry skin and color change, urine and bladder
changes and kidney problems, weight changes, chemo brain, which can affect
concentration and focus, mood changes, changes in libido and sexual function,
fertility problems.
Geez,
you would have to have some tragic happen to you like CANCER in order to even
contemplate taking a “medication” with that many side effects. Right? Well,
welcome to the world of us living with cancer…..
For
many of us diagnosed with cancer, the drugs your medical team is telling you to
put into your body to hopefully save your life come with such ugly side effects
during treatment and possibly for the reminder of your life. These includes
developing secondary cancers and or death. Sounds scary doesn’t it? For some
it’s just too scary and they look for alternative routes of care. It’s a truly
individual choice. I respect others who have chosen another pathway against
cancer. I cheer modern medicine for searching for alternative methods to rid
the body of cancer cells. I yearn for them to land on an effective course of
treatment that does not include large doses of poison. It is why I am
participating in a clinical trial. I have hope.
And
the fun isn’t just during treatment. LiveStrong.com states late effects of
chemotherapy (long after treatment has concluded) include: fatigue, difficulty
with focused thinking (sometimes called chemo brain), early menopause, heart
problems, reduced lung capacity, kidney and urinary problems, nerve problems
such as numbness and tingling, bone and joint problems, muscle weakness, and of
course the dreaded secondary cancers.
I
experienced a good number of the “during chemo” side effects and I’ve talked
about them here while I was in treatment. The fatigue was and continues to be
tremendous. It’s not anything like being tired. Your whole self. Your body,
your mind, your spirit is fatigued. I have a new appreciation for the word
fatigue. And I still experience a good deal of issues from neuropathy in my
fingers.
Luckily,
modern medicine has medicine to counteract most of the side effects of
chemotherapy. The dreaded nausea, for example, can now be mostly controlled to
a great degree now a days with a bucket full of meds. I needed a journal and a
wife in order to keep up with my daily medicine regimen during chemo.
But
what happens to you "after chemo"? After the prescriptions have run
their course, after the weekly blood draws and doctor appointments? After the
hovering and comforting nurses aren’t there for you 24/7 via phone? What can
pop up years out of treatment as a result of chemotherapy - physically as well
as mentally? Clearly there is a whole host of side effects post treatment that
can crop up anytime during the remainder of your life. Please see above. Years
from now – and I pray I get there – I may have heart issues, for example, that
hopefully, someone will be smart enough to tie back to my previous chemotherapy
when determining a course of treatment.
I
would add one more side effect from "after chemotherapy" – Pain -
physical pain.
I
explore my pain and how I cope in Part Two…………
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