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Starting immunotherapy Keytruda
Lung Cancer | Last Active: 11 hours ago | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
Hi @burdyblue, I thought I'd check in to see how you're doing. I think you are wise to journal your ups and downs the days/weeks after a chemo treatment so that you can prepare for the next round. That can help you to know when you'll have energy and when you'll want to have others take on caring for you. If you know those tough days are coming, be kind to yourself and let people care. I'm sure they want to help. Maybe they even would like to know how they can help. Some people are at a loss. Let them know you'd like them to do a load of laundry and how you like it done. You can still have sense of control in a constructive way, right?
You might appreciate this related discussion:
- What the heck? I don't like my situation. Mood swings during chemo
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-the-heck-i-dont-like-my-situation/
How are you doing today? Where are you in the treatment cycle?
Replies to "Hi @burdyblue, I thought I'd check in to see how you're doing. I think you are..."
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Thank you Colleen for asking. I would say I am doing fine on day 3 after my second round of chemo therapy last Monday. I'm on edge a little as it is day 4 and that's when my downturn began last time. Maybe not so bad as my oncologist reduced the dose a little bit for treatment #2 instead of changing to carboplatin.
Because I journaled my physical side effects, medication times and amounts, and even my diet, and my mental emotions, I think I can better gauge the effects perhaps. The one morning after round #1 on day 4 I woke up weeping for unknown reasons, but it was probably due to the mood effects from the steroid dexamethasone. I won't worry now as much if that happens again, just will pull myself together over tea or coffee or water to start off the day. I know how how to flip the meds time wise for anti nausea and when to just plop down in a chair to recoup, and then to get up to do just a little laundry when I can. And boy, does that pile up quick. Yes, my husband helps by doing the folding, the hardest part for me, and I was so grateful since as he was never accustomed to that. He has allowed me to advise him on how to cook for the first time really. Before, he didn't have to so he stayed out of the kitchen. I'm the better cook. Now, he has to play lead cook and grocery shopper and is rather proud of his new skills I think. I get in and out of the grocery store but he takes a long time perusing all the kinds of foods he didn't ever see before and he rather enjoys that. Cancer is a game changer for sure.
Right, it has given me a sense of control and more focus. At first diagnose and what to do, I felt like my life was out of control and I could not focus, was mad at all the phone calls I had to make with appts. Travel and wait times had taken over my life and I wasn't getting my work done in my art studio. So mad. But now that this process is happening, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and I am more relaxed even in spite of the nasty side effects. They will go away.
Thank you so much for your response and support. It feels good to have a place with others who understand. I will look up those related discussions you shared. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. —Burdyblue