Chemotherapy sounds pretty nasty, doesn’t it? Well, to be honest, it is. It requires strength, of both, the body and the mind, but it is bearable.
I have the procedure every three weeks. I had my second two weeks ago, so there’s four left. I had another type of chemo two years ago, but this time it feels very much different. Every time I drive 300 km to get the medicine. Every time I drive back home another 300 km on the same day. I am grateful, that I am not alone on this journey. Every time I think positively and make my mind set that it is for the best and that I will be healthy in no time. I’m glad I’ve reached a level where I feel truly optimistic, without any traces of fear or desperation. I just feel calm, because the doctor I am with now is very caring and professional, and I also feel like I myself am doing everything I can to get better.
The nurses say, that every time the aftereffects of chemo might be different. They are, however, similar. They are treating me with the so called ‘red devil’, which is said to be especially bad for blood. The first time I felt slight nausea for a couple of days, the next morning after the chemo was like the worst hangover ever. A headache, nausea, thirst. I was, however, determined to go to work. And I did make it until around noon. But on the second day I managed to take a yoga class. Then after about a week my hair fell out. And visually the whole area, where the cancerous cells were located, looked much better. And then it was time to take the trip again. The second time I felt nausea on the same day, and felt exhausted after the journey. I fell asleep, and the next day nausea was still there, but I was blissfully resting at home. I slept a lot, because I couldn’t concentrate even on internet browsing. Couldn’t eat almost anything, apart from small sandwiches (no wheat though) with cheese. For the first time I slept for so long – at least 15 hours per day! And I meditated a lot. On the second day, I really did want to go to yoga, but it was still impossible because of nausea, fatigue and headache. I did go to the cinema, but even that was a bit too much. Again, I slept a lot. On the third day I felt better, and on the fourth I was able to go to work again. I remember the nurse saying, that some people feel these kind of symptoms for about a week or even two, and then it’s time for another chemo. I am glad my body takes it quite easily.
After the aftereffects are gone, I feel really great. I have a lot of energy, I want to go places, to see people, and I do. I exercise a lot (yoga is now my favorite, after a good session I feel like after a massage). I practice meditation, which helps me a lot to feel stable in my mind and my body. I feel at peace with people, I’ve noticed that I rarely feel angry or frustrated.
Have any of you had chemo? Was the experience similar at all?
