Thank you Nightengale...in all honesty I'm a total mess. And I am so scared. Your post has brought me so much hope.
My Goodwill
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Nightengale wrote on DaisyMae's wall
Hello DaisyMae. I am wishing you the very best today. I completed my chemo last August and am in remission and feeling completely normal today. So just keep your chin up!!! I learned that being young is a huge benefit in your fight. I felt crappy during my first couple of treatments but started to feel better as i grew accustomed to the experience. I'd love to answer any questions you might have!
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Nightengale wrote on msg31's wall
Just wanted to share a message of hope with you! I am 36 and was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the beginning of this year. After having completed 6 months of chemo i am now returning to normal life and enjoying great health. i have another good friend a bit younger than me who did was also diagnosed with the same thing last April and now after having completed her chemo is now also in good health. We are taking our kids out on a big sleigh ride next Friday night. There are lots of people who have walked this path and come out in great health on the other side. You are in good company!
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Nightengale started following
User: msg31
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Nightengale shared an experience
Celebration (Remission): I was declared "in remission" at the conclusion of the chemo treatment. This was so exciting for us. Now that it's over, it's hard to believe that it ever happened. Life is so normal again.
Things that comforted me through my journey are: 1-learning that one in three Americans gets cancer. You are in good company! 2-Sharing my experience with my family and community. Good people rallied around our family and supported us. People are so good and want to help. 3-Pray. Faith in God is the single biggest factor in my success. You don't need your doctor's or anyone else's permission to hope. He is there, He is listening, and you are in His capable hands. -
Nightengale shared an experience
Side Effects (Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)): Bloody noses, fatigue, nausea, and low white blood cell count were the side effects that i thought were not a big deal. Sensitivity to cold was kind of a pain. on days right after chemo, i learned to wear a stocking cap because i would get headaches if my head got a bit chilly. Now that the treatment is over, i still have some numbness and tingling in my fingers and toes. But i can still do everything including playing the violin and piano. I am told that this should heal, but it could take some time.
One piece of advice i would give is that you should make sure to flush your digestive system as much as possible. i always drank a ton of water daily. And every night i would take some miralax and metamucil. I really wanted to move everything out of my system as fast as possible and I think these measures helped. -
Nightengale shared an experience
Drug or Chemo Therapy (Chemotherapy): My chemo treatment (folefox) was a 6-month course. I came in every other week. At first I felt sick and tired. But as it went on, I actually started to feel more accustomed to the drugs. I contined to do practically everything that I would normally do. The worst part for me was being in the chemo suite. I felt generally yucky when the drugs were pumping into me. But I learned to just lay down and do my best to sleep through it.
The good news is chemo tolerable. The great news is that it is effective. That medicine just cleaned up my cancer so fast. In spite of the yucky moments, I am so completely grateful for chemotherapy. No matter how it makes you feel...remember that it is a GOOD THING!! Time to put on your big girl/boy pants and do what needs to be done!!! You can do it!!!!! Take courage!