Coping With Cancer Treatment
What are some ways for people to help me during my cancer treatment?
Some ways for people to help you during your cancer treatment could include things in your daily routine that people would be happy to help you with. They could pick up your children, maybe pick up some things for you at the grocery store when they're there. These are things that really aren't putting them out. So, you know with cleaning and your meds, when you have people that say is there anything they can do, take them up on it! Because I think it makes everyone feel better. They are happy to help you, and you certainly will need the help. Your energy will be low and you will need the help during your cancer treatment.
Is there anything I should not ask people to help me with while I'm battling cancer?
I don't think there is anything you should not ask people to help you with while you are battling cancer, I really don't. I can't think of anything. It would depend on your relationship, but hopefully you would have someone close enough to you that would help you. And if you weren't comfortable with that, then I don't know, maybe you can hire someone to do something.
What are the most challenging aspects of cancer treatment?
There are different challenging aspects of cancer treatment. It pretty much turns your whole world upside down. You are given some sort of a treatment plan, and you either have drugs and/or surgery. So there's the body's reaction to all of those things. There's the fatigue, sometimes nausea, constipation, or diarrhoea. There's so many physiological changes that go on. Depression from the drugs, and from the diagnosis. There's a lot of rough things to go through when you are having cancer treatment.
How painful is radiation?
How painful the radiation is would depend on the part of the body. Some parts of the body are very sensitive and delicate to radiation during cancer treatment. The pain for me wasn't as difficult as the inconvenience. You go everyday and that's difficult and exhausting. I was really fatigued after radiation for my cancer treatment.
How painful is chemotherapy?
I've been told that if you give 10 patients the same drug you will have 10 different reactions, so it would really depend on the individual how painful chemotherapy is. The common problems are nausea, fatigue, constipation, sometimes diarrhoea, and some people have an aversion to needles. So there's a whole spectrum of possibilities when having chemotherapy to treat your cancer. But I also see people who do very well and there's drugs for nausea, constipation and diarrhoea, so there's ways to treat mostly everything that you experience during your chemotherapy cancer treatment.
Does everyone experience nausea as a side effect to cancer treatment?
No, not everyone experiences nausea as a side effect of cancer treatment as not everyone has the same side effects. There are drugs for nausea, but overall it's just totally personal how you're going to react to the drugs that are part of your cancer treatment.
Will I experience nausea during chemotherapy?
Not everyone experiences nausea as a side effect from chemotherapy. But if you do, it's very possible it would be on the third day after chemotherapy because this is often the roughest. On the first day of chemotherapy you may have extra energy from the drugs they give you. Sleep might be rough, and then on about the third day it can be difficult. But it's different with every patient.
What kinds of foods are helpful during cancer treatment?
Food and nutrition are very important when undergoing cancer treatment. Some people have difficulty keeping things down, but there's always water and hydration is huge. It's really important, and so I suggest drinking as much water as you can all through the cancer treatment. And if you need protein, have some protein powder in a smoothie with lots of crunched up ice. And then a little bulk depending on how you feel, maybe go for a banana, get some bulk in there so that you have some nutrition, whatever nutrition you can get down. I'm big on chicken soup too as a helpful food when going through cancer treatment.
Do cancer medications affect thinking?
I'm not a doctor, but from my own experience I know the cancer drug that they give you before they give you whatever your particular cocktail is, makes you feel as if you are drunk. You're really fuzzy and tired, and then the other cancer medications that they give you to actually fight the cancer, that has a whole series of effects which you can have reactions to. Not everyone has a reaction to the cancer medications. Some people sail through pretty well. They can have no nausea and still continue their daily lives. I've seen many people do it.
Are feelings of hopelessness normal during cancer treatment?
I would say that feelings of hopelessness during cancer are probably normal but if it were to persist, even if you are feeling down, I would tell your doctor because there are things that they can do that can help you. But if your diagnosis is good, I think you just have to focus on the positive and realise it's just a season you have to go through and do, in my case. Try to learn what you can from this lesson.
What resources are there for people overwhelmed by their cancer treatment?
I would go online, and I would see what is available in my area for people overwhelmed by their cancer treatment. I would ask my oncologist what groups are available. We have The Wellness Community here. But I think most everywhere in the world they have some sort of support group for those overwhelmed by their cancer treatment. And I would just caution you to look for a group of people that have a similar diagnosis, so that you're with people that are going through pretty much the same thing.
