5 years post Chemo - lasting effects - your experiences.
Discussion
Lady Slyjoe had chemo 5 years ago for breast cancer, and the surgery. The poor lass is still suffering with a host of ailments ranging from tiredness and aching bones to migraines and intense pains.
Physio eases the physical manifestations, but she just really want to be back at 100%. - Some days are just bed days.
We're lucky enough that financially she doesnt have to work - but she wants to work - this isn't feasible yet as a days work can ruin her for 3 days afterwards.
Any advice or anecdotes are welcome - we are at our wits end and just want life back to normal.
Physio eases the physical manifestations, but she just really want to be back at 100%. - Some days are just bed days.
We're lucky enough that financially she doesnt have to work - but she wants to work - this isn't feasible yet as a days work can ruin her for 3 days afterwards.
Any advice or anecdotes are welcome - we are at our wits end and just want life back to normal.
I know quite a few people who have had chemo for various reasons and have not suffered any effects like this past maybe a year post chemo.
I would be tempted to demand some tests as it doesn't sound normal to me, there could be a simple underlying issue. Does she have a good diet? Not anaemic or iron deficient.
I would be tempted to demand some tests as it doesn't sound normal to me, there could be a simple underlying issue. Does she have a good diet? Not anaemic or iron deficient.
Sorry to hear about your wife I wish her all the best.Is there any change your wife could work from home?
My chemo was 4 years ago,a heavy dose before and after the operation.I've never recovered fully chronic fatigue and general feeling of being down.On the plus side I'm still alive just>
For my fatigue I be assested for special excercises a 12 week course.She what happens if it helps.I take regular pain killers solpadol plus iron tablets.
I'm no doctor but chemo is a poison and I don't think any specialist knows the answer how different people will react after treatment.
My chemo was 4 years ago,a heavy dose before and after the operation.I've never recovered fully chronic fatigue and general feeling of being down.On the plus side I'm still alive just>
For my fatigue I be assested for special excercises a 12 week course.She what happens if it helps.I take regular pain killers solpadol plus iron tablets.
I'm no doctor but chemo is a poison and I don't think any specialist knows the answer how different people will react after treatment.
Sorry to hear your wife is still suffering the effects. My dad was experiencing dodgy fingernails and lethargy 6 months after stopping. (And then he died but don't be alarmed - that wasn't caused by the chemo! 
)
Make sure she drinks lots of water to flush out toxins.
I'd also consider doing gentle exercise - swimming, tai chi, yoga, pilates.
)Make sure she drinks lots of water to flush out toxins.
I'd also consider doing gentle exercise - swimming, tai chi, yoga, pilates.
My mother has had three types of cancer, and rather a lot of chemo.
I can't recall what she's currently on, but the oncologist called it "maintenance chemo"
She seems to have suffered with bone spurs on her feet, and nails (finger and feet) are still very tender, even a couple of years down the line. Other side effects seem to be a change in palate (she can't drink sherry, but like the world's worst rose wine!), but the worst is that she still doesn't sleep to well - often only getting a few hours.
She's a tough old bird, and is back at the gym and trying to enjoy her retirement. Reflexology seems to work, and she finds that pretty relaxing.
Sadly, we all know it's a case of when, no if, cancer will kill her.
I can't recall what she's currently on, but the oncologist called it "maintenance chemo"
She seems to have suffered with bone spurs on her feet, and nails (finger and feet) are still very tender, even a couple of years down the line. Other side effects seem to be a change in palate (she can't drink sherry, but like the world's worst rose wine!), but the worst is that she still doesn't sleep to well - often only getting a few hours.
She's a tough old bird, and is back at the gym and trying to enjoy her retirement. Reflexology seems to work, and she finds that pretty relaxing.
Sadly, we all know it's a case of when, no if, cancer will kill her.
This is the annoying thing, she's had CT scans and MRI's and is free from anything nasty - so in effect 4 years in remission.
However the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
However the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
Slyjoe said:
This is the annoying thing, she's had CT scans and MRI's and is free from anything nasty - so in effect 4 years in remission.
However the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
Let the doctor check her hormone levels or by a kit from chemist.However the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
This is very interesting, I had chemo & radiation treatment for Hogkins Lymphoma about 27 years ago, & after about 5 years I started catching anything going around & started collecting ailments like a train spotter collects numbers, culminating about 10 years ago with so many problems I had to give up work, as I didn't have the energy to get out of bed & my whole body was racked with pain. After undergoing many tests, blood works & even unnecessary operations to get to the root of it I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Now I am still not happy with that & I have a lot of associated problems that make me think it could actually be Lupus, & am currently having more tests.All my current symptoms can be explained by the long term effects of radiation treatment, which is a recognized problem, so they may be something similar to people who have had mainly chemo treatment?
If you Google your partners ailments it could be that you will find a link from her treatment to her present condition. Did she have any radiation too?
If you Google your partners ailments it could be that you will find a link from her treatment to her present condition. Did she have any radiation too?
Slyjoe said:
This is the annoying thing, she's had CT scans and MRI's and is free from anything nasty - so in effect 4 years in remission.
However the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
Your wifes symptoms sound exactly the same as mineHowever the treatment just seems to have ruined her. SHe's very effected by hormones and her monthly lady bother really causes a flare up - the chemo and post chemo drugs are all eostrogen suppresives, its almost as if in my opinion that she needs her hormones re-set... if you know what I mean.
She at around 4 years now and gets chronic pain in her side & legs, Doctors presume it's caused by nerve damage as a raft of scans and other tests have revealed nothing.
Chemo put an end to her monthly lady time, so can't comment on that.
I'd go for hormone problems too. One of my friends had an aggressive breast cancer many years ago and reckoned getting the HRT right was difficult at first and, when I met her some time afterwards, was still having to change meds to treat some "problems". However, she was a very active type - did mini-marathons, quite keen on DIY and gardening and worked as a volunteer for the National Trust - building walls and repairing paths etc - so I suspect that some problems were caused by overdoing it!
Admittedly, a lot depends on the chemo itself. I can only say that I had chemo, followed by radiotherapy in 1978/9 and have had no long term problems - apart from piles (the stuff paralysed the gut, so a week after the chemo, bricks that could crack toilet bowls were produced!).
Admittedly, a lot depends on the chemo itself. I can only say that I had chemo, followed by radiotherapy in 1978/9 and have had no long term problems - apart from piles (the stuff paralysed the gut, so a week after the chemo, bricks that could crack toilet bowls were produced!).
I'm afraid I can't speculate as I'm not qualified and it wouldn't be appropriate. But just thought you may be interested in what the modern drug industry aims for with chemotherapy in Oncology.
Chemotherapy has made come quite a long way, especially since the 70's and 80's. We try to target specific markers nowadays like HER2 in breast cancer. This aims to produce a more effective therapy with fewer side effects. We work with a lot of immunological stuff nowadays which binds to surface markets. There's also an increasing focus on genetic components.
Back in the conventional clinical environment, where ever possible medics will also prescribe combination regimes, like for example CHOP in Lymphoma. These contain multiple drugs, and chemotherapeutics. The goal here is a multiple pronged attack on the cancer to reduce the risk of resistance (cancer can become resistant). The other goal is reduce the side effects, by having more effective agents, the dose can be lowered.
Sometimes we get drugs which are akin to "magic bullets", minimal side effects and very effective, but they are very rare outside of very simple cancers. I'm told on good authority that many cancers are simply too complicated, to ever be so easily and cleanly stopped.
Just food for thought really. All the best to your loved ones.
Chemotherapy has made come quite a long way, especially since the 70's and 80's. We try to target specific markers nowadays like HER2 in breast cancer. This aims to produce a more effective therapy with fewer side effects. We work with a lot of immunological stuff nowadays which binds to surface markets. There's also an increasing focus on genetic components.
Back in the conventional clinical environment, where ever possible medics will also prescribe combination regimes, like for example CHOP in Lymphoma. These contain multiple drugs, and chemotherapeutics. The goal here is a multiple pronged attack on the cancer to reduce the risk of resistance (cancer can become resistant). The other goal is reduce the side effects, by having more effective agents, the dose can be lowered.
Sometimes we get drugs which are akin to "magic bullets", minimal side effects and very effective, but they are very rare outside of very simple cancers. I'm told on good authority that many cancers are simply too complicated, to ever be so easily and cleanly stopped.
Just food for thought really. All the best to your loved ones.
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