You often go to your doctors to check whether you should continue treatment and whether the side effects are worth it based on how you are living. At that point, after I was diagnosed and had started chemotherapy and radiation, my neuropathy became quite severe. The nausea was intense, and I was gradually losing a lot of weight. To manage cancer treatment effectively, you need to maintain some weight so your body can handle the effects of the medications you are taking.
Sometimes it is difficult to reduce side effects. Doctors can prescribe medicine to treat some of them, but those medicines can also cause additional side effects. It becomes a process of figuring out what works best for you, because treatment responses are very personalized.
Some people suggested helpful solutions. For example, I was given gloves to manage sensitivity to cold and heat. I took anti-nausea medication and medicine to help me sleep, since rest made a difference. It can feel embarrassing, but at one stage toward the end of radiation, I could not control my bowel habits. I used every tool available that might help.
I also spoke with other survivors and patients, and their advice helped me learn what worked best. Some recommended investing in adult diapers, which I did. During that stage, it can be very hard to control your bowels because of radiation and its effects, especially during the first few weeks.
Everyone’s journey is different. What one person struggles with, another may not. You are not alone. The most important message I can share is to take it one day at a time.
