Navigating Through Chemotherapy Side Effects and Treatment Complications:

Facing the Unexpected: The Reality of Side Effects

In the last few weeks, and during my most recent treatments, my body, perhaps, hasn’t reacted or handled the process as well as expected. I’ve promised to be an open book on all of this. Yes, being positive and maintaining a good attitude certainly aid in navigating through, but there are moments, many moments, where it feels overwhelmingly too much. And I want to share that too. Whether you are undergoing treatment yourself or caring for someone who is, it’s vital to acknowledge the struggles. Everybody and EVERY BODY is different, but perhaps my experiences can offer some benefit to someone now or in the future. So here we go, a post about the Chemotherapy side effects and treatment complications.

Side Effects of Chemo

A Recap of My Journey: From Diagnosis to Treatment

My previous article focused on mental health and wellness, which undeniably intertwines with the physical tribulations of cancer treatment. For those new here, I have what is termed Triple Positive Breast Cancer - Stage 2B, Grade 3. This indicates that the tumor was growing quickly and had spread to three lymph nodes. Triple positive means the cancer is fueled by HER2 proteins, estrogen, and progesterone. Treatment typically encompasses surgery (mastectomy or double mastectomy), chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation. Essentially, they assault it with everything they have. Hormone therapy, notably, is a relatively new treatment that has achieved amazing results.

My treatment involves all of the above. Every 21 days for six rounds, I undergo what is termed TCH treatment - Taxol and Carboplatin (the chemotherapy drugs) and Herceptin (hormone therapy). Following that, I receive an additional six rounds of just Herceptin. After this segment is complete, I will undergo radiation for 17 consecutive days and then proceed to a hormone treatment for five years. Now, three rounds in and with my fourth impending next week, the journey continues.

The Unexpected Hurdles: Realities of Side Effects and Complications

The information I received about my treatment was seemingly straightforward. It was projected to become easier with each round, with symptoms manageable through medication, and the second set of six rounds anticipated to be much smoother since many women reportedly don’t experience side effects with Herceptin. However, my personal experience painted a different story. It’s been hard. Herceptin, which is the hormone component and supposedly less likely to cause side effects, has resulted in nausea and vomiting, extreme fatigue, severe body aches, and headaches for me.

Every round follows a pattern: the first day is tolerable, allowing me to come home, sleep, and manage a little sustenance. The second day welcomes nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant bodily reactions, despite new medications that have admittedly offered some assistance. Week two persists with similar symptoms but allows me to engage in daily activities like preparing lunch and having dinner with my family, albeit in smaller quantities. Other side effects include mouth sores, loss of taste, skin dryness, and rashes. However, the nausea has been the most debilitating for me. By the third week, I generally feel pretty good, though anxiety typically creeps in as the cycle prepares to restart.

Vulnerability in Strength: Contending with Physical Weakness and Infection

The journey has been immensely challenging for my family. My husband Justin has become a crucial pillar, ferrying me to appointments, enduring lengthy ER waits, managing household duties, and maintaining a positive demeanor to prevent my emotional descent. It’s also been tough on our daughter Chelsea. Navigating through her emotions while witnessing her mother’s sickness and frequent hospital trips has demanded immense strength and bravery from a 9-year-old.

Being on chemotherapy diminishes both white and red blood cells, destroying my immunity. Even a common cold or flu becomes a formidable adversary, as my body cannot effectively combat it. Recently, a portocath implanted under my skin in my chest, designed to ease chemo’s strain on my veins, became a new battleground when it got

Portocath

infected, leading to a week-long hospital stay. This susceptibility to infection and germs has instilled a level of fear I've never experienced before, especially in circumstances where even a mild illness in my daughter necessitates physical distance between us.

Looking Ahead with Hope and Resilience: Drawing Strength from Struggle

With my next round looming, my anticipation is laced with dread, especially since we’ll have to use an IV in the arm while waiting to insert another port. Yet, each treatment propels me closer to the end of this tumultuous journey and introduces me to a new version of myself. Undergoing such an experience transforms you, granting you a newfound strength. My hope is that this ordeal will extract from me elements that might, in some way, benefit the world, show Chelsea her inner strength, reflect the significance of true partnership in life, and illustrate an unyielding maternal love that will forever fight for her.

Additionally, I pray that perhaps my experiences might encourage you to fight, to persevere, and to know that you can traverse through anything.