Cancer Lesson #54: Each treatment affects you differently. You may sail through your first chemo sessions with few side effects. Don’t assume this will always be the case, or you could be setting yourself up for an unpleasant surprise.
I had a variety of side effects, most of them fairly minor.
One treatment left me feeling like an elephant had taken up residence on my chest. A prescription for Nexium took care of the problem.
Another time, I was struck by fever and chills. I somehow convinced myself my temperature was lower than the number at which I was supposed to call my oncologist.
It wasn’t, but by the time I reviewed my instructions, the fever was gone.
I got used to becoming overwhelmed with sudden exhaustion when I pushed myself too far.
Like when I decided to bicycle six miles in the summer heat – three miles into town, and three miles back.
It was only six miles. Not that hard, right?
Wrong! On the way back, we had stop every five hundred yards so I could rest.
Fortunately, I didn’t pass out. At least not on that occasion.
Related articles
