cancer – day 137

I actually came across some good, brief definitions of some of the side effects I’ve been having, and I thought the brevity may be useful to other women trying to get their arms around this whole wide mess. It’s continually shocking to me that any of these side effects can manifest themselves as debilitatingly as they do.

Chemo Brain: Difficulty Thinking Clearly. It is believed that chemotherapy can temporarily affect the nerve cells in the brain, causing confusion commonly referred to as “chemo brain”. Chemo brain is described as a feeling of “fogginess” that sometimes is mistaken for depression or aging. A lack of focus, general confusion, and decreased ability to think clearly are all signs of chemo brain.

Fatigue. Fatigue is when a person feels weak or tired sooner than usual after physical, mental, or emotional activity (or possibly lack thereof). Fatigue is a major side effect of chemotherapy. It can last for months after treatment.

Neuropathy. Certain chemo drugs can affect the nerves and can sometimes makes the muscles weak, tired or sore. These nerve and muscle effects are called “peripheral neuropathy.” You may feel tingling, burning, weakness or numbness in the hands or feet. Some people experience a loss of balance and difficulty walking.

Depression. Cancer may disrupt the lifestyle and threaten the purposes and goals that give meaning to people’s lives. The physical and emotional stress that cancer and it’s treatment places on the body can often lead to depression.

Anemia. Anemia is a side effected experienced by over 70% of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chemo reduces the bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells hat carry oxygen to all parts of your body. When there are few red blood cells, your body tissues don’t get enough oxygen to do their work. This condition, known as anemia, may be characterized by feelings of extreme fatigue, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, shortness of breath and confusion.

My eyesight has degenerated back to non-seeing levels again, so we’re making another trip to the eye doctor. I wonder what they’ll say? Could my vision have changed enough again and so badly that I need another new prescription? And are we going to have to go through this again three weeks from now in the next chemo cycle? It’s cumulatively degenerative, and cumulatively depressing, to be real.