Side Effects

So fast forward ......... blah, blah, blah ............  I have cancer (again); I've gone through surgery; started chemo.  Now what?  Now is when the fun really starts.

This week is my 2nd week in the cycle so I'm feeling pretty decent.  Wanted to take advantage of that & meet a friend for dinner.  I ate shrimp.  Since when is my menu choice important?  This time it is critical, because within an hour or so post-dinner, my hands (mostly between the forefingers and thumbs of each hand) were red and burning and swollen.  Am I allergic to shrimp?  Thankfully no, but it is another stupid side effect.

The list of side effects that you (or your loved one) may experience while undergoing chemotherapy is long.  Long.  Like a mile long.

My doctor's office did a good job @ Chemo Education. We joked & called it "Chemo 101" because we felt like it was a beginners class2.   In retrospect, though, it was helpful.  However, short of the Chemo Education nurse moving in with me, it is impossible to discuss every potential side effect.  I'm experiencing something called "Hand-Foot Syndrome".  Medically speaking, when the chemo is administered, small amounts (very small amounts) can leak out of the smallest capillaries and cause redness on palms and feet.  It looks like a bad sunburn and is exasperated by heat.

What they did not tell me is the things that could have been avoided to perhaps prevent this from happening...........  Don't take long, hot soaking baths.  Hear that chemo patients?  While you are not feeling well, don't do anything relaxing - like a bath.  It may give you a side effect.  Other things that can potential cause it?  Exercise or over-gripping tools like a rake (or a golf club).  Greattttttttt.... on those days that I am feeling better, I should now avoid prolonged bouts of walking, raking leaves or golfing.  This shit just keeps getting better.

I did notice that my feet were hurting a bit the other day, but I definitely have it more in my hands than feet.

Point is ..........  There are no less than 5000 possible side effects of chemotherapy, depending on your cocktail.  They will discuss maybe 50 of them with you.  When one of the remaining 4950 happens to you, don't panic.  Call your doctor and let them tell you it's normal and there's nothing they can do.

Good luck and Godspeed.