| Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Member | Member Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 | Jessica, I am sorry things are starting out so rough on you. Everyone before me has provided such excellent advice that I really can't offer much more other than my own story of how I coped with this difficult treatment. I'm four years post treatment and treatment consisted of 64 doses of radiation and 7 weeks chemo. Everything was a struggle for me, particularly the first four weeks, and I won't give you details, but whatever could go wrong, did. I hated radiation, my fear was irrational as I was usually comfortable under the mask, but in between treatments I fretted about the next one. In other words, I was a mess. But I always kept my thoughts on the end game. No matter how bad I felt, I drank as much as possible, and had a small amount of yogurt just to keep in practice of eating. I couldn't speak after a few weeks so signed up for "Caring Bridge" so I could communicate my thoughts to family and friends. This was very therapeutic and I looked forward to it at the end of every day. I paid particular attention to the other cancer patients and found their strength very motivating. But every day was tough. I remember reaching treatment 54 and the dr. saying to me, "you're almost there, this will be no problem" and I thought, "you have no idea, if I only had one more treatment, it would be to much". And then suddenly, treatments were over, and the healing began. I hated the feeding tube as much as radiation treatments and used that as my motivation to get down as much food as possible, as quickly as possible, so I could get the tube removed. About two months out, the nutritionist gave me a recipe for a high calorie smoothie and it tasted like crap, but I knew I had to get this down to get the tube out. Every day I had a contest to drink this smoothie faster then the day before. Slowly, my body started to rebound which was motivating in itself. About 14 months after the last treatment, I ran a marathon. Take it one day at a time Jessica, little steps over time add up to big gains. You are a tough cookie to begin with, it won't be easy, but your toughness will be a huge asset getting you thru this. | | |
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5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 10-30-2012 01:28 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Pandora99 | 10-30-2012 01:52 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| EricS | 10-30-2012 04:00 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 10-30-2012 04:06 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| EricS | 10-30-2012 04:11 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Cheryld | 10-30-2012 04:44 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| ChristineB | 10-30-2012 07:10 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 10-30-2012 08:30 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| davidcpa | 10-30-2012 09:59 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| KP5 | 10-31-2012 01:52 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 10-31-2012 08:28 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Charm2017 | 11-13-2012 05:40 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| ChristineB | 11-01-2012 11:51 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| rduinc | 11-13-2012 03:15 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| tina77 | 11-13-2012 03:34 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| davidcpa | 11-13-2012 01:34 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| KP5 | 11-13-2012 02:47 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Charm2017 | 11-13-2012 04:48 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| KP5 | 11-13-2012 08:16 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| davidcpa | 11-13-2012 09:50 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| KP5 | 11-14-2012 03:29 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 11-15-2012 09:03 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Bette | 11-16-2012 01:28 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Pandora99 | 11-16-2012 01:30 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 11-16-2012 02:26 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Cheryld | 11-18-2012 11:24 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| CubanKeith | 11-20-2012 03:29 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Ed H | 11-22-2012 03:20 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| saxicola | 11-23-2012 11:03 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 11-23-2012 10:34 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Ed H | 11-26-2012 03:16 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| davidcpa | 11-26-2012 01:35 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| tina77 | 11-26-2012 02:31 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Cheryld | 11-26-2012 03:36 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| curly | 11-27-2012 03:07 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Charm2017 | 11-27-2012 09:18 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| Ed H | 11-27-2012 08:41 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| davidcpa | 11-27-2012 10:01 PM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| debandbill | 11-28-2012 12:43 AM |
Re: 5 weeks left, need some encouragement
| EricS | 11-28-2012 03:59 AM | |
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