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Post by hikinggods on Jul 21, 2016 15:28:06 GMT -8
Thanks, guys! I hope I never have to do this again. It is a bitch having to start over from scratch after staying in shape for 57 years! I ran almost 1 and 1/2 miles this morning (just about killed myself to keep going), so I am making progress.
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 22, 2016 6:50:06 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing the good news, but please do let caution be your by-word. Depending on the specific chemo regimen, you might occasionally still feel the effects. Be safe and be cautious, and best wishes.
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Post by hikinggods on Jul 24, 2016 20:22:58 GMT -8
Unfortunately, I DO still feel the effects, as I have neuropathy (numbness, loss of muscle control) in my legs... Still, I seem to be able to make them do what I need them to do--it just takes more concentration. I climbed a mountain yesterday. It felt like a miracle, since I didn't think I would be able to make it to the top, but the higher I went the more determined I was to get to the top. Okay, so I did fall over a couple of times, but very minor. I need to work on my "caution" instinct... you'd think at my age... So I am back to planning my BP trip.
Thanks for the kind wishes!
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 25, 2016 6:41:48 GMT -8
Good news, and congratulations! But, please, do be moderate in your activities. My sister was a runner when she was diagnosed, rebounded after her first chemo session but the fatigue and weakness were still there. Be kind to yourself.
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Post by hikinggods on Jul 25, 2016 9:35:10 GMT -8
Thanks, Autumn-- I'll try. No more mountains for a while. It's hard because I just want to rush headlong back into normal, though I know it will take TIME. The backpacking trip won't be before September-- and NOT solo. My husband (and world's greatest caregiver!) will be along for backup. AND contingent on some improvement in the neuropathy. The last thing I need is a broken bone.
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 25, 2016 11:40:14 GMT -8
hikinggods , was the neuropathy actually diagnosed with an EMG, or by other means by one of your doctors? I ask b/c at one point after a lot of family illness and resulting stress, I was D'x'ed with it as well, by a neurologist who performed an EMG. Cause could have been from any number of sources. Rather than go through a lot of testing, I decided to focus instead on basic nutrition, back to basic relaxation techniques, walking, reading, etc. Sounds basic, but after a few years of family illness, I think there was some vitamin and mineral depletion. After a few months I noticed the neuropathy had disappeared. When I reviewed my records, I narrowed it down to B vitamins, which I had begun taking after D/X. I've done some experimentation since then; when lower limb and pedal neuropathy develop, I eat more B vitamin foods, and the neuropathy disappears. I know that some chemo meds have unusual side effects, so that might be the source, but chemo also can have other mystifying effects. Who knows? Perhaps B vitamins could help you - and eating more B laden foods isn't a fad diet or anything like that. And, BTW, blood work always showed B levels to be w/i normal parameters. My analysis is that the family illness stress was depleting B levels. Chemo and dealing with cancer can do that as well.
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mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
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Post by mk on Jul 26, 2016 6:00:20 GMT -8
This is wonderful advice -- to everyone recovering from, or caregiving for, an illness or injury. Chemo can have so many different side effects -- both short-term and long-term. And I'm not convinced that the doctors really spend much time covering that particular topic. Plus, chemotherapies are so different depending on the type of cancer -- different drugs, combinations, dosages, toxicities, and side effects. Not to mention how people respond to the treatments on an individual basis. So, yeah, be kind to yourself!
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Post by autumnmist on Jul 26, 2016 6:43:52 GMT -8
Chemo can have so many different side effects -- both short-term and long-term. And I'm not convinced that the doctors really spend much time covering that particular topic. I think you're very, very corect. We've encountered doctors from the old school who still feel that they know best and should make the decisions for the patient, discounting or rejecting the idea that some patients want to be informed and make their own decisions. But I also think there's a paradigm shift in some areas of medicine - both older and younger doctors are becoming more attuned to the intelligent and informed patient who doesn't want just a pat on the back and script for meds. I've also seen a change in the decor of some physician's offices. Instead of the boring certificates on walls, one of my father's doctors has original artwork drawn by another physician's mother. There are beautiful watercolor paintings of animals, beach scenes, and florals. It's a very soothing environment. More doctors could learn from this practice group and provide offices that are comforting, not glaringly and starkly white and boring. I've found the CURE magazines (http://www.cancertodaymag.org/Pages/default.aspx?gclid=CMvc99Wtkc4CFVc2gQodXUAKbA) to be an excellent source for articles ranging from very technical and scientific to very practical. Gilda's Club also has a wide range of programs, with support groups for specific types of cancer to music and art therapy and potluck get togethers.
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mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
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Post by mk on Jul 26, 2016 17:35:54 GMT -8
the intelligent and informed patient who doesn't want just a pat on the back and script for meds. I'm sure they don't love webmd, but the internet has definitely allowed people access to much more information -- some good, some not so much. So definitely a shift in that patients don't go into doctor visits as awestruck patients waiting for words of wisdom. Now we have expectations, and demands, and information -- and we want to be involved. I (cross my fingers, knock on wood) haven't had cancer myself, but many, many close family members have -- including my mom (breast cancer survivor) and my dad (died of kidney cancer.) It's so prevalent in my family, in fact, that my mom's oncologist suggested genetic testing. I didn't do it then, but after a recent breast lump myself, I did have the testing done. Turned out good for me, genetically speaking, but that doesn't mean abnormal cells aren't in my future. It's scary stuff, but I really think it's important to be informed as much as possible and to try to manage my environment to minimize my risk.
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Post by hikinggods on Aug 2, 2016 7:47:04 GMT -8
I have no doubt that the neuropathy is related to the chemo-- one of the drugs I was given is known to cause neuropathy, and the symptoms started within a couple of weeks of starting chemo. It was progressing at a scary rate early on, so my chemo dosage was reduced. One of my doctors recommended B-complex, Vitamin E and fish oil, and I take those daily and eat really well. The neuropathy progression slowed to a crawl--of course, I don't know if that was related to the supplements or to the lower dose, but probably both. I think most doctors don't educate sufficiently about the possible side effects before chemo is started. At least mine were pretty responsive when I complained about the neuropathy, which has been my only significant side effect (other than hair loss!). I did quite a bit of hiking over the weekend, and feel like I have better control over the legs than I did a few weeks ago-- but it comes and goes a bit. When I stop for a few minutes, it's a little hard to restart the legs, but once I get going they work pretty well. And NO falling down this weekend!
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Post by hikinggods on Oct 9, 2016 19:42:19 GMT -8
Okay! Finally back with an update-- actually backpacking related. I finally got to do my backpacking trip!
I finished my chemo three months ago tomorrow, and had my ports removed almost a month ago-- I was waiting on the port removal plus a couple of weeks for that to heal before my trip. Oh, and follow up labs and CT scan show no sign of remaining cancer. I was sad to see that WWBF's wife is battling a recurrence of the same cancer I have (Ovarian stage IIIC). It has, unfortunately, a high rate of recurrence....
So, my post-cancer maiden voyage was into the canyons of the Escalante for 3 days. It went GREAT. My strength has almost completely returned and I had no problems with a fairly strenuous trip-- bashing through willow thickets, scrambling over boulders, sliding down banks into the river, fording butt-deep water, etc. The mild lingering neuropathy in my feet wasn't a problem. The scenery was amazing, the weather was perfect, and we saw nobody the second and third days. This was a great confidence builder.
Life is starting to feel almost normal again! And I am already tossing around ideas for a spring trip.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Oct 9, 2016 19:59:05 GMT -8
Congratulations!
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mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
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Post by mk on Oct 10, 2016 4:30:04 GMT -8
I finally got to do my backpacking trip! This is awesome, hikinggods. It's great to hear that you are back to healthy and doing the things you love. With all the recent cancer diagnoses both on the forum and in my personal life, I've been thinking about all of you in your fight(s). Glad you give us updates! Hike on!
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Post by autumnmist on Oct 10, 2016 9:33:35 GMT -8
hikinggods, congratulations! Job well done! Your strength, enthusiasm and determination are inspirational.
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rebeccad
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Writing like a maniac
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 10, 2016 13:54:50 GMT -8
So great to hear that, hikinggods ! Congrats on your recovery and your choice of trip. I love that area
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