Hi again. (I just posted "FINALLY staged.." with some time-sensitive questions ... so I hope it's okay to post again about different topic...
I am staged and ready to start treatment (debated in above mentioned post). I am so nervous and feel so naive about what I'm about to endure....my questions (for today).....
Neuropathy from Chemo> I am very nervous about the neuropathy from the chemo (FOLFOX) and whether this will stay around long term. What is it like short term and do we know how often people have it long term/permanently? What do people do to counter the neuropathy? Do people wear gloves? Does it really make you feel like you are choking/can't breathe?
Radiation Side Effects > I have read about how radiation can affect your bowel function. Seems brutal (and ironic, given it's intended to shrink a tumor so surgery has less consequences). What are your experiences with radiation side effects?
Nutrition/Exercise/Stress> I just read where MikeNH (I think) mentions nutrition, exercise, and stress management as critical in recovery (and in general). Is this based on a study? (Not questioning - just curious.)
- Nutrition - I have received no nutritional advice from my doctors. Any book suggestions on this or other resources? (I live with a vegetarian so rarely eat meat and haven't eaten red meat in 30 years so I'm not sure how I can improve my diet but will try anything that may help get me through this and stay healthy - if I make it.)
- Exercise - I have run marathons and triathlons and swam 3 mile open water swims so exercise did not prove to prevent this cancer. I have been quite tired in the last year or two (maybe the cancer growing, maybe perimenopause, maybe my daughter's health issues) and only walk for an hour each day. I honestly hope I can keep this up, given what I have read about chemo. How do people find the energy/will to keep moving and if you do, what are reasonable expectations for exercise while doing chemo and/or radiation?
- Stress - I arrive at this diagnosis after a brutal 1.5 years of managing my daughter's eating disorder (which is ongoing and can kill her as much as cancer can kill) and I firmly believe that the incredible stress of her illness is part of the reason I am here. Yet, she/we have fought hard (it's an unrelenting disease and she's very vulnerable, ironically, with the added stress of my diagnosis) and I'm not about to abandon her. But that's a lot to shoulder. How do you manage your cancer-related stress? (Meditation? Reiki? Therapy? TaiChi? )
Thank you for any and all advice!!
Susan