The Ebbs and Flows of Cancer Treatment - Snapshot 4

A low ebb

The loss of resolve

The surgery was complete. Then six rounds of chemotherapy, and I’d be done. Each round was administered two weeks apart. I was having two types of chemo. One was administered at the hospital. It took a couple of hours to go through my system. The second was a take-home bottle attached to a port inserted under the skin in my chest. I’d heard some people didn’t experience many side effects, and I secretly hoped I’d be one of them.

The first week of Round 1 was challenging, but the side effects lessened during the second week. I thought, “This is not easy, but I can do it.” Round 2 was a different matter. What I didn’t know at the time was that the treatment had predisposed me to a no-pain migraine. During the worst days, my sensitivity to light, sound, and movement was intensely magnified. I couldn't use my phone, iPad, or computer. This cut off contact with friends. I couldn’t watch TV, listen to the radio, or listen to music. I couldn’t even converse with family. All I could do was lie still on the couch during the day and in bed at night. Sleep brought restless dreams.

Although the worst symptoms lasted about three and a half days, they were overwhelming. It shattered my resolve. I started to doubt my ability to endure four more rounds of chemotherapy.

Round 2 was a low ebb.