Side effects after Chemo

[Chubby42]

Hi all

I finished my last Chemo treatment 15 Nov my question is how long roughly would one expected the side effects to go.

I still have slight numbness in my finger tips my eyes keep watering all the time im still tired and also more importantly when would my immune system be back to full strength.

Many thanks

Gary

[ewhite999]

My eyes stopped tearing about two months after my last treatment. My hair grew back slowly but was back to normal in about six months. The odd thing is my eye brows never grew back. They came back a little but nothing like they were before. Not the end of the world all things considered but I had great eyebrows!

[Hidden]

It won't take long. I ran 5 miles at a crack, 4 days a week while doing the chemo thing. Get up off of that thing and release the pressure. Tell your body it's over and the time to get back into the swing of things is now! To hell with being tired, when you get groggy, get up and walk a mile or two.. As far as your immune system getting back in gear, I have no idea so I won't comment. The wackos in the white jackets told me my labs tests starting looking good about 6 weeks after they quit pumping chemo in me. Now drop down and give me 20!

Of course what do I know?

[Hidden]

So you are only 3 weeks out from your last infusion? That's fairly early on. 3 weeks was the point for when things were just beginning to really improve and that is fairly typical for most people. The eye watering stayed around for a while, a few more weeks on and off. Things like fingernails and hair regrowth take the longest. My energy came back more and more, by week 6, it was almost completly back. I followed Nameless's approach and got out there, exercised and tried to return to my active life as much as I could. Time flies when your having fun as they say. I had a "no-mo-chemo" party to celebrate the end of chemo. Just keep in mind: from now on, I am getting better every day. The most enjoyable way to look at chemo is in the rear view mirror. Hope you get better soon.

[Chubby42]

Hi guys thanks for thr replies, I do walk my dog twice a day for an hour each time plus I have gone back to work this week on 4-5 hr shifts building up to full 8hrs over the coming weeks, I do feel better as time goes on which is a good sign I was trying to work out how long before the side effects have gone and of course my hair well I hope its mostly grown back before I fly to Australia in March to see family because my mother doesn't know I have PC and I would like to keep it that way as she is battling her own cancer for 10yrs now.

True 3 week after my last treatment is still early days.

Thanks again

Gary

[Skip47]

Gary,

An individual return to normal-at times the docs may lead you to believe just a few weeks-not the case! You will come back in small increments, and I am sure at about 6 months you will realize you're back. Watery eyes might continue, but should lessen, and the tingling may or may not completely disappear (but it could), and it might lessen. Hopefully this doesn't interfere with buttoning, zipping, picking up things, or your routine chores! The fatigue may still be related to lower blood counts (red, hemoglobin levels) that transport the oxygen around your body. I'm sure those levels are slightly lower, and when it comes back the fatigue will lessen. That being said-the more active you are the less fatigue you will feel. Sounds crazy, but keep moving and doing, and do a little more daily. Eat well, and rest well-will also help. Get out of bed and off the couch.

There is light at the end of the tunnel-you will return to your baseline in time. Since we're stuck with ourselves 24/7 we don't sometimes see the small, continuous improvements we make daily, and always expect more, and quicker. It will happen my friend...

[Chubby42]

Thanks Skip47

Im sure I am expecting to much to quick as long as there is the light at the end of the tunnel then I'm ok with that just looking forward to a little normality for a change.

Cheers

Gary

[paulofaus]

Hey Gary, after 1 month I felt pretty bad still. After 2 months I felt awesome!

[Chubby42]

Hi Paul thanks I hope that is the case with me too.

Cheers