Chemo side affects still 3 months after finishing chemo?

[Lind58]

Hope you ladies are doing well. My mom is roughly 2.5 months after finishing front line treatment. She brought to our attention in passing that she still has the "crunching feeling" she did when undergoing chemo. She said the "Crunching feeling" is like the chemo attacking.

My question is - how long did the chemo side effects last for you?

[Lindaura]

Hi Lin,

Sadly, some of the Chemo side effects last and last.

I still have the ringing in my ears, and if I overdo my walking around town (I try to walk a lot, but you have to build up to it) I get very achy legs and hip joints and a roaring sound in my ears!

My Oncologist told me to try not to rush the recovery from Chemo, that it would be about 3 months before I would feel 50% of normal, but in 6 months, you can be 75 to 85% of normal.

After that, you live in the new normal, which can be anything - from feeling absolutely normal all day, and then suffering aching legs and needing to rest in the evening.

We are all different, but Chemo takes its toll, and a different toll on each of us.

Tell your mom to relax. Give her body a chance to heal. It’s a gradual process, but suddenly, she will be happy to be living with her “New Normal”.

Hugs,

Laura

[Joanne59]

Hi, I was so tired and ill after my chemo.having a poor immune system I got everything around.my oncologist told me it can take 18months to leave your system and for your immune system to kick in.i had to take antisickness pills for months.so hang on in there it will get easier x

[Cropcrop]

My oncologist warned me that the chemo effects/symptoms can last for quite some time, I still have some symptoms after 5 years.

Our bodies have been bombarded with some really nasty toxic chemicals, so, to me, logic says it will take a fairly long time for our body to recover and return to something like normal but it’s a new normal, we will never be as we were prior to diagnosis. I believe we are so much more body aware following our diagnosis and treatment and things we may not have given a thought to previously we now see as a possible issue.

If your mom is in any way worried get her to speak to her oncology team for some reassurance.

I hope she continues to recover, take care ❤️Xx Jane

[delia2]

Hi. As others have said, it’s unfortunately normal to still be quite weak and fatigued for months after chemo as well as having other aches and pains. After 7 months I started to feel more normal but now it’s 8 months and I’m probably having a recurrence. Anyway your mom needs to rest and try gentle exercise and eventually she will feel good.

[Caroles1]

I’m 5 years out too and I call it my new normal. Difficult to know if you would have got it anyway, getting older ect.

Got neuropathy in 2 toes, get tired ( but I look after grandkids) nails and skin aren’t great....dry.

Am forgetful, but not daft, I check and double check....maybe have ocd along with ptss lol!!

There is no benchmark, tell mum to do what she wants to do, when she wants to do it and importantly, rest.

There is no right or wrong with this disease, but most importantly......we are alive 😘xx