Started treatment today!

[Brooke]

I've been at the royal melbourne hospital since 8.30am, it was a long day indeed. It had to be that way however cos it was my first day of a new round and I had a new chemo drug to be introduced to - it's called Cisplatin and it hasn't really changed since they started using chemo to treat cancer. It's some nasty stuff and I'm not feeling too good, right now. What bothers me the most isn't the nausea or the fatigue, it's the fact that I can't use my brain the same way I did yesterday. I'm a writer and the fact that after chemo I can't find the word I want to use (and NO tapping on my head doesn't work.) I can't spell like I used to and I can't seem to stick to the point. The WONDERFUL nurses on the day ward today told me it was commonly referred to as 'Chemo Brain.' Now what really matters about today is the nurses. No matter how much trouble I have with doctors treating me like a number or treating me with prejudice I NEVER experience this with the nursing staff. They are ALWAYS friendly, reassuring, kind, factual and they come back when they say they will WITH the information they said they'd get.. They work so hard and give you that little bit extra when you know they are tired and want to get home - so thanks to the nurses...You make a horrid situation a little easier to bare... Good luck to anyone in treatment at the moment... Brooke.

[Usekh]

I am starting my first round on Tuesday. Radio and Chemo, Temozowossit for the chemo. Luckily sounds more mild than yours. I hope things do get better for you, and would second and third (and forth) what you said about nurses. Good luck to you. Lachlan

[wombat4]

Hi Brooke, My wife was also a published author, and on her chemo days used to give the writing a miss, but after a few days she used to get back into the swing of it, and it was her one pleasure, she used to really enjoy it. Once the chemo is out of your system you can get into it again. So it is a new life,with cancer dont try to do what you used to because the cancer and rhe chemicals have changed that, but try to adjust to to a different pace. You will achieve your goal. Lots of love and good luck wombat4

[SILLY]

I have no experience of chemo ,only from reading posts like yours.I can say that the nurses and all the staff I encountered during my 6 weeks of radiation in 2010 were wonderful too.

[storm]

Hi Brooke Yes its hard with frustration taken to new levels (partner has a grade 4 GBM brain tumour - a tumour siting on her language area of her brain a combination of the tumour and the drugs she cant read spell looses words names and gives up trying to find a simple word to communicate) and I'm slightly dyslexic so we make a good couple, but I get some insight into her frustration state. It can get magnified with social areas where there is some stress/anziety to communicate. Meditation could help. best wishes geoff