Geoff
I'm 48 and have bowel cancer, have finished resection surgery, chemo and radiation on the initial cancer (and all clear there now). Unfortunately I now have mets on my lunga and I'm back on the 5FU, but with Oxiliplatin and Avastin now. I also have the 5FU pump this time but only 46 hours/fortnight.
I love that you gave your pump a positive name, I call mine Sue (the bitch with my Dad - the poisonous thing that I can't escape!). Maybe I should change my mindset!! It's working though - 1 down, 5 to go. I named my tumours too, they are positive to the KRAS mutation, so mine are the (mutant) ninja turtles. It's easier to talk about :)
I don't know about your cancer but I know a little bit about chemo now, over 18 months for me. It is hard and very tiring but get as much sleep in as your body needs. I know it's frustrating that you don't have the same energy for your family but hopefully this will be a short term thing for you and with a few small adjustments you can feel like you are not missing out. If you really can't do something, don't do it! Your body is not the same at the moment, take care of it so you don't end up sicker. Stay positive and if you are having bad side effects let your chemo team know. There are many anti nausea drugs available, it might take a while to find the one that works for you. I actually have 3 and I take them at different times - some I have to take with the chemo, others I take depending on how I feel.
It does take a little while for your body to get into "a routine" with chemo I think. My first couple of treatments this time were brutal but I have my anti nausea drugs sorted now and I do sleep much more throughout the day and I find that I don't feel very sick at all thankfully. If I'm having a bad day I let my family know and they will help out more and I will stay at home and rest while they go out.
Take it slow and easy, listen to your body and help it heal by resting when you need to. Good luck with your treatment, keep fighting.
Kim
