19 July 2019 – Friday
It’s chemo cycle 2 + 8 days. Chemo happened last week for me, my blood results were good, my gum infection had actually disappeared the day after my aborted cycle 2 date. However, it is better to be safe, there are some extreme consequences to getting it wrong.
My oncologist says cycle 2 and 3 are where we really find out about the side effects I will develop, the impact is cumulative through the cycles and I had a week off, so I’m certainly prepared for things to get worse.
Our bodies are complex – side effects are usually regarded as an undesirable secondary effect which occurs in addition to the desired therapeutic effect of a drug or medication. Some of the more common warnings on packets mention drowsiness, headaches, etc. However you don’t need to look far to find more serious and interesting side effects – memory loss, hallucinations and priapism (permanent erection).
This 2nd cycle for me has begun to show some unusual side effects:
- Energy levels – a lot lower – it seems to be oxygen that is the problem – my usual mountain bike ride was very difficult.
- Cold – it is painful/uncomfortable – for 5-6 days I has to wear a glove to take items out of the fridge, for a while even room temperature drinks caused tingling in my mouth and throat.
- Taste – for 4-5 days filtered water tasted creamy, ordinary tea turned into a cream tea (but without the jam and scones), sauvignon tasted like an oaked chardonnay.
The most important, but hidden, side effect is that my immune system is playing in the Conference League. I get a special place if I end up in A&E away from all the ill people! Sepsis is already a serious issue, but for those with low immune systems it is life threatening very quickly. I carry with me my homemade first aid kit – rubbing alcohol, saline, anti-septic cream, alcohol-based hand wipes, cotton buds, bandage, plasters, liquid skin. I am prepared.
Ah look – it’s breakfast time – must be off to pour warm filtered water on my cornflakes.
Up the Back Passage 