It has been around three months since my mother’s lung cancer diagnosis. She has completed four chemotherapy sessions & five consecutive days of brain radiotherapy. She is still undergoing target therapy. Each chemotherapy session brought different side effects and symptoms. She tolerated the first two chemotherapies quite well, experiencing only mild fatigue. Radiotherapy, however, caused severe headaches and fatigue, and her hair began falling out about 1.5 weeks in. Thankfully, the headaches subsided a week after the radiotherapy ended.
After the first chemotherapy, her body reacted so well that her WBC count exceeded normal levels, which the doctor appreciated as a sign of her immune system fighting the cancer naturally. However, after the second chemo, her WBC count returned to normal, and her Hb and RBC counts decreased, likely contributing to her severe fatigue. Her appetite also reduced after the second chemotherapy, and she started resisting food.
After the third chemotherapy, her fatigue increased significantly, and following the fourth, it became difficult for her to sit for more than half an hour. She also experienced other side effects like vomiting, insomnia, headaches, body pain, mouth ulcers, redness and itching in her eyes, watery eyes, blackouts, constipation, and diarrhea now and then. After the fourth chemotherapy, she occasionally experienced hand tremors and twitching around her lips and cheeks. The severity of all these side effects used to reduce after 2 weeks of every chemotherapy hence, the 21 days gap between each session!
It’s easy to stay strong when things go smoothly, but it becomes truly challenging to maintain strength and willpower when facing setbacks. This is when it’s crucial for caregivers and patients to keep up hope and determination in the fight against cancer. Depression, stress and anxiety are some of the worst side effects of cancer & its treatment, affecting not only patients but also their caregivers. Patients can become irritable and refuse to eat, making it even more difficult when their willpower wanes. During these times, it’s essential to push patients and bolster their mental strength from the outside.
The pain and suffering of a cancer patient are unimaginable to others, but the struggles of caregivers are also indescribable. It’s important to be pragmatic, as taking things emotionally can intensify our internal suffering. After all, life is full of ups and downs, and this is a battle we have chosen to fight, no matter what.