At the end of chemo, be patient with yourself

As I was coming to the end of chemo (around about my fifth cycle - the second of the Docetaxel) I began to get really excited. I couldn't wait to be free of the constant canulas, hideous side effects and isolation of chemo. I also did a lot of reading and people were saying that you can get really depressed after chemo's finished. I couldn't imagine such a thing since I thought I would be absolutely thrilled that it would be over! However, now I'm four weeks post chemo, I can understand why it's not everything you imagine. My baldness didn't bother me at all when I was going through treatment as I wasn't going anywhere, but it became more awkward when I began socialising again. I was also over-weight from the water retention from the Docetaxel and felt like a huge bald barrel. I was told by the nurse that some of the side effects can last for several months yet I felt under pressure to be the person I used to be - running, working full-time and socialising a lot. My advice is don't expect too much. It is wonderful on the other side of chemo, but it is also a time of adjustment. Be patient with yourself and make it clear to others what you can and can't do. Don't rush back into normal life, but build it slowly. And...the hair will grow back, and the weight subside (mine is starting to slowly drop off now). I promise!

Me, three weeks after chemo ended

Amanda