Funny Not Funny - Cancer Treatment Side Effects - Radiation & Chemo

CCnDoc Talk

WARNING: This is a funny yet graphic discussion of the side effects associated with CC’s colorectal cancer treatment. It contains explicit language and is not suitable for all audiences. Not all cancer patient’s experiences will be the same.

Now that CC is officially done with chemo - YAY! And feeling better each day - we can share (with humor) this conversation about CC’s radiation and chemo side effects. Even in the tough moments CCnDoc found humor and were committed to keeping a positive outlook! She got through it and so can you. You are stronger than you know!

CC’s radiation was a new short course IMRT (25 days worth in 5 days) and chemo was Folxfox 6. She had some atypically extreme side effects with radiation which led to a 20 lb weight loss in less than a month. Effective, but not a diet she recommends! She was to do a minimum of 6 and a max of 8 rounds of chemo. The oncologist stopped her at round 7 in order to avoid further neurotoxicity and permanent damage…

CC was considered an “under processor” of chemo which is not as it sounds. Her body and especially her neurology did not like it, which means it took longer to process and get out of her system each round. She had some intense and more rare side effects. As she says, “I was luckier than some, unluckier than others.” Some of the symptoms that CC experienced were not typical for many patients, yet some are very common among her peer group, though not always discussed by research papers; and thus communicating these to her oncologist became critical. Our biggest advice: ALWAYS make sure your docs and nurses know your side effects and their severity! Regardless of how rare a side effect is, if you are experiencing it, let them know!

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