Long Term Side Effects: The Good and The Bad

How could I be approaching 6 years since I finished chemo?! It seems like such a long time ago but at the same time it seems like yesterday.

It was October of 2017 and I had completed my 12 weeks of Taxol. Finally, I was done putting that “poison” into my body. I remember being so afraid and wanting to avoid chemo at all costs. I repeatedly asked, “Why me?!” I cried knowing I had spent most of my life trying to be a health advocate. I always had an interest in diet and exercise. As a teen, I used to read health articles and magazines just for fun and loved finding out about the newest “super” food or latest exercise trend. So you can imagine just the thought of chemo scared me and I wasn’t sure how I would ever recover from it.

Recover I did! Yes, it was a slow process. Not much different than before, I took one day at a time. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. My body needed to rest. I still kept moving the best I could. Today, I am still dealing with toe nails barely hanging on and need to return to the doctor to deal with this once again. However, I only see my oncologist once a year and my energy is almost where it used to be. I have a much better outlook on life than I used to. I’m truly grateful for everyday and find joy in the little things. The most fun fact is that I can wear all those cute tops that require no bra now and my hair is back to normal!

The thoughts of the cancer returning is always in the back of my mind. It makes it much more difficult because I am in contact with so many cancer survivors around the world and it is devastating each time someone becomes metastatic and stage 4. We truly need to focus on more research specifically for stage 4 cancer so that there can be more options and treatments available to that population. You would be heartbroken if you knew how many young women have lost their lives when the cancer returned. If you ever consider donating, please make sure they focus on research.

Wishing you all my best always!!

Me working the red carpet in Laguna Beach, CA this past August 2023. Notice the hair and no bra 😉😜

THE SIDE EFFECTS THEY DON’T TELL YOU ABOUT...

It’s bad enough you are going to lose your hair, right?! But sadly, the doctors brush over the many other side effects that can also be very difficult to manage. Hair loss is not only on your head. You lose ALL body hair, including eyelashes and eyebrows! Your nails become brittle and you may even lose a few, I did. Some, like me, suffer horrible mouth sores. Mine were so bad I could not eat or swallow from the pain in my mouth and throat. I also experienced horrible nosebleeds during chemo. They would last for 20-30 minutes and there was nothing I could do to stop them.

Of course, the nausea is bad and expected and also many suffer from neuropathy (tingling and pain) in their fingers and toes that can last for many months if not years. Ultimately, I was really one of the lucky ones, my symptoms were mild compared to others!

For my cancer survivors who follow me, what did you experience? What did I miss? For those just starting chemo, please let me know if I can help you in any way!!!