Cancer 101 – according to Cheri

It is hard to imagine what it is like to live with cancer. I thought I would share some of my experiences.

When you ask a cancer survivor, “How are you”, the person typically says “fine”, “ok”, etc.

The person will also look fairly good from the outside. Well, cancer mostly hits the inside of the body, so you don’t see how the person really feels. During treatments, many folks have constant nausea and at times it is all one can do to keep from puking. Energy level is very low as well. For me, sometimes I have to rest after getting dressed or taking a shower.

Folks who are in “remission” and not getting treatments have the subconscious worry of the cancer returning. Many times (such as my recent case), the cancer can come back with a vengeance and can multiply so fast that the “victim” can feel it growing.

There are many different kinds of cancer, each with different cell structures; therefore, different methods of treatment. Ovarian cancer alone has 3 main types and as many as 30 sub types. Also, everyone’s body reacts differently to treatments. It is nice to get ideas of treatments from friends; however, realize that just because something worked on your cousin’s cancer, doesn’t mean it will work on everyone’s.

Yes, there are articles about folks who have “beat” cancer by doing daily coffee enemas and downing lots of carrot juice and pills. Some folks can do this, but it is not for me. I will do yoga, acupuncture, healthy foods, hypnotic healing, exercise, … though.

Treatments also affect everyone differently. For example, my radiation was full on to my brain and my spine. Effects from this would be different from someone who has directed radiation to a tumor in their breast.

For me, this treatment went through various side effects. Brain function was impaired (balance and thought), I couldn’t swallow for a while, I lost hearing in my right ear, I couldn’t keep food down for periods of time, lost 15 lbs., headaches, right fingers are numb, nauseous most the time, so tired at times that I struggled to dress myself.

Luckily my radiation treatments are finished and my body is slowly getting stronger.

Chemotherapy is also different for each person. There are many different types of drugs with just as many different side effects. The Chemotherapy I had made me nauseous, sometimes vomit uncontrollably and feel like I had the flu. Since I got it every 3 weeks, I would have about 1 ½ weeks of feeling sick, then 1 ½ weeks of getting stronger before being hit again.

I hope this helps give a little insight into life with cancer.