Hi Hazel, 

I think you'll find a lot of members here on the forum will be able to identify with how you're feeling and what you're going through at the moment and hopefully some of them will reply soon to offer their support and advice. 

If you feel your anxiety is getting a bit too much, it may be worth having a chat with your GP to see if they can help. The Anxiety UK website is full of good advice and tips on how to calm down and keep anxiety at bay so do have a look on there when you can as well. 

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Hazel,

Welcome to the forum - I love your username.

Have you finished your course of chemo, or was this your first cycle? Either way, the combination of chemo and cancer is a lot to put up with emotionally and psychologically.

It's now just over four years since I finished chemo and I can say that over time the anxiety and the side effects slowly wear away - starting with the side effects. It is only natural that after your immune system has taken such a battering you worry about every little thing that you'd normally just shrug off. I was only really sure my immune system was back to normal when I caught flu a few months after finishing chemo and recovered in the same time scale as my wife did. 

If you're between cycles, rather than finished chemo altogether, your anxiety is actually a sensible defence mechanism which will help steer you clear of possible infection. There's a World of difference between paranoia and raised awareness. 

If things are starting to get you down, don't hesitate to talk to your GP. A few months after finishing chemo I suffered from terrible insomnia which was caused by "what if" type anxiety, which left me exhausted and more prone to anxiety and then insomnia - a vicious circle. A short course of an anti-anxiety medication from my GP helped me through this by breaking the circle. Other anti-anxiety remedies (such as yoga) are available :-)

Best wishes
Dave

Hi! 

So so sorry to hear what you are going through. I finished my chemo in may but still sufffer from side effects that is the joint ache mainly. I normally refer myself to an old lady as I probably walk like one!! I used to be very nauseous, tired, and constipated after chemo, all these common side affects. I did catch the flu after my first chemo, but only because I went back to work too early. I was in hospital for two days. I was advised not to take any paracetamol as this could disguise an infection. I think chemo is the hardest thing I have ever done in all my life and believe it or not this is going on my CV. All that I can tell you is to stay strong, be looked after by your family and of course contact medical professionals if you need to. Hopefully the treatment will go quickly. Look after yourself and all the best. X