The Upside of Chemo Side Effects

 So you thought Chemotherapy was going to be all nasty side effects, feeling awful, looking for answers, wondering what to expect next, well yes- that's all true.

However, there is an upside to your chemotherapy side effects. No, I'm not completely insane. Well, there are times my family would disagree with you, but I digress. 

The point is you are busy with those side effects. They take up your thoughts and you put so much effort into managing them. 

Are you too tired to do the laundry, what's my alternative? Do I take a nap or empty the dishwasher? Why are my hands burning and why won't it stop? Do I feel nauseous enough o take my antinausea meds or am I concerned about being constipated later? If I take something to ensure I won't be constipated, what happens if I end up with diarrhea from my chemo? (Notice a recurring concern here). Will all of my hair fall out at once or will it be a more gradual thinning? Where can I buy good head covers for my balding head? Will I feel better if I buy a silk pillowcase for said balding head? What about bamboo sheets or nightgowns? Did I wash my port shirt? Did I email all of my friends or post an update on facebook? Do I feel like calling my sister? 

The list goes on and on. 

Sometimes you spend time thinking about whether or not you're too tired to do something or if you're in the mood to speak to some people about what you're going through. It's not that you don't want social interaction. Sometimes it takes up a lot of energy–sometimes you don't want a pep talk. 

There are so many things we deal with and think about with our chemo side effects that it becomes all-consuming. That's right all-consuming. So here's the good news. You're not spending time thinking about how effective the chemo might be. You're not thinking about the long-term consequences of having cancer or any recurrence. 

Yes, you thought about those things in the beginning and those thoughts may come into your head from time to time. However, you're so involved with what's happening to you at this very moment that those things are not in the foreground of your thoughts. 

So let's try to be positive and deal with any crappy side effects that may hit us upside the head like a sledgehammer or sneak into our consciousness like a thief in the night (before doorbell cameras). These treatments are only for a short moment in time, or so I tell myself.