Post chemo and radiotherapy update

Lots of people have asked me how I’m feeling lately.

It’s a little over a month since I finished five weeks of radiotherapy, and a little over three months since my last dose of chemotherapy.

I am good. I am happy.

The main side effect that’s hanging around is neuropathy in my fingertips during the day and pins and needles in my hands overnight. It came on in November, about a month after my last chemo dose, and has stayed. It can be really painful in my hands as I wake up in the morning especially, and has it affected my sleep occasionally. The neuropathy impacts my dexterity – I find it hard to scratch and do up buttons. The cancer doctors and nurses tell me the neuropathy and pins and needles will probably go away, but they don’t know when, and there’s no treatment. And so that adds to my anxiety of waiting. There’s so much waiting with cancer.

I also get tired easily, and I can’t do as many things in a day as i used to. This has been a lesson in boundary setting and self care – I am prioritising rest.

I’ve started exercise – which is a big feat for me as I don’t enjoy it much. But I need to get strong and build muscle and tone. And to my surprise, I’m enjoying it! I’ve been going to a yoga class for cancer survivors, plus I’ve done Zumba and reformer Pilates classes at my local leisure centre. I am starting slow with some modified moves. I feel strong and happy during Yoga and Pilates especially. Also – for my chronic illness friends – yes I’ve tried yoga, and I’ve still got ichthyosis!

I am back at work now. So happy for purpose and connection. Though I welcome more freelance work please – if you want to hire me for speaking, writing, content creation collabs, accessibility training, sensitivity reading or consulting, please message me. Thank you.

I am enjoying raw fish, soft cheese, salad, oysters and the occasional alcoholic drink again, after avoiding these almost entirely during treatment (apart from the treat day following blood test results post chemo). As mentioned, I’m loving fruit a lot!

I’m maintaining weight, which is a relief. My hair is also growing thick and strong, and rarely falls out.I love it.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin, wearing a long green, pink and gold floral dress, belted with a gold wrap belt, pink shoes, black sunglasses and a pink floral scarf on her head. She’s standing in the shade under trees. She’s got her hands on her hips in the first photo and is carrying a big yellow flower shaped bag with sunflowers and ribbons on it.

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