In October, after my fourth chemo treatment, I cycled on my Brompton across the Peak District to Stockport to see my Dad, a two-day trip, and I camped wild again this time. So nice!
This ride was much hillier than the first three chemo rides I have done, near London. I didn't know how I would feel on the climbs, so I scaled things down, hoping it would be doable... But, well, you'll see what happened...
It had taken me longer to recover after this treatment, but as it was my last one, I just waited a bit longer until I felt better. I loved the ride, but I was surprised how weak I was. I had to scale my route back further during the ride - I'd really lost strength, and struggled to lift the bike - my legs and arms and everything just wouldn't do what I wanted them to do. And I've lost resilience too. The two-day trip wasn't that hard really, but on day two, I had nothing really left.
Never mind! I'm starting other treatments now, which have side effects too, but should be easier. The hospital say that exercise is brilliant for mitigating the side effects - and obviously is good anyway, just for keeping well and cheerful. So now I'm going to focus on building up more exercise, to get stronger again. I don't need to be fast or do anything difficult. I just want to be strong enough to pedal around the place and enjoy everything, to the max.
I'm not planning anything fancy, just going to try do what NHS recommend for adults ie 150 mins moderate or 75 mins harder exercise per week. I can mostly build it into daily life, eg run to the local shop, and cycle to see friends and things. I've been using the stairs, and walking and cycling whenever I can through chemo, but now I'll add teeny-tiny runs, and circuit training at home (sorry to the neighbouring flats! I'll try and jump softly).
I am sure it will work. There are so many roads and routes I want to do, and people and places I want to see. So, I need to be fitter. Here we go!
The background is that earlier this year, my breast cancer came back. I had an operation and have been on chemo since July. After each chemo treatment, I have felt terrible, but then gradually feel better. Getting out on the bike and camping - and just the hope and thought of it - has been brilliant, a huge plus in the whole thing.
In case it is useful for anyone else, I've put more about the chemo I had, and the side effects below.
Hope you enjoy the film! See you soon!
So I was on TC Chemotherapy (Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide). I had a treatment once every 3 weeks. Different people have different side effects. These are the side effects I had:
1 Exhaustion - I was super tired in the first week after each treatment. After the last one, it went on longer, more than two weeks. I did micro walks, then gradually a bit more eg small bike rides. Gradually the tiredness wears off.
2 Nausea - the steroids and anti sickness pills they gave me largely worked. When I did feel sick, I find it helps to go outside in fresh air. And after a few days I was OK again.
3 Hand & foot neuropathy - the chemo can damage the nerves, so that you can't feel things with your fingers and feet go numb, and lose balance etc. To try and ward it off, I used ice socks and held ice packs (not sure this really works but tried anyway). And did boring physio at home 40 mins each day. This has worked, or well, anyway, my hands and feet are OK fortunately.
4 Painful skin on hands. This is because the skin becomes thin. It hurt to do things like open bottle tops, fasten buttons etc, and when I touch anything warm eg even toast, it feels painfully hot. After a while the skin goes hard and sort of peels off. This is better now.
5 Hair falls out. Ah well. Never mind. I am still bald but it will grow back hopefully.
6 Skin really sensitive to sun - I used Factor 50 suncream as the hosp recommended.
7 Sores and ulcers in my mouth - I gargled with salt water after every meal. Worked really well.
8 Low immunity - this one is really serious. Basically I kept away from people, and didn't go inside places. The only public transport I went on was the trains I use for cycle camping trips. I carried a card the hospital gave me, that warns I am at risk of neutropenic sepsis. For cuts and bites etc when camping I took care and had antiseptic spray with me, and plasters.
9 Eye infections - I have had repeated conjunctivitis and blepharitis (infected eyelids). My eyes still water the whole time and my nose runs. Still struggling with that.
10 Water tasted horrible for about a week after each treatment so I drank milk and orange juice. Coffee and tea tasted horrible too for about 10 days.
11 Tongue went yellow and furry and mouth tastes yuck and feels slimy, in week two. It got better each time, after about a week.
So these are the side effects I've had. Everyone is different, but I've jotted mine down, in case anyone else finds it helpful.
Best wishes!
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