Update on Cervical Cancer Journey (First Few Weeks)

Update on my cervical cancer journey so far.

Week 1 – I started my first round of radiation and chemo on my 34th birthday 😑 It started off well, but by the end of the day was starting to fight severe nausea. For the first round, I had to take two chemo pills an hour before, to help with nausea, then 3 more pills to help the chemo do it’s job. 😐 FYI prior to this cancer experience of mine, I didn’t even take Tylenol for headaches.. I was very against medication in my body. As I fought through the nausea, the only thing the doctor would recommend was more meds. Take gravol, take this prescription strength gravol. My body rejected it all. I ended up getting the worst case of dehydration that week. To the point that all I could do was throw up, have insane diarrhea 🤯.. Lost 9 lbs from it. During that time, it was still a priority to be at the hospital Monday to Friday for radiation, as well as blood work and oncologist appts. I struggled hard week 1.

Week 2 – They switched up my meds, changed my chemo pill to one pill, as well as took down my nausea pill for the chemo to 2 pills rather than 3. Made a HUGE difference.. I was able to somewhat function.. and by function I literally mean just get out of bed, eat, have a bath.. and maybe walk around for 30 mins depending on the day. Getting my daughters ready for school, fed, dressed and then homework when they got home was so tough. I’m still super mom to them though 😭 It broke me down mentally inside that I was so tired… My second chemo infusion went much better though after I was hydrated first for 2 hours before giving me my cisplastin. I find for me chemo is going better than the actual daily radiation appts. Radiation is making me so very ill, and the balance of having a full bladder is tough. 75% full, too full.. can’t do it.. try again in a few minutes. Week 2 I was subjected to much more radiation then what was needed 💯Week 3 – The typical weekly schedule is Monday’s is radiation, Tuesday’s is nurse appt and radiation, Wednesday’s is bloodwork, Oncologist appt for chemo, radiation, Thursday’s are for radiation oncologist appts and radiation, Friday’s is full day of chemo / radiation. I cannot even believe how much it feels like a FT job when you have cancer. No matter how tired you are, you still have to show up daily. I was able to fight off nausea this week except the Thursday once the meds wore off. I managed to get 7 lbs of weight back from the first week which is a big celebration to me. Chemo wasn’t the greatest because they put the IV in my damn elbow, but aside from that not much complaints. Radiation was still the toughest to deal with, and still is.

Starting week 4 – Yesterday before my radiation appt, I was able to meet with a nutritionist who mentioned I should be eating twice as much as the typical adult right now.. which I haven’t been doing  So we pinpointed some areas in my diet that needed to be picked up, like my protein intake. I’m not hitting my numbers and it will severely affect my energy right now. Best appt I’ve had so far, because she didn’t recommend pills, so gave me healthier tools to help. I somehow managed to get my period yesterday on top of all this  ( which they told me wouldn’t happen) 🤯  and I woke up to blisters on my radiation areas overnight.  Awesome! I have been battling heartburn, but really that’s nothing compared to the rest of the crap. I have a busy week ahead still, but am hoping I can get myself back on track with the help of my nutritionist. I’ll keep you posted!

Next Friday is my last chemo infusion before I head out of town for my brachytherapy appts. I’m bloody terrified for these two separate treatments. Unfamiliar hospital hours away, staff, being put asleep ( never have been put asleep ) pain levels, medicine they will pump me with, catheters, more CT scans and MRIs and then the actual blasting of the tumour internally, Rods in my uterus for 24 hours and not being able to move … I’m in the hospital for 48 hours each treatment and they are 10 days apart. The one thing they say can happen is your uterus can weld itself shut from this procedure 🤯 like good lord!! That’s not nice! I’m tough.. ima face every obstacle, every mountain they throw my way… but as strong as I may seem, this has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve prayed every single day for strength.

If I can give one thing to one of my followers, it’s truly to not put yourself last. I have two girls who look up to me, and I made the bad example of showing that I didn’t respect my own body. Make the yearly appt to get checked, no matter how embarrassing it may be, or how healthy you think you are… I wouldn’t wish this process on anyone, especially moms who are raising their kids alone. It’s hard! I was naive, and figured it wouldn’t happen to me. I felt great, looked great and didn’t have any symptoms. Love yourself enough to know that you only have one body and it’s only on you to take care of it.

I will continue to keep you updated on this journey. I’m hoping my truths about the process will help even just one of yous.