Surviving cancer & other potholes… A lesson in patience

 

‘ TELL me O Muse…’
‘ Tell me O Muse…’
‘Tell me….’
UGH!
‘Why was this so frustrating!’  I thought as I closed  my book  for the third time this week. I had been trying, very unsuccessfully it would seem, to get past the first few lines of Homer’s Odyssey.
Ok, perhaps this was too heavy for my current short attention span, maybe I should stick to something I already know – I settled on Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets. Yes, my reading choices would suggest I’m a nine year old in the host body of a fully grown adult but even a child could out read me at this rate.
I was now in my third cycle of chemotherapy and my body was adjusting better than I had expected it to, given the way I had started to feel after my second session. Turns out all I needed was to increase my intake of iron via channa and vitamins prescribed by my Doctor.
With my body leveling out, it seemed something was now wrong with my cognitive functions. It wasn’t just hard for my brain to process new information, it seemed it was straining against processing too much, in the speed I was normally accustomed to.
‘Is this what is referred to as ‘chemo brain?’, I tried to remember as I did a quick search on Goggle.com. As I read through various articles I could relate to some of the experiences shared of memory loss.  Recently, I had  found myself starting to forget information I would normally remember within a few minutes of discussing it with someone.
Events, names and dates were hazy at times.  I would forget I had made plans with someone or I would make plans over my previous plans without being aware. The whole thing had become a mess in my head and it felt like stumbling around in a fog.
One article described ‘Chemo brain’ as being ‘foggy’ thus making simple tasks like reading the newspaper, a challenge.
‘Whew!’, I sighed in relief. So I’m not losing it, this was ‘normal’ as it pertained to chemo side effects.  I was a fly amongst spiders. Or wait,  was I a Spider amongst flies? Either way I was out of my element and I wasn’t alone.
According to The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Organization,
“ Recently, the cluster of symptoms known most commonly as “chemo brain” has garnered medical attention in North America initiating  a wave of discussion. Important work is now being done to understand the condition and, more crucially, to help alleviate it”, according to the mystery of chemo brain
The condition commonly involves cognitive changes including reductions in short-term memory and information-processing speed, and limitations or changes in an individual’s ability to organize information. The changes can be subtle and may be noticed only by the person experiencing them. Immune system changes, hormonal fluctuations, the specific side effects of various drugs, crushing overall fatigue, chronic stress, psychological issues, and even the underlying effects of age all play a part in the spectrum of cognitive dysfunction that can manifest around cancer care.
Signs of chemo brain can include:
* Trouble remembering names
* Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
* Lapses in short-term memory or being forgetful
* Inability to find the right word for something
* Problems with planning ahead and organizing things ”
I had been experiencing all listed above with the last two frustrating the daylights out of me. My chemo brain was affecting my ability to enjoy activities and the company of other people.
I felt ‘on edge’ whilst waiting on persons to tell me a story and essentially ‘ get to the point!’ – a phrase my mind screamed, as I listened to them drone on for what seemed like hours. It wasn’t even a minute – this is how bad my nerves had become.
To combat chemo brain, I began to employ some of the hints suggested. I played Sudoku and other brain-training games to help to increase my cognitive function. Exercise became more frequent, but what worked best was just being truthful with the people I interacted with and letting them know  if I felt anxious, frustrated or was having a hard time understanding what they were telling me.
A lesson in cancer is a lesson in chemotherapy; and chemotherapy is a lesson in patience. If there was anything this treatment was teaching me and the people around me, it was patience.

 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.