Minakshi Ray talks about her experience – the weird and the wonderful - while being treated for breast cancer.
I was scheduled for my first chemotherapy session on April 17, 2013. Even though I believe “ignorance is bliss” sometimes, and I dared not search for information on side effects on the all-pervasive Google, it was difficult to shield myself from information overload on the matter from sources primary, secondary and tertiary! Full of apprehension, I checked into the hospital and submitted myself completely to the caring hands of my oncologist and the nurses, clinging tightly on to my husband, my powerhouse of strength and support. Despite my effort to act brave and stay calm, the sight of the hook-shaped needle was enough to send me into an overdrive of panic and fear. Needles of any thickness bring out the child in me and I lose all sense of logic and sanity! I failed to understand logically why there had to be a needle prick in spite of the insertion of the “port-a-cath”!!
After some feeble arguments, I resigned with tears rolling down cheeks, sobbing profusely even though the needle was fixed with minimum of pain... The nurse wore a puzzled look as he had difficulty reconciling the image of the ‘apparently’ strong lady walking in with that of the “frightened as a kid” image that he just saw. After the difficult bit, the nurses kept me entertained by teasing me, sharing jokes with me on matters mundane and serious to prep me up and gave me a blanket permission to punch them right in the face if the pain became unacceptable during the session.
The Spa effect
When it was over and it was time to leave, I felt as if I was walking out of a Spa after a rejuvenating treatment! Their kind words, gentle gestures and continuous assurance that all would be over in no time and I would bounce back to life again, was more than enough to rejuvenate my body, mind and soul as a spa treatment would have done to my body and mind!
They were actually injecting me with “a dose of life” in the form of those medicines!!
I always walked into the clinic for the balance of sessions with a wide and bright smile, with a dash of make-up, wearing my favourite perfume and an unshakable faith that these treatments would enhance my life. After all, life is a precious gift and we should thank the Almighty for that precious gift as many times as we can. A little bit of pain and suffering only makes us better prepared for a tougher battle!
Side effects – the good, weird and ugly
Having said all that, the side effects were at times overwhelmingly overpowering! Nausea, exhaustion, mouth sores, aversion to certain smells and tastes make the going difficult, no doubt, but as the doctor advised, keeping myself engaged was the only option not to pay too much of attention to all that. I went back to work again even when I was undergoing the therapies and that worked wonders for my mental health!
As regards what “I should eat”, the oncologist did not restrict anything! About 6-7 days after the chemo session, I would be hit by different food cravings. I particularly loved munching on fruits like grapes, oranges and banana. My morning start-up used to be a big bowl of salad with sprouts, pomegranate seeds, tomatoes, cucumber, boiled potato cubes, berries with a dash of honey, lemon juice and seasoned with salt and pepper (Salad? Early morning? I cannot even imagine that in the normal course of life!). Keeping myself hydrated with fluids was a bit of a challenge though, as after every session, my taste buds would react unpredictably. So, after the first chemo session, I only felt like drinking lemon water and I downed gallons. After the second session, I couldn’t stand lemon-water and could only drink apple juice. And so it went... Laban (an Arabic drink made of yoghurt) after the third, plain cold milk after the fourth, water with a little rock salt after the fifth, and plain water after the sixth!
The taste buds only accepted food with minimum spices in it. Cravings for foods of all kinds would jolt me out of slumber even in the middle of night and I would rush to the kitchen to re-fuel. At times I wondered whether it was the side effect of chemotherapy or I was pregnant for the third time!
Typically the side effects used to nag me for 6/7 days after the therapy and life would go back to fourth gear after the mandatory 7-days of little discomfort till the next session. But even during the first week after treatment, I did eat... whatever my taste buds allowed – rice, curry without spices, boiled vegetables, plenty of tangy fruit, fish (but no chicken or mutton).
Food for thought
For all those who are currently undergoing treatment:
• Follow your oncologist’s advice to the letter
• Consult him/her for any of your concerns (it might seem trivial to others but your doctor understands exactly how much attention the symptom should get). Never seek opinion from people who have no expert knowledge. Even if a person has gone through something similar to you, remember, your experience may be completely different as each body reacts to the medicines in a unique way.
• Eat whatever gives you comfort and top up your fluid level at all points of time
• Do whatever keeps you happy and keep yourself engaged
• Stay on top of medications always and I think, even if it is not a pleasant experience, it will not be unbearable.
Even if these do not help, just think of it as an exotic Spa treatment – you will emerge as a stronger and more beautiful person than you used to be when it is all over!!
Editor's Note : These are the views of the author. Please make sure you check with your oncologist as well
