Life of a Chemo Patient

That’s what characterizes the life of a chemo patient. At least in my case, as there seem to be very few with whom I can compare my situation. The neuropathy, in the classical sense, is obvious. Even those who don’t see themselves as chemo patients know how long lasting and painful neuropathy can be after finalising cancer treatment. The fatigue is another aspect that is well known to former cancer patients. With one small remark, the vast majority received radiation treatment, I did not.

This morning I woke up with a strange feeling in my left leg. Every day I wake up with this high pitch vibration combined with the RLS symptoms but, as I said, this morning was different. In addition to the regular stuff, the skin of my left foot and calf felt as if being stretched and I felt a strange pressure in my ankle. Last night I already had a first inkling of what was awaiting me as I noticed that my left leg and foot started swelling again. Cellulitis. It’s funny, the cause is said to be a bacteria. But it is also a side effect of my “favorite” drug, the one they put up my spinal fluid, cytarabine.

Normally those side effects occur during or shortly after the treatment and the explanation probably would be that it is related to the immune suppression caused by the treatment. In my case, my very first case of cellulitis occurred 7 months afterwards. My immune system has recovered nicely and swiftly, not even a cold has touched me since. Doctors are skeptic when I make the link with cytarabine as there is very little knowledge of the long term affects. However, this is the 3rd time I got cellulitis in the last 1.5 years.

But if there is anything for which I will be remembered it’s the fact that my body reacts differently from what is considered to be standard.