I spent a long time (maybe an hour or more) with my oncologist during my first consultation before deciding on doing chemotherapy. But that’s only once. Ever since then, I may have held the record for the shortest consultation among the other patients, pretty much every round of chemotherapy.
Here’s kinda what I told my doctor about my 8th cycle…
“Hello!”
“I felt really really tired — unlike before. My body was sore and I didn’t feel like getting out of bed. When I went back to work after my MC, I got home feeling like I went for a hike. I was so tired.”
“I got my menstrual right after the chemo also. I thought I wouldn’t get it until I finish all my chemo treatments because it has been delayed for 2 weeks. But my menstrual came and it was flooding — it was quite shocking. Maybe that’s why I was so tired. I was on my menstrual.”
“I was feeling very oily too. Like super oily. I could feel the oil bursting out from my skin. Is it possible that it’s caused by hormonal change because I was on my menstrual? (I learned about this from my boss who shared about her oily days during pregnancy.)”
“Remember I was complaining about pain at my lower abdomen? I went back to my surgeon and he said I probably tore something. So I’m currently on daily constipation med so not to burden my abdomen more and worsen the injury.”
“I got 2 white blood cells boosters the week after my chemo. This time around, I didn’t get the body ache I got the last time.”
“Oh. My hair fall is starting to reduce already. I guess that’s good news.”
“I noticed that every time I do chemo, I get little bums, like rashes, all over my face, neck and chest. They get better a week after chemo. I’m guessing my body is heaty because of the chemo?”
“I have this weird sensation on my tongue. I don’t have appetite to eat.”
“That’s it. How’s my blood test result?”
*short chatters about my blood test result*
“And I need MC.”
“Thank you!”
It may seem lengthy but with my bullet train-like speech, I’d be done with this almost monologue within 5 minutes. Yeah, it’s almost a monologue because I kept making own inferences and comments as I told the doctors about my symptoms. Besides that, my oncologist Prof Dr Ho is a emphatic listener so he’d just hear me out, nod and acknowledge from time to time and give his few words whenever necessary.
I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t need long consultations. Things are looking normal and there’s not much concern, other than my low platelets and white blood cells post-chemo that has been delaying my chemo schedule.
Photos of me during the two weeks gap until the next chemo cycle:
Till the next chemotherapy update!