In the past, I heard many scary stories about the damage that chemotherapy can do to our body. I also saw on TV dramas and movies the dramatic side effects from chemotherapy. As a results, I was very worried when I have to go through cycles of chemotherapy. I did research to gather as much information as I can to prepare myself for the chemo.

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to stop cancer cells dividing and reproducing themselves. The medicines flow through the bloodstream to nearly every part of the body, damaging cells that are rapidly dividing and growing. Normal healthy cells can repair the damage caused by chemotherapy, but cancer cells cannot and so they eventually die. Certain parts of the body consist of normal cells that are rapidly dividing and growing, and are therefore especially sensitive to chemotherapy drugs. These parts of the body include the bone marrow (which makes blood cells), the hair follicles, the lining of the mouth and the digestive system. As a result, patients may experience side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth sores or tiredness. Medication will usually be prescribed to minimise these side effects. These side effects go away after treatment stops.

Chemotherapy is generally given in cycles. A cycle consists of a session of chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells followed by a rest period that allows the normal cells and tissues to recover.  The specific medicine or combination recommended, as well as the frequency of the treatment, depend on a number of things – kind of cancer, its location, a person’s height and weight, and how quickly the healthy normal cells recover from the treatment.

After going through 3 cycles of chemo (I have completed my 3rd chemo on 12/Jan), I feel that chemo is not as scary as many people thought. The only major side effect that I have experience is hair lost after first chemo. There is no big deal about hair loss since it is not painful and only temporary. I was told initially that I will lose my eye brows and lashes but most of them are still intact. I asked Dr. Lim does it mean that the chemo drugs is not effective on me since I don’t have major side effects? He said it is not logical to have such comment. Different people react differently to chemo and hence, the degree of side effects also vary. I might be the lucky one that can tolerate the chemo drugs very well. This could be due to my biology and that I am strong and young. He cautioned that I might experience more side effects as I go through more chemos. True enough, after the 3rd chemo, I have body ache and feel lethargic that last for 4 days compared to 2 days after the 2nd chemo. I also feel nausea when I smell fish and garlic. However, these side effects are manageable. My mum avoids using too much garlic in her cooking and has also switched to fried fish or put on more sauce to remove the fishy smell. I feel that it is not too difficult to overcome the side effects with some adjustments and adaptations.

I used to be very health conscious, careful of what I eat and try to exercise regularly. Therefore, I was surprised when I was diagnosed with Lymphoma and there was no explanation on how I got it. Well, it could be fated or it could my biology that I am more prone to the virus. However, I am glad that I have built a strong body in the past which is useful now to be able to tolerate the treatments to fight against the cancer cells.