It recently hit me that I haven’t shared a cancer treatment update in over two months (and let’s be honest, that last one was overdue too). A few folks have reached out to ask how I’m doing, and I realized it’s time to check in.
First off, thank you. Truly. The calls, texts, cards, gifts, messages—and especially the prayers—have meant the world. Staying connected has been a lifeline, and I’m so grateful.
Now, the reason I’ve been quiet? I haven’t had much to report. And that’s actually great news. Knocking on wood as I type.
This past week marked my 8th chemo treatment: 4 rounds of AC (aka the “Red Devil”) and 4 of Taxol. That leaves 8 more weekly Taxol infusions, and then—if all goes as planned—this phase will be complete.
After my 4th and final AC treatment, my oncologist was genuinely surprised by how well my body was tolerating the chemo. Dr. Carlson said I was handling it like a champ. With AC, I had maybe one or two days of feeling “off”—a weird combo of vertigo, heart racing, and mid-afternoon fatigue around days 5–8 post-infusion. But even that was short-lived.
Taxol has been even gentler. I hesitate to call them “side effects,” but here’s what I’ve noticed: slightly restless sleep, nightly toe and ankle cramps (right foot only - weird!), some restless body syndrome (I think I coined that term myself because it isn't just my legs, lol) and a few manageable hot flashes. That’s it. During my infusion I am given Benadryl through my port and it has hit me like a ton of bricks causing me to work from home in the afternoon but after a few hours, I am as good as new.
If you’d told me this would be my experience, I wouldn’t have believed you. Because let’s be real—this is not the norm.
From everything I’ve read, and from conversations with my care team, I was bracing for a laundry list of symptoms at different degrees:
- Extreme fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Taste changes
- Mouth sores
- Skin and nail issues
- Brain fog
- Digestive drama
- Nerve damage
- Bone pain
To help prevent some of these, I’ve been proactive. I take a Claritin every day to reduce bone pan - don't ask me how that works - even the doctors aren't sure, but it is working, no bone pain has crept up. During AC, I sucked on ice to ward off mouth sores. With Taxol, I wear frozen mitts and booties for an hour during infusions to help prevent neuropathy. So far, so good.
This last week, I voiced my concern to my Physician’s Assistant—wondering if the lack of side effects meant the chemo wasn’t working. Cue the familiar feeling of breast cancer imposter syndrome. She reassured me with a smile, “This stuff is so toxic, there’s no way it’s not doing its job.” She also shared that many of her patients who are now years into remission had minimal side effects during treatment. That perspective gave me a much-needed dose of peace.
As I step into week 9 of chemo and welcome October—Breast Cancer Awareness Month—I want to pause and urge you to take care of yourselves. If you haven’t scheduled your mammogram, please do it. Don’t wait. Being proactive about your health isn’t just important—it can be lifesaving. Early detection is everything, and I’m living proof of that.
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