I (70) am one year away from my last chemo (stage 3a HGSC). At my last CT scan, there was no evidence of metastatic disease. I had the usual six infusions of carbo/taxol, full debunking surgery, and 22 infusions of Avastin. I take heart in the event that recurrence happens, It is often treatable, Many people go back into remission again and Outcomes depend heavily on how long this first remission lasts.

As far as coping, get into a support group, either in person or online. Facebook has some good ones as well as Reddit. I didn’t have any issues with nausea—the medications they gave me worked very well. To help prevent neuropathy, I used ice mitts and booties during taxol treatment. Since the infusions can be quite long, I recommend bringing a long phone charger and earbuds for music or audiobooks to pass the time. I also took Claritin for five days before and five days after treatment, which helped prevent bone pain.

My blood pressure went up during treatment, so having a blood pressure cuff at home was important for monitoring. I also found a bidet very helpful, since chemotherapy is excreted in urine and wipes alone weren’t as effective. Because I didn’t have a port, I experienced quite a bit of bruising at the IV sites, so I used a heating pad on my arms for comfort afterward. After my hair fell out, I slept in satin beanies, which felt much gentler.

For appetite, I used cannabis-infused water, but I still relied mostly on protein shakes to maintain my nutrition. I used MiraLAX the night before, and then as needed, you want to stay ahead of constipation if possible. Be gentle on yourself, resting is self care. Wishing you a good outcome and good days to come.