Long term effects of chemo

Like Ernestine, I, too, experience long term effects from chemo.  My bones hurt worse now than they did a year ago.  I had breast cancer three years ago.  The doctors tell me that my pain can't be from the chemo, but it feels exactly like the pain I had with chemo.  Nothing else I have ever known hurts like this.  Has anyone done any long term studies about the long term effects of chemo?  How can I find out more?  Are there other cancer survivors out there who also feel the way I do?  Telling me I shouldn't be hurting when I do hurt only adds insult to injury.  Thanks,
dragonfish


This discussion is related to The long-term side effects of chemotherapy..

[egdf]

Before i comment , I would like to know how you are feeling now ?
I hope better. What is going on w/ you now ?

[meesh820]

Hi, I had Epirubicen, CMF, radiation and Herceptin. It is now 4 years since diagnosis, 2.5 years since my treatment finished and I know I have many side effects from chemo still and these are in the main permanent.
My veins are ruined from my hand up to my neck noticeably (and probably all of my veins are affected). My thinking is foggy. My right eye still hurts, and has been ever since chemo. My feet ache severely (neuropathy or something like that). Gums greatly receded. I have a small percentage chance I'll get leukemia. Another chance should I live more than ten years I shall get a chemo/radio therapy induced cancer. My fecundity has gone and so I have aged phenomenally. I still am physically fatigued.
My main bugbear is my mind, I can no longer think with clarity. Chemo has taken my personality away.
Why can't oncs be honest, I know they are doing what they think is best, but we should be given raw statistics rather than those manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies. Honesty, it's what we want, but never get.
I went through all of that and it has only increased my chance of surviving by a few percent. I should have been made aware of that from the outset. And should I live longer, it has reduced my chance of surviving!

[cranks]

i thought it was just me the pain i feel is disabling at times the hercepton damaged my heart that i can prove but my pain in my hands,neck lower back and feet is completely ignored and the fog i am lost in is even more frightening my daught sometimes has to ask me a question three times before i comprehend what she is saying

[cranks]

i truely feel your pain i had lympoma in 1987 and was maxed out for life with raditionand was given chemo drug they no longer use.in 2004 the treatment for my first cancer caused my breast cancer i had chemo and hercepton .the hercepton damaged my heart and i am sure that i will never recieve an honest answer as to what drug stole brain i am lost in the fog sometimes my daughter must ask me a question three times before i comprehend what she has said and i still have chonic pain in my neck lower back left hip both hands and feet

[katarina777]

Are any of you on hormonal treatment? Because if you are, that would be my first accused.

I also have many of your symptoms, and the short term memory problems are major.

Not sure what any of this is from, but I also do not expect an answer from my oncologist and/or most anyone else in the doctor department. I am not sure they are liars necessarily but more ignorant?

Of course we woman patients know what we are feeling and how bad it is, and what it means. They don't in the same way.