Second Chemo

Hospitalized again for my second round of chemotherapy. This time in Jingfu Ward.

After the first round, besides the pain from my surgical wound, the side effects were even more severe. First, there was nausea and loss of appetite. Although I took self-paid anti-nausea medication, seeing the nearly NT$800 chemotherapy meal boxes delivered fresh still made me nauseous every time. I switched to ordering a bunch of takeout food, but as soon as I opened them, I suddenly lost my appetite, leaving my husband, who is very frugal with food, to clean up after me.

The doctor advised me to eat as much as possible and not lose weight. I could only try to eat small, frequent meals and take supplements. My favorite was H's ice cream; I happily ate a small tub every day without worrying about gaining weight from the high calories. It was the biggest comfort and satisfaction amidst the discomfort of chemotherapy!

The second side effect was—my skin became sensitive and fragile. A light touch would cause bruising, and a scratch would break the skin, even forming blisters. I had to apply lotion all over my body and trim all my nails to prevent accidental scratches and bleeding.

The third side effect—extreme drowsiness. I always thought of myself as an energetic, inexhaustible battery, but after chemotherapy, I found myself binge-watching TV shows until I fell asleep completely. Well, that's alright; after decades of hard work, this is a legitimate reason to rest.

The fourth and most troublesome side effect—severe hair loss. No matter how careful I am, clumps of hair are still falling out. I used to be proud of my thick, lustrous hair, but at this rate, I'll probably be bald soon.

My husband tried his best to comfort me, saying, "You'll still be beautiful even bald!"

I was quite optimistic: "It's okay, I can go on a wig-hunting spree and try different styles! Besides, my hair grows back quickly, so don't worry!"

Severe side effects from just the first round of chemotherapy; I still have 11 more rounds to endure. However, compared to the life-or-death situation, these side effects are insignificant!