Round 6 update
Hello and welcome to my Round 6 update on my cancer/chemo journey.
In recent rounds of chemo, most of my side effects have been similar from one round to the next. See:
However, three side effects appear to be getting progressively worse – ie more acute and/or lasting longer. One is the intermittent tongue muscle disfunction (physically can’t get tongue to top of mouth, so I can’t say words containing the letters T, C, S, D, L, or N. Lasts 5-10 minutes when it hits).
Another that appears to be getting worse is a gradual loss of taste. Chocolate – my favourite food group – is losing its appeal!
The most annoying side effect that is getting worse is the ‘peripheral neuropathy’ – nerve sensitivity / pain / damage in fingers and toes from cold temperatures and/or touching cold surfaces. It may be getting worse because of the colder weather as we head into winter, or it may be the accumulation of chemo.
The neuropathy is not just painful and annoying. It can accumulate over time and can take years to repair and/or may become permanent.
Problem is there are cold surfaces everywhere (metal or anything wet are worst), which I accidently touch throughout the day – for example:
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- Getting anything from the fridge – cold surfaces.
- Grabbing door knobs/handles – cold metal.
- Using cutlery – cold metal.
- Grabbing a drink (cold, or even ambient temperature) – cold.
- Grabbing a stair rail – cold metal.
- Grabbing a pole when the bus or train lurches - cold metal.
- Using weights in the gym – cold metal
- Coffee machine – cold metal.
- Chopping food, prepping dinner – cold and wet (worse than just cold).
- Grabbing a torch to get around at night – cold metal.
- Washing hands in cold water – ouch!
- Using hand sanitiser to avoid cold water, but alcohol-based sanitisers are colder than water!
- Just being in a supermarket for more than 5 mins - (not even the frozen section) – cold!
- Hanging up washing on line – cold and wet.
- Changing gears in the car – cold metal.
- Grabbing keys – cold metal.
- Flushing the toilet – cold metal.
Cold surfaces everywhere! Virtually impossible to get through a day without doing nerve damage.
The solution? Gloves!
Gloves for all occasions!
Here are the seven different types of gloves in the photo and their main uses:
- For morning walks – double-layered wool.
- Cold weather mornings (below about 10o) – USB/battery powered heated skiing gloves.
- Around the house, out & about – thin wool.
- Cooking – woollen gloves inside rubber gardening gloves.
- Fridge – thick wool.
- Home gym – rubber with wool lining
- Outside / gardening – rubber gardening gloves.
I have more gloves than these because there are always some in the wash. It’s a bit chaotic, with gloves all over the house, the inevitable odd glove here and there, and sometimes pairs of Rights or Lefts. Reminds me of the chaos with the kids’ socks when they were young.
Equally painful and annoying is the peripheral neuropathy in the toes and feet – also from touching cold surfaces - which I manage with a selection of socks.
Overall
Each day is a new adventure. I’m constantly learning what works and doesn’t work, how what’s going on in one part of the body affects other parts, and how different parts of the chemical mix work.
I am very grateful that I have not yet been hit with any of the really debilitating chemo side effects we hear about. Pretty much back to normal day-to-day life by about day 6 or 7 (ie 3-4 days recovery after 3 days of chemo). Eating well, sleeping well, exercising, digestive system works well (but different). Certainly better than I had been expecting at the outset. I have been lucky.
Now heading into Round 7 of the 12 round plan (12 fortnights).
So far so good-ish!
Finally - a huge thank you once again for all the kind words of support and encouragement I have received from near and far. Very much appreciated!
(Recapping the story so far)
In early December 2025 I received a positive bowel cancer screen (free government test) out of the blue (ie no symptoms or any other indications); spent the rest of December doing tests, scans, colonoscopy, etc; had surgery in early January 2026 to remove left side of large intestine, plus appendix, lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues.
Post-op biopsies and tests confirmed ‘stage 3’ cancer, meaning it was at ‘advanced’ stage but ‘localised’ to the surrounding areas, therefore a chance there is more cancer in there somewhere. Hence the program of 12 fortnights of chemotherapy starting late February 2026.
‘Till next time – stay healthy and don’t put off those free government cancer screening tests!
NB. Please note that these are just my personal observations and experiences from a sample of one. Every patient is different, every cancer is different, and every chemo program is different. I have talked to several friends and relatives who have gone through their own cancer journeys and their ranges of experiences and side effects have been many and varied.
See also:
- My Life in Weeks: 83% done, but there’s a nasty new twist this year. “Life’s like a box of chocolates. . .” (4-Jan-2026)