Recovery, what a subject.  When the day finally arrived for Kayla to take her last chemo, it was kinda anticlimactic.  I do not know what I expected.  But it was not the regular ordinary day I encountered.

In the following months it was a bit of a shock to see Kayla go through many illnesses.  You know the run-of-the-mill flu, colds, constipation, all sorts of things.  In my mind we were just going to resume our normal life but it did not quite work out that way.  Kayla was also angry all the time.  Had severe trouble with her memory, her emotions, strained social relations with friends, and so on.

Not that I want to fill you with bad news. But the harsh reality is that normal is not attained right away.  It is more like trying a struggle to get there after you are done with treatment.  With us it was a bit of a culture shock to realize that what we thought was normal was not.  Plus, what is normal really?  Are we ever going to be the same after cancer like we were before?  I doubt it.  This part in my estimation is a good thing.

For those of you out there going through physical changes after chemo and the resultant disappointments do not let the small set backs take you down.  The first thing you will have to learn is patience.  It takes time for the body to recover from the chemical onslaught known as chemo.  The immune system takes time to function properly as well.

Memory can be quite an issue.  There are two websites to use that can help you with this area. www.lumosity.com this site has free mental games that are pretty good. AARP also offers free brain games at http://tinyurl.com/3oygr2k

Practice and get in a regular routine.  Routines helps because they add stability while getting a person into good habits.

Try and keep all of your paperwork in order and your house very tidy.  Any kind of messes can add to mental turmoil and stress.

Figure out a system for yourself that helps you remember things.  For instance I carry a small calendar book where I can note down anything I need to remember. It could be a To Do list, computer notes, what-have-you, just figure out your own system that works for you.  Kayla writes notes to herself and puts them on her bedroom wall.

Another action that is very helpful is vitamins.  I do not understand why so many people think that taking vitamins is weird.  The basic truth with current farming practices is that we do not get enough nutrients from our food.  Even good, home-cooked meals will not supply the body what it needs.  There are certain vitamins that help the brain and brain function.  On top of this, a nutritional program that covers all the basics is just a good investment into long term health.  The basic essential vitamins are the first five letters of the alphabet – A, B, C, D, E.  Plus, a multi-mineral.  That covers them all.  You can purchase a good multi-vitamin and get a multi-mineral or do them all separately.  It’s really your call.

Calcium/Magnesium work together in balance.  Magnesium specifically helps the signals in the brain but you have to take the two together to get the best results. These two are included when you purchase a multi-mineral.  Puberty for girls and after the age of 50 our physical requirements double.

CO-Q10 is an essential nutrient beneficial in heart protection and brain function.

Flax oil is one of the essential oils the body needs for many different functions.

Exercise, even done lightly is key to brain function because of the increased oxygen one takes in when exercising.  Oxygen is one of the main necessities for the brain. If you are doing light exercise which does not increase your heart rate then practice deep breathing to increase your oxygen levels.  This should be done twice a day for five minutes as a good start.

Lack of water can have a dramatic effect on cognitive function.  When you first wake up in the morning drink a very large glass of water because the body has none while you were sleeping.  This  habit will also help to increase your thirst signals.  Continue to drink throughout the day.

Rest is another essential habit to have, as studies have proven that a lack of sleep can wreck mental functions.

Screaming in a closet is very therapeutic for times of stress and anger!  Give it a try one day when you need it and you might end up laughing at yourself.

Enjoying art is a known therapy. Go to museums, galleries, shows, get out and experience real art.  This feeds the soul in ways that other entertainments cannot.  You will not regret it.  Try a hobby, join a group in something that interests you.  Make a concerted effort to enjoy life!

Above are all the basics of recovery.  It does take about a year for chemo to leave the body.  Kayla’s treatment was two and a half years, a long time to be on chemo. Now, 14 months after treatment we are really starting to see her taking off mentally.  I recently wrote in my blog about Kayla memorizing a whole paragraph of type written words for acting camp.  She actually did it in one day!  ONE DAY – do you have any idea what a miracle that is?  Last year she had trouble remembering combination sounds like SH, CH, TH, etc.  To go from two letter sounds to memorizing such a long passage is a real victory.

No matter how frustrated you are, it will get better and the things written here could help even more.