"The apples taste like paper."

Okay, let's talk side effects because let's face it ... one of the biggest ordeals when during with chemotherapy is managing the side effects of the chemo drugs. 
The side effects I've been told to watch for are neuropathy, cold sensitivity, weight loss, loss of appetite, mouth sores, susceptibility to infection and illness (duh), change in the sense of taste, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome, and a few others. More than likely, I'm not going to lose my hair. Believe me, that's one side effect I'm glad to have avoided.
The ones that scare me--the neuropathy, hand-foot syndrome, and mouth sores--scare me because there is pain involved. The neuropathy is especially intimidating because in rare circumstances, those side effects can become permanent. What is neuropathy? It's this: "Neuropathy (painful nerve damage) is a common side effect of oxaliplatin. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and even pain in the hands and feet. It can also cause patients to have intense sensitivity to hot and cold in the throat and esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach). This can cause problems (such as pain) swallowing liquids. If you will be getting oxaliplatin, talk with your doctor about side effects beforehand, and let him or her know right away if you develop numbness and tingling or other side effects." Well wouldn't you know it? Oxaliplatin is one of my drugs.
Following my first chemo treatment, I've only experienced a few minor signs of my projected side effects.
*I've had a few symptoms of neuropathy. I've experienced the cold sensitivity. I haven't had a piece of ice since during the first treatment. It hurts to swallow it. I drink room temperature cola and water. Even slightly spicy foods burn the inside of my mouth and that heat trickles down my throat all the way to my stomach. Swallowing feels so weird to me right now, like my throat is swollen but not like a painful sore throat kind of swollen. Obviously it's hard to describe. Regardless, I really miss ice.
*My mouth is already messed up. My gums feel furry. Yes, furry. Regardless of how many times I brush my teeth, my mouth still feels like there is a weird film coating the entirety of it. My gums are really red and have started to bleed, too. Bummer.
*I was tired directly after chemo, but that seemed to have subsided quickly.
*And last but not least, one change in the taste of a food. I love fruit and sadly, apples taste so funny to me right now. For example;
"Here mom, try this to-die-for apple dip your bestie made you," my adorable daughter said. 
Mmm, that does looks good. Grab, swipe, insert, chew ... "Yuck."
"Yuck?" 
I spit what was in my mouth into a napkin and took just a piece of apple. I chewed it, then spoke the first words that came to mind. "The apples taste like paper."
"Like paper? Mom, how would you know what paper tastes like?" she asked.
"I'm just telling you what my mind is telling me these apples taste like, and that's paper."

So there's my first accounting of the side effects issues. I hope with all my might that the neuropathy doesn't get too bad throughout this aggressive treatment plan. Apples tasting like paper, I can deal with. Painful nerve damage, not so much.

Carry on,
~K