Chemo advice?

Hi Hugs
Chemo is not nice but IT IS MANAGABLE. Dont drive for your treatment but after that you should be ok. I drove every day with no problems. Take all the anti sickness medication even if you dont actually feel sick, I did this and never had any sickness. I was up every morning at 8 for breakfast then drove my daughter to work and rested for a while both morning and afternoon. I was able to peel potatoes for dinner sitting down in fact i learned to iron sitting down. The nurse will call the day after your first session to show you how to inject yourself once after every cycle. I thought I could never do this but the needle is so fine it was never a problem.
You have been strong this far and I know you will get through the chemo.
Good luck Evelyn x x

Thanks for that Evelyn. I feel a bit better. I suppose its important to try to keep a bit of normality if at all possible.

Do you have to have hormone treatment? I was told ill be on tamoxifin for 5 years, then something else for 3. This has me worried as there seems to be a lot of bad side effects from that. Im going to try to block it out until I need to know
Will I ever be normal again (although dh would say I was never normal to begin with )

Hi Hugs
It is good to get some info at this stage I think it helps
prepare you a bit for whats ahead, I assume I will have
to have chemo but am waiting to get my results, should
be this Thursday, it is the next big milestone for me
so am very apprehensive, he is pretty sure I will need chemo
but is hoping I wont need RT as I went ahead with reconstruction
(doesnt look like much at the mo) and better not to have RT
so please god that will be ok,
How are you getting on after the surgery, I seem to be
getting a bit better every day am home now since Tuesday, the lack of movement in my arm is the worst bit but it reminds me no to use it
have been out and about a bit, went to a Communion yesterday
and had a nice time, but took it easy and went home early!

Lots of Love
Deema :http://forum.cancer.ie/phpBB3/posting.php?mode=reply&f=11&t=432#D

Hi Deema. Im doing great. As far as the mastectomy is concerned Im doing great. No infections, no pain, no problem
Im not squeemish about how I look. I just put my foob on every day as if im putting my socks on. I forget half the time that its there.

Im glad youre doing well! How did the results go on thursday?

I have an appointment with the oncologist on the 17th, it seems so far away. Im going out for a 'spa day' with some friends on the 18th (im sure im going to need it)

My wig came in the post from ebay today. It looks fine! When I tried it on at first I thought 'oh my god', but once I fiddled with it, it settled down. Its identical to my own hair colour, but is shorter than my hair. Dh thinks the style suits me

My 8 year old son tried it on aswell (we are an odd family )

HUGS

honestly you make me laugh and put a smile on my face when I read your blogs. How u doing, as for chemo, I followed the advice of the nurses to the letter, took all anti sickness when told, I was never physcially sick, lost my taste for a bit and never went anywhere without water. You will get thru this, I never I would, when I look back now I still feel that wasn't me but there is light at the end of what may seem now a bit dark. Don't lose your wonderful sense of humour, you're doing well

Petal

Thanks petal, if I didnt laugh Id cry
I have had one or two dark days, but overall Ive been fine.
I just get reallllllllly tired (and i havent even started the chemo yet), so when i do I just crash on my comfy chair. So Ive become a bit lazy (any excuse)

How did you manage with your wig/scarf/hat? Ibought another wig online last night., Its reddish with blond streaks, and in a bob. My own hair is dark brown. Im hoping its nice. I probably wont wear it up to school to pick the kids up, Ill wear the one thats like my own, but Im looking forward to wearing out where people dont know me so well.
It was onlu 24 euro, so even if its horrible, it doesnt matter

Hugs

I bought one wig , head scarfs and hats. I had my chemo from december to march. My hair started to fall out the week of my second treatment. The wig got me thru the christmas, most of the time I wore the scarfs. I found the wig ok and carried scarfs in my bag when I went out, my head got very hot. I bought light cotton hats and wore them at night, only cause I was feeling the cold. Do get a wig stand , it helps keep them in shape. I got a fringe (matched my orginial hair)which can be attached to the scarfs when you don't want to wear the wig. I wore that most of the time. See how you go.

Keep laughing

Petal

Hi Hugs
Glad you're keeping the spirit up at least in public, I think we all have our little cries when we are alone.
Glad you are getting a few wigs, like myself you are having fun with them. My own hair is bearable to go out with now even though it's grey. I asked when I could colour it but nurse advised 2 hair cuts and a min. of 6 mths post chemo so grey it will remain for a while I guess the wig will be hot in this weather so some nice scarves will see you through. As you know I am divorced with a 22 yr old daughter and 19 yr old son(we call ourselves the 3 muskateers) we had a head shave in my kitchen before i started the chemo. Cancer took my boob and chemo was not getting my hair, it was gonna be my decision when it came off. Anyway my son got his hair razor and mydaughter shaved it for me, brought us even closer.
Keep well Evelyn x x

Hi Hugs,
Great to hear you are doing so well, and having fun with the
wigs!!!!! Have you got a date to start chemo yet? I think I will
start in about 4 weeks have appointment with oncologist next week so I am trying not to think about it until then, unfortunatly
I am going to need RT as well as the number of nodes affected
was too high not to go ahead with it, I am still quite sore after
op and cannot lift my arm or do anything much (getting very lazy) and still taking a lot of painkillers had to go back twice already to have fluid drained, but it is improving. I think
its the implant thats causing the pain, Im still not sure if it was a good idea
to go ahead with it but its there now so thats that! posting.php?mode=reply&f=11&t=432#! even though
he tells me it has to come out now before I start RT and a permanent one has to go in!!!!!!!!!
Look after yourself
Deema

Im not sure when Im starting chemo. My appointment is on the 17th of june.
Im hoping it will start the week after that. Im really worried about all of the delays. Initially when I was diagnosed I was worried about my sons communion on the 1st of may. I was concerned that I would be sick on the day, and asked if chemo could be put off until afterwards. I was told that it was unlikely as they would prefer to start chemo as soon as possible. So after having so many delays, it looks like chemo is going to be two months later than I thought. I hope it doesnt spell disaster for me....lol

I was of the impression that usually chemo starts the week after you meet the oncologist. (or around 6 weeks after the op) but i could be wrong

I have a bit of fluid that isnt going away, i think ill have to get it drained. The area is a bit swelled and hard (looks like a boob)

My older kids are starting their Junior cert this week...god help us

Hi Hugs,
I have a lad starting junior cert tomorrow as well the only
problem is he doesnt seem to realise its tomorrow as he
is quite comfortable in front of the telly at the mo!!!!!!!!!!
My daughter went to Irish College this morning for 3 weeks
so am feeling a little bit lonely as she is the chatty one in the
house and I will miss that but am really glad she is going as she
will have a ball
All this waiting around is the worst thing I thought I would
know by now what was happening with regard to chemo etc
but Im sure I will know soon enough, I havnt looked at wigs or
anything like that yet, I better get going soon,

I am sure the delays in chemo wont make any difference or they
would have started you sooner, I heard anytime within 12 weeks of surgery is ok

Look after yourself

Deema

Hi Hugs, Demma and all my friends
I saw oncologist 7 weeks post surgery and started the chemo the following week. I was terrified of feeling sick with it but I took every tablet they gave me and I was fine. I had 8 cycles one every 3rd Monday, and honestly those few months flew by. I attended my daughters gratuation we celebrated Christmas all as normal.
Good luck with the chemo but honestly I think ye will be fine.
Evelyn x x

Thanks for that. I feel a bit better to be honest. I got my appointment offically by letter today. I did get a pang of fear to be honest. But Im sure i will be fine.
Evelyn I plan to take every tablet Im given aswell, im not taking any chances
I was supposed to be going to florida with my sister in september, but had to put it off. We are going to try to go in november (am i being too optimistic?). I wont have the kids with me, so a lot less stress
Deema good luck to your son in his exams. Its a stressful time alright (for the parents...lol). Your daughter is going to love irish collage. Mine went last year and she had a ball.

Also my other wig came in the post today, it is GORGEOUS!!!! It worked out at 21 euro. It is that nice, that im going to wear it out on friday night. Im going to an 80's disco (fundraiser for the kids school). Ok i know i still have my own hair, but it will be great not trying to style it on the night....lol
Its red with blond and orangish highlights.

Im off now to buy some wig stands to keep them on. Any excuse to shop ...lol