JOINING THE CLUB!

Hi Smithers

(love the name are you a Simpsons fan??!!)Well I hate to say it but 'welcome to the club', as we say here the club no one wants to join! Your story sounds very like mine..similar tumour, and in 1 of my nodes so I had auxillary clearance too,same diagnosis as you. I had surgery back in September and then chemo fortnightly for 4 months, then radiotherapy for nearly 7 weeks. Just finished it all in April...so you do get there...It's so hard at the beginning of the road but really you will get through it all. It's great you have come on here, there's lots of good information to be got and it's always good to share stories. Your treatment plan is moving fast which is great, good luck with the scans next week, there's a good chance they will come back clear.I know it's hard but try not to worry yourself too much, save your energy and don't fret about the sore throat..it's just a cold!!! Best wishes
PS. if you ever want to ask me anything you could 'pm me' either, take care.

Thanks Summerbreeze. Yes I love the Simpsons it makes me laugh so I will be watching more of it. I am so scared about these tests next week and I know the odds are saying they will be clear but still....Thing is everyone tells you not to worry but mostly they havent been through it themselves. Same as I would have been a few weeks ago. Since they told me their diagnosis last week I have been terrified, looking at my friends and family, my little babies like I was losing them already. I am praying to God that the tests are clear and once they are they can throw whatever they want at me to get rid of this thing. But the fear is almost paralysing. And I am exhausted from trying to behave "normally" when all I want to do is curl up in a ball. I know I need to get strong to face this and thanks for telling me your story it gives me hope. I got my appointment for my bone scan on Monday and then I am back on Wednesday for ultrasounds and they are going to put a clip on the tumor, then an MRI and then finally a meeting with the oncologist to decide on my treatment. So he will give me all the results and please God I won't be facing any more than I already am. Thanks again for your help it is hard when you don't know anyone who has been through it. X

Hi Smithers,

Sorry you had to join us but good to get some support on here. I wish you luck with all your investigations, hope they are clear and you get a treatment plan soon.

I will keep everything crossed for you

Let us know how you get on.

A x

Hi Smithers

I hope today went ok for you, that's one more test out of the way.
Well done, it's not easy but you can get through them..let us know how you are doing x.

Hi all, thanks for the replies. The scans all seem clear and met with my oncologist yesterday who is happy that the cancer is positive. The tumour is HER2 positive so he considers me lucky that I caught it early. I will be starting chemo in the next 2 weeks - 6 sessions every 3 weeks he said he is "throwing the kitchen sink at it". The chemo will be taxolene, carboplatin and herceptin. He seems to think I won't be able to work but I want to keep going as long as I want. need to financially as well unfortunately. There's so much to think about so I don't want to touch that for the moment. I need to geta wig as my hair is going to go - he said a few of his patients got their's online and saved a fortune - have any of ye ever done this with success sounds a bit dodgy to me although the price of them is unreal!!! Thanks.

Hi Smithers,

So pleased the rest of your scans are clear! The chemo will make you quite tired and lower your resistance to infection so may be difficult to work fulltime. I know some strong people manage part time. Myself I did not have the energy or concentration to continue working during chemo.

Regarding the wigs I did not get online although have read on various forums women who have and very pleased with. If you buy from a shop and have a medical card the cost will be covered or if you have private insurance you pay but can claim the money back.

All the best
A x

Good luck with the chemo. I should be starting sometime in the next 4 weeks myself. Im just waiting for the results back after the mastectomy before i speak to the oncoligist.

I bought a wig on ebay last night, just to see what its like...lol. With postage it was only 30 euro, so very very cheap. So if its crap I dont mind....if its good im going to buy more to play with

Have you applied for a medical card. As far as i know everyone with a cancer diagnoses is entitled to one, you will get your wig free then

Hi hugs am glad you are over it and hope you are doing well. We are doing things the other way round!! I am having chemo first and will be looking at a mastectomy about 3 weeks after chemo finishes and then radiotherapy and then Tamoxifen for 5 plus years. It's still under 3 weeks since I was diagnosed - less than 4 weeks since I found the lump. It's an awful lot to come to terms with isn't it. I hope you are feeling well and these days I know that that is all relative in this weird world of cancer. My oncologist said a few of his patients got their wigs online and they were brill I have a few website names if you want them but let me know how the ebay ones work out you never know we might end up enjoying changing our look watch out Raquel Welch!!!!

Hi Smithers,
Sorry you had to join our exclusive club, membership requirements are a bit OTT I think ha ha. Honestly you do seem to have a great outlook on it all and I reckon thats the key. I was diagnosed last September and I'm almost at the end. Chemo and surgery are a distant memory and I'm half way thru radiotherapy. Now I cant say its a walk in the park but its do-able. I call chemo my parallel universe, just like you're not really here. I know some doctors say the old "positive thinking" thing is overated but I think its essential. Just try to put supports in place first, I think you have children so in my experience I just wasn't able to cope with them during the chemo times so set something up to cover yourself there. As far as work is concerned, well I just know there is no way I would have been able. Its so different for everyone though you know so hard to tell. I'm due to be finished in the middle of June so its 9 months since my diagnosis, roll on the summer. If you have any questions or anything shout.... I'm living in Co. Kildare, are you near?
Take good care and be kind to yourself.
Garcon

Hi Garcon, thanks for that. I am in Cork. It's just great to be able to talk to people who have been through it or are going through it because it is so hard to explain. I have three kids but I am lucky with people to look after them should the need arise. I just got my apppointment for the first chemo session so in next Tuesday they told me that I would be there the whole day really. I think I will see how that goes and see from there about work. If that knocks me out then I think it would only get worse from there lol It's a pity they don't make allowances for people to work reduced hours or days while on chemo instead of going out sick all together!! Will have to get cracking on the wig alright as I don't think it will last long. I know that is going to have a big effect on me and I am trying to brace myself for it but I don't think you can really be that prepared...

Hi Smithers
Sorry I am late in saying "wecome to our elite club". I have not been on line for a couple of weeks as my sisters hubby was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I had my mastectomy last August followed by 8 sessions of chemo (which was ok) finished at the end of February. i got my 1st wig paid for with medical card. I then went onto E bay from China and bought 5 different wigs at 20/50 cent each postage was approx 20 euro. I brought them to my hair dresser and she cut them in different styles for me. I matched my wig to my mood each day
Keep the spirit up, I know you are from "THE REBEL COUNTY" but I will talk to you till we "THE MIGHTY KINGDOM" play ye in the championship in June
Evelyn

Hi Evelyn, sorry to hear about your BIL I hope he will be o.k. You would think your family had shouldered enough but I guess it doesn't work like that. I am having my first chemo session on Tuesday and dreading it I have to say. I am still working and the attitude I am taking is that I will keep working until I can't. Everything I have seen tells me I will probably have to give up but I will keep going as long as I can. I am dreading losing the hair I have to say. Haven't looked ay any wigs yet and I know I should. Just can't face it at the moment. My little girl's "graduation" from preschool is at the end of June, the same week as my second chemo session and I am dreading how I will look. The funny thing is I'm not normally vain in the least LOL. I am glad to hear you are doing so well I was reading your posts and you had a great attitude through it all. Thank God you are coming out the other end now. It's a disgrace it takes so long for the mamogram results I will say a prayer for you that they are clear XX

hi Smithers and Evelyn,

i also had mascetomy before chemo, i had two lumps behaving or should i say misbehaving very strangely so the surgon felt it was best to get them out, the oncoligist thought chemo first but the surgeon disagreed and i had my left breast removed 10 days later, it had to be a mascetomy anyway and she was confident of clear margins. i worked part time from June until christmas going into the office 2 to 3 days per week and had logmein at home also so i could check emails etc from home. i am back working full time since after xmas and have not found it at all.

i had chemo every three weeks CT plus Avastin, then i had 33 goes of radiation to the chest area, after chemo rads will seem easy, but all very doable and it was my excuse to eat all unhealthy food that i liked. i hated some foods that i always loved and vice versa. i beleive they are now doing dose dense ACT. I was trible negative so have no hormone supression treatments, that is why i did avastin for 18 goes. 17 done one to go.

i never took antisickness tablets as was never sick, a bit nauseaus now and again and drinking through a straw helped as i did not have to taste the water, i suffered a lot with my mouth, bowels, heels, stiffness in my joints and pain in my ribs (probally after radiation), remember we must get worse to get better, as i dont know about ye but before the chemo i never felt sick. the hair grows back quickly enough and the little worn wig is still in the box, apply for a medical card on medical grounds and you get the wig free or else shop on ebay for the 20 euro ones, they seemed to me to be the same as the 485 euro one i bought from the hairdresser.

best of luck, i was very lucky with all of this and i hope the same is true for you.

Hi Smithers,

Sorry you have been diagnosed but glad you found this forum and hope it helps you with advice and SUPPORT. I was diagnosed in 2006 but am doing fine since.

I hope your first session today goes ok. Sometimes, you don't feel too bad on the first day but days 2, 3 or 4 can be tough. Although some people sail through with little or no problems. Everyone's case is different and also everyone reacts differently to treatment. If you do have ANY problems, let your oncology nurses know, they can offer additional meds to counteract many side effects. Also post here because you often get the best advice and tips from people who have been through it all already.

I STONGLY recommend getting a medical card (unless you are loaded!!) as it really helps with all the medication you will need to take when on chemo. Its also a godsend IF you are unlucky enough to have a tough time on chemo and need hospitalisation OR need to get the doc on call to come to your house. Get your form in ASAP and ask your consultant or GP to attach a letter requesting them to fast-track it because you are starting chemo.

Let us know how you get on.
Hugs,

Flo.

Hi Smithers,
Yet another person to welcome you to the club and a rebel at that !!
I am soon to be two years post diagnosis and tg things are going fine.
My diagnosis was very similar to yours so if you would like to pm and meet for a coffee anytime be sure and do that !! Its good to talk and be positive about everything. We are in a strange way very lucky people to have been diagnosed ''early'' - it makes all the difference.
The CUH is excellent - you will find them so professional and caring.
keep posting the questions on the forum and all your cyber friends will rally around. It a great site and everyone on it is positive which is fab.
Sending you some angel dust - they are flickering around you giving you courage and strength hon !!

take care
r