New to Breast Cancer

Hi Dane 7

So sorry to hear of your diagnoses.It is such a shock to get news,followed by endless visits and information overload!!!I can say though it does get a bit better as you go along and you do get your head around it.

I finished chemo 4 weeks ago.As all of us react differently i can only fill you in on my experience of it.I would start to feel 'normal'again after a week although had no taste throughout the 6 rounds.It is a cumulative thing first two werent too bad but by 3rd it hit.Extreme tiredness!!!I hope you find it managable and are not too badly hit.

In answer to your question about mastectomy it does take a bit of getting used to.I am going in for mine on monday.I think i have come to terms with it will let you know after!!!!

Please keep us informed on how you are doing and how you are getting on with chemo.I may not always word things well but will always try.You're not alone.

x

Thanks Wilmaone. Much appreciated. Let me know how your surgery goes and all the very best with it.

Hi Dane 7

It comes as such a shock to be diagnosed and started on treatment while your still trying to accept it. The only good thing with the speed of it is you learn how to take it in and realise your fighting it already! I too found the first two chemo ok. I had six sessions three weekly the next four I would say I had ten bad days and ten good days. Idid get my hair cut very short but it was still painful for a couple of weeks while falling out.

As for the surgery it is different for everyone but by the time you get there you will have accepted it. In some ways nothing can prepare you for being chopped up we just have to remember it is in a good cause.

I wish you the very best with your treatment and hope all goes well. Please keep us updated with your progress x

Hi Dane 7

I can only imagine that you may be feeling overwhelmed to some degree since you were diagnosed and now going treatment, let alone knowing that surgery is down the line. I can only speak from my own experience, that once I understood the implications of my diagnosis I squared my shoulders and went hell for leather to ensure that I got every opportunity to eliminate cancer and be allowed enjoy my life and family for another while.

There are a few fundamental differences between you and I however, I was small chested so I wasn't too concerned about being lopsided; having said that, when presented with the choice of having immediate reconstruction, I went for it, only because I could and I was worried about how my girls would react to me with no breast. It's hard to know how I would have felt if I had no chance to have a radical mastectomy only.

Your fear is a fair one - as much as i read up about it and Googled it and asked questions, I really couldn't have imagined me being the way I am today. No doubt I've had a few downs but surprisingly I have had way more ups!

The way everyone reacts to treatment is different too - I got through cyclosphomide and doxorubicin ok, wasn't the nicest, usually I wasn't fit to wag three days after treatment and that lasted for about three days and I had four of those regimens every two weeks. I had Taxol one day every week for 12 weeks and apart from being whacked from the pre-Taxol drugs, I was flying it a couple of hours later. I didn't get my very last treatment due to neuropathy kicking in but that's all back to normal now too.

I'm finding myself getting tired these days, when I thought I should be picking up and being livelier so that was a surprise. However, I'm hoping to go back to work in the next week or two, so I'm hoping that maybe I'm tired from doing nothing and need to get back into some sort of routine out of the house again!

Anyway, it's great that you're on this forum; there is always someone with a bit of advice, or even to let rip here is great too because you know you're not alone in going through this.

Take care and I hope everything goes well for you x

Thanks girls for all the advice. Had the injection from the nurse 48 hours after the chemo (Neulastn) and was feeling that this is ok, fairly doable but change of heart last night, the joint and bone pain and tiredness was amazing and all so quick. On the couch today feeling between 80 and 90 years of age. Still as afternoon dawns better than the middle of the night last night when I thought I wouldn't see morning. At least I know what I am dealing with now!

Ended up in hospital today with reaction to Neulasten. Injection of Diafene and antibiotics later feeling lots better. Sun shining out side puts you in good form despite all the crap.

Jeez, that's a tough one, having a reaction to Neulasta

Really hope you get back on the road again, onwards and upwards x

Thanks encee. Feeling a good deal better and have a couple of weeks to get my ass in gear before round 2 of the chemo. At least I will know what to expect 2nd time around.

[i:1hwpf387]Hi Dane7

I had a mastectomy 12 years ago at age 40. I just decided in my head that I would prefer to live with one than be 6 feet under with two pert ones!!! I had a reconstruction a year later by using my tummy muscle to reconstruct it.... so not only do I now have two breasts.... I have a fantastic flat stomach..... the envy of my three sisters!!

Life will get better', Just take each day as it comes.

My motto is ' this too shall pass'.

Best of luck with all your treatment. [/i:1hwpf387]

Thanks Lemrac. A good philosophy and good advice!