Starting chemo for breast cancer and need some pals!

Hello

I've posted on this forum a couple of times over the past few weeks. 

Initially after being referred to breast clinic from my GP after finding a large lump in my right breast when starting to wean my second child ( now aged nearly 2 years) off breast feeding. Stupidly thinking it was a blocked duct or something but instead being told i have a 6cm tumor grade 2, oestrogen positive HER 2 neg mass.

I've been through an horrific time imagining the worse and wondering over to the dark side of thoughts convinced I was full of secondaries and going to die leaving my 2 young boys.

Ive found the support of a few ladies on here invaluable and searching the topics in this forum so much more informative thar good old Google!

I had a clear MRI and CT and got my treatment plan last week. Chemo first x4 Paclitaxel every 2 weeks, followed by EC x4 every 2 weeks. Am trying cold capping for the sake of my 4 year old mainly.

Then macetomy without immediate reconstruction,  will need radiotherapy as its grown on the chest wall. Then the hormone blocking stuff for the next 10 years. I'm 41, I wasn't ready to finish breast feeding, or having babies even tho my husband was adamant we were done with our 2 boys.  And of course I feel so blessed to have them.

I had my first chemo a few days ago and feel OK ish. Bit achey after GCSf injection for bone marrow production. Bit spacey and weird. Still in denial somewhat this is happening to me. Still bursting into tears at times.

I'd really like to meet a couple.of ladies who can share similar experiences or are at similar stages in their journey with this thing to help me through.

Many thanks in advance 

Gemma xxx

  • Hi Gemma 

    you sound so much like me 

    I was diagnosed on the 6th of July , was absolutely terrified as I imagined the worst I have 43 mm in my breast but also have 28mm in my lymph node ... 

    was terrifed and still freak out even though I have my scan results and they showed no futprther spread ... 

    I have not had my first chemo yet think it is planned for tge next week or so ... scared 

    EC x 4 every other week, Paclitaxel every week for 12 weeks .. surgery then radiation... 

    I too a. Looking for somebody who is going through treatment more or less the same time as me ... 

    this has rocked me to the very core of me as it fors to all of us... my mind went straight to worse case... 

     Ot going to cold cap as I don't want to spend anymore time than I need too... 

    please feel free to add me so we can share messages and virtually hold each other's hands . 

  • I'm in a similar position. Diagnosed in 4th July. Loads of tests CT, bone scan and MRI over the past two weeks. Starting chemo next week. Still waiting on results of tests and like you were I am imagining the worst regarding spreading etc... I'm hoping it hasn't but I'm still finding it hard to believe this is happening but at the same time just want to get on with it now. I have two teenage girls 18 and 13. 

  • Hi,hope you are ok, I was diagnosed for the 3rd time in April and had a bilateral mastectomy at the beginning of June, I started chemotherapy for the 2nd time on 7th July, I'm having carboplatin and docetaxel this time. I tried the cold cap first time but my hair fell out anyway and it is brain freeze on another level. I am suffering with extreme tiredness and my body aches like I have the flu. 

  • Hi I am so sorry you are here 

    I would like to share my path way with you please as we. An hold hands together  I hope they are able to remove al, the deadfall desease for you 

     

  • Just a quick tip for all you lovely ladies having chemo. I went through it last summer - I was diagnosed on the 16th of March. I had horrendous bone pain from the tummy injections to stimulate bone marrow after the first jab and I was in agony by the time I'd done the 7th one. When I mentioned it to a nurse on the unit she recommended anti histimines. You can buy them quite cheaply over the counter, although I did get mine prescribed. The main thing is - THEY WORKED!!! No pain at all from the tummy jabs for the next 5 cycles of chemo. They may not work for you but please give them a try. For the sake of a couple of pounds you may be spared this awful aching. If they work, tell your oncologist. Mine had no idea until I told him. 

    Good luck ladies, I wish you all well on you cancer journey, take care of yourselves and keep positive. You can do this!! 

    Best wishes and virtual hugs, Mog, xx

     

     

  • Hi Mog

    Thanks for stopping but and posting such useful info! 

    I had my first tummy injection a few days ago and have had leg and hip pains since and today pain across my upper back. I'll mention the antihistamine when I'm back in again for next dose thank you so much!

    Lovely to hear from someone out the other side xx

    Thanks for the hug xx

  • Hi dumps48

    Sorry to hear you're going though the treatment cycle again , hope you are managing to keep and feel well.

    Useful to know about the cold cap, im trying it but am certainly not pinning all my hopes on it working,  just incase it doesn't. I just need to figure out how I'm going to explain to my 4 year old when my hair falls out. 

    Thanks for stopping by xx

  • Hi Lynda P

    Thanks for replying to my plea for finding some ladies experiencing the same thing . Sounds like we are similar timeliness. I remember the all consuming anxiety of waiting for scans and results just such an awful time,  I didn't make any better by googeling. 

    I'd say just take each day at a time and you'll soon be there with results,  just feels like forever waiting . Then you'll get a plan for tackling this. 

    Here if you ever want to chat anything through xx 

    Hope you're finding a way through with your girls xx

  • Hi justathena 

    Thanks for taking the time to reply, sounds like we are at similar stages too. During my 2am Internet searching I've read several of your posts on here and understand completely the overwhelming anxiety of it all and worry especially about spread of secondaries. That's amazing you been given the clear for that and have a treatment plan to start chemo next week.

    Sounds like we have similar treatment too, I still don't understand all the decisions for different chemo etc. And surgery first verses chemo. 

    Always here justathena if you would like support and chat xx