hi im 36 mother of 3 n diagnosed dec 23. ive had 2 ops n 5 of 6 chemo n finding it very hard at mo. feel so peed off n cant get rid of that feeling. would love to chat. x
Thanks for your messages. It seems everyone is different when it comes to treatment. I had two lots of surgery first and all the cancer was removed without having to have a mastectomy. My cancer was completly hormone receptive and my lymph nodes were free of cancer. All good signs!!! Then I went to see the Oncologist where my treatment plan was definitely radiotherapy and anti hormone treatment but 'because I come into a grey area' I was given the choice to have chemo if I wanted - hard decision!! I know if I really needed it I wouldn't be given the choice. I have written a list with for & against however so far I seems to be struggling to thinks of many reasons for chemo and have lots on my against list. I have all the statistics...but unsure whether these are a help or a hinder lol! The oncologist said that just last year I would not have been offered the option of chemo, but due to my age (58) and size of the tumor (3.1cm) they are presenting it as an option. Anyway have until Wednesday to make up my mind.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply & hope all is going well for everyone!
I did post a response on here to you the other day but its not here,I probably pressed the wrong key me and computers are not the best of friends lol its a tough decision to make I think you doing the right thing writing a list.whatever your decision I'm sure you'll get a lot of support and help off the lovely ladies on here.I know I did they have been an absolute god send.keep in touch and take care ( hope that all made sense got a bit of brain fog tonight lol)
hi Linda,I too was a gray"area" even thought I had to have a full masectomy in the end.I too think it's a good idea to ask your oncologist for their advice,mine told me it would only give me less than 5% better chance of long term survival and in my shoes she would'nt bother.After three lots of surgary I was pleased not to HAVE to have it,I've finished my radio now and am getting back on my feet.Good luck Nettyxxx
I had a lovely holiday in Brighton.... and have come back relaxed and ready to fight a bit more.
I did notice that we have some new ladies on this post.... Welcome.... not the best way to meet people for sure..... but better people you will never meet..... the ladies and gents on this post really helped me get through my darkest days.... and I hope you will let us help you do the same.
Well... I had my pre op assesment this morning... all went well with that.... but a couple of things happened that did make me giggle.
When i had to get weighed... she says, "well done Caroline, you have lost over a stone since last time"...... suddenly i realised and told her to hang on while i took my big silicone fake boobs off and then I got back on the scales.... she looked at me in surprise and said "actually you have lost over 3 stone since last time"......... nice to know that my useless ex husband was good for something... even if it was only causing me to lose weight..... lol.
Then she was saying that I could fetch a bra in to hospital for extra support if I wanted to..... so I said "Can you tell me what size bra I am going to need? and I will get one"... she just laughed and said "good point, Most of my ladies are only having one side done so we know what size it is going to end up"
There is not much more I can say now except.... NEW BOOBS IN 2 DAYS... WOO HOO
Sorry but I am dead excited...... Lee, good luck with your surgery on the 26th honey... I will be thinking about you
In fact I will be thinking about you all because there is no way I would have got this far without all of you
I'm currently 1/2 way through my chemo treament (had no choice), already had mastec' in Jan, got radiotherapy in June - I had the choice of whether or not to have radio', with the help/advice of my husband and family we decided yes, now i've just got to decide whether to do 3 weeks or 5, (juries still out on that one!!). I've then got a reconstruction hopefully early next year and 5 years of tamoxifen!
Before you start treatment, the word chemo sounds as bad as the word cancer! I know it can be horrendious but it can also be copeable. I am bold - but I still have eyebrows, eyelashes and arm hair, I have my chemo (TAC) on a tuesday, on wed i'm ok just a little spaced out, thurs, fri can't do a thing except lay in bed, go to the loo, grab something to eat - normally bread, cheese and plain crisps (don't feel like eating as have a constant morning sickness feeling but this fades and has gone by the next tues). Sat, Sun still don't feel great but I start picking back up then by the next tuesday I start feeling pretty normal. Then it's life as normal until my next dose. Basically, if it ups your percentage and stops this vile thing coming back - then why not go for it, it's not great, but for me it's 1 week out of my life every 3 weeks, 6 times and like I said i'm 1/2 way there already!!!! Have a chat with your family see what they think.
Sorry to bore you with my 'c' life story. Good luck.
Hi Rach, I totally agree with you, chemo is not quite as bad as people think, i too was completely bald, lost all my eye lashes and body hair, I had FEC, that def makes all the hair fall out, I too only felt bad a few of the days. Not be lonf now till your treatment is over, stay positive, I had lumpectomy May last year, chemo june-oct then 6 weeks of radio which finished Jan, all the best Colly x
Hi all, missed your sunny comments so glad to see you are all in good spirits -can't wait to hear from caz when she is back with new boobs! for those of you with bad flushes, especially if you have had hormone tabs, ask about clonidine - it helps and was in a breast cancer magazine called amoena which i picked up from my hospital. If you can find www.amoena.co.uk go take a look. It is a magazine that is so positve! anyway i have been given the tabs to try - so after nights of changing sheets etc., anything is worth a try. i'll come back and let you know the outcome.
i am having a few issues with my hands, so damn clumsy and have been so very busy with the kids, but i am around and feeling ok. radio is 18 sessions (3 a boost) but with breaks for all these bank holidays i am still three weeks to go and only 8 in! but two thirds of the way through treatment and almost half way on radio can't be bad. shame about the sunbathing and swimming ban thou - espeically with the great weather!
