Hi Jenny

Thank you so much for getting back to me. I'm due to turn 49 in September. 
 

Yes please! Any info would be gratefully received. 
 

I have just looked at my notes. TC is the chemo type. Drugs used T - docetaxel (Taxotere) & C - cyclophosphamide. 
 

Sarah xx 

I just made the mistake of reading about common side effects of TC chemo. Nasty nasty nasty. There is lots of details on the Mcmillian cancer support website under TC.  For some reason I can't send the link here. It looks as though each round lasts for 3 weeks. One day of chemo and then 20 days of feeling yucky. 4 times in a row. To me that says no work during that time and for at least 2 months after. Though I think we then have radiation tacked onto the end for another 2 weeks.  So maybe 6 months off work or am I being a baby? 
Jen 

Hi sarah

just doing some more research about your score of 18 and I can see the challenge. You appear to be very borderline. A site I just looked at said that you should make a decision with your doctor based on a number of other factors including size and grade of the cancer and the number of hormone receptors the cancer cells have (many vs. few). Together, you can make a decision about whether or not you should have chemotherapy. It seems super unfair for the doctor to say it's up to you! I would get a second opinion . 
jenny xo

Hi Liz I'm sorry to hear you are sore. I'm still taking paracemtol and ibuprofen 2.5 weeks after the op. I found the area where the lymph nodes were removed was very sore. I think there are lots of nerves there. The first week I was very tired and I'm still tired. Take it easy if you possibly can! Listen to your body. And don't lift heavy things or swim for the first 6 weeks. And no driving for the first week. It looks like a small wound but as the surgeon said there is a lot of delicate work under the surface that could get ripped out if you are not careful. The waiting is the worst part for sure! Torture. I get a bit overwhelmed with people sending flowers and texting to see how I am. I am not super keen on talking to many people at the moment. Even with the support from family and friends I find it a lonely place. I'm now waiting for the Oncotype test. And made the mistake of googling side effects of chemo. Big mistake. Take care! Be kind to yourself. Jen x

Hi Jen,

Still very sore but not quite as bad as yesterday. Lovely coloured bruises! It is " a lonely place" especially at night time when my husband is asleep. My thoughts run wild and It's easy to frighten yourself when you look up details about treatments, effects etc but l am the sort of person who needs to know even if what l read frightens me! At the moment I'm ok talking to close friends and family but l do have good and bad days. This is still all new especially having had in effect 3 operations in as many weeks.  Maybe talking about it for me is part of accepting that l really do have breast cancer and its not all a bad dream. Sorry to ramble on. 

Thank you for your support it has been very helpful. Please do keep in touch l woukd like to know how things go for you.

Liz x

Hi Jenny

So I spoke with oncologist earlier. He once again reiterated that he would advise that chemo is not necessary. He also said that he'd spoken with his colleague and he too had looked through my notes and wouid suggest chemo not necessary. So that's two experts. 
 

I talked over my worries with him and he bombarded me with more % data! I think the general gist of it was that if I do have any rouge cells and that chemo was to be effective on my specific cancer the success rate wouid go from 5% chance of reoccurrence over 9 years to a 3.5% chance. 
 

Head still in a daze. I have until Friday to make the decision. Gonna contact the nurses on here for a chat too I think. 
 

Sending love. Sarah xx 

Hi Sarah

that is a tough decision and I hope you have had enough time to think about what to do and are happy with the decision. The odds sound really really good either way! 
I'm still waiting for my onco test. But met the radiologist today and will have 4 weeks of radiation whether I need chemo or not. A bit longer than i had expected but I know nothing so didn't have many questions to ask.

im finally feeling good 3.5 weeks after the surgery. Good energy. Swelling and pain way way down. I'm still scared to take the steri strips off. When did you take yours off or did they fall off? 
Hang in there.

jenny x

Hi Jenny

Lovely to hear from you and I am so gald you are healing well. I peeled my steri-strips off at some point when I was in the shower! I left them on far longer than it said in the care booklet though! I thought the longer the better! My wound healed really well apart from a area of about 1cm. This was where the surgeon drained it about a week after my op. Since then it has 'leaked' continuously - very annoying. I was having to go back to the drop-in clinic once a week so they could check it. It has finally just about healed over and I can now get away with a piece of gauze tucked inside my bra - oh the joys! The worst thing about that was that I haven't been able to go swimming. Before my op I tried to swim 3/4 times a week and I've really missed it. Hoping I will be able to start back next week though.

Re chemo ... Well, what a minefiled that has been. I got a second opinion in the end. I got myself into such a state over it. I spoke with an absolutely amazing female oncologist. She didn't give me a reccomendation either way. However, she did talk through things on a much more emotional level with me. Some data but mostly where my head was at. From speaking to her I was able to make the decision to go ahead with it. I know that it will be really hard physically and emotionally. I know that my odds of reoccurance were low already. But ... My head and my heart would not let me accept the fact that god forbid, if it were ever to come back and I'd not had chemo, I would never forgive myself. I figure it will be 3/4 months to deal with, then radiotherapy and then I can put it behind me without regretting my decision. I think not having it would have weighed too heavily on me too much of the time. I'm really scared about the effects it may have but I know that long term it is the right decision for me and my children. I have my first round on Aug 6th and my final one in on the 7th October. 

Sending love, let me know how things go for you. Sarah xx

Hi sarah

that is amazing that you found an oncologist who could help you make a tough decision. Chemo will be tough but over so quickly and as you are so young you will recover really quickly.

I bet if I were in your position I would make the same decision. Though I would defo get a second opinion like you did. 

I hope you have a great support network who will take good care of you in the coming months. I've heard it is usually only the first week immediately after each chemo bag where you feel rotten. I also heard take the anti nausea tablets before you fell sick as it is harder to fix things of you are already feeling nauseous. 
 

you'll be back to normal by Christmas I bet.

Sorry to hear your wound is oozing! I'm pretty sure I should have taken the strips off by now but I'm scared to rip them off and rip the wound apart at the same time. Shudder.

jen x