One chemo down scared still

enjoylife

One chemo down scared still

enjoylife

I am so glad I have been told about this site I am a single young 56 year old woman in a mid sized town and I had a very good expierance with my surgery I went to Boston to DF and then I had to come home after being with my family out there for a month to face chemo and then I will go to raidiation. Its a very lonely place to be treatment single, I have sons so they cannot share it and my friends are there but they also have lifes and cant not understand the isolation of this. I keep looking forward to the chemo being over and I will make a few trips out east to get my spirit risen again. Some of the people who use to call never do its like they are afraid of you or something, I am afraid of my next treatment the meds have helped me allot I did have some pain from the short for white blood count and I am so scared to see my hair fall out it has not yet I will shave it and use a wig but it will be a big strep for me its scarey all of it. I think the week after chemo I felt allot of anxious feelings and also got sores in my mouth but meds helped that I have never taken so much medicine but I am working full time. Thank you for listening to me maybe someone else out there is single and knows how I feel ....

kyra

hello and welcome, sorry you to have  our problem, but when you are on your own it must find it very hard as my husband cannot discuss it, this is where this  group comes in. l am 49 and have DCSI and ILC x 6+ cm and l having FEC X6 Chemo, next one is in june that will be my 5th cycyle what chemo are you having? l had operertion in december to find DCSI and another operation in Feb 08 to find ILC  and had a left masectomy and l have done so much research and asked plenty of questioned, l have a 40% chance of it returning, there as been 5 in my family with this, but l still feel positive because the more you read and talk to you can see cancer research as really come on, l really hope you find this group supportive.and all the best.

enjoylife

I guess I am pretty niave I dont know what all the ILC 6m I know stage I had 29 lypmh nodes taken out I wanted them out to clean house as I flew 1400 miles away from my kids and home to Boston to do this at my sister who was the best her and her husband. God sent me a set of Angels... but I dont know what all these things mean I had 5 nodes positive I was a Stage 2 until after surgery and then it went up to 3, I have a very good prog. I am HR2 so I will be taking that for a year which its not bad on side effects. My PET came out good so did my cat and bone scan so far its all clear I should have 6 total rounds of chemo and I have 1 down then raidiation after that and then next year 6 months with the grace of god the plastic surgeon out east will finish up. I had my mamogram on 2/15/08 and was diagonised on 2/21/08 thank for helping me throw this its the best thing that has happened to me since I left my sisters home and she will be glad I have found this. I would love to donate my time next summer when this is all behind me to help someone going through chemo it is very scarey but you are right we are so much luckier than people were 10 years or longer ago we are doing great...

Skyrat

Enjoylife - I am so sorry you are having to go through this.  It is never easy and scary.  The chemo is not a pleasant experience, but you will get through it.  My husband lived on an island 4 days a week, so for those days I was on my own.  I am hoping to fly back home to the Ozarks to see my 2 kids and 6 grandkids that I haven't seen for 2 years - one grandson I have yet to see and he is almost 1.  Hugs and prayers to you.

kyra

enjoylife, if you go to symptoms and diagnosis and the top of the page click on and look to the left you will see how they have abrivateted tech words, l hope this will help you, l had to find out myself, anytime you need any help just ask, hope your feeling ok what chemo treatment are you on, there so many different ones dont panic the nurses are so reasurring and do not be frightened to ask, thats what there for, you can well imagine when l go with my notes with questions but there fine l feel it is my body and l want to know what is going on.and l ask for the truth and what to expect which has helped so much, knowing that some of what l have been through is just having side effects, all the best and enjoy the group.

tomatojuice

Hi enjoylife. I am 58 and am also alone. I am doing TCH for 6 cycles. My daughter came with me to the first two chemos, but she went home over a week ago. (she lives half way around the world). My son is near, but like you said its different. Which chemo are you doing. The next 4 treatments I am going alone.I understand the isolation. But, better to think of the people who loveyou. At the hospital where I go there are many kind and warm chemo nurses. Sounds like you are getting good care(I have not been given a pet or cat scan)wish I were. Probably there are many kind people where you go. Ignore the negative aspects of people. Try to consentrate on positive.Be very good to yourself. Eat as well as you can. Distract yourself with things you like to do. Remember this time of chemo and rads and hercepton is short, compared with living how you want when its over. I too am planning a trip to see my daughter.The nuelasta shot also gives me some minor aches and pains. Sometimes I cry. This isn't easy, but its doable.Know that you are loved and there are many who want to see you well. Everyone on these boards. My 3 rd chemo is june 4th, I will be going alone. Plan to bring some magazines to read, and pack my own lunch. I notice that most of the patients at my chemo center go alone. Many hugs to you. Just wanted to mention about the hair. Even though my hair has always been fine(kinda thin)losing it was very emotional. It came out in clumps over a period of a few days. For some unknown reason(I don't think I am that vane)for me it was more difficult than losing a breast. But once it was gone-that was it. I wrap a scarf round my head and I'm ready to go-no big deal.It will grow back.Kinda nice in a way-it will be like an awakening. I sort of feel like a flower or plant that needs care, and will be brought back to fullbloom, or at least nearly so.

WellWater

Hi enjoylife:  So sorry you had to join our club but welcome..... consider this a lifeline!  Read and jump onto other threads - you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll garner wonderful information and you'll come to feel at home here.

Now, ask your onc nurses about support groups in your area - there are wonderful cancer resource centers around where you'll find information and people to help you thru this.

If a neighbor or friend asks "what can they do"...let them help.  You may be a "rock" like me - the one who always took care of everyone else - it was hard but I let myself be pampered by people who wanted to do something, it gives them as good a feeling to help out as you get from their help.

Don't project fears about what's coming.....everyone is different, everyone has different reactions....some have a harder time, some an easier time.  If you are feeling very sick post tx, call your onc nurses - never be afraid to reach out to them. 

And please don't worry about "baldness".  Yes, hair is our "crowning glory" but guess what - being bald can be fun too.  I had to shave my head in January so I spent a Midwestern winter dealing with it - a little nippy at times BUT, here's what's great - I didn't have to haul my blow dryer, shampoo, conditioner, styling gel and hair spray to the health club or on any little trips I took.  If I wore one of my wigs (which wasn't often) and it was raining - no problem.  I never had a bad hair day!!!!  It has just started growing in and I'm having fun watching it each day - much better than when I was watching for it to fall out.  Get some cute baseball type hats and don't be afraid to show your head.  You'll be surprised at how many people will come up and tell you they went thru the same thing and they wish you well.  Also, lots of people are much more courteous when they note that you are obviously going thru treatment.....and you'll be amazed at how many never even notice!

Find some humor in this ordeal....laughter is a great cushion for the blows we take.

Feel free to pm me if you want to......

((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))

Trina

jldietsch

Hi, I'm Juliet.  I'm having a hard time figuring out where exactly to post this.  I'm new at this message/chat stuff.  I was just diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of the year.  I have just finished my fourth and last chemo with adriamycin and cytoxan.  I will do 4 treatments of taxol next.  My problem is that I seem to be having taxol side-effects without ever having had the drug!  The bottom of my feet are burning and in pain so badly I can barely walk to the bathroom.  When I called the onc office they basically told me that I shouldn't be experiencing this yet and essentially tough luck - don't know what's wrong with you.  Has anyone experienced these symptoms with these drugs.  I feel like I'm going crazy here.

Thank you,

Juliet

jdg1

Hi!  I am sorry that you are going through this.  I know how hard it can be as I just finished up A/Cx4 and Taxolx4 in Dec. Your hair starts to grow back pretty quick but it does take a while for it to come in.  Don't worry this is the least of your problems I know you can't see it yet but it is.  I wanted to know if you are getting the Nuelesta Shot at all?  It sounds like it and yes you can have pain with that shot.  Although, I did not.  I know it is hard to be alone and doing this, but in some aspects it is better to have your time so you can sleep when you want and not have to worry about taking care of anyone else.  I have an 8 yr old son and boy there were days I did not want to get out of bed but I had to.  I hope you start to feel better soon.

June