Anyone in SE MIchingan about to start???

juviben

I'm in SE MIchigan and going to be starting treatment on June 29th and scared to death.  Just had my port placed yesterday and am in pain.  I'm having a really bad day as far as emotions are concerned.  Scared, sad, angry, etc.  I really don't know how I'm going to get through all of this.  A year of treatment sounds SOOOOO long.

mdg

Hi Juviben!  I am in SE MI too but I completed chemo on 5/4.  I have my exchange surgery next week.  Take a deep breath....I was petrified of chemo...and I did OK through most of it.  I too was scared, angry, and very sad...this is hard to take.  I too am Stage 1.  WHat chemo are you having?  I had TCx4.  Feel free to PM me with questions or if you need some support.....Hugs!  Where are you getting treatment?  I had surgeries at U of M and had chemo through Beaumont RO. 

juviben

Hi, mdg.  I'm going through Karmanos for treatment.  I'm doing Adriamycin, Cytoxin and Taxol.  I'm also doing radiation and then Herceptin, due to being HER2 +.  Yep, I'm super scared and super sad about all this.  I'm not even knowing how I'm going to get through it all.  Seriously.  It seems like so much and for so long.

What is an exchange surgery?  See?  I still feel like I know so little about all this.  

mdg

I had a bilateral mastectomy and had tissue expander's put in.  Exchange is when they take out the tissue expanders and put in my permanent implants.  Are you getting chemo downtown?  My sister is a chemo nurse for Karmanos at another location.  She use to work downtown.  I started at Karmanos but switched to U of M.   Feel free to PM any questions you have.  Also did you check out the chemo message boards?  Look for the June chemo board and join in...you will have ladies to walk through chemo with.  I am on the March chemo lounge board and it has been so helpful to walk through all the side effects and issues with others going through it at the same time.  It was nice to share advice and tips for solving the little chemo issues that arise. 

I know how hard this is, believe me!  I started my journey in December and it has been a long 6 months.   Somehow you start to adjust to the new normal and continue pressing forward.  I have found that the anxiety and fear of what's to come was almost always worse than actually doing it.  Once you get started you will feel better and just push through it.  Hugs!  Good luck.  Let me know how things go!!!

dsnydawn

Hi Juviben,  come over to June 2011 AC & t groupies unite...we are all doing same chemo and makes you feel better reading what others are going through..also chk out May chemo thread to see what they all went thru...so did you have lumpectomy and SNB? I started with that but ended up that there was more than one area in my breast with cancer..so had to have mastectomy...but now I start my dose dense A/C & Taxol on 6/22..had my port put in on 15th..and like you I'm terrified, but keeping in touch with all the girls on here helps alot, because they understand what is going thru your head...hope to see you on the chemo thread!!  Just remember that you are stronger than you think!!!  Dawn