Starting Chemo Soon and Scared

irenegrecco

I was fairly recently diagnosed.  On 11/27/12 I had a mamogram.  for the first time in at leasst 3 years I did not have to have a follow-up and was told everything was normal, come back in a year.  On 1/10/13 I went to the GYN for my annual exam.  She felt a lump on the right side and told me to have another mamo and ultrasound.  They did not find anything on the mamo but did see something on the ultrasound -- no way to know without a biopsy, which I had on 3/27/13.  Everything went into high gear after that.  A consult with a surgeon, MRI, ultrasound, another biopsy, pre-op testing, 1st surgery (lumpectomy with removal of some sentinel lymp nodes).  After surgery I was told they got all the disease but it was close to the margins so I would have to have another surgery (mastectomy).  I developed an infection and was in the hospital 3 days and then took Cipro for a month.  More pre-op testing, consult with oncologist, 2nd surgery.  During my intial consult with the oncologist he recommeded hormone therapy, didn't feel I needed chemo or radiation.  After 2nd surgery (6/20) now he tells me the cancer was more aggressive than they thought and I will have to have chemo.  More testing -- PET/CT scan and Mugascan (?).  Now I am really scared.  What does more aggressive mean?  I know millions of women have chemo and get through it, but no one is very reassuring and telling me I will be OK afterward.  I can get through it as long as I know it will be OK.  Just very very scared.

Maureen1

(((irenegrecco))) you've had a rough time, so sorry it has led you here but at least you will find help and support on these boards...it helps when you know the pathology so you know just what you are dealing with and what your treatment plan will be...I was scared too, I cried when I went to my first chemo appointment and didn't think I could do it but everyone at the center was so supportive and eased my fears. Many of us have been thru chemo - it effects all of us differently but the oncologists and their nurses take good care of you...I had dose dense chemo so I got chemo every two weeks - AC for 4 cycles then Taxol for 4 cycles. It wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. I was able to keep working but I was tired and there were side effects - I lost my hair but had a great wig and my hair starting coming back within weeks of my last dose - it's short now but nice and thick, I lost my sense of taste and smell but they've come back too...so...I hope it helps to reassure you to know I have gotten thru it and I am okay. You will find so much good advice and wisdom on the chemo boards - each month another group starts and it is helpful to have folks to go thru it with:) Hang in there, we're here for you and we know how it feels to face this beast...let us know how you're doing (((Hugs and Hope))) Maureen