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NatureGrrl
NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi. I was diagnosed with breast cancer a little over 2 weeks ago. I got my diagnosis on a Monday; the next 5 days were overwhelming. I got my diagnosis, discussed and decided on a treatment plan, had a muga scan, had a port installed, had my first chemo teaching, and tried like crazy to find resources to help me pay for all this.

I've been really lucky: in my state, there's a fast-track Medicaid program for women who have breast or ovaarian cancer, and I'm already qualified for it. So that takes a lot of pressure off.  

Still, it's been really overwhelming. I had my first chemo (adromycin and cytoxin, sorry if I'm not spelling right) and my first Neulasta shot. I'm not too thrilled that I've already got a lot of fatigue -- I have three more rounds of the a&c to go and I know it's going to get harder -- but I can still go to work and function, I just don't have much energy.

The Neulasta has me aching and having back spasms but tylenol and claritin seem to be helping.
There's a local breast cancer support group that meets next week and I plan to attend that. I'm also seeing a counselor through my oncologist's office, plus I called a therapist I saw several years ago and am seeing him again. There's a local cancer network that helps with transportation, food, just about anything.

So I'm pulling in on lots of resources and I know I'll get through this.

The real kicker is that for the last year and a half, I've been taking care of my 90 year old mother, who has ovarian cancer (I moved back when it came back on her). She's doing relatively well, but, as you can imagine, she leans on me a lot. I don't have that luxury of leaning on someone, although, like I said, I'm pulling on all sorts of resources.

I had no insurance because I haven't been able to find a job with benefits (or even reasonable pay) since I moved back here.  I am working part-time for a local non-profit, no benefits and terrible pay but it's money and at least I can pay my bills.  Not insurance, however.

I've never been without insurance in my life and I was terrified when I found the lump.  I figured no one would treat me and I'd just progress through the disease and die.

Fortunately I came to my senses enough to to the dr. anyway.

I don't really have any questions right now. In addition to taking care of mom, I was a caregiver for a friend who died of pancreatic cancer about 10 years ago. And my SIL also has ovarian cancer, also now in reoccurance. So most of this is familiar to me, although it's somewhat surreal that it's now me getting the drip.

I just wanted to make contact with others going through the same thing.

And I may need a place to vent at times. If one more person says, "oh, you may feel ok now, but you're going to get really sick before it's over!" I'm going to PUNCH them!

OK, that's it from me for now... thanks for listening. My best to everyone here, and although I'm not glad anyone has this cancer, I'm glad there are places for women like us to meet.

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  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited April 2009

    Welcome, although I regret you have had to join our little club.  It sounds like you really have your hands full!  It sounds like social services are good where you live, so maybe you could arrange for state sponsored home care to help with your mother?  Just a thought.

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  • ktn
    ktn Member Posts: 181
    edited April 2009

    Sorry you need to be here for this but these boards have been a huge help to me as I went through treatments. You have so much going on but remember to take time for yourself too. As to the chemo- I had AC then Taxol and did the neulasta shots. I never felt "really sick". The AC made some food smell terrible where I didn't have a big appetite but I did ok. I think fatique is the hard part- it's not like needing a nap but more like having no energy. Hopefully you can leave work early if you need to. I would have chemo on Wed and it was often the weekend when I was most tired. Good luck and this is a great place when you do have questions!

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2009

    desdemona, thank you!  I do live in a great community for social services.  Unfortunately, my mom is very stubborn and independent and a bit paranoid (I don't mean to sound mean but it's true) and doesn't want ANYone in her house.  Getting outside care for her won't happen until she's forced to chose between getting outside help or moving to a home.  My brothers and I have been down this road with her already.  I know my limits -- I'm at them already -- but nothing will change on her side until she declines to the point that she realizes that she needs more help that I can give her.  Fortunately, in some ways, we aren't there yet.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2009

    ktn, thank you... sounds like I have the same treatment routine:  a&c, then 12 weeks of Taxol.  I know not everyone gets horribly sick but it's still so affirming to hear from someone who didn't have too bad a reaction... it keeps my Pollyanna hope alive that I can get through this without becoming a zombie :)  I'm in that low-energy but not sleepy area you mention.  Until my first chemo, I was a dynamo, so this has been a huge change for me. 

    Mom and I get our chemo together on Wednesdays so I'm hoping that works for the weekend recovery period.  I think she's about exhausted all her chemo options (and the cancer was showing signs of growing after her last CTscan, plus her CA125's have been rising steadily for months) but as long as we both have to go I'm glad we can go together.

    Is it normal after just one chemo to have some food become repulsive?  I'm a former vegetarian, still don't eat tons of meat and mostly poultry, but since my first chemo, chicken seems repulsive and I've had all these huge cravings for beef and veggies.  And things I normally like (orange sherbert, for example) just taste blah to me.  Not a huge deal in the overall scheme of things, just not something I was expecting.

    They have told me my hair will start falling out in about 2 more weeks so I am expecting that.  At least I'll be bald in the summer! :)

    Thanks again!

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  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited April 2009

    Hi naturegrrl, nice to meet you.  I am a 5 year ILC surviovor and boy you are right about the taste buds changing.  Even after 5 years some smells still bother me.  Can't stand perfume anymore. I was also bald in the summer and just too hot for a wig so I wore doo rags, and my teenage grandson wore them with me.  Some people whiz through the chemo,  I pray that you are one of them.  So sorry about your mom and your right as long as you have to do chemo its good to do it together.  But, what a bummer.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.  Sherry

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited April 2009

    (((Naturegirl))))

    Just wanted to stop by and give you a hug!

    Hang in there sister!  We are all here for you... visit often....

    Gods Love,

    Laura

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  • rsben70
    rsben70 Member Posts: 137
    edited April 2009

    Hi naturegirl,  for some people food does become repulsive, lots of things i love now turn my stomach. and the taste changes are bad for me too about the time things taste ok it is time for chemo again and then it starts all over.

    sorry you had to join us but everyone here is wonderful.  hugs to you.

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  • ktn
    ktn Member Posts: 181
    edited April 2009

    Yes it is normal to have taste issues after 1 AC. I didn't have the same problems with Taxol- my appetite improved there. I was told that with AC just eat what you can....don't worry too much about nutrition (that comes later!!). I did best with omelets, sandwiches, fruit smoothies. They may push meat to help keep iron counts up so if you crave it, have some! I couldn't do spicy. Also I had soup made for me but after a few treatments I didn't want any. I always loved soup but still can't eat it yet! My husband enjoyed it all! Small snacks throughout the day help if you have a hard time eating a full meal. The key is to try to keep from getting weak. Also- my biggest issue was constipation. I used senokat s starting the chemo day and nightly for about 5 days after. I never knew what it felt like to feel so 'plugged up'. The zofran they gave me for anti nausea and steroids helped cause it. When I went on Taxol I didn't need the steroids or zofran so did much better. Good luck!

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  • Alyad
    Alyad Member Posts: 817
    edited April 2009

    I'm on my third round of TAC and overall I've found the first round was the hardest as far as food goes. You learn what tastes ok-ish and you can stand. First round everything just tasted so weird. you find a new normal- things don't taste like they did- but they  are tolerable. That's good you and your mom can do chemo together at least.  hang in there.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited April 2009

    Thanks, everyone, for the replies and hellos and answers and support!

    Yesterday I actually felt "normal" -- energy and all -- it was delightful after 10 days of feeling like a rag.  It was a bit spoiled last night when my neighbors burned their garbage (yes, garbage) and the smell wafted right into my room and made me nauseus (it stinks under the best of circumstances but now I guess I have the added effects of chemo).  They get around the law by doing this burning in their fireplace in their house.  Do they care that it drives my mother off her porch, and that the smell comes into my room, and that it bothers others in the neighborhood?  Nope.  So I had a good cry over that for awhile but I'm feeling better today.  

    The kicker is that they burn several nights out of the week.  I thought they had stopped and it wouldn't be a problem this summer but I was wrong.  I guess I'll just have to add it to my list of things-to-deal-with over the the next 20+ weeks of chemo.

    Thanks for listening to me rant again! :)

    Hugs to you all.

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  • Ivy
    Ivy Member Posts: 31
    edited May 2009

    Naturegrrl,

    I just read your post and want to encourage you now that you're in our involuntary BC club.  You are doing well at finding and trying different sources of support.  You're also amazing to be caring for your 90-year-old mom.

    When I was first diagnosed last Sept. I didn't know things would ever get better.  When a friend with cancer told me it's hardest when you're first diagnosed, I was so surprised.  I thought I would feel terrible emotionally, and dazed, all the time. I'm 4 months past radiation now - time has flown!  and things have gotten so much better. Even the radiation season of my life had many special moments and a special peace, although I had dreaded it.  I think you can be sure that your initial feelings will not be there forever.  May you fare well in your treatments! 

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited May 2009

    i can't believe someone would burn garbage inside their home.  i hope they get some use of the heat. they'll need hot water to get the smell off of their walls.  yuk

    best of luck to you NaturrGirl

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited May 2009

    Ivy, thanks for your words of hope.  I need those most of all.  I'm doing better lately (in spite of hair loss and a sprained ankle!).  When I'm tired, I'm a lot more vulnerable, emotionally, so I have to be careful not to let my mind and emotions run away with me then.

    Apple, you know the real kicker about the garbage burners?  He's a cancer researcher here (at a big-10 university) and his wife is a nutritionist.  You would think they would be more sensitive to what they're doing to others.   I'm writing them a gentle, kind letter to let them know how this affects us and to ask them to please consider stopping, knowing, of course, that they may just burn :) the letter.

    Hugs!

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  • Reneepals
    Reneepals Member Posts: 2,196
    edited May 2009

    Naturegrrl,

    I am also amazed about the garbage burners. Dang! Like you need that too!... Just wanted to drop you a note. I was one of the wierdo's who didn't have any effects from the Adriamyicin. My Onc and Hubby were very adamant about me drinking water constantly....sometimes it felt like I was going to drown in it, but I guess it can cause some really nasty bowel problems, which I did not get. The Taxol, on the other hand was for lack of a better word, was an ass-kicker. Anything with tomato was so bitter, it was horrible.  So be careful....... Farina, Pastina and toast. Was well tolerated. I got a real bad case of neuropathy. but did recoup about a year later. Just be sure to watch for any signs of it and immediatley tell your Doc, they can give you drugs to help out on that. We are all here for you.

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