New Diagnosis & Upcoming Chemo

Patsy ..my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.It was 1 year ago,that I was hit with the BC bomb.My mammos were clear for 22 years,no history,and I was as healthy as a horse.

I did very agressive chemo,a/c taxol,and herceptin(which I am still on).I am 62,and I was so scared of chemo,but let me tell you,I did just fine.There are so many meds to help us get through this.There is a lot of support here if you have any questions,or just want to vent.

Hugs

I am so sorry Perverson that you have had this hard time with diagnosis.  I too went in thinking stage one and came out being told differently.  After 3 surgeries it was settled.  I felt my world was falling apart and ...it did not.  It was hard, yes, but here I am 4 years later and all is back to a very normal.  I must still be effected or I would not be on this site.  I think about cancer often, but not in that fearful paralyzing way.  

You will make it through.  It will be tough but not impossible.  Hang in there with treatment and the sun will shine again.  The most important part is getting treatment.  Science has brought us a long way. 

 My hunch is you will take the anti-estrogen hormones after you are clean from chemo.

I went to a Bernie Segal workshop once, in Northern Cal, and he asked the audience if anyone thought life was not fair.  Everyone raised their hand and he said "that proves it is fair."  It sucks for all of us once in a while.  Sometimes more sometimes less.

 Like I said...the sun will shine again.

Shirley

Dear Patsy,

I am also sorry that you have joined our club. You will find lots of good advice and encouragement here.

I had a horrible prognosis and am still here! Chemo is no fun, but doable. Rads is a pain because it's daily for ususally 5 or 6 weeks. You will be given meds that will hopefully make your tx tolerable. It isn't easy but you will get through it.

Sending you hugs and prayers from CA.

Lexi 

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis.  It is such a shock to hear the words breast cancer and then hear the words stage 3.  I've been there.  But the silver lining in a stage 3 dx is that you get the Full Monty - you'll get all the treatments to eradicate the cancer from your body.  And you'll find that the treatments nowadays are very successful.  We have lots of women 5+ years out of treatment who have no signs of cancer.  When your ready, read the "Stage 3 Five Years+ Out-Check In!" topic and you'll hear about some of these ladies who graciously come back to give encouragement to people like you and I who are going through treatments.

I'm going to the onc today and will either get my last chemo tx or we'll decide that I'm done.  I've been on neoadjuvant chemo to shrink the tumors and get rid of the diffused cancer cells in my breast so they'll get clear margins.  Surgery for me is April 26.  Chemo wasn't fun but with the supportive meds the side effects were manageable.  I'm 51.  My chemo was slightly different than yours.  I had the taxol first (along with a trial drug called Sutent) and then did weekly AC.  I kept working through the first 4 months but I listened to my body and my emotions, which were getting very tired, and went on short term disability at Christmas.  I'm feeling much stronger and it won't be long before I'm back to work until I take another leave for surgery. 

It's going to take some time before you're OK with this diagnosis -- at least that has been the case for so many of us.  But you will get through it and be fine.

Hi Patsy,

Sorry to hear about your dx, but you have found a great support here.  I've said before that learning about BC is like learning a language you never wanted to learn to begin with and without a teacher.  Unfortuntately I've seen a lot of woman like you who are told one thing going in to surgery and then find out a whole different story after (me included).  I think maybe the docs want to try and be as optimistic as possible, but I do think it's their duty as well to reiterate that none of what you get from the biopsy is set in stone until you get the FINAL pathology AFTER surgery.  I don't remember any of my docs even mentioning this. 

I had 4 dose dense A/C treatments followed by 4 Taxols (just finished last week) and am getting ready to start 6 weeks of radiation.  Chemo is rough, but with a good support group you'll make it through.  And we'll be here to answer any questions, as well as to just hear you vent.  Lord knows I did!

Take care,

Sharon

Peverson - I am so sorry you had to join the club that none of us wants to join, but you will find plenty support from the women here. I was diagnosed right after spending two years helping my daughter who had been ill for 2 years with a rare neurological disease. I was 42 when I was diagnosed and was caught off guard with the diagnosis.  It's hard to hear the words you've got cancer and the road your faced with is scary, but you can do it and will get through it.  I also did 4 DD AC followed by 12 Taxol. 

Kimber suggested rinsing your mouth to help avoid or minimize possible mouth sores and that is a great suggestion.  I also sucked on ice cubes during the Adriamycin portion of the infusion because I heard that helped.  In addition I used Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash because it was much easier on my mouth during chemo.  I also drank lots of water to help flush my system and stay hydrated - which really helps. And.... like Anacortes said - call your dr if you have a question or something doesn't seem right - they're there to help you get through this and answer all of your questions.

I'm sending (((HUGS))) your way........Jenn

I'm so sorry with you dx and having this added on to the other challenges in your life.  The wonderful group of Stage III ladies will help you get through.  I had the same treatment plan as you and am currently in rads. 

Remember, when it comes to chemo, the s.e.s (side effects) vary from person to person.  And the meds to combate nauseau are so much more effective than previously. If you are concerned about losing more weight you might want to ask about Emend which is more expensive than other anti-nausea drugs but very effective.  You may want to consider joining the Chemo Board for more tips, although I always felt more comfortable with other Stage 3 ladies.