I'm joining the Stage III team.

hugs. Its petrifying i know. But we r all here for you. I am stage 3 and my son was 14 mo at official dx. Its scary but you can do it. Im in the middle of chemo and it sucks but we will hold ur hand. Again big hugs. Ps i have seen tons of.women on here 5+ yrs out. And a lot are 10 plus yrs out. Our chemo and treatment now is even better than 10 years ago!

Welcome to the board that no one wants to be on. God bless you 100 times over. Things will work out as you have a sweet baby to live for. Stay strong as this time in the process seems overwhelming and scaring. Hugs,

Kodapants

Welcome nsmolen. I am so sorry that you have been diagnosed with bc. It's terrifying to get the diagnosis, but once you get a plan of attack I am hopeful you will feel a little better. It is definitely no fun, but you can do this. We'll be here for you.

Hugs and Prayers,

Lexi

nsmolen... Welcome. I have had lots of support here, especially reading about all the women who are many, many years out. You are defintely NOT alone. My son was 17 months and my daughter 4 at the time I was diagnosed. There have been lots of changes but my kiddos, as most are, are resilient. My daughter loves my wig and my bald head equally. I am in the middle of chemo and have a hard time being stage III as well. It slowly gets better day by day.  {{HUGS}}}

Brooke

Hi nsmolen,  Welcome to this forum. Sorry that you have to be here. Things really do get better. I have found so much support from everyone here. SharonH

Hi there Dearest,

Welcome, I am glad you found us, and we can help you.

I know it is scary  as the initial days are the hardest. But you will be ok. My advice is to surround yourself with ONLY positive people, take GOOD care of yourself, & come here often for support, and accurate information.DO not google as  there is alot of outdated BC data out that is not relative in todays setting.

Stage III  can throw you, but please keep in mind, that we get aggressive treatment  which is a good thing in the long run.

My pathology was very similiar to yours and I will be celebrating  7 yrs in 2 months.

 You'll get there too!

Welcome on board. I was Dxed back in June, and am almost finished with active treatment. It has been rough at times, ain't gonna kid you there, but I am still here and plan to stick around as long as possible. You sort of work through the fear in fits and starts. It WILL get better, I promise, and don't forget to laugh. Oh, and if you feel you need some xanax or similar for a while, do NOT be afraid to ask for it.

I just had my 7th of 8 chemo infusions this past Friday. Before the first one I thought I wouldn't be able to get through it. But I have and you will too! Be good to yourself and spend as much time on the couch with fun TV or in bed with good books as your life/family/work will permit. The port is a great idea and the procedure to get it is pretty easy. For now, eat whatever makes you feel good. For me it was ice cream and orange sherbet during the AC chemo. Try to go up and down stairs several times each day as a form of exercise if you can. Get all the anti-nausea med prescriptions filled and take them every day to stay ahead of the nausea. But be careful of Zofran - it can make you really constipated. The only thing that worked for me with that problem was a tea called Smooth Move. (Colace didn't work for me.) Ativan helped control my nausea and anxiety somewhat too. I am weening myself off of it now. Above all don't be afraid to ask for and accept help, especially with a six month old.

I am surprised to be near the end of chemo. I thought it would seem like a lifetime but instead it seems to have gone rather quick. But I did let myself sleep through a lot of it and I watched endless TV. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried most days during December, January, and February. It's part of the process I think. Now I am feeling more upbeat.

The good news is chemo is most effective on hormone-negative BC. Plus you'll have Herceptin which has revolutionized BC treatment for HER2+ patients.  YOU CAN DO THIS!! One day at a time.

Nsmolen, I am joining the rest to welcome you, though wish you never "had to know us". I know, how scared you are, especially thinking you are DCIS, and then stage III. You will have a better organized mind once you start the treatment. Then one thing will lead to another and it will be behind you before you know. If you have chemo before the surgery, then think of it as a good thing , as it will kill most of the cancer. It is doable, just take care of yourself, take each day as it comes. Day in, day out, then it's over and you are finished with the 'monster". Come here often, let us know, how you doing. This is a perfect place for support. Good luck and hugs.

Hi nsmolen,

24 weeks of chemo sounds like forever, but we're here to tell you you can do it. I'm sure I'd never been so scared in my life, but I marched right in to the infusion room by myself and you will be like all of us and march in as well. My daughter was much older (15), but I thought of her when I needed inspiration. Please reach out to friends and family and ask for help. I really appreciated being driven to treatments. Rest as much as you can. Drink lots of water. I watched lots of movies for distraction. I took one ativan each night to sleep for about 8 months and then stopped. I also took one before chemo infusions (I let the nurses know) until I got used to the infusion sessions. Chemo is doable. I thought my port was a great improvement over trying to find a vein, and the surgeries to put it in and take it out were easy. I'm sending you best wishes for getting through this ordeal. I am just past two years out and life is pretty much back to normal and I don't think about cancer all the time. There are lots of women stage III who live long healthy lives. That's where we want to be!! 

Hi.  Make sure to ask about adding herceptin to your neo adjuvent mix, with the taxotere.  That was my protocol.  I had a similiar dx and am now 7 years out and just fine.

Annaanne 

nsmolen,

Many of the ladies covered much of what I would say,  but I'm chiming in anyway. My dx was much like yours, IDC, DCIS, er/pr neg her2 + stage IIIC with 15 pos nodes for me. I'm 7 years out and doing just fine! My youngest was 2 at my dx and she is now 9 1/2 and my oldest just turned 16 and will be driving soon and another in the middle. I completed the same course of chemo you will do, also had the year of Herceptin that I'm certain you will also do, plus radiation. All of this is rough but very do-able and you will persevere and be looking back at this in no time!  Best wishes! 

I was diagnosed in December and there is nothing that prepares you for that first month. I too have young kids and the nightly bargaining I did, hoping and praying to see them finish elementary school, has shifted. I now look forward to many milestones and years to come. I am over halfway through chemo and getting the plan for surgery together. I hope you find that time and an action plan help ease your mind. You are in good company, there are many kind and comforting women on this site. Xoxo.