Stage 3?

So sorry you've had to go through all this.  Your story sounds almost identical to mine.  Had numerous scares over the years, and was always told, fibrosistic breast changes.  I ended up with multicentric disease in one breast, DCIS in the other and 13/15+ nodes.  I had the exact tx they are suggesting for you.  The A/C portion of chemo was the toughest, but I really only felt bad a few days after tx.  I did have a really bad bout of mouth sores, so be sure to check with your onc about what to do if the ulikely chance that flares up(or PM me and I'll give you the low down on what I did) and they almost didn't give me the last full dose of A/C.  I ended up getting it after waiting a few days to treat the mouth sores.  Taxol was MUCH easier for me and I even went back to work about halfway through it.  Rads were a breeze after the chemo, and now I am on Tamoxifen.  And I AM STILL HERE over 3 years later!  I won't lie and say I haven't had a lot of ups and downs, especially when I get a new ache or pain, but the ladies here on BCO (and men )have helped me through some of my darkest days.  YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!  And we'll be here to help you!!!

Take care,
Sharon

My kids were just about yours are now.  They kept it pretty much to themselves, but I know they were scared too.  My daughter who is now 16 has volunteered for the Avon Wak for the past 3 years (which ironically I walked and crewed even before my own dx) and is now old enough to do the actual walk if she can raise the $1800 donation requirement.  Maybe just giving them the minimal information is a good thing.  Don't go in to too much detail about staging, etc.  I just told my kids that yes I had breast cancer and they were going to have to do surgery and then probably chemo, etc after, but that I was going to do everything the doctors told me to to get through this.  They didn't ask for too many details and I didn't offer.  You'll know what your kids can handle. Oh, and biotene products are great!  Get everything they have, and if you do still end up with the mouth sores the doc can px what they call the "magic mouthwash" that has a numbing agent as well as other fun stuff in it to help.   All that together really helped!

Take care hon!

Sharon

Sharon, your posts were very encouraging - nice to hear from somebody who has been through it all and come out the other side. I just had round 3 of dose dense AC today and am hoping that, like you found, the Taxol will be easier. Not that I've had terrible SEs with the AC. Had intense heartburn after Round 1, but that cleared up once I started taking Prilosec. Otherwise it's just a bit of nausea, constipation, diarrhea. Feel down and out for 2 or 3 days starting on Day 3, but then gradually better so that I actually feel great for about 4 or 5 days before the next round. Makes it hard mentally to go down the road again, but it's not like we have a choice.



LKSHER, I just had mastectomy on left side in January with full axillary dissection (10/25 positive nodes). I guess the pain meds are pretty good because I had very little pain. Had a lot of tingling in the arm and numbness in the armpit, but that is gradually getting better, with the help of physical therapy. They won't touch both armpits unless the sentinel nodes are positive, will they? Here's hoping that won't be necessary.



I'm sorry your son is having a difficult time with this. Perhaps once treatment starts it will be easier for both you and your family to cope. I certainly found that finally having a plan in place and starting on it relieved a lot of my anxiety and as a result probably helped those around me too. Will be thinking of you on Tuesday!

Lk I just wanted to say good luck on your surgery. We are here if you need us. Healing hugs

Hi,

You will get through this. I am stronger than ever. I remember those pity parties in bathroom

I am nearing one year anniversary of stage 3 locally advanced BC positive nodes ....... It is a ver y though ride emotionally and support from those who have been through it or are in it is invaluable......just allow yourself to be how you feel x

LKSHER..been thinking of you and hoping all went well with surgery!

LK, glad to hear that you in recovery and that surgery went ok. The path freaked me too, and I too had nodes, including some "spill." I am still here, and, knock wood, doing ok so far. Good to hear from you.

OK...well the path report is never fun when your a stage III, but the bright side is that you get to hang out with all of us!!! Yep, I remember this being a dark pit time of the journey. Not much could be really said that got me out of it other than reading stories of woman who had been where I was and were still living years out. Just met a woman today who had 9+ nodes and she'll be 10 years out this summer...HOPE!!

You're a mom and that is a powerful force. You don't want anything to harm your babies...even your cancer! So take that powerful love for them and fight throw the pit because they need their mom!! If curling up in bed with them is all you have the strength for that day..treasure it and let it fuel your desire to get through!! Live only today, than tomorrow when it comes than the next...the days will add up and the end of treatment will come...promise!!

We all here for you and please know all that you are feeling, fearing and totally overwhelmed about is normal and will become less and less...you're going to make it!!!

I remember that, Fredntan!  And this, too--

"We can rebuild him!  We have the technology!"

With my DIEP coming up next month, I'm all into that...