Looks like chemo is in my future.

Eartman, It all depends on the chemo they want to use. Some are weekly, some are once a month. It just depends on the schedule for that particular drug. They do get good results doing chemo before surgery, so it's a good plan. How long before you see your MO? Be sure to write down all these questions so you can get the answers. It's also good to take someone else to be another set of ears. Stay off Google. This site has good, reliable information. And lots and lots of support from women who care. (((((HUGS)))))

Hi eartman!

Glad you found us. I had surgery first (lumpectomy) and then chemo. I was on TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin) every 3 weeks for 18 weeks. No walk in the park but honestly not horrible either. I worked all the way through treatment and am finishing up radiation next week.

The actual treatment usually took 3 to 4 hours and wasn't bad. I called it my spa day because I got to sit in a heated recliner, with a warm blanket - watched TV or netflex on my computer. The nurses brought me food and drink and I got to take a nice nap if I wanted too. The side effects don't kick in for 2 to 3 days after treatment. I was never nauseous, the worst SE being indigestion (acid reflux) which a daily Previcid tablet took care of and your taste buds being off. Hard to find food that tastes good. SE's lasted a week or so for me and then I felt pretty normal until the next treatment. I gained 15 lbs which is melting away now and my hair fell out - but it's coming in gangbusters now at 9 weeks post chemo.

Not an easy journey but doable. Lots of support here on the boards. Many lovely women (and men!) to walk you through it. Good Luck!

Annie

I found that the thought of chemo was way worse than the actual process. I've been fortunate to not have SEs but even for those who do, they are usually manageable with meds. Once you determine which cocktail you will be on, and timing, check out the appropriate month threads on the Chemo board. It may help to check earlier months so you can get a gauge on how similar people fare throughout treatment. Best of luck, I'm also getting chemo before surgery and after only three treatments of AC my tumor has shrunk from almost 4cm to a tiny nub!

Hi there. I actually had almost an identical diagnosis to you when I was 33. Because my tumor was so large (3.5 cm we think) I did chemo first so they would need to remove less tissue during the lumpectomy. I did Adriamycin and Cytoxan. After surgery I did Taxotere as well. I think they would have done the taxotere before surgery as well but I was pregnant and that drug was not safe for baby. The treatments were every two weeks. It took about half a day all said and done. They hook up your IV and give you some extra meds to prevent nausea and allergic reaction. Then the chemo goes through your IV. Between each step they put some saline through the IV. The treatment itself is not painful. In fact I was usually sleepy from the antihistamines they gave me. About four days after my first treatment I started getting sick, in that I was very tired and achey. I had a harder time than many do with chemo but that was likely because I was 8 months pregnant!

My tumor did shrink considerably from the chemo. After the second treatment my lump ached and I could feel it changing shape. I have a few small scars from the surgery but the lumpectomy did not change the contour of my breast. The surgeon makes the incision right along the line of your areola to make the scar less noticeable.

I want to give you a warning since you are so young that cytoxan is the classic example of a chemo drug that will destroy your fertility!!!! You do have options to preserve your fertility if you want to have children later. Make sure you talk to your doctor about it. In some cases you can retrieve eggs and freeze them before chemo. You can also use a medication called Lupron that will help protect your ovaries from the chemo drugs.

Good luck to you!! I hope that your treatment goes smoothly and that you are healthy again very soon! Let me know if I can help at all.

Cougar, so sorry you are dealing with this crummy dx at such a young age. CONGRATS on the birth of your baby.