Starting Chemo in April 2014

Hello Kazzy, sounds like we have a similar story. My team was also very optimistic that I would only need radiation following my lumpectomy. Unfortunately one of my nodes was positive, which added chemo to my treatment to proceed radiation. I will be starting on April 7. 

I too have gained so much encouragement from the other women on these forums. I guess we will be walking through this together. I have a wig consult set up this week to prepared for the hair loss. Was the hardest part for me to accept, as my son is being married this July, but I have come to accept it and I am ready to move ahead one day at a time. I have a very supportive husband, family and friends. Also several local ladies in my community that have walked this path before me have been very encouraging as well. Just a slight change in plans for the coming year, but we have a bright future ahead of us!

My doctors also were sure it was "just" DCIS, but I always knew in my heart it wasn't.   I start chemo Apr 9th.   I still have quite a bit of pain on the TE side, so I'm hoping that settles soon! 

I bought a short wig.  Not happy about losing my mid back hair and sad that I can't donate it just because it's highlighted. 

My husband is making me a chemo kit.   I am holding out hope that it is not as bad as we expect and that I will still be able to play with my 2 year old princess.  

I look forward to getting to know you all!

Krazzy115... That looks promising!!!  I may consider an appt., excuse to come back up to the city.  I really miss it some times!!!  

I I haven't decided who I want to go with me on that particular part if this adventure.  

As with having a baby, modesty has gone out the door!!!  This whole hair thing...I just can't wrap my head around.  I don't think I can do cold caps...I'm very limited on meds I can take for nausea/pain.   I have heard the cold caps can bring on both.  

Hi guys, I am from Australia but am also seeing oncologist on the 2nd April re chem. I am also worried about hair loss.My husband and 3 boys have offered to shave their's off. But I think I am also really worried about nausea and vomiting and just feeling really tired. I want to have energy for my kids. Anyway,  it's not forever. I love these forums and everyone is so informative. 

Hi ladies.  I started chemo in April 2013 and I know exactly how nervous you all feel right now.  I felt the same way in the days leading up to my first infusion.   I thought I'd give you all some hope.  I found chemo not nearly as bad as I had imagined or feared.  I worked full time throughout.  Yes, there were days I felt rotten and my energy level was pretty low, but I did not get most of the more serious side effects.  Let me add that I'm not superwoman and if I had the choice I would have worked part time but for various reasons full time was necessary.  It turned out to be very manageable.  I also used cold caps and it was one of the best treatment decisions I made.  Not looking sick helped me to feel less sick and was a huge emotional boost.  Please don't apologize for your "vanity".  Losing hair is a very difficult, visible and traumatic side effect of cancer treatment for most women. There is an active cold cap forum on breastcancer.org if anyone is interested in finding out more.  I will pop in here from time to time and share my chemo experience.  I hope it helps. 

Hi Everyone,

I also wanted to give each of you words of encouragement. I finished my Chemo, 4 AC and 4 Taxol, one every two weeks on March 26th. I can honestly say that it was not that bad. With the AC I was lucky I did not experience the naseau but I did have loss of appetite so I had to force myself to eat, my taste buds were off. With the Taxol my appetite returned but I experienced more fatigue and some muscle aches which I took (2) Advil for and it helped. I also worked full time through my treatments ( 32 hours a week) except for the treatment days.

I completely understand how you feel about hair loss. It was the hardest part for me but honestly once it happens and a few weeks pass you accept it and move on. I bought some wigs but I felt most comfortable in hats. Now I'm looking forward to my hair returning. I kept telling myself four - six months without hair is not bad when you know that the chemo is killing the cancer. I didn't try the cold cap because my treatment was in Boston and they didn't offer it.

I will keep checking in. Feel free to ask any questions about my treatments. I will help in anyway I can.

KAT

Hello Ladies! I too have just been informed I will be starting my chemo this month. While the thought of loosing my hair is bothersome it has not hit me yet. I hate to admit it but, I am a vain woman. I have spent hundreds of dollars with my stylist to make my hair so beautiful. Opposite of that I have used very little makeup (eyeliner, mascara, neutral eye shadow and very little blush) since my fortieth birthday. I am now forty three. I am really not sure what to make of all of this. I am going to see a psychotherapist tomorrow. I have had a really rough time emotionally dealing with the whole Cancer thing, and I my doctors too thought I would have my surgery and then only Tamoxifen. I move forward with the positive thoughts from your posts, and I know together as sisters we will all make it through. I too have family which is very supportive. I think I just need a little help and so I have to say in advance Thank You to all of you here.   

I am brand new here - I've been lurking for a while, and I've found so much helpful advice and encouragement.

My story is fast-paced. I'm 38, wife, mother of 2 (ages 8 & 11). I found a lump in my breast in late Oct/early Nov., 2013, had it checked out my my family doc, had a mammogram (which was CLEAR) and an ultrasound (which showed something suspicious), and then a biopsy. On Jan 27, I was diagnosed with 3.5cm of High Grade DCIS-MI. I met with a surgical oncologist a week later, had a right mastectomy on Feb.11. Pathology showed 0.6cm of High Grade IDC long with the DCIS but since all the cancer was removed with my breast (and part of my muscle - Ugh!), we THOUGHT we were finished. 

HOWEVER, the final pathology came back as HER2+, ER/PR-. So it's 6 rounds of chemo and a year of Herceptin for me. I has a Port inserted yesterday (and THAT is an experience I NEVER want repeated. Yowch!), and I start chemo on Friday, April 4. I confess I am rather nervous. I cut my beautiful curly locks off this past Saturday and went to a pixie cut, which, after the initial tears and horror, I actually LIKE. I've decided to forgo the whole wig thing for now, and I've been hat shopping. MAN, that is FUN! I'm amassing quite the collection.

It is lovely to "meet" all of you!

Hello ladies!  

I am a mother of 4 (girls 26, and 24, twin boys 19), I married my wonderful, dear husband (who I met long distance) in July 2012.  I like many have been reading posts learning of others shared experiences.  I noticed the "Starting Chemo in April 2014" post and thought this is where I should be!  Like ColdInCanada, my story was quite similar.  I went in for my annual mammogram and an area on my chest/ breast area I was concerned about 2 years prior was finally picked up on the mammogram.  Previously, the ultrasound tech could not pick up the area of concern on the mammogram film.  I was biopsied and confirmed later that afternoon it was DCIS in my left breast.  I was immediately referred to the surgical oncologist..   The initial suggestion by the surgical oncologist was to have a lumpectomy until the surgeon discussed the clear margins and how much area would have to be removed on such a small breast.  By my next visit with her, I had decided I wanted to have a double mastectomy and get it over with. I was then referred to the plastic surgeon upstairs who I met with that same afternoon - who by the way was wonderful!   My entire team are female doctors and absolutely amazing!  They were very patient and have explained everything so far every step of the way.  The plastic surgeon's office scheduled my surgery before I left her office that day.  THAT WAS FAST! 

Once week post-op, the surgeon called with the results of the pathology report.  DCIS also in the right breast as well as stage 1 IDC in the left breast.  She didn't think my treatment plan would change from the 5-year Tamoxifen.  On the contrary,  my follow-up with my medical oncologist, I discovered the IDC is an aggressive cancer that would require chemo as well as targeted therapy in addition to the Tamoxifen.  WHAT A BLOW!  I am scheduled to have my first dose of Chemo April 11th.  I will have the port-o-cath inserted in my chest on April 3rd under general anesthesia.  Need I say how I feel about the unknown?

I have a 5K breast cancer walk I plan to participate in this Saturday the 5th.  I hope to go about my days as normal as possible.  I appreciate you ladies for sharing your experiences.  This is a journey for us all and to share experiences and get encouragement from so many others who share similar stories is wonderful! 

Oh!  I forgot to mention, I am participating in a study using the cold cap.  Although I'll be part of the study, I found about it too late and cut my hair really short.  It'll be nice to be able to keep the hair I have though.  The other thing- I've been asked to do a interview with Fox  News on the cold cap.  My cold cap experience will be filmed at my first chemo treatment.   Not sure when it will air, but I'll be on the lookout.

Thank you for listening and posting!!!

Ladies, I gotta tell you, if anyone tells you that the port insertion is easy to do with just a local ("It's just like getting a filling at the dentist", they said), they are totally LYING. I opted out of sedation, and WOWZA, it HURT. If I ever have to do it again, I would totally go for the full KNOCK ME OUT juice.

LngDstncNuWife2012, good luck on your cancer walk! A few years back, a friend and I walked the Weekend to End Women's Cancers - 60km in two days. It was the most tiring thing I've ever done, but so totally worth it. You meet the coolest people doing stuff like that.

As for hair loss, like I said, I've been collecting hats, and so far, no one really GETS how excited I am about this. So, if you don't mind me sharing?

I love them all, but especially the sparkly blue cap. It makes me feel all princess-y. 

Hi Everyone,

I found out yesterday I will be starting TC chemo on April 17th. I am still trying to process that and have to admit I am scared.  I am pretty sensitive because I also have sjogren's syndrome so I hope my SE's aren't too bad. This is all still so unbelievable. I found a lump myself and after biopsy it was found to be an aggressive cancer. I had BMX on March 11 with TE placement and then had to go back in because of a hematoma on March 23 so I am still recovering from all that. I am so glad to have a place to come to where we are walking through this together. 

Missy

Hi Ladies - A couple things about hair loss & wigs: everyone experiences hair loss differently.  I had eyebrows & eyelashes all thru chemo.  Wigs are SO easy.  The synthetic ones go right back to their style after washing.  Also, someone mentioned the cost.  Some insurance companies will reimburse you for them as a medical expense...the people at the wig store know how to write the receipt and most stores also give a medical discount.   I highly recommend the look good feel better class too.

SE's are all manageable.  Your chemo nurses should have a handout for your particular chemo that can help.  Just don't let them get really bad without asking for help.  This forum is 24/7 too.  Trust me, someone has gone thru your problem (fill-in the blank). 

Lovebeingnana - May I suggest you start a thread for your syndrome and go to school off of others with the same thing.  Its worth a shot and it may take away some of the worry. 

Now is the time to be nice to yourself.  A little cruising for the next year (no big projects). 

What an amazing support group you are!  My best to all of you. This won't be fun, but you can do it.   

I met with the Oncologist yesterday and found that with a score of 20 on my Oncotype as well as a couple of cells detected in one of my nodes, my surgeon was wrong in her predication that all I would need is radiation.  I was devastated to hear that I need Chemo.  Fortunately my chemo should not result in hair loss, so I have to be grateful for that since my daughter is getting married in October.  On one hand I am scared to death of the Chemo drugs and what they might do to my body, but on the other I am confident I can beat this.  Just a lot of unknowns and the packet of info they give you on the drugs and possible side effects is enough to send a soldier running to the hills! I am so glad to have found this thread because I know how important support is - especially having people who are going thru the same thing as you.  My first treatment will be April 8th.  As a couple of nurses have told me ladies, it will be one crappy year out of our long and happy lives.  We will need to suck it up and stay strong! We can do this!!!