first time chemotherapy. ....

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latisecannon
latisecannon Member Posts: 9
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi, im latise and i'm getting ready to start my Chemotherapy April 29...i will be lying if i say I'm not worried. I'm recovering from a masectomy/implant that i had on March 31.. was diagnosed February 12, 2014. It was devastating finally getting to accept everything that is happening but still scared. Really GREATFUL for family n friends n support groups n sometimes it doesnt feel like enough...getting my port put in fruday April 18 so PLEASE pray for me as i pray for u...THANK YOU. ..

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  • mdg
    mdg Member Posts: 3,571
    edited April 2014

    Hi Latise...sorry you have to go through all of this.  It is a hard road to travel.  Here you will find lots of great information and support from the many wonderful ladies that know what you are going through.   Chemo was the scariest part for me. It was more scary than having the bilateral mastectomy in some ways. I want to tell you that it was not as bad as I thought it would be.  It was not fun, but it was do-able.  You will get through it....life will slowly return to normal. Three years ago I was in the middle of chemo.....all is great now.  Have faith.  You are not alone....we BC girls stick together!

    Hugs!


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  • dwill
    dwill Member Posts: 312
    edited April 2014

    Hi Latise,  Just to let you know I will pray for you to help you through this difficult time.  I remember when I was diagnosed last Feb 2013, I was so frightened.  Just did not know what would happen. I am doing fine today and I will pray that you will also have the strength to fight this beast.  Lots of  love and support here at BCO..  {{{HUGS!}}}

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  • GeorgiaRai
    GeorgiaRai Member Posts: 175
    edited April 2014

    Sending you good wishes, Latisse.  Not gonna lie - chemo sucks!! But it sounds like you have a lot of support so be sure to lean on them in any way that helps you get through it.  ((hugs))

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  • holytoo2
    holytoo2 Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2014

    Hi Latise... I am sorry to hear you are going through this. I was just diagnosed and I am scheduled for a lumpectomy in a week. I pray all goes well with your chemo. My sister was diagnosed four years ago, and she said the worse part of getting chemo was the nausea. But, they gave her medicine which really helped to minimize the side effects. I do have a question for you and mdg. What made you guys decide on getting a mastectomies? I am 46 and I have a strong family history of breast/ovarian cancer, which makes me think I should do the same. I tested negative for the BRAC 1&2 but the genetics doc said she would recommend a bilateral mastectomy and having my ovaries removed. But, I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks ladies and God bless you.

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  • Lakegirl1
    Lakegirl1 Member Posts: 316
    edited April 2014

    Holy2too. Hi...I too am BRCA1&2 neg!!!  Good news for my daughters and sister!!!  I will have chemo, just not sure when it will start as I am recovering from Staph. 

    Initially, I had a lumpectomy and SNB.  When the path reports came back, the tumor was a full cm larger than they thought and my margins were not clean, but my nodes were clean. 

    My gen surgeon was recommending a mastectomy.  I am 43 with 2 daughters, 6 & 8.  When I talked with the plastic surgeon, he was concerned about the cosmetic outcome with re-excision then rads and mastectomy only on the left. With the re-excision, they would still have to do work on the right, in addition to left.   From everything I have read, trying to work with radiated skin is tricky at best. I was also very chesty, as my mother would say, 38DDD.   I would need the same number of surgeries with single or double. PS also indicated much better chance of symmetry with bilateral.  In addition, with the bilateral, I was greatly reducing my chances of recurrence.  For me, it was a no brainer...I will do whatever it takes to stick around to see my girls grow up!!! Everything I am doing I do for them.

    I too have the question re: ovaries as no one has mentioned that. I also have a Mirena IUD, I am pretty sure that needs to go, but not sure when to do that.  

    I wish you strength in making this very personal decision and the peace that comes with making the decision best for you and your family. I know this is a lot to think about, but these are the things I took into consideration.   

    I would not change a thing.  I'm glad we took this path. It turned out the tumor was more extensive than anticipated, which was discovered during bilateral mastectomy w/ reconstruction. 

    My thought through out has been, they were plotting to kill me...they had to go!!!  

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  • maltomlin
    maltomlin Member Posts: 343
    edited April 2014

    I'm 6 years out.........and for me the scariest words were 'you'll need chemo'! I just wasn't prepared........and was so scared (didn't tell anyone though)...........sat in the chair waiting for chemo.......and just wanted to run away..............BUT it wasn't as bad as I imagined.........it wasn't nice but it was worth it.

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  • kdrez
    kdrez Member Posts: 65
    edited April 2014

    Positive vibrations to you!  Once doc told me that I had to do chemo, got out the boxing gloves and put all my favorite tunes on my ipod, cause I knew music and dancing was going to help me!  Chemo ain't no piece of cake, but the frosting will taste so good when your done!  These discussion rooms are full of incredible fighters who give me strength each day!  We are all here for you!

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