How can this be!!

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited November 2015 in Just Diagnosed
How can this be!!
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  • jg12705
    jg12705 Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2015

    I was diagnosed last Monday, November 16. I am having a porta cath put in tomorrow morning and possibly starting chemo Tuesday. I feel like this is a nightmare. I haven't slept decently in 6 nights and I know this is only the beginning of this journey. I have made up my mind that this monster is not going to win. I have too much to live for!!! I am stubborn and I don't like it when things aren't in my control!!! How "normal" is life with chemo? Or is that a really dumb question?

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  • Nash54
    Nash54 Member Posts: 837
    edited November 2015

    Hi Sac89....sorry to find you here but welcome to the boards. I can't comment on the chemo question but I remember how scared I was when I was first DX'd. I couldn't sleep much for months and relied on Xanax to get me thru the first couple of months and lost my appetite and dropped about 10 lbs in the first month. I'm a little over a year out from my last treatment (rads) and it seems like a distant memory now. Life does get back to normal but it takes a while. The first part of this journey is the hardest. It helps to stay on these boards and talk with people going thru similiar treatments. Things are usually quiet on Sunday....I'm sure others will be along in the week to respond. I know I've read several comments where chemo is very doable these days with all the medication available to combat any side effects. Hang in there...it will get better.

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  • Mamiya
    Mamiya Member Posts: 432
    edited November 2015

    Sac89,

    First of all, welcome. I am sorry you find yourself here but hopefully you will find these forums helpful.

    I think you can make life as normal as possible during chemo, many people work and take care of kids and carry on with the necessities of daily life. I find that I am "sick" for several days and need extra help but it is certainly within the realm of normal (think "I get the flu every few weeks").

    If you would fill out your profile to include your diagnosis and make that public, more people could relate to your exact situation a little better and even suggest some other threads you may want to visit.

    Hang in there, you can do this (I also think taking something like xanax is a good idea if the anxiety is affecting you a lot, there's no shame in that at all).

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited November 2015

    Not a dumb question. The only dumb question is the one not asked. Sorry you have to be here

    I did pre-chemo as well. I would say attitude is very important. I think you have to just put one foot in front of the other and move along. Each of us had our own set of personal life difficulties throughout the process. If you need help with anxiety ask for something to help with that.

    As far as the chemo treatments, I had treatments on Tuesday and by Saturday I was back to my somewhat new normal. The day of chemo and the day after I felt good but was still on the steroids and heavy nausea meds. I was fortunate that I did not work but I could have done a desk job efficiently.

    Good luck. Join a chemo thread for your month. The ladies will be a real blessing and you will be able to share your thoughts with some great friends.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited November 2015

    Dear Sac, we hate that you had to join us for this reason, but wanted to say welcome!

    The beginning is really, really hard, and we're sure you're feeling a mixture of conflicting emotions, and have lots of questions! There are no dumb questions here, so please ask whatever is on your mind. Every question is important and we can all learn from the answers of our caring and experienced community members.

    We hope you start to feel like you're regaining control once you and your medical team have a treatment plan in place. Chemo is different to everyone's own body, but if you want to know more about it, there is a section in our main site where you'll learn about how it works, chemotherapy medicines, and what to expect. See here:

    Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer | Breastcancer.org
    Dealing With Chemotherapy Fears | Breastcancer.org


    We hope this helps. Please keep us posted on how everything is going, we're thinking of you!

    The Mods

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited November 2015

    Sac89 - life is certainly doable during chemo.  I worked throughout the treatments.  I agree, there are some days that you need more help than others, kind of like the flue every three to four weeks.  Attitude does play a big part in it. 

    It is really true, once you have a treatment plan in place, you will feel l a bit better - like you have some control.

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited November 2015

    SAC89, Eveyone is different in how they respond to chemotherapy, but many are able to function pretty normally during chemo. My best advice is to hold your doctors and nurses feet to the fire when it comes to managing side effects, make sure they know what your lifestyle is and your responsibilities, spend time now picking out a great wig that you are comfortable in (very few people knew I was wearing a wig and quite frankly, I loved that wig), and most important....line up your resources. You will have many good days, but you will also have some days when you need to rest and as treatment progresses, the fatigue will increase. Make sure that there are a lot of someones to do things without being asked. My husband took care of everything around the house and it made chemo so much easier for me. Good luck...Kill some cancer, woman!!
    MsP
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  • marion55
    marion55 Member Posts: 32
    edited November 2015

    i agree i had my first chemo last wed and apart from feeling a little weary i have led a normal life gojob ing out and eating drink plenty of fluids x

    my one job is in a shop so i have not worked yet but my other part time job i still do xx

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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited November 2015

    My life was pretty normal on chemo. I had lots of energy, I think from the steriods, but then I would crash about 2 pm & lay down on the couch for 1/2 hour. But I painted the entire exterior of the house & built a rock wall, which is kind of normal in my life, but had to have the nap every day. Good luck, GG

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  • jg12705
    jg12705 Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2015

    Thanks to all of you for the replies and info. I will start chemo next Wednesday. I am not only feeling overwhelmed with my diagnosis, but my dad is now in the hospital and unresponsive. They are thinking he had a stroke. We just lost my mom in August to Alzheimer's. I am not sure why all this is happening right now, but I have to be strong and plow through it!!!

    I am grateful for all your input!!!

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  • MsPharoah
    MsPharoah Member Posts: 1,034
    edited November 2015

    SAC89, so very sorry for what you have to deal with right now. It is just not fair! Do you have someone you can lean on during these trying times? I am praying for you and your dad.

    MsP

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  • jg12705
    jg12705 Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2015

    Thank you so much for your prayers! I can say with in the last week or so, I have received so much support that I never thought would be there. I just can't explain the emotions of everything right now. It just doesn't seem real! :(


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  • Nash54
    Nash54 Member Posts: 837
    edited November 2015

    Sac89...all this is happening so fast for you I'm sure your head is spinning.  So sorry to hear about your dad and sorry for the loss of your mother.  That's a lot of stress to deal with on top of your recent DX.  Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.  Just breathe....

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