Started My First Chemo November 30th

Options
ventureval
ventureval Member Posts: 23
edited December 2017 in Just Diagnosed

Hello I am new here, I am 60 years old and I just found out 3 weeks ago that I have stage 2 ductile breast cancer. I am fortunate in the fact that it has not gotten into my lymph glands yet. I was completely floored as no other women prior in my family history have had breast cancer I am the first. It has come as a hard blow to me as earlier this year I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. I was born deaf in one ear and now with the Meniere's I am losing hearing in my good ear. So I have been adjusting to it all year. So, now a new round of adjustment is being met. My cancer I have been told is very aggressive so I am being hit very hard with very hard chemo from what I have been told. I actually did pretty good so far. They have given me pretty good meds for the nausea. I will be doing this every other week for 4 months. This is happened so fast I am still trying to take it all in really. I have a good support system, my husband and my 2 daughters and son will all take turns taking me for my treatments. My treatments last for 5 hours. Is that normal for other people? I did have a surgical port put in. They did have some trouble getting the needle into it at first. Once they got a larger needle then they didn't have any problems. So 5 days since my first day and I am not to bad for wear right now. We shall see on December 14th, how that one goes. I hope everyone here does well with their chemo and Happy Holiday's to everyone.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2017

    ventureval, thanks for sharing your experience, and we're sorry for all you're going through. It does take time to take it in, but you will find a new normal.

    We're all here for you, and sending you big hugs as you go through all this during the holidays.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited December 2017

    Welcome ventureval! I am not sure on what is "normal" for chemo, however I am sure ladies will join in soon and share. If you could add your stats by going to the top of the page, click on My Profile and then My Diagnoses on the next page that would be great. If we can see they type of cancer and specific treatment its easier to help out.

    Different chemo's have different side affects which can be fought differently. Glad to hear you are doing well so far!


    Cheryl

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ventureval
    ventureval Member Posts: 23
    edited December 2017

    Thank you I look forward to blogging with everyone to help share and learn from everyone's experines's, and pray for all of us that they find a cure for us one of these days.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2017

    Hi there, there is also usually an active group (month by month) for those of us who are beginning chemo together. Here's the link. My Nov. '11 group was a big support to me, and it helped knowing others were going through it at the same time.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...


    I also want to address your shock that you were the only woman in your family to get breast cancer. It seems that there are only between 10 and 20% of us that actually have the BRCA gene--the one that predisposes us to more risk from breast cancer genetically. Most of us have never had another relative dx with it. No one in my family ever had it, and I was dx at age 53.

    Anyway, you'll find plenty of support here on this website, and it was literally a life-saver for me. Drop in anytime, and hugs to you.

    Claire in AZ

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ventureval
    ventureval Member Posts: 23
    edited December 2017

    Hello everyone I wish this was kind of like facebook so I can hit like on everyones post. I also wanted to add, my daughter told me that I am HER2 Negative so I am called a triple negative. So, that is why I am being hit so hard with the chemo so fast. Next week I go for my next chemo treatment. But the day before I go my 79 year old mother is going into the hospital for a very lengthy heart procedure 4 to 5 hours to fix her AFIB. She is scared to death she is not going to make it. As an only child, and whom had a father who wasn't such a nice one, she has alway's been my rock. She lives with my husband and I and she does so well if it were not for her AFIB. People who meet her can hardly believe how old she really is because she is so active and doesn't act like her age. So, I am pretty scared for next week. Then 2 days ago I had to put my little 17 year old kitty to sleep that I bottle fed and hand raised from the day she was born. So much happening at once I think my hair would fall out regardless of the chemo LOL Anyway thank you for letting me vent again. vv

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited December 2017

    hello sweetie hang in there have Hope got me thru along with my faith 4 Inspiration I'm a 23 yr Survivor Praise God so it is Possible.msphi idc stage2Lmast chemo dads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen. God Bless

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2017

    Ventureval, you got hit with too much at one time...I know how hard it is to lose a fur family member. I want to say it's as bad as losing human family members, because for me, it is. Please know it will get more "doable" in the future (dx/tx etc.) you will get through this, and you'll be able to look back on this time in your life and be in a better space. Hugs, and there is another forum called Triple negative that can help you with all kinds of questions, give support, reassurance etc. It was the reassurance I needed most during my early months dealing with all this, and I guess I still need it today, come to think of it.

    Hugs again.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories