Scared of Chemo.

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rosekatyrose
rosekatyrose Member Posts: 7
edited March 2019 in Just Diagnosed

Hi everyone. I can't believe I am on this board, but so grateful that you have this site. Diagnosed with HER2 Pos (Stage 1) and Hormone (Stage 2)  in one breast. Have to have Chemo, breast removed and radiation.  I have the Epstein Bar Virus for twenty years and have only been able to work side jobs because of this disease (Mono or CFS). It's real and debilitating. I will be the first one in my family to get BC. This stinks. My immune system is already compromised. I am 53 living in a 90 year-old body. Anxiety attacks, sinus infections, vertigo and weakness. I am scared that I will not be able to handle the chemo treatments. Any help would be appreciated. I saw my father on chemo and my neighbor couldn't handle one round, two years ago and died. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I just don't know. Anyone here with the same fears as I have? Thank you to all that respond.

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  • star2017
    star2017 Member Posts: 827
    edited November 2018

    I saw my mother go through chemo for another cancer. She became very sick and weak while getting her infusions, and I was very scared when I needed to start chemo.


    I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier it was. I think bc treatment is better researched and understood, doctors are better about helping you manage symptoms. I was tired and achy during chemo, but had very little nausea and actually had a good appetite.


    Each case is different, but I hope that chemo will go smoothly for you and you will have a life of better health in the future. Wishing you well.



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  • rosekatyrose
    rosekatyrose Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2018

    Thank you for replying. ThumbsUp Still scared because of my immune system. It's so weak. I have a hard time getting to the store.

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  • Fritzmylove
    Fritzmylove Member Posts: 330
    edited November 2018

    My chemo experience hasn’t been all that bad. I get a bit nauseous for a few days, but most of the time between treatments I’ve felt normal. I have a liver disease that my doctors know about, and they’ve been great about making sure the chemo doesn’t aggravate my liver, and they’ve been able to give me different meds to combat many of the side effects I’ve experienced. In fact I sort of look forward to each chemo round because I feel like I’m actively doing something to fight this beast. Oncologists are good about monitoring your health closely during chemo so I wouldn’t worry too much. Good luck

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  • rosekatyrose
    rosekatyrose Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2018

    Thank you so much. I'm glad you are doing well.

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  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited November 2018

    There are many different kinds of chemo treatments. I'm sure none are a walk in the park but I found it to be far easier than what I had expected, based on what I had heard and what I had seen in movies and on TV. My oncologist and his nurse practitioner were so helpful in getting me through side effects. Be sure to join the November chemo board. It is so helpful to have others to talk to who are going through the same thing. Good luck!

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  • DiagnosisDisruption
    DiagnosisDisruption Member Posts: 108
    edited November 2018

    The hardest part was being at the hospital the whole dang day on Chemo Day. I was there for over 7 hours each time (I cold capped). That being said, chemo was pleasantly uneventful. Work with your doctors to get the right anti nausea drip. I had (maybe) one bout of nausea in six treatments. Now, I was very tired for several days and felt like I was in a fog for at least ten of those days.

    The fact that food doesn't taste right was really the suckiest part for me. Acupuncture also helps a lot.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited November 2018

    hello sweetie when I went thru chemo in 90 s it was doable given meds etc but even more comfortable now I believe but I agree all are different but you can do this sweetie come back here to join us ask questions we re here for you. I'm a 24 yr Survivor Praise God. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before n after Lmast got married cause diagnosed while we were planning then rads 7wks Honeymoon and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

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  • michelept
    michelept Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2019

    Chemo was the easiest part of my treatment.... I was sick only once.... and got it every Thursday, slept thru the weekend... and my Monday I was fine. The drugs for nausea are fantastic......you’re gonna be weak ... and tired...... but it wasn’t that bad

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited March 2019

    hello sweetie I too had all those fears I was 42 planning our 2nd marriage when found lump in shower first in my family with BC. Had my cry then decided to fight this. With Positive thinking family and Hope I made it thru. This yr will be 25yrs I'm a Survivor. Praise God. msphil idc stage2 0/3nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married then 7wks rads. 5yrs on Tamoxifen. You can do this.

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  • Twelvestring60
    Twelvestring60 Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2019

    You all are incredible... I'm new to the discussion and I started in the crazy town forum. I have had a double mxty and waiting for final her2 test. First was unequivocal, second borderline. (+2) 2 small tumors on one side. 1a and no nodes. Friday port surgery unless test comes back negative. Then, it's an oncotype test instead. 6 family members on one side have breast cancer but we don't have the gene. Scared of chemo but after reading everyone's stories.? All of you are so strong. Just made me stronger. I feel like a baby after reading about so many people.. You tell your story for the good of others. I am very grateful. Very.

    Dorene

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  • Shirleyj55
    Shirleyj55 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2019

    Hi all.  I was diagnosed in late Dec 2018.  Saw the medical oncologist today and she ordered an Oconotype test.  I am frustrated that I need to wait another 3 weeks for a final determination on whether I will need chemo.  Chemo scares me a lot.  I am 64 and still working full time and also have a part time business.  I fear the side effects and just trying to stay positive.  

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    First of all, chemo was WAY less gnarly than I had feared. I absolutely hate throwing up, and I was very afraid of puking my guts out all day. I never threw up once, thanks to the meds and the fasting I did. I was very lucky, with mild SEs. My fingernails and toenails were perfectly fine (I did ice them). Chemo exhausted me, cumulatively, but the difficult-level tiredness waited until the end. Early on, I bounced back very well and enjoyed feeling normal, exercising intensely, etc, for two weeks or so between the chemos which were 3 weeks apart. By the final two chemos, my anemia was pretty bad, so when I 'bounced back' I was still easily winded and tired-- but I never actually felt worse during the chemos themselves. Those stayed roughly the same. I did the fasting mimicking diet each round and that was very helpful to me keeping those SEs low. Still not a picnic, and still hope never to have to do it again, but all in all way better than my fears had imagined. The hardest part for me besides intense anemia was feeling so foggy mentally. Happy to say that has cleared up too.

    Tips: exercise daily-- and push yourself; it helps so much. Your heart and muscles need to get a "build" message when chemo is giving them the opposite message. Fasting or fasting mimicking (I have described it in many posts on this site, if you search) diminishes SEs and (in mice) boosts the cure rate of chemo. I have no lasting SEs and I attribute it to that. Se a naturopathic MD who has experience w supporting cancer patients. There is a lot you can do naturally and nutritionally to reduce SEs and protect your system. A book called "Life Over Cancer" by Dr Keith Block outlines many of them.

    Good luck and you are stronger than you think! Chemo teaches you this, and that is a gift to carry forward!

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  • keepthefaith
    keepthefaith Member Posts: 2,156
    edited March 2019

    Shirley, the thought of chemo is daunting. The wait for onco results is hard, and then, you still may not have a clear cut answer. I was surprised to find that treatment is not always black and white and neither is BC.The onco-score is one piece of the puzzle. I had an intermediate onco-score....eh. Everyone responds to treatments differently. For me, it was much easier than I thought it would be, but not a walk in the park. Only minor SE's and so far, no long term SE's. If I had to do chemo again, since the TailorX results came out, I'm not sure if I would, but I still have no regrets. Whatever happens, you can be sure that someone on the forum will be here to support you along the way! Best wishes.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited March 2019

    Shirley - I had the Oncotype test done. It took 2 weeks to get the results. My low score of 11 allowed me to dodge chemo so I was thankful for the test.

    Diane

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited March 2019

    rose..., you can try one chemo session and see how it goes. I have a friend in her early 30s that had to be hospitalised she was pretty bad but managed to complete her chemo. We have the same oncologist he wasn't worried she would make it through but it was rough.

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  • PebblesV
    PebblesV Member Posts: 658
    edited March 2019

    Hi rosekatyrose -

    If you are resolved to do chemo, my advice is learn / be reassured from the women on these boards who have completed chemo successfully with little to no side effects. Also somewhere in the chemotherapy topic is a thread called Tiffany’s Terrific Tips for Chemo or something like that posted by a gal who shared all her tips for how she got through chemo swimmingly - didn’t even lose her hair!

    If you are unsure about chemo, know there are alternatives too. Look up Suzanne Somers, Theresa Dinallo, Chris Wark - all people who beat cancer without chemo. Former two are breast cancer, Chris is the Chris Beat Cancer guy and while not breast cancer, I mention him because he was stage 3 with positive nodes and docs all recommended he do chemo. He refused and is thriving today. Also there are plenty of women in these boards who have thrived without chemo as well.

    So educate yourself on both sides so that you can make the right decision for yourself, feel good about your treatment plan, and can march forward! Best of luck, you will be fine either way

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