Treatment starting and scared

Options
Sportymom
Sportymom Member Posts: 77
edited August 2019 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I posted this in the 10 year survival forum but thought I would start a new forum seeing as I am only at the beginning of my treatment as a Stage IIIA Grade 3er. I really appreciate seeing all if the encouraging posts in the 10 year forum. I am a newbie who finally has her plan but am admittedly scared.

I met with MO yesterday and I have my treatment plan. After being told that my cancer is not acting typically and that it is a shit cancer (my father, husband, and myself appreciate his candor) in that it is too small ( 11 mm and 2 mm in my axillary region) to normally have infected all four of my sentinel nodes (three with my macromets and one with micromets) he postulated that it has been spitting out cancer to the lymph nodes for a while. His main concern Is that it is grade 3/3 (UK terms as he was originally trained there).

He then went on to discuss everything including my 10 year survival broken down by doing nothing then by adding each and every treatment. He discussed how I was ER+ and how and where estrogen is made (who new the skin, fat, and muscles aside from the ovaries also produce estrogen). Then he stated that my high PR+ was probably the thing that will save my life. Which is why my treatment plan looks like the following:

Zoladex injection every three months to put me into menopause starting this upcoming week (he did tell me dad and husband I might be a wee bit cranky 😀). I have to wait a week after the injection to receive my chemo

Three cycles of FEC (fluoruracil/epirubicin(otherwise know as adriamycin)/cyclophosphamide). One infusion every three weeks

Three cycles of docetaxal (taxotere)

He also wants me in an exercise clinical trial during chemo as I am already active and am hoping to remain active during treatment. Is this too much to think I can be active? I would love to stay active if possible

Then the radiation will start after chemo and so will the tamoxifen until I get my ovaries removed and then I will be on AIs.

He would also like me to receive zolendronate when I start receiving my Tamoxifen.

Needless to say I am very nervous as I want to be able to complete all the treatments and have a good response to increase my chances of survival. I am very scared.

Hugs and love to everyone going through this.

Any advice or hopeful message is appreciated

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mpv459
    mpv459 Member Posts: 114
    edited August 2019

    Just take it a day at a time...treatment at a time and you will get through it. It all seems so overwhelming until you cut it into parts and just take it as it comes. I have had right mastectomy with all level 1 and 2 nodes removed, physical therapy for cording, 4 rounds DD AC, 5 rounds of Taxol with 7 to go.. then radiation... Somehow we just get through it because there is no plan B. Also... I know several women who have had stats close to yours who are a long way from diagnosis.. One of them is 12 years and the other is over 20 years. Stay strong. Hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Member Posts: 609
    edited August 2019

    Sportymom: I'm sorry you're going through this! I am also a positive hormonal and had 4 nodes with mets even after chemotherapy. Now waiting for rads. Definitely everything in this process is scary. I was terrified of chemo and it's done, it wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. Every time I thought I wouldn't be able to do it, I saw women much older than me doing well, and I thought: if she can, I can too! It's about taking one step at a time ... There is not much else I can tell you... you are not alone. Here you will find many women willing to support you and accompany you in your process. Someone said once that you don't need to be strong ... you just need to appear. I repeated that phrase for myself in each of my infusions, and I will repeat it in each of my rads. I wish you luck! 😘😘😘

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sportymom
    Sportymom Member Posts: 77
    edited August 2019

    mpv459 and Yndorian1

    Thanks so much for your responses. I think I sometimes forget that I am not the only person going through this and we are all scared. I appreciate your thoughts and advice. One day at a time and simply show up to everything/appear.

    It helps to have such wonderful people who respond and make you remember that I am not alone on my journey through this.

    Much love and hugs and I will update on how I am doing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited August 2019

    Sportymom:

    A cancer dx is scary but treatment will probably not be as bad as you think. As for exercising during chemo, I couldn't keep it up but more power to you if you can!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sportymom
    Sportymom Member Posts: 77
    edited August 2019

    WC3 thanks for the response. I think I have to break down the preconceived notions I have about cancer treatment and believe I can do it. Thanks for confirming your experience with the exercise as well. It is good to know how it effects people so I don’t get too down on myself if I cannot keep it up

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Alicethecat2
    Alicethecat2 Member Posts: 105
    edited August 2019

    Hello Sporty Mom

    From one Grade 3 lady to another, sounds like you've got a great oncologist, especially regarding the treatment plan and comment about progesterone. A Cancer Research UK article by Dr Kat in about 2012 talked about the beneficial effects of progesterone putting the brakes on cell growth with some types of cancer.

    Of course, the rest of the treatment may have something to do with it as well! FEC, Taxotere, Herceptin and radiation worked very well for me and I am hoping for the same for you.

    By the way, I went for a walk every day throughout my treatment programme, even when I didn't feel like it, so maybe the exercise worked as well.

    Good luck!

    Alice


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sportymom
    Sportymom Member Posts: 77
    edited August 2019

    Thanks Alicethecat2. You’re words give me hope and warm my heart. I am happy to hear you are doing well and wish you continued health. I hope I am as lucky as you

    Good to know about your walking everyday throughout your treatment. I can appreciate how hard it must have been on some days and definitely understand how some people cannot do it during active treatment. I will give it my best.

    Thanks again for the well wishes.

    Hugs

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories