1st chemo

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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

Went back to the hospital yesterday and got my 1st chemo date. It is the 11.1.08. I think it will hit me then that I have cancer. Have been trying to think positive but sometimes it is hard like today (New years day). Feeling very emotional.

Was told last week that my cancer is grade 2 and I cannot have ivf as it is oestrogen positive. Will also have to have hormone therapy after the treatment.

Will also be making an appt with the wig dept. Trying to have fun imagining what I would look like with different colour hair.

Would like to hear other peoples stories.

Chrissie
xxxxxxx

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Hi Chrissie
Wishing you lots of luck for your first Chemo - you are moving forward and everyday is a step closer to being given the all clear and having yoru life back and that’s the thoughtthat keeps me going. that’s not to say i don’t have down days, yesterday i cried loads but it is all do-able. The nausea with the chemo is a pain but it all soon passes off after a couple of days and life gets back to normal again. As for the hair, i shaved mine off when it started coming out, it was an emotional experience but again, once it had gone, i stopped worrying about losing it!! i haven’t got myself a wig yet but I wear buffs, they are so light you can hardly feel them and they keep your head warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot! and they’re very versatile, also got a couple of bandanas and head scarves. I’m going to go shopping for a wig next week - never ever dreamed i’d be in this position. it is so hard right now, feel as if my life is out of my control and i hate feeling sorry for myself but sometimes i wish things could be different, for all of us.But… the best news is, at least there are good options, good prognosises and good recovery rates. Hang on to those thoughts… and be as kind to yourself as you can. Hope you have a good first chemo exp, Carrie x

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p.s i was grade 2, er pos and her2 pos so i’ll be on tamoxfen and a year of herceptin after chemo. i’m39. how old are you? and did you have lumpectomy. i had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy but they had to take all lymph nodes afterwards as it was in the sentinel node by 6mm but not in any of the others]]

carrie x

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Hi Chrissie

Starting chemo is scary - I remember the 1st time when she started administering the drug the tears just rolled down my face. After that, it was just a case of going in and getting it done and getting out asap!! Just take the drugs they give you and listen to your body. You should be able to find a thread on here called top tips for chemo or something like that - a great read with lots of hints and tips.

As for the wig - I got one and have never worn it - wear beanies when out and occasional buffs. I finished my chemo in November so now have fluffy duck hair which is comingin quite fast. Saying that, I have my best mates wedding on 29th Feb so think that will be the one and only occasion I will wear my wig.

Chemo is dooable as they say - and you will get thro it. There are highs and lows but just take it as it comes.

Let us know how you get on
Take care
Fiona
x

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Hello to Chrissie & Bellatrix and Fiona,

I am newly diagnosed (xmas eve) grade one invasive ductal awaiting lumpectomy on the 8th Jan but got to lose the nipple and looking at chemo and radiotherapy.

Emotional I think is the understatement of the year. I was fine all over Christamas but I started crying when I left work yesterday and didnt really stop until 1am when we went to bed. I am making wedding stationery for an order due 15th Jan(a side line i run) and have just watched Pollyanna and cried buckets!!!

I just cant help thinking Its not really going to be a good year (hopefully a good end to the year) in fact I am really hacked off about the possibility of my 40th birthday with no hair. Really self absorbed I know and to top it all the news is on and Gordon Brown looks like he’s buggering about with the NHS marvelous!!! and threatening to stop care if you are out of shape.

Well thats go that off my chest (ha ha) no punn intended.

Good luck Chrissie for your Chemo. I’m hoping to be home by the 11th and will be passing on good thoughts.

Carrie its ladies like you that have kept me going since my diagnosis thank you for taking time to pass on messages and you have reminded of the good prognosis i have been given.

Love and luck to allout there.

Shonagh xx

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Hi Chrissie

I started chemo yesterday. I cried the whole time - just didn’t know what was going to happen. As it goes I was ok after. Felt sick later, but was better after i took the meds.

Good luck

Ang

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Hi Bellatrix

I am 37.I found a tiny lump on 29.11.07 and went to my GP who could not find the little lump but found a bigger one. I thought that lump was bone because it was so hard. My lump is around 3.5cm.

They say I have the Invasive ductal carcinoma. They want to do chemo first to shrink it and then surgery and radiotherapy after that. I think they want to do chemo first because if they did the surgery now it would be more like a mastecomy than lumpectomy. They are going to take a couple of lymph nodes as well but they did say they are ok.

Thanks for all your kind words.

Chrissie
xxxxxxx

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Hi Chrissie

I was diagnosed on the 4th April last year, aged 41, had eight sessions of chemo, followed by mastectomy and radiotherapy. I’m due to start herceptin on 9th January and then have a reconstruction sometime in February.

The chemo was hard, but is do-able. The nurses will explain everything in detail to you, and you’ll be sent home with lots of drugs to combat any side effects. Everyone reacts differently to chemo though, so try not to worry, Once you get started on your treatment, you’ll feel you’re getting somewhere. I remember my husband referring to it as us standing at the bottom of the Mountain, looking up and thinking “sh*t, that’s a hell of a climb” but eventually we’d get to the top and start coming down the other side ! I’m pleased to say, I now feel I’m starting to climb down that bloody mountain - lol !

My hair started to come out after the second chemo, and after hacking at it with the scissors (and not doing a great job!) my husband shaved it off for me. I too ordered a wig, but never wore it, preferring bandanas instead (I got mine online from the bandanashop - they’re very reasonably priced and arrive really quick). Mind you, its each to their own - a friend of mine (who also posts on here from time to time) ordered a variety of different wigs, and she cracks me up - every time I see her she has a different one on.

My lump was rather large (5.2 x 2.5cm) and as I’m not exactly Dolly Parton, my consultant suggested the mastectomy, which I had on 3rd October. I had a tissue expander inserted and am due for a reconstruction in February. I also start herceptin on 9th Jan.

Chrissie, I wish you all the very best with your treatment. At the moment, it’s all very scary for you, but I promise you it will get better and your good days will outnumber the bad by far. You will certainly find out who your friends are over the next few months and like me, I’m sure you’ll make some wonderful new ones along the way.

I know its hard, but with the support of family/friends and the brilliant ladies on this site, you’ll get through it fine. I also found that keeping my sense of humour (which understandably I lost for a while at the beginning - lol !), has helped enormously.

Sending you lots of love and a huge hug - good luck for the 11th !

Julie xxx

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Hi chrissie
Had my 1st chemo n the 2/1. Great way t start the New Year. Felt very sick as soon as i got home and had a horrible taste in my mouth which even makes drinking water pretty nasty, but today i have started to feel less sick so thats good.

Was dx on the 27th Oct. and had a WLE on the 28th nov. Lump was 3cm but was all removed well with no lymph involvment so that was good news but was still completley shocked when they told me i would need chemo and rads because the surgeon had told me the week before that i would possibley need onlñy small dose of rads and no other treatment.

I will be thinking of you on the 11th

Good luck

Lynne x x

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Hi All

I have posted this on behalf of new user Denise

Regards
Louise
Facilitator

Hi Chrissie

I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast ca in 18th Dec. On ultrasound the tumour is 2.6cm there is lymph node involvment but not hormone related. Started my chemo on 31st Dec and with good scottish tradition I puked my way through the bells. They did say at the hospital that if I wanted I could have a small glass of wine to see in the new year but the sight of a plastic bag was the most welcome thing that night. Felt awful for the next few days but now feel much better and even gearing up for the next dose of chemo although my GP has given me diazepam to calm me down a few days beforehand as quite possibly the nerves will kick in again.

I had a pre chemo party beforehand with a few very close friends which helped.

Good luck with the first dose

Denise