Yeah sorry they called mine multiple times focal I think thatās why I had mastectomy as too difficult to various lumpectomyās as they were too spaced out x
You absolutely can be brave donāt get me wrong in the lead up to knowing my plan I had days when I was a mess the not knowing is most definitely the hardest part, I had a meltdown when I went for my pre assessment for chemo too as was so sacred but the nurses are fantastic and honestly my chemo sessions are lovey people chat have a brew and biscuits, itās really not scary at all xx
2 Likes
Thank you Emily. Even though you are facing this you have the time to give comfort to a total stranger .
Sounds like ours is identical. So I have to brace myself. The surgeon said he wasnt the expert but chemo would be 4 months which i make 6 cycles but I will have to wait and see. Did you have an NPI score or was yours onxo result that decided your chemo if you dont mind me asking. Mine was NPI 3.48 which means moderate I was 0.38 off the good score 
No I wasnāt given any scores I think because of age(43) and lymph node involvement chemo was just given for me my 8 rounds is every two weeks so 16weeks in total they called it dose dense others have it every 3 weeks I think two weekly is new and you just have to see if your body can tolerate it I think, if at any point my bloods donāt recover I think I would be delayed a week but fingers crossed all has gone ok up to now xxx
You will be fine youāve absolutely got this! Xx
2 Likes
Thank you Emily
I didnt realise you could have every two weeks. Thats the main worry my body wont cope. Im 51 in 2 weeks and perimenapausal so not sure how this will effect anything.
Will be great to keep in touch especially when i get me plan if thats ok x
1 Like
Yes of course feel free to message anytime
2 Likes
Hi darling, I had Grade 2 estrogen positive cancer in one breast with node involvement. I had: 4 times EC every 3 weeks; Then 12 sessions of paxclitaxel every week; Followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy every day.
Iām not going to sugar coat it, it was scary and there were hard days of fatigue, anxiety, or somewhat nauseous feeling creeping up, but I can report that it wasnāt as bad physically as I thought it would be and I still was able to get about my day, cook, clean etc. I managed to attend two weddings whilst on EC and go for a weekend in Cotswolds 
I did take time off work. Brain fog was challenging and the whole 6 months seem like a dream still. BUT I managed to exercise all the way through. Iām talking heavy weight lifting once a week, Pilates once a week, and on the days when I did not want to get up - at least 30min walks or gardening. I am fitter now than when I started and I actually put on some muscle not lost it .
Emotional side was the hardest for me, but I am sure as long as you take any help you are offered youāll get through it. Sending hugs.
7 Likes
Wow you seemed to do really well.
Mine was grade 1 but appears its the 2 lymph nodes that are going to push it to chemo.
I too will have to take time off which is worrying me already had 3 months off but going back in 2 weeks until i know whats happening
Thank you for reaching out xxx
1 Like
Hey @Jaygo thank you for sharing! Sounds so lovely like Iām just going to meet a new group of friends for coffee and have some me time 
Great idea about keeping notes I will definitely do that!
Its so good to hear stories fron people like you and makes it much less daunting! I suppose for me itās like this whole process there have been many more good days making fun memories with my family than āugly cryingā days 
Thank you for sharing 
lots of love to you xx
4 Likes
Hey @sim2 thatās great to hear that it wasnāt as bad physically as you imagined! You sound like you managed to do so much during treatment!
Iām self employed so Iāll have to try and take bookings in once I find my rhythm with it all and limit them drastically!
Iām so happy you managed to keep exercising, Iām into yoga and weight training but also try to keep my steps at 13,000 so itās great to hear you still managed to keep up with your fitness. Hopefully I can too!
Thank you so much for sharing
2 Likes
@katie91 I know this might sound a bit āwoo wooā for some, but there is something about leaning in to this time and this space. Letās not dress it up, there will be dark days, but if you go into the dark days knowing that they will pass, and in my experience a pattern forms so that you tend to know when those days might happen (chemo mood crash after steroids) achey bone days (not everyone gets them, but if you do, they only last a short time), you can surround yourself with good people for those moments. So if you know the bad days are entirely manageable, you know you have the strength to cope with them. Not one bad day has been even a fraction as bad as those days waiting for diagnosis. Then you know you can cope.
Anyway, back to my woo woo. Iāve learned to slow down. To embrace acceptance. To enjoy the simplest things. The other day I sat in the rain just watching the brook babbling and felt real deep peace and joy. Iād never have done that pre cancer.
This can be a real time of reflection and revelation and discovery of qualities you never imagined you had.
Plus you can eat chocolate all you like guilt free if you want.
Sending love. No go and find your babbling brook. xxx
ps. No offence re the woo woo. I lean towards it if Iām honest. Iād define myself as woo!
8 Likes
Thank yoi for sharing I really need to know I am going to get through this.
Hope your both ok
1 Like
Love this, thank you, feel free to woo away! 
Iāve always had real issues throughout my life with being unable to accept uncertainty, I hated having a lack of control and would always resist anything negative. If anything embodies all three of these itās cancer!
While Iām not perfect at any of these by any stretch and I certainly still have my dark moments, cancer has definitely given me a swift kick into a more roll with the punches approach to a lot of things and Iām learning to control what I can and to accept and let go of what I canāt.
Iām also finding minor annoyances easier to tolerate and finding immense joy in the tiniest of things! And while I might not quite be at the babbling brook as yet, I can definitely see it from here. x
4 Likes
@mssteel i too have troubke when im not in control.
Its nice to hear your stories as I dont even leave the house and I havent started treatment yet. I try to get out for a walk..
Today is going to be my first afternoon alone as hubby and kids going to football. Ive convinved hubby to go.
Im hoping as I get the news that it is chemo and how it all works I will get my act together
3 Likes
Iām with you. I am high on control and low on nonsense in my āpreviousā life, but this is an āin betweenā space where we can experiment with different ways of being and being curious as to our reactions. No pressure, no need for any kind of lightbulb moment, just being. You sound like youāre on the path. Cancer really does remind us of who/what is in chargeā¦for now, but we will be back at the helm in no time, so we have time to make choices about our lives, whatever that may be. I shall now stop my armchair philosophy and leave you in peace.
Glad you can see the brook. xxx
3 Likes
@sammy75 you will. x
1 Like
Today is going to be a test for me as going to be on my own for 6 hours!!! Had hubby with me everyday since 1st surgery.
I dont have any family or friends
Wish me luck xx
1 Like
You donāt need luck, but good luck anyway. xxx
1 Like
I wish you all the best!
I finished chemo in December and overall, it was a great experience. The actual chemo sessions made me feel like I was at a spa, with nurses bringing me warm blankets and spoiling me. I had to travel two hours for chemo, so my husband and I would make a day of it and do some shopping and lunch beforehand.
After chemo, I would feel great for about two days. I still had an appetite and energy. On day three, my energy and appetite would crash for a few days. But the following week, my energy would begin to return and I would feel so grateful and happy. My faith really sustained me and I learned to slow down a little
The anti-nausea med worked for me and I would have to take first Colace and then Imodium to deal with constipation and diarrhea. To boost my white blood cell count, I would get a Udenyca shot the day after chemo and had a little problem with bone pain, but my oncologist recommended Claritin daily and it helped prevent the bone pain.
He also put me on an antibiotic, which I would start on day 7 after chemo. All went well the first two sessions, but during the third round, I had a reaction to the antibiotic and broke out in hives and also got a UTI. This resulted in a short hospital stay and we switched antibiotics immediately.
I agree with what others have suggested, it is good to keep a log or journal to track how you react to chemo and the medications - and write down the times you take the medications!
Two other positive notes - my blood pressure has gone down since my lumpectomy. And I had a great dental checkup when chemo was done, far better than my previous ones as far as my gum health was concerned. I was not expecting that but the soft bristle brush apparently did the job. My nails are growing like crazy.
I did lose most of my hair about 3 weeks after the first chemo. (I did a cold cap that I got off Amazon since the cost of professional capping was prohibitive.) But I still have enough hair to poke out of the bottom of my cap and lately Iāve taken to wearing a glamorous wig that the local wig room outfitted me with.
Iāve met some terrific ladies at my breast cancer support group. One loaned me her hand and foot ice pack mittens to wear during the first 20 minutes of each chemo session to prevent neuropathy. They were SO coldā¦but I havenāt had any problem with neuropathy! You can find them on Amazon.
My doctor stressed the importance of exercise, somehow it counteracts fatigue, among other benefits. So I tried to go walking regularly, even if some days I only made it down to the end of the block.
Sending you love. As with any journey, there are blessings to be found and I wish you many blessings.
3 Likes
@tryingnottogoogle the positive chemo stories I mentioned
2 Likes