Hi Lorna
pants, just spent an hour writing a reply and hit the wrong button, lost it all. Try again.
I too am 41. Was diagnosed in March and had surgery to remove a 15mm lump which was successful, he got a wide clear margin and my four nodes were also clear. I am HER2 + and Er+. The Oncologist suggested chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy, followed by herceptin and then tamoxifen.
I started FEC in May, finished in August. I was in a terrible state, not knowing whether to or not but when I asked the oncologist, how serious would it be if it came back (my feelings at the time, were, let’s get on with life and if it comes back, then I’d have the chemo) and her replying it is incurable (but treatable with many people), that put it in perspective!
I was scared too, I think it’s more from what is protrayed on t.v. and in the newspapers etc but having been through it, it is ok. It’s not nice but like everyone else says, it’s ‘doable’. There will be worse days than others but the side effects are temporary and the benefits long term. Hints - If the cyclophosphamide hurts when they inject it (I have very sensitive veins), ask for it to be given in drip form for the remaining treatments. I was completely unaware of it going in after this. Something else I found useful - ask the nurse to warm your hand up in a bucket of warm water before they insert the cannula, this will dilate the blood vessels and soften the skin making it much easier. I also used the cold cap and kept my hair (it thinned but no one could tell). If you have this, make sure they wet the hair well and comb the conditioner through it. I also put a piece of gauze between the forehead and cap as the cold does hurt against the skin, made it more bearable.
Radiotherapy - easy peasey. I did have a sore nipple, which is much less now and the skin is still slightly pink but not sore. I did not get tired, I joined a gym and worked out for two hours before each session.
Herceptin - started that last Friday. I know statistically the benefits are extremely high and as Eileen says, being HER2+ means the cancer is aggessive. My feelings towards herceptin are - as I’ve subjected my body to chemotherapy (and for a small measure of benefit), I might as well accept anything else they can give me, particularly herceptin with it’s known benefits for early stage cancer. If you ring Roche, the makers of herceptin on 0800 3281629, they’ll send you an information booklet with a diary in the back for your treatments and they should be able to answer any questions you have. I know you have to have four chemotherapy treatments before the government will fund your herceptin. Thank god we don’t have to fund treatment ourselves (herceptin alone costs £27,000)!
I know it is a scary time and there doesn’t seem much time to digest the news of being diagnosed with cancer before everything starts. I have found talking to a Macmillian counsellor has helped but you may have to book early as there is usually a long waiting list.
The best of luck. It sounds from your last post you have decided to receive both the chemo and herceptin - is that right?. I think most people suffer very few side effects from the herceptin and can carry on with life, it’s just extending the whole cancer thing by another year that gets me and having another 18 or so needles stuck in me that doesn’t help but I keep telling myself, at 41, I may not even be half way through my life yet and a year or two out of it is a small price to pay.
This is a great place to get support, especially when you get ‘real’ answers to your questions.
Best of luck.
Poppy x
(not going to risk previewing and losing this again, so please excuse any incorrect grammer or spelling!)
