Have been reading posts for quite a while and finally got around to it myself. Early hours and know it’s pointless going to bed . Another chemo etc session today, reckon mainly the IV steroids keeping me wide awake at least one night after treatment, hey ho.
I was invited for first breast screening years ago, lumps found in left breast but benign. I have a lot of lipomas (runs in my family) so wasn’t surprised there were a couple lurking in breast tissue as well as everywhere else.
Invited for another breast screening early this year resulting in Feb diagnosis of right breast cancer: multifocal cancers, sizeable lump + a lot of cancerous calcification clusters in tissue below the lump, DCIS, HER+ ER-. I’d popped along for the results appt after biopsies, honestly expecting to be told it was just another benign lump and the calcifications were OK (apparently they’re quite common in breast tissue as we age). For a moment I nearly asked if they had the right patient notes in front of them. Took a minute to sink in that I had cancer.
Couple of sentinel lymph nodes removed during surgery were clear, happy to say. Scheduled surgery end-Mar was cancelled as developed blood clots in lung that needed week hospitalisation to stabilise (could barely breath on day hospitalised and honestly thought I might be dying, and I’m not usually inclined to dramatic reactions). Was told clots may have resulted from ‘sticky blood’ that cancer cells can cause. Having to self administer blood thinner belly jabs twice daily ever since. Had surgery mid-May under local nerve blocks, done that way due to the blood clots caution and couple of other med conditions that made me high risk for gen. anaesthetic. Surgery went well and very thankful for no post-surgery complications.
Had a PICC line fitted for IV treatment. Few weeks into it now (Paclitaxel chemo (3 months, once weekly + Trastuzumab targeted for HER2 every 3 weeks for a lot longer. Radiotherapy intended when chemo sessions finish. I was unlucky with some very rough side effects between treatments from Paclitaxel, with very painful spinal spasms shortly into the IV of it on 3rd and 4th treatments that resulted in stopping it and decision to swap me onto alternative: Nab-Paclitaxel, first dose of that today. Fingers crossed it’s OK for me and the days between treatments are easier from now on!
Got a short hair crop week before chemo started (have been having short crops for a while anyway so not a problem). My hair is quite thick and quickly thinned out a lot with a few little bald patches. I trimmed the fuzz left so now mostly bit of stubble, though lots of little lumps all over my scalp, so ruddy itchy! I bought the ‘Moo Goo’ shampoo and their scalp cream - helps a bit though a wet scarf on my head gives best relief. Also got their ‘udder cream’ skim milk in readiness for the radiotherapy as told this can help.
I’m relieved to have stopped the initial Paclitaxel Can’t deny it’s been a rough few weeks from that. A couple of people told me ahead of my chemo about people they knew who had chemo and got through it with little side effects. I do appreciate they were offering supportive reassurance. Even had a sister ring me during my worst week of side effects, told her I was lying on the bed with all sorts of ENT and dental nastiness, hoping it would ease up. She went on to tell me all about the cancer experience of someone she had known, through to how she’d died from it a couple of years ago - amazing, I swear she believes she’s a sensitive person and I’ll never bother to try and explain the difference between sympathy and empathy as she won’t get that either. I’m glad I still have my sense of humour and it’s there to fall back on when I’m well enough to reflect back on moments like that particular telephone call!
I’m 61, still working full time (in NHS), Having weeks off following the blood clots, then post-surgery and now for the treatment phases has made me realise how much structure my work life gives me. I’m doing things as advised plus a few activities to occupy myself but it’s not the same of course. Managers declined my suggestion (pre-chemo) to work from home when able, stating I’m to focus on treatment and whatever it might throw at me. They have been really supportive, and remade the right call judging from my treatment experiences of late.
Sorry this is a long post 
