Hello, I just started chemo Saturday after a recurrence of breast cancer this year. Mastectomy and reconstruction in 2022.. was told this summer it had returned and spread to lymph .. had sentinel nodes removed in September alongside lumpectomy. They suggest I also need radiotherapy and 10 year immunotherapy
I feel very rough and very alone .. I have a good support network but I’m a hyper independent, professional woman and find it hard to lean on them.
Hoping I can find some reassurance here on what to expect from chemo .. and all that is to come after
Oh Kat I am so sorry to hear your news. But be assured, you are NOT alone. I am like you, hyper independent etc and lead a very busy life. All of which was de-railed by breast cancer. But I want to tell you that nearly five years on I am fit, free of cancer, and pretty much doing all the things I used to do. Maybe a little less energy and obviously some years older but, apart from a lop-sided front, there are no scars.
Chemo is horrid but it is doable. Not that there’s any choice. I never felt like giving up and just used the old adage of one foot infront of the other until, hey presto, the cancer journey was over. As you will know, it is important not to let cancer define you. It is a greedy beast that wants to destroy your body and creates a lot of angst and heartbreak. But I did find that all the appointments involved kept me so busy with just ploughing through them, that I didn’t have much time for worry. I tried to schedule in treats and outings for the days of the second half of the chemo cycle when one feels vaguely human and that stored up some reserves for the next time round.
I know exactly what you mean by not knowing how to lean on people and the best advice I can give is shout when you need practical help like transport or shopping and let them offer the emotional support they each feel able to give. I find that people react in the way you project yourself so if I was feeling like parc, then I would just say so and they would agree and we would have a good laugh. The only people who got me down were those who insisted on telling me how well I was looking. Can’t a girl have a good cancer meltdown??!!
I send you all good wishes and I know you will get through this in the way you clearly did last time around
Hi hen, I’m lucky we have one in the hospital. I’m still working full time so can’t pop in but have signed up to a Pilates/yoga course. Thanks for replying
Hi Teddy, glad to hear that you are doing well and living life.. it’s always reassuring to hear that people have gone through similar things and are out the other side! Thanks for replying
