Hello all. I have recently been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I have had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy and was due to have a mastectomy and total lymph node removal yesterday - but my wound was infected and I have been put on antibiotics and will hopefully be having the op Monday 9th June 2008. Would like to engage in exchange of information/ affects of breast cancer from a very positive viewpoint. I am anxious about the chemo which will follow the op and subsequent side effects, especially the hair loss and the sickness. Will welcome your responses. Thanks in advance Pam.
You have already gone throught so much and seem to be coping so well. I am having my mastectomy tomorrow so we will probably be going through similar treatments around the same time. I too am really worried about the hair loss and sickness they are my two biggest concerns. Once my results are back on June 18th and I know for certain that I am to have chemo I will start wig shopping. I can’t imagine wearing one at the moment as I really like my hair and will need to have a good cry when it’s gone. The sickness worries me also as I really bad morning sickness with my boys and spent hours laid on the sofa.
This is of no help to you at the moment, but it may be of comfort if we are going through the same things at the same times in the following months.
Try not to worry about it as we are unfortunatly not on our own. I’m sure some ladies will be along to let you know their expieriences, will let you know how the op goes in a week or so.
HI Ann and Pam
I had stage 2 also and lymph node involvement, had lumpectomy x 2 last September , chemo (3xfec and 3 x tax) then 30 radiotherapy sessions. I finished last Thursday . Its been 3mths since my last chemo and I have a few cm of hair and look pretty well.
I can only give you my experience as everyone has their own symptoms but I hope I can give you a positive one.
I was devastated to hear chemo was recommended and it seemed like a long long road. I did a lot of crying and feared for my children and my inability to look after them but it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. For me the Fec was fine, I lost my hair 2 and a half weeks after the first one. That was very hard but got a great wig beforehand .
I took the anti sickness when the told me ,took the chemo nurses advice and I think it paid off. I had very few symptoms apart from a few days of tiredness. The Tax was a bit harder but still got through it ok . I went skiing between chemos 5 and 6 and kept having little breaks to look forward to . It made the time go faster. I was never physically sick but for a few days after the chemo my taste buds went and if I ate anything too spicy I would get mouth ulcers but they would go as fast as they came . Had some very lethargic days but days when I felt totally wired !! I had neighours to look after my 2 yr old when I had chemo and friends to take my 6 yr old but I didnt need that much help . I wantedto be there and carry on as normal as I could so I had a focus .
Theres so much to say about the whole experience , your emotions , the physical side symptoms, your relationships with people. It really is a journey. I am amazed I am on the other side now . For me its the start of a new road . It wasnt easy but on a plus point it was a lot better than I expected.
I had BC over 2 years ago, I had the full works, a mastectomy, 8 sessions of chemo, and four weeks of radiotherapy, all topped off by a year on herceptin.
Everyone is unique in their reaction to surgery, chemo and radiotherapy side effects. Your are at the beginning of a very long road which is not easy and I wont be patronising to say it is. For me, the complete loss of hair was the most devastating part of my journey. I think, when I looked at myself in the mirror, it brought the fact well and truly home that I had cancer. It was the one and only thing I cried about, in bucket loads… For me personally though the chemo and radiotherapy was not bad at all, I had no sickness, only a little tired, and I did manage to go to work throughout my treatment, not full time but part time. When I was on chemo I did lose my sense of taste for a few days after each treatment, it was murder not being able to taste things properly, the only thing I could taste was ice lollys !
Everyone deals with the treatment the best way they can but I must say the support I got from my best friend really helped me at a very difficult time so I would advise you to keep your friends close by as they will help. I would also say to take each treatment as it comes and try not to worry too much about what side effects you might get, your never know you might be lucky and not suffer too much.
Wishing you all the best at the start of your treatment.
I wish you all the best for your treatment - Im only slightly in front of you, 12 days into first chemo - Im not saying its nice but for me and many others on here it isnt quite as bad as anticipated.
xx
Go to a travel/ sports shop that sells clothes and equipment (not a travel agency) and buy some buffs. These are really comfortable to wear once you’ve lost your hair and will keep your head warm too.
I personally went to the hairdressers just before I started chemo and got them to cut it really short…I felt that this was taking control and preparing myself for losing it and because I was doing it and the hair was shorter than it had been the adjustment was less.
I promise you that your hair will grow back, mine is about an inch long now and I finished chemo mid March.
As far as sickness goes, I was so fortunate in not suffering, I was told that if you didn’t suffer morning sickness when expecting, you shouldn’t be troubled. If you are, eating a little is supposed to help and ginger is good for settling the stomach so I made sure I had ginger nut biscuits to hand and hidden from my other half! Peppermint is also supposed to be good but I haven’t tried that.
Hi Pam
I would like to put your mind at rest regarding the chemo. Different people have different side affects. I have had 3 x FEC and due for my 3rd (and last) Tax on Thursday 5 June. I have lost my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes but I am not concerned with that. When I first started to lose my hair I got upset but then shaved off the little I had left and felt much better. I have a wig which I got through the hospital and everyone says it looks great, I am so much more confident with it on. As for my eyes I pencil in my brows and use eyeliner for my eyes, no one has noticed I don’t have my own. I have had no sickness, I lost my taste for a few days after the chemo but then got better, I get a little tired (or perhaps just lazy) but as I am not at work at the moment I can rest during the day and get some heartburn.
I have to say that I was really scared of chemo but please believe me it was no where near as bad as I expected. I hope the same goes for you.
Hi ladies - and thank you so very much for your reassuring comments. Although we all wish that this wasn’t happening to us - it does make it better when you can have some feedback from genuine cases who are going through the same journey. I know I will use this forum and will post my messages to share my experiences with you - I was chuffed to get your messages - they are so reasurring - so the very best to you all - and I will be in touch once I have had the op and feel like talking to someone. Take care all - best wishes