Starting soon

Hi everyone,

I had my meeting with the onc yesterday and will probably have my first cycle in the run up to christmas (I’m only 16 days post-op). I’ll be having 8 cycles - 6 AC and 2 D, although she’s told me that she’s holding back the option of maybe needing 2 more, depending on the results of the bone scan I’ll be having before I start.

The onc was lovely, explaining it all really well and being very honest about SE etc but I still left feeling very shell shocked. I think this is because it really gives you the stark reality of your situation when it’s talked about in terms of ‘survival rates.’ The prognosis if I had no treatment was very poor (but then I wasn’t ever going down that route!) but even with chemo, rads and hormone treatment it’s still 1 in 3 chance of the cancer coming back within 10 years and I found that so shocking to hear. I know it’s because of the type of cancer I have and the fact that there’s lymph node involvement but it was still a lot to take in.

To top it all off I am developing a seroma so I’m feeling pretty peed off and low today.

I need some chocolate!

Hi,
I’m also due to start my chemo soon (9th Dec), although different regime as I am having 6xFEC. I also know that I a fortunate as no lymph node involvement.

My view on survival rates is that in order to get the stats they have monitored people for 10 years plus. When you think about how much the medicine has developed in the past 10 years, the chances must surely now be better. Focus on the fact that 2 in 3 it doesn’t come back in the 10 years, so you are twice as likely to be in that group.

Lots of chocolate is also a very good idea.