Hi everyone,
Yes I agree aswell that at least with chemo first you know whether its working or not! Julie you asked me why I still had a mastectomy after chemo, I think purely because of the size of the original tumour it was always on the cards and to be honest it was my choice anyway, I just wanted the best possible chance of them getting all the cancer out!
Hope you are all doing well with treatments and Linda hope all goes well this week with mx, I personally remember being very relieved after my op.
Take care
Smiler
x
Thanks all for answering my question about why you’d have chemo first. Sounds like it makes sense to me. Chemo’s the bit I’m dreading most for some reason, so I’d be quite into doing it first. First things first for me though, as I’m having my bone scan on Tuesday, then results on Wednesday. Might sound bizarre if it hasn’t spread further than the two lymph nodes that showed up on the biopsy I’ll be celebrating!
Another question for anyone who’s reading, but I’m trying to get an idea of timescale. I’m guesstimating at least 4 months of chemo/ operation / rads. Does that sound about right? And have you all carried on working?? I know everyone’s different, but I"m not sure what to do. I’m lucky in that I largely work from home, but I’m also freelance and have quite tight deadlines to meet - seems unlikely that’ll mix well with all of this. Thanks again to everyone. So sad we’re all here, but this site is such a lifeline. You’re all making me feel vaguely sane!
Hi julie
All my lymph nodes were removed at the time of my mx - mainly because they looked “misshapen” apparently, but also because I was also pregnant at the time and it saved me a further operation. (I miscarried after anyway, unrelated to bc).
I’ve had 8 chemo sessions which has taken 5 months (October 30th to march 26th). It seems most people have 6 or 8, at 3 weekly intervals but possible delays if your White cell counts are low in between. I have been lucky as I’ve had no delays, no infections, bloods were low once but not low enough to delay.
I have worked all the way through chemo with only days off for appointments, and a couple of days off after the final 4 treatments (taxotere) which made me more tired. I’ve had my last one now, and am looking forward to this week off work (holiday!!).
Good luck with your scans this week. xxx
Thanks Flora - I am so new I dimly assumed six/ eight sessions of chemo meant you had one a week. Had no idea they were spaced like that = d’oh!. Good to hear you’ve been able to work through. That’s actually made me feel lots better - I’ve just taken on a new contract and was thinking I’d have to bail out, but you’re giving me hope. I have a feeling as they know at least one of my nodes was infected, that they’ll want to do a clearance of the rest before anything else. Not sure quite how that will all work, but maybe I’ll have two ops rather than one.
And that’s so sad about your miscarriage. I really can’t imagine how low the combination of that and cancer must have made you. Unfathomable how cruel life can be. Congratulations on getting through chemo though and have a fantastically indulgent week off. I hope I’m sounding as positive as you when I get that far. I will try and remember to post positivity for people who come after me. xxj
I do try and be positive - some people think it is a dirty word, but i think your attitude can just help you push on through - even if it can’t make a difference to the outcome!
Feel free to take a look at my profile and the link to my blog if would help.
It’s a whole new world and you learn a lot along the way!
Sounds like the right way to be to me. I’m usually a glass half full person, so intend to stay that way. Says she hopefully…
Hi Julie,
I got through all my treatments without any delays and it took 9 months (chemo, mastectomy & ANC then rads). They give you time to recover between each type of treatment.
I didn’t work through most of mine but it was as much the nature of the job rather than the treatments themselves that made it impractical. I managed a team of 25 staff and they needed someone who was there consistently. Even so my boss arranged for me to have some work at home until it got too much so that I could still get paid. There were always a few days after each treatment that I felt poorly and I did find that it got harder as the treatment progressed.
I’m sure your positive attitude will survive but don’t be too hard on yourself if you have some spells where you feel down. We all have them but they do pass. It helps to have things to look forward to on your good days. Even if it’s just a coffee and a natter with a friend. I took long weekends at country hotels in between treatments and planning them a few months ahead meant I always had something to look forward too.
best wishes Jan xx
Hi Jan -
Thanks for taking the time to tell me how you got through. Nine months is a haul, isn’t it?! I keep thinking okay so Christmas then I might be through, but maybe it will be the start of 2011 - too early to say for me yet. I’m getting there slowly with the knowledge side of all this - the emotional side is proving harder and I’m sure will do for an age to come. I think I’ll just have to tread carefully with work and be honest to myself as to what’s practical. The most scary thing for me is still a firmer diagnosis. I have my body scan tomorrow. Am trying to keep busy, which is helping lots. xj
Hi Julie,
I also found keeping busy helped, and I read a few ‘easy read’ books to keep my mind occupied esp good at night time so I had my mind on other things before going to sleep…didn’t always work but did help! Hope all goes well for you tomorrow.
Smiler
x
Thanks Smiler - Am still anxting, but just laughed when I saw I’d typed ‘Body Scan’ not ‘Bone Scan’. Sounds like I"m going through an airport check in or something. I do so wish I was…
Hi Everyone, I had a 5 cm tumour and had chemo to try to reduce the tumour before surgery which it did. I had 6 courses of chemo 3 weeks apart. Then I had an LD flap with implant and all looks well now. I had all this done when I was just 39. Unfortunately it has spread to my bones now but that was discovered in 1999 and I am still feeling good and am enjoying life again. I had some chemo last year but this time it was in tablet form. It did the trick and afterwards went off to France to celebrate my 60th birthday. I wish you all the very best and hope you get on ok with your treatments. Love to all, Val
Hi Val -
I’ve been terrified of the cancer having spread, so it’s fantastic to hear you’re 20 years on and still living life to the full. Right now I’m radioactive, as I had my injection for the Bone Scan at lunchtime. Am hoping I’m clear, but it’s timely to hear from someone who wasn’t but is still very much alive. Thanks again - Julie
Hi Julie, I will keep looking on this thread to see how you are doing. If I can help in any way, just ask. Love Val
Hello,I’ve just been catching up on all the comments.Julie ,do you know when you’ll have your results.Fingers crossed it’s good news.Start chemo tomorrow so feeling a bit anxious,but will be glad to tick one off.Went to get wig today-looks a tad dodgy,so don’t know if i’ll wear it.I’ve ordered a few scarves as well.Has anyone used the Paxman cold cap,I’m going to try it .Does anyone have any tips on looking after hair to try to hold on to it as long as possible.
Hi Cluck, Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK for tomorrow. I really hope it doesn’t knock you sideways too much. I’ll be thinking of you. Please let me know how you get on. All sounds a bit overwhelming to me…
And thanks for asking - I get results tomorrow, but I have had some good news. My lovely BC Nurse called this afternoon to say the CT was clear. Also after the Bone Scan today the Radiographer said she couldn’t be 100% until they’d analysed, but she hadn’t seen anything on a first look that seemed worrying. Not a definite yet, but I feel as though I can be cautiously optimistic it hasn’t spread.
Really hope everyone else out there’s doing okay. Thanks to all again. Can’t tell you how helpful this all is. xj
Glad to hear you’ve had some positive news Julie. Hopefully the rest will be clear too and you can concentrate on getting through the treatment.
Good luck with your too Cluck. Let us know how you get on.
I’ll be thinking of you both tomorrow.
Jan xxx
Cluck, are you okay??? How was your first treatment? Hope you feel okay. Hope you’re curled up at home and being looked after well. xj
Had my results today. Good news in that both Bone Scan and CT were clear, so am feeling strangely ecstatic. Might seem strange, but I was so overwhelmed by the idea that the cancer had spread, so even though my results in other ways weren’t great I feel almost lucky - feels bizarre how even bad news can sometimes seem good. Still, I have to have a MX on 15th or 22nd of April. Need to decide on whether to have reconstruction at the same time or not. I haven’t a clue what to think about that, so if any of you are ahead of me and have any pros or cons I’d love to hear them.
Hi Julie,
I have put for you below links to some of BCC’s publications regarding reconstruction which you might find useful. Hope they help.
Recon. Animation:
breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/treatment-side-effects/surgery/reconstruction/breast-reconstruction-an-animated-guide/
Breast reconstruction:
breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/107/
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Julie, Things have probably changed a lot since I had my mastectomy with reconstruction as mine was done in 1989! I had the LD Flap and had an implant put in too. I am very pleased with the outcome. My op took 6 hours but I think they do them much quicker nowadays. I had chemo first to reduce my tumour before surgery and had lost my hair. I found loosing my hair more upsetting than the mastectomy because I just wanted rid of the cancer. But 21 years on and I am still happy with how my newer breast looks. The scars have faded and I have full movement in my arm. If you have any questions just ask on here or PM me if you prefer. Love Val