Best Of
Hi Ladies
Hi, Well its been 6 months at least since my last post, and what a 6 months it has been, I really felt that I needed to take a step back and just breathe, the new regime of oral chemo drugs was a hard gig and in the end and after a frank discussion with my oncologist,
it was time for another approach, and I knew what this meant, I had actually been preparing myself for some time and coming to grips with going back on to IV chemo, so in a matter of weeks, I had an appointment with a breast surgeon, was admitted for day surgery to have a port inserted, then I was given a two week washout period and then back on to a drug called abraxane, and I have to say I feel so much better, in fact it has to be the best drug I have been on in 6 years, I actually feel well, both my partner and myself can see how much of a difference this drug has made, I have an infusion every 7 days for 3 weeks then I get a 13 day break, although I am still fatigued, there is very little nausea and very little in the way of other side effects, except of course the big one, no hair, I finally had enough yesterday and went to my hairdresser and said take it all off, which was very little as it had been falling out for the last 10 days, anyway it was quite liberating!!! and as this is the second time around I certainly knew what to expect!
The previous six months have seen me virtually housebound and the oral chemo that I was on caused very bad nausea, but being pig-headed I wanted to continue with it until even I could see it was not working, so I gave it my best shot! but here I am, in such a better place, I find it hard to believe, after 6 years to feel this good.
I have been reading the posts that you have all been putting up, and once again I am in awe of the wonderful support and encouragement that you give to one another, this is a forum like no other,and I am very proud to be a part of it.
I do wish that I had been able to attend the Adelaide forum,however,I just was not able to make it, so sorry that I missed the opportunity of meeting up with Rosie again.
So, life goes on,now that I am in a better place emotionally and physically, I hope that I can make a contribution to this forum,
wendy55
it was time for another approach, and I knew what this meant, I had actually been preparing myself for some time and coming to grips with going back on to IV chemo, so in a matter of weeks, I had an appointment with a breast surgeon, was admitted for day surgery to have a port inserted, then I was given a two week washout period and then back on to a drug called abraxane, and I have to say I feel so much better, in fact it has to be the best drug I have been on in 6 years, I actually feel well, both my partner and myself can see how much of a difference this drug has made, I have an infusion every 7 days for 3 weeks then I get a 13 day break, although I am still fatigued, there is very little nausea and very little in the way of other side effects, except of course the big one, no hair, I finally had enough yesterday and went to my hairdresser and said take it all off, which was very little as it had been falling out for the last 10 days, anyway it was quite liberating!!! and as this is the second time around I certainly knew what to expect!
The previous six months have seen me virtually housebound and the oral chemo that I was on caused very bad nausea, but being pig-headed I wanted to continue with it until even I could see it was not working, so I gave it my best shot! but here I am, in such a better place, I find it hard to believe, after 6 years to feel this good.
I have been reading the posts that you have all been putting up, and once again I am in awe of the wonderful support and encouragement that you give to one another, this is a forum like no other,and I am very proud to be a part of it.
I do wish that I had been able to attend the Adelaide forum,however,I just was not able to make it, so sorry that I missed the opportunity of meeting up with Rosie again.
So, life goes on,now that I am in a better place emotionally and physically, I hope that I can make a contribution to this forum,
wendy55
wendy55
5
Re: Hi Ladies
Oh @wendy55 lovely to read that you are in a better place!
What a so and so the roller coaster of yuk that you have gone through! Best part is now that is behind you! You have a drug that is giving you a better outlook and hopefully improving all the time - bugger about the hair but oh well that's neither here nor there!
Here's to improvement everyday!
Sending a virtual a hug, take care
What a so and so the roller coaster of yuk that you have gone through! Best part is now that is behind you! You have a drug that is giving you a better outlook and hopefully improving all the time - bugger about the hair but oh well that's neither here nor there!
Here's to improvement everyday!
Sending a virtual a hug, take care
Re: Feeling Lost
Hi Everyone,
Thank you all so much for your messages this morning. It was so comforting to see them on my phone as I was sitting in the waiting room. I definitely knew you were thinking of me and it made a huge difference. I am feeling very lucky this afternoon. The pathology has come back as grade 1. Positive hormone receptors and Her2 negative. I am waiting on a call from the surgeon. It should be a lumpectomy, radiation, and medication. Everyone was right of course, getting through today makes me feel like I've turned a corner. I can have conversations with my children, make plans about work, but right now I'm ready for a nap. I'll take my next steps tomorrow. Thank you again. xxx
Thank you all so much for your messages this morning. It was so comforting to see them on my phone as I was sitting in the waiting room. I definitely knew you were thinking of me and it made a huge difference. I am feeling very lucky this afternoon. The pathology has come back as grade 1. Positive hormone receptors and Her2 negative. I am waiting on a call from the surgeon. It should be a lumpectomy, radiation, and medication. Everyone was right of course, getting through today makes me feel like I've turned a corner. I can have conversations with my children, make plans about work, but right now I'm ready for a nap. I'll take my next steps tomorrow. Thank you again. xxx
Re: Talking about new diagnosis, treatment
@RozMoz This first bit is really hard, I promise it gets easier, but getting your head around it takes time and I'm not sure if it ever fully computes! Its okay to not communicate, to be in your own head a bit now.
I told everyone close about my diagnosis after I found out from my GP but kept communication to a minimum while I waited for my appt with the Breast Surgeon and an idea of the treatment I faced. After surgery when I had my full pathology I shared more with my closer circle.
It was hard having everyone wanting to know more and my advice is maybe to not tell people exactly when you are going to get the results so you don't have them messaging you! They mean well but it can be overwhelming.
After my surgery and getting back pathology I told more people.
And again when I started chemo when i knew I would be bald.
I sent out emails and texts to friends. Weirdly it can be overwhelming getting lots of support from people, replying to everyone, so it helps to tell people bit by bit.
Once you lose your hair you lose the control of who knows a bit more but by then you have had time to get your head around things, and you know you are still the same person and you are happy to talk to people more.
But take it at your own pace and do what feels like. Good luck with it all, your feelings sound very familiar
I told everyone close about my diagnosis after I found out from my GP but kept communication to a minimum while I waited for my appt with the Breast Surgeon and an idea of the treatment I faced. After surgery when I had my full pathology I shared more with my closer circle.
It was hard having everyone wanting to know more and my advice is maybe to not tell people exactly when you are going to get the results so you don't have them messaging you! They mean well but it can be overwhelming.
After my surgery and getting back pathology I told more people.
And again when I started chemo when i knew I would be bald.
I sent out emails and texts to friends. Weirdly it can be overwhelming getting lots of support from people, replying to everyone, so it helps to tell people bit by bit.
Once you lose your hair you lose the control of who knows a bit more but by then you have had time to get your head around things, and you know you are still the same person and you are happy to talk to people more.
But take it at your own pace and do what feels like. Good luck with it all, your feelings sound very familiar
shs14
1
Re: Feeling Lost
That is good news for you. ( not that anyone wants this mongrel disease ) But sounds like it is all contained and that's great. The waiting is just the pits but you can now move forward with a plan in place. Nothing ever prepares us for this diagnosis but good on you for getting through one of the worst bits. xox
kitkatb
1
Re: Feeling Lost
As these things go @Felicia29, that's good news. I'm happy for you, and well done on getting through this tough part. Onwards and upwards! K xoz
kmakm
1