1 week

Thank you,  Deanne and Robyn.   You are reassuring.

My concerns are very logisitical.   How can I look after myself independently and travel to get to the chemo appointments if I'm in such a wiped out state that I can't walk or drive safely.   I live alone and my lovely family is 6 hours drive away.  I have some wonderful friends who supported greatly, as they could manage, during the heart surgery.  The worst parts (which were not really bad at all) happened only during the 9 days I was safely in hospital.  But the chemo treatments are not over so quickly and are on an outpatient basis... which means physically getting there over long periods of time.  Even looking after the 3 pets concerns me (they were safely in kennels for the 9 days.)

But I don't want to take the centre stage.  This is Tess's blog and she's started on her journey ... which may have all sorts of differences from mine and from others, as you both point out.  And she needs the reassurance about how well and valiantly she's started off .... brick wall on top of her and all!    I'm gobsmacked at the amazing support other women on this site offer to each other.  Full of empathy and practical information.  Truly wind beneath our wings!

Tess, I think you're an inspiration with your determined stubborness to get through and your great sense of humour and a sharp mind.  Thank you again for sharing and please keep us updated.  My warmest best wishes and admiration are coming to you!

Thank you,  Deanne and Robyn.   You are reassuring.

My concerns are very logisitical.   How can I look after myself independently and travel to get to the chemo appointments if I'm in such a wiped out state that I can't walk or drive safely.   I live alone and my lovely family is 6 hours drive away.  I have some wonderful friends who supported greatly, as they could manage, during the heart surgery.  The worst parts (which were not really bad at all) happened only during the 9 days I was safely in hospital.  But the chemo treatments are not over so quickly and are on an outpatient basis... which means physically getting there over long periods of time.  Even looking after the 3 pets concerns me (they were safely in kennels for the 9 days.)

But I don't want to take the centre stage.  This is Tess's blog and she's started on her journey ... which may have all sorts of differences from mine and from others, as you both point out.  And she needs the reassurance about how well and valiantly she's started off .... brick wall on top of her and all!    I'm gobsmacked at the amazing support other women on this site offer to each other.  Full of empathy and practical information.  Truly wind beneath our wings!

Tess, I think you're an inspiration with your determined stubborness to get through and your great sense of humour and a sharp mind.  Thank you again for sharing and please keep us updated.  My warmest best wishes and admiration are coming to you!

Tess, you've said the very thing I've been thinking of, as I maybe have to face chemo.  It means being made much sicker and more helpless that one's ever been, as the price for becoming healthy.  Only a couple of months ago, I had open-heart surgery to have a failing congenitally ill-formed heart valve replaced.   After reading your later post about your first week's experience of chemo, everything connected with the open-heart surgery was a piece of cake by comparison.  Sure there were discomforts (but not really pain) in the first week after the operation, but I could happily wander around the wards.  Best thing was that every single day, I could feel the gradual return to health.  Two months on, I got a great report.... and was signed off... by both the cardiologist and the surgeon.  Then a lump was found in my left breast... and I've found myself in the world of breast cancer. It amazes me how different everyone's experiences of chemotherapy have been.  Some seem to go through, having side effects, but they're manageable.  Others seem to be wiped out as if they've been machine gunned.  My question is how do people keep finding a way through it, when for some of them, they're not even able to wallk.... like you go wiped for days.   Does it get better as the person's body adjusts to the particular chemo?   

Tess, you've said the very thing I've been thinking of, as I maybe have to face chemo.  It means being made much sicker and more helpless that one's ever been, as the price for becoming healthy.  Only a couple of months ago, I had open-heart surgery to have a failing congenitally ill-formed heart valve replaced.   After reading your later post about your first week's experience of chemo, everything connected with the open-heart surgery was a piece of cake by comparison.  Sure there were discomforts (but not really pain) in the first week after the operation, but I could happily wander around the wards.  Best thing was that every single day, I could feel the gradual return to health.  Two months on, I got a great report.... and was signed off... by both the cardiologist and the surgeon.  Then a lump was found in my left breast... and I've found myself in the world of breast cancer. It amazes me how different everyone's experiences of chemotherapy have been.  Some seem to go through, having side effects, but they're manageable.  Others seem to be wiped out as if they've been machine gunned.  My question is how do people keep finding a way through it, when for some of them, they're not even able to wallk.... like you go wiped for days.   Does it get better as the person's body adjusts to the particular chemo?