Struggling through Chemo
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My six month mammogram is at the end of October. I had one three months after surgery. When I look back at the last 12 months since my diagnosis, I think, 'What on Earth was that?' Two surgeries, chemo, a PICC line, radiation, lymphedema, a seroma, and now I'm on letrozole. I’ve gone back to face to face office work with my new curly hairstyle. I’m not complaining, I feel really good. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I take it day by day and enjoy each moment.1
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Hi lovely people, I have only just joined the forum and I am sure that it will be another wonderful tool in my journey with Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed 28th August, had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal x 2 at Tweed Valley Hospital on 26/9. I received the results of the pathology last Thursday 17/10 and I have Grade 3, Triple Negative invasive carcinoma. My Specialist who is a truly wonderful surgeon and human being has referred me to the Oncology team at Tweed Valley Hospital - I should hear from them in the next week. It is likely that I will need chemo and radiation so I am looking forward to seeing the journey and experiences of other wonderful women in this forum to help me to understand and to be able to make more informed as I embark on my own journey with breast cancer.
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Hi @Suziw1957, welcome to the group. I finished my chemo and radiation at the beginning of July, I found this group very helpful for advice and support along the way.
I think there is a private group for triple negative bc which you may want to join.
If you haven't contacted you local McGrath nurse you should, they have been wonderful throughout my treatment with help and advice. You should also take someone with you to your appointments if you can. The information can be overwhelming at times and an extra set of ears can be helpful.
There will be lots of tests and appointments between diagnosis and when you start your treatment, which is normal, it can also be overwhelming and pretty fast paced, so don't forget to breath and ask lots of questions if you need to.
Once you get your treatment plan things settle down and become more routine.
Best wishes for your treatment journey. Katie
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Hi @Suziw1957
Great advice from @Katie46. Make sure you are kind to yourself through all of this. Treat yourself each day, even if it's just something small. You will get through it and surprise even yourself with your own strength! I finished chemo and radiation in July too and am now on hormone therapy. I had my first proper haircut on Wednesday which was exciting after 12 months!
Check out look good feel better if you haven't already, they have lots of great workshops on dealing with the impacts of your treatment lgfb.org.au.
Best wishes for your treatment.0 -
Hi @Coastiejas, congratulations on your first haircut, another milestone reached! I've been putting mine off and waiting for it to get a little longer before I get it styled a little. I'm keeping it short for now, it's so much easier than the long mop I had! I've been very lucky that it's grown through into a fairly tidy pixie cut, and other than getting my husband to tidy up the back of my neck, I haven't had to do anything, I've just been using his styling wax to style it a little.0
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Hi @Katie46
Yes another milestone indeed! I am finding short hair a revelation and think I'll keep it, it is so much easier than longer hair! I had my mum tidy up the back of my neck a few times before my first haircut!. I was also using my husband 's hair wax to style my hair!! Next milestone will be my mammogram in early November and 12 months since surgery!
Have a good weekend!0 -
Hi Ladies
Another milestone reached today..... got the all clear from my 12 month mammogram and ultrasound today! 🥳
Surgeon doesn't want to see me again for 12 months! Woooooo hoooooooo!
Hope everyone else is going well!3 -
Wonderful news @Coastiejas 🥳 I have an appointment with my surgeon on 29/11 so assume I'll get my results then.
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My mammogram was all clear! Hooray! and the reduced dose abemaciclib seems ok so far 🤞2
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my mammogram and ultrasound were all clear. My oncologist asked me to do BRCA test and will find out the results in two weeks. I do not know what the step would be if I am BRCA positive. I even do not know why he wanted me to do this after I finished the treatment. My understanding is that the BRCA is usually done before the treatment.2
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Hi Ladies
@Katie46 and @GorgyS congratulations on the clear mammograms and ultrasounds 🥳 🎉
I had the genetic testing done during my treatment. My oncologist said it helps the team get a fuller picture of you. Happily I didn't have any of the genetic mutations that can cause breast cancer.
Hope you’re having a great weekend!1 -
Congratulations on your clear mammograms ladies, mines not till April next year as I did chemo first then surgery. One more immunotherapy to go and I’m free of three weekly appointments which will be so good.I’ve been measured for a lymph sleeve which I get in a couple of weeks so hopefully that all goes smoothly
Hormine tablets seem to be going well, no side effects, nice to be feeling a bit more normal again
Hope everyone has a great week ahead1 -
Hi @unicorn3, glad to hear you are getting to the end of your active treatment.
The nurse at the breast screening clinic way back at the start did tell me that my life would be full of hospital appointments for a while, and she wasn't wrong.
I'm lucky to only be a 20 minute drive from my treatment centre and really feel for those of you that have to travel big distances, or navigate city traffic to get to your appointments.0 -
Hi everyone, I’m keeping up on here with everyone’s progress which is sounding great.
Glad you managed to get on with the abemaciclib treatment Katie after the dose was halved. Can I ask when the symptoms got too bad that you needed to stop?
Also have you had to have the zoledronic acid infusion?
I know Coastiejas did and had the flu like symptoms for a few days. How are you going with that Coastiejas?
I was scheduled for the zoledronic acid infusion yesterday and after 2 hours of waiting, deliberately and 2 hours of driving there ( yes, that’s me Katie…. thanks for your empathy 😊), I didn’t get the green light as I have serious symptoms of tmj ( problems with my jaw on one side).
I now have to go back to the dentist for further investigation 😩.
Ive been taking abemaciclib now for 4 days accompanied with letrozole (still waiting for a hot flush 😂).
Ive had to buy a bigger pill box 😂. I’m also taking vit D, Calcium, Magnesium and Collagen.I’m scared at times, laugh about it, share my experiences with colleagues, don’t want to swallow all these pills, don’t want to repeatedly do my exercises but am grateful for so much more.
Im still losing weight (used to be something I wanted 😂), now I just want to try and maintain it.
Anyone else had a dramatic weight loss?
Thanks everyone for sharing your journey, it really helps ♥️1
