Introduction

I am not from Tasmania but just want to say I am so sorry that you have been diagnosed and want to encourage you to use this site for support. You will find a number of ladies on here with TNBC and there is a specific support group but I generally find that you will get great support from everyone regardless of diagnosis or location. That is the amazing thing about on-line support. I was diagnosed last May at the age of 47 and can identify with your feeling that it seems like a long time even though you have only been diagnosed 4 weeks ago. It is a life changing experience and I felt like I'd taken a wrong turn and could not get back to my old life. Some people say its like waking up on another planet. The first few weeks are the toughest as you wait for results and a treatment plan. I had 18 weeks of chemo, FEC and Docetaxel. As you have probably been told the side effects vary for different people. I coped reasonably well with FEC and could probably have worked through most of it. For me I had a bad first night, then just basically felt like I had the flu for a few days before bouncing back to normal for 2 weeks each cycle. Docetaxel was a different matter and I suffered from pain and muscle weakness. I also picked up an infection and was hospitalized with low white cell count. I could not have worked very much at all for the time on Docetaxel. I think you just have to see how you go with chemo. You might be ok to work but you might not. This is really a time in your life where you need to give your body every chance to recover and become healthy again. Hope you hear from some of the lovely ladies in Tassie. They have a fairly active support group down there. Meanwhile if there is anything you want to discuss please keep in touch on here. Take care and I hope you find chemo ok and that it goes quickly for you. Deanne xxx