Next Friday

Hi Michele,

Your port will make things so much easier - just be sure to rub on the Emla cream half an hour or so beforehand and it will be numb during treatment.  You will have a list of meds before and after chemo day - make a chart for yourself and take them all - it is easier to prevent side effects than fix them.  A lot of us found chemo much better than we thought it would be - a hope you will be one of us!  What is your chemo regime?  Different drugs have different reactions.  For me the 12 x weekly infusions were okay until the very last one when I became dizzy.  Write down all your reactions - if any - to tell your nurse/MO.

Wishing you all the best for Friday.  (I had my port put in the day before, too.)  xx  Michelle

Hi and welcome yes it is scary, and chemo can be tough. We all experience different side effects. Ask lots of questions and no question is dumb. Keep visiting this site we are all her to listen and help if we can, we are all at different stages, take care xx

I've  just completed chemo for early breast cancer. I am still having ongoing treatment due to it being a her2 but side effects of that so far are minimal. During treatment I felt flat and had some symptons that made me miserable at times but most were sorted and it was just tiredness more than anything...but that more so towards the end of treatment. Receiving the chemo isn't a problem it is just for the next week. I gained quite a bit of weight during chemo...mainly due to my dramatic exercise drop and changes in eating patterns. Having a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction prior chemo contributed to that as there were many things I just couldn't do for a while. You are stronger than you realise. You will cope. It's  not fantastic to have chemo but we want the best outcomes and for most of us that includes the need for chemo and radiation. Take care, big breathe and soldier on. Kath x

Hi Michele. I'm the same as you, not know what happens next.  I had my lumpectomy & 3 Sentinal nodes removed on 3rd Aug and tomorrow morning I go get my results from the surgeon and seeing the chemo oncologist in the arvo.  I also do not know what to expect.  As I have HER2, it is up to the oncologist if I get chemo. (early breast cancer)  Also I am suppose to get the infusoport (if I am having chemo) on Wednesday with a 2nd operation.  Like Brenda said  we have to ask questions.  I'm 60yo and also have a bit of padding to lose.  

Keep smiling :)

Christina

Welcome to bnca Michele. Everything is scary for a start mostly because its not ordinary medical treatment. After a  while you know what to expect and its not so frightening. Just listen to what your oncology team tell you and don't be frightened to ask a heap of questions to put your mind at ease and you will be fine. I don't know how old you are but my 76yr old dad is having the same chemo I did but his is for secondary cancer. If he can do it while living on his own any one can. If you are a slim woman already and losing weight becomes an issue, my dad and my dad in law are both drinking UP and GO drinks as advised my their doctors to try and gain some weight back. I didn't need the drinks. I had plenty of padding to donate in weight loss but now chemo is finished it all came back on, not so good.