Hi Donna, You know my story...pretty much the same as yours....
However I had two surgeries within 3 weeks and once clearance was finally confirmed I started chemo straight away...it was 11 days after my last surgery....I didn't however have a mastectomy, so I imagine the start of chemo would be delayed a bit longer to allow for healing....While a mastectomy is still in my plan, the reasoning for not doing it now was it would delay chemo for too long and due to the size of my tumour (70mm) and multiple node involvement, it was decided to hit chemo first....I can't say for the public system as I went fully private for my surgeries, but I have gone public for chemo.....
My suggestions would to be ask millions of questions...write everything down (you do get confused and forget things!)
For chemo....wear comfy clothes, try not to eat right before you go...take someone with you to offer support....ask the nurses questions too! Do tell them if you are anxious....They are reassuring and explain EVERYTHING they are about to do, so you won;t be sitting there wondering what's this or that....strike up a conversation with the person next to you if they're up to it, it's a great distraction and make the time fly by.
Wishing all the best Donna!
Xx
