A new day .. Aug 11 2020

Thanks @arpie!! It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but nothing in life is. We just need to decide what’s worth it and what’s not, and I decided I am definitely worth it 😀😊☺️🥰. 

@FLClover - your post should be stickied, I reckon!  That is one of the most positive posts I've read!  Well done YOU!  xx

@Ecup2020 hello and yes my last oncologist appointment she commented on my range of emotions within a 5 minute span but hey .. you just told me I’m doing chemo and the plan was no chemo ..well let’s re-word that I am choosing chemo, short course based con the endopredict test, more prevention as I had a grade 2, 2.2 tumour, nodules clear I’m 42 pre memo. I’m more grateful at the minute. Grateful I found it , that it was just one and that it hadn’t spread & nodules were clear. I’m grateful it was one op. But overwhelmed and frightened about chemo, my hair which is massive and trivial at the same time in my mind. And early menopause which I’m ok with out of all of this. Change and healthy, hopeful horizons in the midst of all this big shit going on. Life will never be the same as I breathe deeply into the thought I have both fear and hope. To quote another amazing woman on here “ I will not only survive I will thrive”.. And ride the rollercoaster not so fun bus. XX it is a great community here strong and supportive 💕

Hi there
After my diagnosis I nicknamed myself 

Fantastic @Dory65! I agree. You are the one who is in charge. And knowing as much as you can about the cancer you have and treatments/surgery necessary is vital. I read a comment like this early on in
my diagnosis, just after my mastectomies. Until then, I hadn’t looked at a single test result, report or images. I was scared to even know anything about the types of cancers and which one I had. After reading the comment, I thought it would be too confusing anyway, to understand all the results, reports etc, cos they’re so full of unfamiliar information. I could barely think straight. But then I thought what the heck, whatever it was is already out, so I started looking at every report I had and all the screenings I had done, as well as correspondence between doctors. I also changed surgeons, and I read the post operative pathology report that I had to get for my second surgeon from my first. I actually understood quite a bit, and learnt that the cancer I had was the least aggressive, and it was stage one. This was also mainly thanks to my superwoman second surgeon, who took the time to explain EVERYTHING to me very patiently, and reassured me there were plenty of treatment and surgery options available. She helped me get my power back. So now, every time I have an appointment with a specialist, I understand what they are talking about and have a say in all the decisions. I feel like their equal. I can’t emphasise how important this is. After seeing her, and getting really well informed, I blossomed. I had radiation after that, and actually enjoyed it. Now when I go to appointments, I’m happy, instead of trembling with fear after a sleepless night. So as patients of this terrible disease, it’s best to have a very supportive and wonderful medical team behind us, and have as much information as possible. This definitely stops the mind from creating its own untrue and exaggerated scary information and scenarios about it, which in turn lessens the anxiety enormously, and makes it a much more bearable experience. 

Hi @NelSky,
just hang in there :) . Yes, being diagnosed, then the flurry of active treatment really messes with your head and sleep seems a distant memory. Also, seeing so many different doctors for different aspects of treatment... I wondered who was in charge? Who's coordinating all of this? Until I realised I am! Make sure you keep all of your notes, questions, test results etc. in a folder and take it with you to all of your appointments. Make sure you understand your own pathology. Take someone with you or record your appointments with your phone. Great that you are already in touch with the BC nurses and psych. Others may not agree, but for me, learning as much as I can about this crappy disease helps stop my imagination from running riot, and eases my anxiety and fear. I have a beautiful son too. I feel for you and him.

This might help. I posted this as a new discussion. The Breast Cancer Trials Q&A event - Breast Cancer 2020: The Medicine, The Myths and The Mind. 

Hi Nelsky
I had 4 sessions of AC chemo every 3 weeks and now I am having Taxol chemo every week for 12 weeks.   I have a port so I just sit in the chair and the drug goes through the port.  I think everyone has different side effects.   I feel tired afterwards.  I try to drink as much water as I can afterwards to flush the chemo out of my system.   I have fatigue which is more than tired for a few days.   Some nausea and upset bottom for a few days.   I think the first one is always the hardest because we dont know what to expect.   Sending you hugs xxx

Here's a link to the BCNA website - a section dedicated to Chemo - in case you haven't seen it!

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/

Take care

Thanks for all your words sisters it brings joyful tears to my little emotional soul... can I ask do you get TC CHEMO ? and what’s it like ?? 

Hi @NelSky
Welcome to the club no-one wants to join.   The ladies before have lots of wise words.   CANTEEN is an organization that can help your son with any questions etc he may have.    I am having chemotherapy weekly and I just  put one foot in front of the other,  It's all I can manage at the moment.   Your yoga and painting sounds wonderful.  Wishing you all the best.