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sawsan's avatar
sawsan
Member
6 months ago

Breast cancer

Hi I've done mastectomy on my right breast..and they found 2 active cancer under my arms lymp mode..I have to.do chemotherapy first 3 months I have to do 4 sessions of chemotherapy every21 days..Nd after it I have to do it once a week for 3 months..so total 6 months chemotherapy..I'm so scared I Start chemotherapy Wednesday
16/10 24 I'm having second thoughts not to do chemotherapy I'm so scared..and radiotherapy..also hormone pills 
  • arpie's avatar
    arpie
    Member
    6 months ago
    So sorry to see you here @sawsan - you are in the right place for any question that you'd like to ask.

    I didn't do chemo, but my husband did - we called it the 'good poison' as it was knocking off those sneaky little cells that might lead to a recurrence - and not EVERYONE gets nasty side effects (or lose their hair) with chemo - some members even continued working thru their treatment xx .... your Medical Oncologist will explain all that to you.  If the Onc says you may/will lose your hair, ask about the use of a 'cold cap' - it can help reduce hair loss xx. 

    Drink lots of water after each of your chemo sessions & make sure you take the tablets that they recommend, as it should prevent nausea etc.  Eat lots of small sessions of food, rather than a full sit down meal - just graze as you feel like it - rest when you need it (often it can be 3 or 4 days after the infusion - you'll just need to put yourself to bed. xx)

    Also, feel free to check out this post for lots of interesting stuff on the Forum (lots of it is 'off topic' & can even be funny, as we all need a laugh!)  You can show us your garden, furkids, art & craft & more!!  🙂 
    There are also tick sheets down the bottom that you can print off & take with you to your appointments, specially re your mental & physical health, as sometimes it is difficult to put it in words, just easier to give them a copy of the ticked sheets!  😉
    https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

    take care & all the best xx
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    6 months ago
    Hi @sawsan

    I had a chemo regimen that sounds about the same following a mastectomy and axillary clearance (only one lymph node was malignant). Four infusions of A/C three weeks apart and 12 of Paclitaxel, one every week. Just to be sure I also had a year of Herceptin and ten years of letrozole (hormonal therapy). 

    Chemo sounds scary but not everyone gets really bad side effects. I didn’t have any nausea (sickness), fatigue or chemo brain. I worked throughout treatment. I did lose my hair but chose to wear a wig and most people had no idea I was having treatment (unless I told them) - I looked perfectly well. 

    No-one recommends chemo lightly - it’s not pleasant but so far it’s one of the best ways of killing off remaining cancer cells and avoiding a recurrence. None of us wants to go through this twice! 

    @arpie has posted lots of good advice but the short answer is that you don’t know how you will react until you start - so best to do so with an open mind, deep breaths and see how you go. And deal with one day at a time, one treatment at a time. Anticipating what hasn’t happened yet isn’t helpful. Now, however hard, is a time to live in the present. With any luck, you may find it easier than you fear. Best wishes. 
  • GorgyS's avatar
    GorgyS
    Member
    6 months ago

    Hi Sawsan, I finished 5 months of chemo and 3 weeks of radiation at the end of August this year. You can click on my profile to see more information about my type of breast cancer and treatment. What I want to share with you is that I wasn’t scared of the treatment at all. What I was, and still am scared of, is cancer itself. That’s why I accepted everything recommended by my medical team, who were incredibly supportive throughout the process.

    I’ve now been on Letrozole for 2 months with no major side effects so far. The way I’ve handled all of this is by focusing on leaving it behind, taking care of myself, and staying informed. And of course, catching up with this network and the lovely people who were so supportive in sharing their experiences. 

    I also used the booklet to get advice on managing side effects, and it was a big help. Here is the link: Understanding Chemotherapy (cancercouncil.com.au) 

    When you focus on your treatment and well-being, you won’t have much time to feel scared. I can barely remember the side effects of chemo, including a few allergic reactions. Everything was so well managed by my medical team that I had full trust in them from the beginning.

    Take care! Very soon, this will be behind you. All the best with your treatment. Do not forget to share any concerns with this network. which has been my best friend since my diagnoses last year.