First chemo

Dear @Spillsy ,
I found that keeping a diary in an exercise book of my reactions to chemotherapy helped me a lot. I had a total of four cycles every three weeks from July to September last year. As I have learnt from this great network, we are all different in our reactions to chemotherapy. My drugs were Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide. I had lots of information from my wonderful Breast Care Nurse, and the staff at the Alan Coates Cancer Centre in Dubbo where I was treated. 
The diary was great for me because it helped me keep track of stuff as it happened, and to see a pattern in the cycles. It also helped  me to report back to nursing staff and the oncologist on what had happened and when. I took my temperature everyday too (LOL!) as I was worried I might get an infection (never did). Aches and pains, and fatigue may be the most common side-effects, but with any luck will ease off by day 8-10. 
Best wishes from jennyss

@Spillsy
 another thought is you could have inbuilt income protection in your superannuation.... Search on here the discussions about it and you will get some information regarding that. 
Soldier crab 

@Spillsy
 allocate things the boys can do to help you be it learning to put on a load of washing or hanging it out/taking it in. 
Loading the dishwasher if you have one... I found cooking double batch of meals when I was ok. then freezing them helped me get through the bad days. 
It is up to you about telling people about your diagnosis but it does help as some will do things like take the kids for a playdate per se and give you some space to breathe.... Christmas holidays are long at the best of times for young people. 

Do you have a My Journey Kit ? 
Do you have a breast care nurse ? 

@Spillsy, it is so horribly true, you will never be the same, or that's how it seems to me. I was diagnosed in mid November, single mastectomy, after a lot of frustrating, confusing, infuriating messing around between hospitals and consultants I said no to chemo and am about to start radio soon. This thing takes over your life your feelings your emotions and put you in a different world, like you got in a lift thinking you were going to the first floor but when the door opens you find yourself off-planet. There is no way to plan, to know what the next day or month or year will bring.  I didn't want to tell anybody other than close family about my condition for quite a while but now I don't care ... they used to know that former person, now they can get to know this new person and if she doesn't appeal to them, too bad. Some women seem so calm and accepting and appreciate whatever good things they can find in their situation, and good on them. Hopefully this will come in time for me (and you). But this early in the process it is like a complete loss of focus, and never knowing how you are going to feel makes it worse. I had the stuff injected for the radio CT scan yesterday and spent four hours sitting on the throne with unrelenting diarrhea from 2.00 am. As for trying to go back to work ... could you get some more time off? I think that is a truly big ask, to manage all this and two young boys as well. You are going to have to treat yourself very kindly and insist on your right to your own time and feelings. You aren't the same now, and you need to find ways to fend off the expectation that you can just soldier on and manage everything as you did before. All we can do is send you our best thoughts and give you a place to vent your feelings, which is what this site is so great for (apart from the information and great practical advice).

Thanks for your advice have just been for a walk, I have two boys 11 and 13, husband and circle of friends, most who don’t know yet as I was diagnosed the week before Christmas. I am off work since diagnosis, as had 1st chemo session, but should go back next week, as this is going to be a long road. 
Don’t feel like me anymore, who was that person....

@Spillsy  it is quite normal to feel really flat on either day 3 or 5 depending on when chemo treatment you are on. 
Be gentle with yourself.... even a walk around the house if you cant get to going outside will help... on my really tired days both my 18 & 25yr old would drag me out of the chair and literally walk me around our 3 Acres to get me moving it did help. 
how old are your kids ? 
Are you still working ? 
Do you have any assistance to get through this from family or friends? 
Gentle hugs and energy 
Soldier Crab 

Ah the dreaded 5th day, or night was my bugbear. It should be better once you get over that low nadir time.