Hello and newly diagnosed
Hi to all I have been diagnosed just over two weeks ago and its been a whirlwind of tests, biopsies ,mri etc , and things changing , originally surgeon was going to do lumpectomy but now I have been...
Forum Discussion
Hi sfr09 and other ladies,
it's been a long time since I've posted anything having been so busy with treatment, work and life over the past 6 months but your story sounded so similar to mine and where I was just a few months back that I thought it might be worth adding a few things. Like you, I am 56, previously healthy and a big exerciser so the diagnosis was a huge shock. I also have a strong family history amongst both my sisters and cousins but was relieved when I tested negative for the BRCA gene. I had chemotherapy before surgery, 4 times FEC and 12 weekly taxol with three weekly herceptin and perjeta. I was really comfortable with the decision for chemotherapy before the surgery as it gave the opportunity for the cancer to be monitored for its response to treatment. I was able to follow the shrinking of my cancer such that by the end of the chemotherapy it was undetectable on the MRIs and the surgery ended up being very minor. I count myself as being very lucky though of course I never knew any of this back in August when I was first diagnosed and my world was turned on its head.
I can only encourage you to hang in there as the treatments these days can be very effective. The cold caps didn't keep any of my hair through the FEC. it all fell out after the second treatment so I abandoned the caps. I did return to the caps during the Taxol and the hair slowly returned, though sadly without any trace of the reddy/brown it was previously. Weekly caps can be pretty gruelling, particularly where I had my treatment as they also favoured the use of frozen mittens. These were very painful but I started to use some of the lorazepam prescribed earlier by my oncologist to help get me through it. It felt interminable but eventually ended. More importantly, keep exercising! I exercised right through the chemo, jumping on my bike at any opportunity. In particular, I was on the bike before my treatments getting the circulation all pumping and ready for action before the infusions and I believe that this really made a difference.
My heart goes out to you where you are right now. I remember the terror and the darkness which I think we all experience. Be strong and maintain hope as it will get better.
Take care, Fiona xx
it's been a long time since I've posted anything having been so busy with treatment, work and life over the past 6 months but your story sounded so similar to mine and where I was just a few months back that I thought it might be worth adding a few things. Like you, I am 56, previously healthy and a big exerciser so the diagnosis was a huge shock. I also have a strong family history amongst both my sisters and cousins but was relieved when I tested negative for the BRCA gene. I had chemotherapy before surgery, 4 times FEC and 12 weekly taxol with three weekly herceptin and perjeta. I was really comfortable with the decision for chemotherapy before the surgery as it gave the opportunity for the cancer to be monitored for its response to treatment. I was able to follow the shrinking of my cancer such that by the end of the chemotherapy it was undetectable on the MRIs and the surgery ended up being very minor. I count myself as being very lucky though of course I never knew any of this back in August when I was first diagnosed and my world was turned on its head.
I can only encourage you to hang in there as the treatments these days can be very effective. The cold caps didn't keep any of my hair through the FEC. it all fell out after the second treatment so I abandoned the caps. I did return to the caps during the Taxol and the hair slowly returned, though sadly without any trace of the reddy/brown it was previously. Weekly caps can be pretty gruelling, particularly where I had my treatment as they also favoured the use of frozen mittens. These were very painful but I started to use some of the lorazepam prescribed earlier by my oncologist to help get me through it. It felt interminable but eventually ended. More importantly, keep exercising! I exercised right through the chemo, jumping on my bike at any opportunity. In particular, I was on the bike before my treatments getting the circulation all pumping and ready for action before the infusions and I believe that this really made a difference.
My heart goes out to you where you are right now. I remember the terror and the darkness which I think we all experience. Be strong and maintain hope as it will get better.
Take care, Fiona xx