Hello
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed mid February and had surgery on the 4th April where the mass was removed and lymph nodes were involved. I was scheduled to have further nodes removed but it was cancelled...
Forum Discussion
Hi @Overwhelmed It's such a lot to take in - the golden words are "one step at a time". And this is a place where you can ask questions, get advice and information, laugh, cry, rage - whatever it takes.
I had a partial with sentinel nodes removed in December but there were no clear margins so went back in a couple of weeks later for a mastectomy with axillary dissection (no further nodes involved).
You don't say what your chemo regime is - I had 4 x 3 weekly AC followed by 12 x weekly Paclitaxel which I just started last Thursday. I won't say it's fun but it's probably not as bad as you're fearing. Just make sure you've got your anti-nausea meds and don't wait to ring your oncologist and say it's not enough if it isn't. They tend to send you home with the minimum (Maxalon aka Smarties) until they know how you're going to react. Also be kind to yourself - if you need to sleep, then sleep. You may be one of the amazing ones who just go on as normal but most of us can't manage that.
Try to do exercise when you're up to it, whether it's walking to the end of the driveway or walking 5km. It helps get over the chemo. And try to get on an exercise programme if there's one available to you but let yourself get an understanding of how chemo is going to affect you before you get anxious about anything else.
As for cold caps, I tried them for the first couple of chemo treatments (mainly for the benefit of the kids) but while they mostly worked, I ended up with a large bald strip right across the middle of my scalp from ear to ear that no amount of combover could hide, so I gave it up.
Anyway, welcome!
I had a partial with sentinel nodes removed in December but there were no clear margins so went back in a couple of weeks later for a mastectomy with axillary dissection (no further nodes involved).
You don't say what your chemo regime is - I had 4 x 3 weekly AC followed by 12 x weekly Paclitaxel which I just started last Thursday. I won't say it's fun but it's probably not as bad as you're fearing. Just make sure you've got your anti-nausea meds and don't wait to ring your oncologist and say it's not enough if it isn't. They tend to send you home with the minimum (Maxalon aka Smarties) until they know how you're going to react. Also be kind to yourself - if you need to sleep, then sleep. You may be one of the amazing ones who just go on as normal but most of us can't manage that.
Try to do exercise when you're up to it, whether it's walking to the end of the driveway or walking 5km. It helps get over the chemo. And try to get on an exercise programme if there's one available to you but let yourself get an understanding of how chemo is going to affect you before you get anxious about anything else.
As for cold caps, I tried them for the first couple of chemo treatments (mainly for the benefit of the kids) but while they mostly worked, I ended up with a large bald strip right across the middle of my scalp from ear to ear that no amount of combover could hide, so I gave it up.
Anyway, welcome!