Forum Discussion
So unsure
Hi All, My first time in this forum and to be honest I've avoided anything to do with focusing on my breast cancer. Pink just turns my stomach and I'm angry with my health professionals because I fee...
Welcome Anna Louise.
Have you a breast care Nurse?. They can sometimes provide a wealth of information and can at times be an advocate during Drs appointments.
How many more chemos do you have left? I had a port inserted after round 3. I only had one tiny vein they could use in my hand, and they prefer hands. As I had weekly taxol (12 sessions)and 12 months of herceptin to go (17 sessions) it was agreed a port would reduce my stress and make the process a whole lot easier.
It's awful you feel so isolated. I had someone with me during appointments and chemo, so I had someone to talk to. Is there a local group that can be a source of support also?
I eventually asked my chance of recurrence. I didn't want to know at the beginning. I know my breast surgeon said the same thing to me about chemo. They were able to put in all data...size, nodes, path...and a formula works out your % of disease free rate at 5 and 10 years. The formula of course can't tell you if you are in the average 90% or the 10% of it progressing. There are many cases of women with poor prognosis living full long lives and ones caught at very early stage who go onto stage IV. It's a lotto and impossible to tell. The treatment offered gives you the best possible chance of being one of the ones to go on living a long life and helping others following behind. It takes time to believe this.
So glad you found us and I hope we can provide answers and give you some support in what is a very challenging time in your life. Kath x
Have you a breast care Nurse?. They can sometimes provide a wealth of information and can at times be an advocate during Drs appointments.
How many more chemos do you have left? I had a port inserted after round 3. I only had one tiny vein they could use in my hand, and they prefer hands. As I had weekly taxol (12 sessions)and 12 months of herceptin to go (17 sessions) it was agreed a port would reduce my stress and make the process a whole lot easier.
It's awful you feel so isolated. I had someone with me during appointments and chemo, so I had someone to talk to. Is there a local group that can be a source of support also?
I eventually asked my chance of recurrence. I didn't want to know at the beginning. I know my breast surgeon said the same thing to me about chemo. They were able to put in all data...size, nodes, path...and a formula works out your % of disease free rate at 5 and 10 years. The formula of course can't tell you if you are in the average 90% or the 10% of it progressing. There are many cases of women with poor prognosis living full long lives and ones caught at very early stage who go onto stage IV. It's a lotto and impossible to tell. The treatment offered gives you the best possible chance of being one of the ones to go on living a long life and helping others following behind. It takes time to believe this.
So glad you found us and I hope we can provide answers and give you some support in what is a very challenging time in your life. Kath x