Waiting for chemo!!
Hi Everyone, I am new to this network. My name is Debbie and I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2, HER positive amplified, oestrogen and progesterone receptor positive, tumour 23mm,...
Forum Discussion
Hoo-bloody-ray Dougal! About time. Excellent news. :)
I was warned early on about this problem. So the first person who tried it on me - "I have a friend of a friend who was given six months to live who went vegan and is still alive three years later" - I literally walked away from, saying my doctors have told me not to listen to stories like that.
I've had a few others try but this gentle 'stop please, I can't hear stories like that' has done the trick. You are the most important person at this time, and if you don't find this kind of info helpful, no matter how kindly meant, you have to say so and your friends and family have to respect it.
The fact is apart from a few genes that affect a tiny proportion of the population, we don't know why most cancers happen. We know risk factors that can increase your chances of developing cancer, but why some people with the same risk factors don't get it when others do, is as yet unknown. It's a waste of time worrying about why. If you can stop smoking, drink less alcohol and lose weight if you need to, then by all means do so, but your main job at this time is to get through treatment as best you can. So that is exercise through chemo (shown to reduce severity of side effects), stay very well hydrated, keep your bowels steady, rest when you need to, neither gain or lose too much weight, eat healthily to keep your nutrition going and tell nosey parkers to eff right off with their 'opinions'! If they're not helping they get the boot!
I find it hard to know what to advise you to ask your oncologist. We all react differently, and there are several different types of chemo regimes prescribed to people with BC. Ask what yours is known as and you'll be able to search the threads on it here. You could ask for the EVIQ sheet on your chemo. That's an info sheet. My onc gave it to me and I found it helpful. Always remember though that no one gets all the side effects!
Do you want to have a go at keeping your hair? If so, ask your oncologist if the cold cap is available.
The fear of the unknown sucks, and you just have to slog through. Soon enough chemo will be routine. It's bizarre, but you'll know how you react and how to handle it (never be afraid to ask for more drugs, don't suffer in silence). Try not to Dr Google, and if you do, stay away from the US forums. Stick to the BCNA and Macmillan (UK). Take it one day at a time and know that you can do it. Breathe, and hang in there. K xox
I was warned early on about this problem. So the first person who tried it on me - "I have a friend of a friend who was given six months to live who went vegan and is still alive three years later" - I literally walked away from, saying my doctors have told me not to listen to stories like that.
I've had a few others try but this gentle 'stop please, I can't hear stories like that' has done the trick. You are the most important person at this time, and if you don't find this kind of info helpful, no matter how kindly meant, you have to say so and your friends and family have to respect it.
The fact is apart from a few genes that affect a tiny proportion of the population, we don't know why most cancers happen. We know risk factors that can increase your chances of developing cancer, but why some people with the same risk factors don't get it when others do, is as yet unknown. It's a waste of time worrying about why. If you can stop smoking, drink less alcohol and lose weight if you need to, then by all means do so, but your main job at this time is to get through treatment as best you can. So that is exercise through chemo (shown to reduce severity of side effects), stay very well hydrated, keep your bowels steady, rest when you need to, neither gain or lose too much weight, eat healthily to keep your nutrition going and tell nosey parkers to eff right off with their 'opinions'! If they're not helping they get the boot!
I find it hard to know what to advise you to ask your oncologist. We all react differently, and there are several different types of chemo regimes prescribed to people with BC. Ask what yours is known as and you'll be able to search the threads on it here. You could ask for the EVIQ sheet on your chemo. That's an info sheet. My onc gave it to me and I found it helpful. Always remember though that no one gets all the side effects!
Do you want to have a go at keeping your hair? If so, ask your oncologist if the cold cap is available.
The fear of the unknown sucks, and you just have to slog through. Soon enough chemo will be routine. It's bizarre, but you'll know how you react and how to handle it (never be afraid to ask for more drugs, don't suffer in silence). Try not to Dr Google, and if you do, stay away from the US forums. Stick to the BCNA and Macmillan (UK). Take it one day at a time and know that you can do it. Breathe, and hang in there. K xox