Young mum going thru treatment

@kmakm such great tips and ideas!! My dr pretty much said i can take the first week off after chemo and i should be right to keep working until the next cycle...even having explained i work with young kids and itll be winter. She was pretty adament id be ok. I found it a bit off putting as it seemed like she wasnt in support of my decisions re recovery. 🙄

Hi @Pinkcloverss. How much help do you have on hand? Family and friends wanting to help? Is your toddler at a playgroup?

Sorry to bombard you with the questions!

People want to help. Even though it's hard, you have to let them! If it was your best friend you'd do anything to help.

If you're overwhelmed with offers, delegate the nitty gritty organisation to someone else. I have four kids and an elderly in law in my home and my best friend co-ordinated the help a lot of the time.

There are also a number of apps that can help with this. BCNA has this one on their website:

https://gathermycrew.org.au

People will say 'if there's anything I can do to help let me know'... This can be frustratingly vague. It is useful to have some tasks in your mind to dole out to friends who are genuinecin their desire to assist.

Being really organised will help. You won't feel hideous all the time. Towards the end of each cycle you'll have more energy. Use that time to prepare food and freeze it, and anything else that can be done ahead of time.

You'll have to stay away from school when your in your very low immunity days, but you might find a good rhythm for work round that. We all react so differently, it's hard to plan until you're underway.

As for your toddler, well if there are days where you just can't manage you can call them pyjama days and cuddle up in bed or on the sofa together. We're encouraged to keep moving during chemo, I walked every day, working my way up from a 1.5km slow stagger to a fastish 5kms for all but my last round. You can do that with your child. Do you have a park near you? Nice to have a destination.

Toddlers like to help. Make the most of it (they grow out of it!), enlist them to assist with looking after you when you're feeling crappy
 A little job here and there might make them feel reassured and included. A treat together just before each infusion can be a nice ritual.

It's not the end of the world to let some of the 'normal' stuff we do fall by the wayside for a bit. Breakfast for dinner, some extra dust bunnies, online food shopping (your child might likecto help you do it!), it's only for a short period, though at the time it can seem like forever.

Big hug lovely. K xox

@Afraser thanks for ththe reassurance and positive chemo story! It gives me hope..hopefully i tolerate it as well as u!

Thanks @youngdogmum all the best for your treatment. Id love to hear how u go with it if u are ok with sharing it. Sounds like we will both be embarking on a very similar journey of a similar time line. We can do this!

Hi @Pinkcloverss 
I had the same chemo regime as you and worked throughout - no nausea, chemobrain or fatigue. But also no toddlers - I'm a lot older than you. Reactions to chemo are hugely variable - you'll get a reasonable idea after your first treatment. It's really hard to juggle at first, but whatever the reaction, it's a bit easier when you know what you are dealing with. Very best wishes

Amazing ! Sounds like you caught it really early that’s fab!
I have ILC (invasive lobular carcinoma). Mines a bit further along then yours, one lymph node involved and I had a full mastectomy and axillary clearance straight up. 

You could ask your breast nurse if there’s any other young mums who have commenced treatment who might be happy to connect and offer advice, mine did that for me after getting both of our permissions for numbers to be shared. 

Best of luck to you! And ask lots on here, everyone is so supportive and helpful. 

@youngdogmum i love that i have finally been able to connect to others! I have IDC 2cm lump removed via lumpectomy 2 weeks ago with clear margins and no lymphnode involvement, er+ pr+ her2-   what about you?

@Pinkcloverss some women on here say they did work part time throughout, due to financial need or enjoyment or they felt up to it. Others haven’t at all. It all effects us differently. 
I’m a nurse at a children’s hospital and certainly won’t be working at all because I’m exposed to far too many viruses/bacteria’s/fungi every single day.
I think it’s very personal.

what type of breast cancer do you have if you don’t mind me asking? 

This forum is fantastic!

Thank you so much @youngdogmum and @tigerbeth. I am 34..so yes i guess young? Chemo starts in 2 weeks for me. The waiting around for a diagnosis was worse than the diagnosis itself. Ive been encouraged to work during chemo if i can.. but being a primary school teacher and winter approaching I am not so sure!

Hey @Pinkcloverss welcome to this shitty club , i'm an older member so haven't juggled toddlers while undergoing treatment. You need to accept all the help anyone offers, so I hope you have the support of great friends & family .
Yell out here if you need help or just want to vent , we are all here for you 
sending hugs xx