AC Chemo - Day 4 (calm before the storm?)

Hi Cath

Good to know my crazy relentless rans help. I was diagnosed end of Feb and my time went a lot slower as waited 5 weeks for surgery and then almost 6 more for Chemo to start... Talk about driving one nuts!!!

I must admit I scoured the internet and social media for information - a place to figure out what was happening to me, what should be happening and how to prepare and THANK GOD the gorgeous saint of a breast nurse in the Brest Screen centre I was initially diagnosed at originally recommended this group.

This was the last place I looked but the best place ever and I am so thankfull for these beautifull ladies that have shared their experience wisdom and compassion selflessly.

It has both alliviated some of my fears and helped me.understamd what to expect at times, scared me shitless at others and more than anything showed me it can be done. I have to say there are times you will feel strong like you can conquer the world and others where you just want to run and hire or frankly there will be rages when you just want to destroy everything in sigh. In all those times having this forum and these fabulous ladies has been a lifeline for me - a place of both acceptance and actual understanding so it has helped me a great deal be it that I am having a 'pitty party', 'massive rant' or 'am searching for information'.

If I can help in some small way to yourself and others like me still wading these BC waters than yay ?

Keep in mind though that different chemos have different sideeffects and this one (AC) is supposed to be a one of the yuckier ones plus we all react a bit differently so if at times I describe thing that are sounding unpleasant meed not necessarily mean it will happen to you ??

Wishing you a lot of strength and the best outcome for the coming surgery

PS if anyone asked me now, the 3 things that would have been most helpfull to know pre surgery (for me) : 

Do not bither with PJs and just use hospital ones as they can get mucky from desinfecting solutions and plus you will swet heaps so easiest to use theirs and change as often as you need

Baby wet towels are a Godsent when you sweat and are bandaged up and just need some feeshness

Make contact with the local breast care nurse even befire the surgery if you can (if not done yet) - if tou ask the local breast screen place or your local cancer centre or your surgeon they can all out you in touch with her. They are amazing informed incredibly knowledga le ladies with great comoassion and infinite patience it seems. I have found that I have received far better information from the beautifull Gill (the nurse at my hospital) than from all the doctors combined both ore and post surgery. She has made sure I understood the diagnoses trully as even after surgeoun consults pist surgery I apprently got some stuff wrong (yes it can happen), this angel provided the little pillow that was a saviour in keeping the wound not chafe and instructed me to exercise and aboid getting a locked shoulder, hooked me up with areally confirtable post surgery bra, served as a liaison between myself and oncologist when they had to rethink the plan for Chemo... I mean I can go on and on and on... This lady is amazing and from what others have said they all are so if there is one thing you need to make sure tou do is make touch with your local nurse and it will greatly help you especially when uunsur where you are at or where to from here

Hugs

Jel.