DCIS

I was diagnosed with DCIS in on July 15 and began chemotherapy almost straight away.

I feel that my quality of life has been somewhat diminshed over the last few months and not what I expected. Although the only work I have is one day per week, I have been unable to do even that, which has been disappointing.  

I have recently completed the 4th of 6 chemo treatments and am seriously considering not having the last  two treatments as the side effects have been horrendous for me and the chemo is not to avoid surgery. Surgery was always intended.  

After each of the first three treatments I threw up for days, became dehydrated and finally ended up in hospital for 4 days while I got sorted out. The 4th treatment was a new cocktail and I developed hand/foot syndrome, which resulted in blisters on soles of feet, swollen hands/fingers (couldn't lift anything, hold a pen and barely able to type).  I  have only today started to return to normal. After 10 days, my feet don't hurt and feeling is returning to fingers. I was told that I would probably have one bad week out the three between treatments but I am having all rotten weeks between treatments and haven't been physically capable fo doing anything much - not even pottering about the house!!

I am over being bald (it's been no fun when it's cold!!) and I have also noticed i feel cold on my neck so i wear a scarf around my neck most nights.

I have succeeded so far in staying positive and hoping for the best, but I do feel somewhat isolated, my friends are supportive but all have their own lives to lead and difficulties to face. I have no contact with my immediate family (3 brothers) for various reasons, which is a great shame and source of sadness for me.

My daughter is only 18 and this illness has been difficult for her to cope with and i try the best I can to make it easier for her - not always successfully I admit - we do get cranky with each other and hit out verbally.  

I hope to continue seeing the brighter side of life an getting a laugh when I can and geting through the battle for my return to the rude good health I enjoyed before 15th July.

During the course of my treatment so far, I have met two elderly people who were inspitational, one a man of 85 who had his treatments he same day as me and who suffered no side effects from chemo and who has been given the all clear from the rare form of non-hodgkins lymphoma, the second is a lady of 82 who had a mastectomy 53 years ago and who volunteers at the hospital were i have my treatment. She is amazing and just carries on regardless of injury and drops in and sees inpatients.  I feel inspired to volunteer myself and will probably do that once i have had surgery.