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Enaj's avatar
Enaj
Member
13 years ago

First chemo session

Hi, my name is Jane and I live in North Queensland.  it's been an "interesting" month, found a lump 2 December, diagnosed 7 December, left mastectomy 13 December (in hindsight I wish I'd had a double mastectomy, but I plan to in the future............but that's another post!), axilla 20 December.  I have IDC, there was only one node involved and I'm waiting to find out whether I'm H2 positive or not.  All scans were clear, that news turned me into a blubbering mess for some reason.........I haven't cried at bad news but I disolve when I finally get something good!!!!!!

I'm sure there's info somewhere on this sight about how to prepare and the best things to take to your first chemo session, which will be next Thursday.  So far all I'm definitely taking is my wonderful partner ;-)

My head is spinning at the moment, I'm keeping positive, there's nothing to be gained from crumbling, but to say I'm scared would be an understatement.  I've walked into so many appointments in the last month where my heart is screaming "turn and run, run as fast as you can"  and I have to tell it to shut up and listen to my head that's saying "just get in there and do this, you need this".

Anyhow if there's anything that particularlly helped you I'd LOVE to hear about it, I've done LOTS of reading on the internet but I've decided not to continue with that because it tended to scare the cr@p out of me rather than educate!!

Thank you for a wonderful community

Best

Jane

11 Replies

  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thanks, I have started one and you reminded me to fill in today's stuff :-)

    Best Jane xx

  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Mummyranch

    Thanks for your reply.  My first chemo was on Thursday.  I was nervous going in and after a while when I was on the saline drip they put you on first I got a terrible stomach cramp and my blood pressure took a dive, after a couple of panadol and some deep breathing I was good again and the chemo went ahead without any dramas.  They gave me anti nausea drugs before the session and I also have some to take at home.  Yesterday I felt a little sick but nothing dramatic. I had to go back to hospital for an injection to assist the production of white blood cells yesterday, they took my blood pressure and it was still a little low.  One suggestion was to drink more fluids so now I'm pretty much constantly drinking either water, cordial or green tea.  I'm feeling much better today so it must be working, only bad side effect was the 5 trips to the toilet last night!!

    Your approach is very much like mine, I found it, it was removed  via mastectomy, the chemo sucks but it's necessary (not sure if mine will be 9 or 18 weeks, depends on my H2 results). Like you I have the odd bad day but over all I'm doing pretty well with constant support from my partner and furry kid Katie the Cattle dog.  I read a quote somewhere that called breast cancer a speed bump in life and that's the way I'm going to treat it, it might slow me down a little for a while, but I'll get over it!!

    I'm looking forward to going back to work on 21st January, it'll make life seem just that little bit more nomal!!

    Thanks for your reply

    Best

    JaneXX

  • mummyrach's avatar
    mummyrach
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Jane, I live in Cairns. I was diagnosed in Oct 2012, had a bi-lateral mastectomy with expanders 2 weeks later. I'm currently going through chemo, I've had 2 rounds of the FEC 1 more to go, then 3 of D (sorry can't remember the name). Going into my first chemo I tried no to get too worried about the side effects and how I would feel. I'd worry about that when it happened. Unfortunately as soon as I got in the car after I started to feel sick. I completely lost my appetite for about 6 days and felt very lethargic. The next 2 weeks I felt absolutely fine. Make sure you drink a few litres of water the day or two before. And if you feel nauseous try eating small snacks during the day, I lived on toast and biscuits with avocado, and fruit and vege juice in the morning. I guess I came to terms with my diagnosis pretty early. I just kept telling myself that i just had to get on with it and do what I had to do. Yes I had breast cancer, but it has all been removed. Yes chemo is going to suck, but it's only going to be 6 times over 18 weeks, and then I can get in with life. I still have days where I have a good cry, but I'm very lucky to have a supportive hubby and family, not to mention my 3 kids (16,4 and 22 months) to keep me busy. I wish you all the best with your chemo, you will get through this. Please feel free to ask me any questions. Good luck. X
  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Doh!!!!......thanks......not sure if I qualify as "Young"!!??  ;-)

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Ahhhh, I get it now :-) Thank you!

    The reason you are getting the 'access denied' message is because you need to be a member of the 'Young pink sisters' online group to read the blog post......So

    Good luck and give me a shout if you have any other questions.

    Cheers
    Daina

  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Diana

    When I click on the link in your first post it's on the right hand side of the page, under the twitter, facebook etc links....

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Hi Jane,

    hmmm, I am not sure why this would be. Can you give me a little more information about the 'Sharing stories' link you are referring to? It might help if you paste a link to the page you are trying to access. Cheers, Daina

  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Diana

    Thanks for the info, one question, do you know why I get an "access denied" message when i try to access the "sharing stories" link?

    Best

    Jane

  • Enaj's avatar
    Enaj
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Tonya, Annie and Kathleen

    Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

    Tonya, I'm planning to cook up a big batch of chicken soup before next Thursday as I figure that will be something healthy and easy, hopefully I'll still like it!!  Mentioned this to Peter & he keeps reminding me that he can cook too........?.........I love him dearly but the idea of living on mince and veges (his speciality) is almost as scarey as the chemo ;-)

    Annie, I will also be on FEC.  I know everyone reacts differently but it's comforting to know that your side effects have been manageable, I'll be sure to take a water bottle with me.  I'm planning to work as much as possible during chemo, I'm a tad hypo and I don't think being at home for an extended time would be good for me!! A couple of questions about the supplements you mentioned, what were they, was your oncologist supportive of you taking them and what benefits did you feel they provided?

    Kathleen, hmmmm......thanks for the tip,I may have to "endure" some manicure/pedicure sessions!! I will have been off work for 6 weeks when I return on 21 January, I would have gone back sooner only we shut down for 4 weeks over Xmas, so I don't have much choice.  One of the things I am very thankful for is that losing my hair will not be a big deal for me.  About 7 years ago I did shave for a cure and decided that I liked having REALLY short hair.  I kept it clippered and bleached until quite recently when I decided to grow it.....in hindsight I shouldn't have bothered!!  I'll find about Look Good Feel Better, I think they have sessions here.  I'm a bit warey about drawing on things like eyebrows.  It's very hot here at the moment and I can imagine either rubbing one and ending up with a mono brow or sweating and having them run down my face!!! 

    Thank you so much for replying, all the very best!

    Jane