Hello, I was diagnosed with stage 2 grade 3 early breast cancer about month ago, since findng that lump on routine self examination , it has been a wirlwind of doctors appointments and tests, as soon as i found out itwa sbreast cancer i wanted it out and had avery good surgeon who did it a week later at the South Eastern. My initial reactionwas shock and disbelief, i cried, but then all i could think about were my beautiful family and friends, it was only then that i truly appreciated them, it was like a wake up call and i thought about what was truly important in life. I was worried about how i would cope with the stress of the journey ahead of me having suffered from depression at times in my life and the fact that my son had autism and intellectual disability and caused our family much stress already, but i have been suprised at my coping ability and my fighting spirit and i am ready to start chemo in two weeks then radiotherapy and hormonal therapy, possibly herceptin stiil waiting for test result. I saw the breast care nurse what a wonderful woman, a treasure to be sure. I look for reasons in this journey and try to figure the reason i have been given this challenge, what lesson am i meant to learn and am i meant to stay on the same path in my life or not?

Hi Annie.gem I've just read your post and my God what a time you've had. You're right when you say it's a whirlwind - I think most of us go through the gammit of doctors appointments and tests and feel like we don't know if we're coming or going! I felt like you in that as soon as I was told I had bc I wanted my breast off if they couldn't save it. Well they couldn't so off it went! I didn't mind really, my mind was more focussed on the task at hand and that was to get rid of the cancer. You're a very strong woman - you've already had some major challenges in your life (depression and your son) and I think you have a lot of inner strength to cope with that. I think it's really important to get in the right frame of mind to tackle this thing full on, and I truly believe you will do this. Like you I wondered what was the lesson I was meant to learn from all this and why I had to go through the journey. It still hasn't become entirely clear to me yet - maybe it never will, who knows? But I'll tell you one thing, it made me appreciate the ones I love - my family and friends. Most importantly it helped me realise that life is precious and not to be wasted. That's why I treasure every day now. Good luck with everything and please keep in touch. Remember we're all there for you. cheers Helen Anne

Hi Helen Anne, nice to meet you, thankyou for your encouraging words. its lovely to think of all the other ladies who have been touched by bc helping each other and making new friends. Nice to think that you have had some similar feelings to myself. You are right when you say that it takes the right frame of mind and i believe yes, i will definetely tackle it head on and win! Im off to my first chemo session Monday, four cycles they say, bit scared, but bring it on! best wishes to you, annie.gem

Hi Annie, Likewise the whole diagnosis of BC makes your head spin, things happen so quickly and you just go with it because, well, what choice do you have. All you know is you want to be around longer for yourself and your kids. Three years on from my BC stage 2B diagnosis, chemo and radio, I'm still wondering what to take from it all and as I'm a teacher, I have decided its to educate others. As you are about to start chemo, I wish you all he best and would like to offer a piece of advice that I found particularly useful. Do not eat foods you love. Sounds strange but I know for alot of people I spoke to, your sense of taste changes during chemo and things taste funny or unpleasant which can really put you off your favourite foods when chemo is finished. The other thing is, as hard as it might be, laugh, laugh at all the silly, crazy things that happen to you during treatment, it helps too, and finally, remember you aren't alone. =) Take Care Sue

Good luck with Monday darl. Try to keep positive. Drink plenty of water before you go as this helps your viens - makes it easier for them to put in an IV. I'll be thinking of you. Cheers Helen

hi all | BCNA Online Network

18 Replies

helen_anne
Member
13 years ago
I just read your reply to Annie and I have to say isn't it great that your work got behind you and not only raised $2000 but also made the hat box and made or bought you lots of hats and scarves. How fantastic is that!

I cried once in Chemo too - because I had a haematoma behind my port and they tried to get the needle in a couple of times - but no way was it going in....so that put me back a couple of weeks as we had to wait until the swelling went down...I was quite upset....what they didn't know at the time was I was anaemic and full of infection.....another bummer.

I'm glad you could go to work - unfortunately I couldn't - I was just too sick.

Good on you!

Luv H
R_T__Chair
Member
13 years ago
Hi Annie

Awesome!! I love your attitude, have a great time with the girls!!

Sue
annie_gem
Member
13 years ago
Hi Sue, like the way you found many postives in your BC journey and i think that is the way it should be, i have reached out to all of my family and friends and they provide the greatest support fun and love, so many ask me how they can help,would I like some cleaning done? or something like that sometimes I am just saying come and visit me or lets go shopping or to a movie, I appreciate my friends and family so much more.

I was fairly new to my career as a nurse , graduating and registering a few months ago and just started working after years being a florist and raising my children,when i found the "lump" ,so as it is such a physical job and not yet learnt it, i feel i cant go back yet, but they want me back when im"well enough".

I am going to a girls night out in our local community soon which I went to last year and didnt know a person then who had breast cancer, now this year I will be going as a person who has experienced this, weird huh? Some friends are going with me and we will have fun.

I am also booking to go to the pink ribbon day breakfast through the breast care nurse at wheelers hill should be good.

i have got my hair cut really short trying to prepare for its falling out and got some nice hats and scarves and been up to the kids schools and spoken to everyone, so i feel like im doing well

thanks Sue xxx
helen_anne
Member
13 years ago
Hi Annie

Glad to hear you're alot better. I'm not sure if the FEC was a treatment or the name of the chemo - I think it was the initials of the three separate chemos they give you each time....you'll soon learn that everything in health has an acronynm!!

I have worked in health most of my life and I've never known such a career to have so many acronym's or shortened abbreviations as the Health industry!

Take care

Luv H
annie_gem
Member
13 years ago
Hi Helen Anne make sure you celebrate! You and your family have the best reason to. i havent heard of FEC .is that the type of drugs or the name of the treatment? Feeling good today !

take care,

Annie
helen_anne
Member
13 years ago
Hi Annie

Yeah I think the year has absolutely flown. The anniversary of my diagnosis is actually on the 28th which is a Sunday so the champers will be flowing.

I think you get so caught up in appointments, tests and then treatment you forget how quickly the weeks go by - I had a tendancy to lose all track of time - I blamed the chemo brain for that (and everything else) LOL!

Sorry you weren't feeling the best this morning - hope you feel better now.

Your hubby sounds great and it's good to take that break when you're feeling a bit yukky.

Oh and before I go - my chemo was stuff called FEC - had it for months all the way through treatment....have to say it was the pitts.

Anyway get some rest - talk again soon.

Luv H
annie_gem
Member
13 years ago
Hello Jenn, thanks for your post, its sweet to recieve good ideas from other ladies whove been through the same thing as me!

I will start using the biotene for sure, i sure dont want mouth sores! This chemo experience is like going blindfolded into a new place and any ideas to give me heads up i welcome xxx. I got my her2 result and it was negative, but i was comittdto do whatever it took to put all of it behind me, did you feel like that too!

Well done to you for getting through all of your treatments so far, you sound like you sre doing great! I need to take the hormone tablets for five years after i finish the radiotherapy.

This morning, when i woke up i was expecting to have a better day than yesterday since i feltso good , but i had a bad headache and naseua, so i went and told my husband and he said go back to bed i will get the kids ready and he just took over and i went back to bed, dont thik thats ever happened before, so blessed to have this wonderful husband, he has taken most of the week off work,

thanks Jenn, take care Annie xxx
annie_gem
Member
13 years ago
hello, i had a not so good morning this morning, had a bad headache and naseau, butook some pills went back to bed and my wonderful hubby got the kids ready for school etc, felt much better in the pm and have to keep reminding myself to drink more water, im not usually one who has a fluids to drink!

Helen i only know the name of the chemo drugs im having, its doxetaxil and another called chlophosfamide ( not sure if the spellings right)

time goes so fast in this experience, i cant believe how long its been since i first went to the doctor, it only seems like aweek or so ago! Did your year go fast Helen and hope you are proud of yourself to have done so well in that year,

take care Annie
helen_anne
Member
13 years ago
So totally agree with Sue.....I laughed myself stupid about little things that used to happen - especially when I was constantly being admitted and got to be known as "No 1 patient"!!! LOL!

Humour is a great weapon against cancer.

Keep that in mind.

cheers for now

Luv H
helen_anne
Member
13 years ago
Hi Annie

So glad to hear it wasn't too bad for you...I had a reaction like that - went all red and hot but my O2 was ok....glad you drank heaps of water.

What is the name of the chemo you're having? I had FEC all the way through.

But I was one of the unlucky ones that (for alot of other reasons) I reacted very badly each time and had hospital admissions every single time...bit of a drag - but hey I survived!

This month on the 28th marks my 1st anniversay of diagnosis - simply can't believe it's nearly 12 months!

Take care and keep posted.

luv H