My Treatment Plan Freak out

I can't tell you not to be scared. I was scared out of my wits when I first knew I had to have chemo. It's a tough tough gig but everyday that you are on the chemo path is a day closer to it ending. I always tried to imagine chemo like (probs showing my age here) Pac-man gobbling up those nasty little cancer cells. I waged war on them.

My chemo was AC & T for 24 weeks. I persevered on the AC with mild nausea (kept under control with medication), it upset my digestion but not really awful. The only time I had a very bad time of it was when we tried taking out one of the anti nausea drugs which my Onc thought was causing my headaches. Big mistake! I was so sick for the next 48 hours constantly throwing up. Docetaxel (Taxatere) was next. Now that was awful. I had a lot of bone pain which was hard to take. I developed neuropathy in my fingers and toes and I felt like shite. My Onc cancelled the last one because I was too unwell.

Now that I've painted that lovely picture and probably made you freak out worse, I am here to tell you that I made it through. Everyone is different and you may not get any of these side effects. I am now on the other side of a double mastectomy and reconstruction, still having 3 weekly Herceptin treatments which I started with Docetaxel until end of May next year and am on Femara for five years. I am breathing again and I must say when all is said and done, this year has gone by amazingly fast. I am cancer free and beginning to see my new normal. I think everyday I am climbing up out of the fog and into the clear air.

Life is pretty good.

Good luck with your treatment Janina and have a relaxing, calm Christmas with your family. Remember we are all here to help get you through.

Love Janey xxx