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traxx65's avatar
traxx65
Member
15 years ago

Not what I wanted to hear

Well,, I had my oncologist appointment today and the news was not what I wanted to here.  After five years of fighting advanced breast cancer with hormone therapy, I will now have to fight it with chemotherapy.  According to my CT scan I have soft tissue nodules in my mediastinum, which is the space between your lungs.  They are not attached to any vital organs, just fatty tissue, so not life threatening for now.  Needless to say I am terrified of the thought of chemo!  I have to make my formal decision by next Tuesday as to whether I will go through with chemo now or in a few months time.  My oncologist would prefer me to start now before it decides to grow anymore.  I understand this but it still makes me feel ill.

He wants to give me Abraxane and Herceptin.  I will have to have a port put in and I think a heart test, (I started to go deaf after the word chemo).

This is all so new to me and I don't know what to expect.  I find I am now questioning myself and will I be able to cope.  I knew I would be scared but I just never anticipated being this scared.

I feel so brain dead at the moment.  I realise how very lucky I have been to have made it this far without any drastic changes and with minimum side effects, now I feel like I am starting a whole new ball game.  Am I strong enough, will I cope, so many things going through my head. 

I know so many of you have been through this and are so strong, and I feel like such a wimp.  I'm not even sure which part scares me more.

If anyone could explain to me about the heart test and the port process, I would greatly appreciate it.  I apologise for being a sook.

Thank you for allowing me to ramble.

Tracey

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  • Tanya's avatar
    Tanya
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Tracey

    herceptin is IV through the port, but it is very easy to have.  I personally have not had herceptin, but seen many women have it and  a good friend has recently finished it.

    The women used to pop in for their herceptin in the middle of a day out shopping.  they would just pop in, hook up to the port or IV, werent in there very long 1/2 hour to 1 hour (dont quote me) then out they would go to finish shopping.  So from what I know, there are not a lot of side effects as with some of the other treatments.

    Are you still doing Karate?  You will need to karate kick some of those cancer cells!!

    Tanya xx

  • Tanya's avatar
    Tanya
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Tracey

    herceptin is IV through the port, but it is very easy to have.  I personally have not had herceptin, but seen many women have it and  a good friend has recently finished it.

    The women used to pop in for their herceptin in the middle of a day out shopping.  they would just pop in, hook up to the port or IV, werent in there very long 1/2 hour to 1 hour (dont quote me) then out they would go to finish shopping.  So from what I know, there are not a lot of side effects as with some of the other treatments.

    Are you still doing Karate?  You will need to karate kick some of those cancer cells!!

    Tanya xx

  • Joy's avatar
    Joy
    Member
    15 years ago

    Chemo is not scary. If you take all the pre-meds you won't get sick, and there are tablets if you feel nauseous. Just a bad tast in the mouth for a week and you feel tired and no energy, but it is do-able and worth it for the results. Eat smaller meals and have 4 or 5 a day instead of 3. Don't worry about the hair, it grows back and you can make a fashion statement with scarves and caps.

    Good Luck

  • Tanya's avatar
    Tanya
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hey Tracey

    Sorry you have to have chemo, but it is not as bad as the visions you have in your head.  You will handle it fine, its not gonna be fun, but I promise you with the drugs they have available for the side effects it is doable.

     

    The heart test is a standard proceedure so they can monitor the effects of chemo on your heart.  Because you are young they need to have baseline, so they can make sure your heart will last you for a LONG time.  Have you had a bone scan?  well it is very similar to that, I cant even remember if they have to inject contrast via a canula, then you lay on the bed and they will check some readings and thats it. 


    And the port is a simple operation some people have it whilst under anethestic and some only a local.  Your veins will thank you for it.

    Anyway, feel free to come and have a whinge whenever you want.  Chin to the wind.  You will handle it fine.

    Tanya xx

  • kay's avatar
    kay
    Member
    15 years ago

    No Need to apologise at all and don't feel like you are a wimp because you aren't. It's not an easy journey.  I can't help you with the port process or heart test though. The first chemo for me and my husband was very daunting. Once we got that first one  out of the road after Christmas this year, I felt  better. It wasn't a very nice Christmas or New Year though having that on our minds.  take one day at a time.

    Kay