Possibly starting chemo

At 43 you may well be able to work right through. You've got a plan, which certainly helps, and if you have supportive people around you so much the better.

Do have Plan B up your sleeve. It's not unusaul to get the wobbles up during chemo and, unfortunately, the things that send the whole show off course are beyond our control.

If you are in a position where you can juggle your days around to  accommodate any issues that may come up it would be great to find out exactly how flexible the business is prepared be. Have a frank discussion with them about what sort of notice they need from you if you can't come in and what might happen if you need to work shorter shifts.

The other thing to keep in mind is your colleagues and clients. I worked right through BC version 1 when I was your age. I felt a bit crappy at times but the people I worked with, and the clients, ( I worked in a library) got pretty stressed if I turned up looking like the walking dead. I was on a contract at the time so I was under a fair bit of pressure to be there and, as I was coping, there was no way I was giving up my job. Yes, I was constantly told how ''brave' I was but it did put extra pressure on those around me. I didn't ask for favours, but you do need to be aware that people get strange ideas in their heads about what will be helpful. The public...don't get me started. The things they say....

Anyway, get those big girl panties on and have a crack at it. Just remember to be kind to yourself as well. Marg xxx

@KiwiAngel Challenging. But it won't necessarily be the same so we'll have to cross those hormone bridges when we get there! Make sure you've got good mental health support ready to go if you need it. I see a community funded counsellor who specialises in breast cancer women. It's very cheap and she's good. Do you have a good GP? 

@kmakm u have had a terrible time! I think you should definitely go with your gut. That is what I am doing with to do it not to do chemo. I asked the oncologist about removing my other breast but didn’t think it was necessary but we would be keeping a close eye on it. I don’t need radiotherapy afterwards as everything was clear and I’m in a grey area so the chemo is more because I’m only 43 and to prevent recurrence. Most likely I will be in tamoxifen for 5 to 10 years afterwards too. I’m also wuite apprehensive about that as I am one of those people that seems to get horrible side effects on tablets. In my first 2 blood pressure tablets I got the 1% side effects and I have had horrible depression on some contraceptive pills. 

I'm with @Joannie on this one @KiwiAngel, but give it your best shot.

If you've read my bio you'll see I have a dreadful family history and many responsibilities. I am having a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction sometime in the next 4 - 8 weeks. This will make radiation unecessary. My gut feeling is telling me to get rid of both my breasts. It's been a difficult decision, and continues to be, but I know that in a suite of awful choices, this is the one for me.

After that it will be 7 years of hormone treatment, probably Anastrozole, maybe Tamoxifen. Some people have little to no problems on these drugs, others have many. So I won't know until I get there. I am dreading it, but trying not to cross that bridge until I come to it.

What about you? Any idea what happens after chemo?

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My best advice is to take it as it comes. I would love to go back to work but just wouldn't be fit.

Congrats @kmakm - u must be so pleased you are done. Do you have to have any further treatment??

Im going to try and schedule my treatment for a Monday and then work Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday as I work long days I normally have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off so I can use that time to recover. Worst case scenario I will have to take the whole week off off work but I’m lucky enough to have a reasonable amount of sick leave cause I normally don’t get sick. As a job I am a veterinary nurse but my boss is happy for me to just do reception work and stay away from the animals. I won’t be going near anyone sick and will be bathing myself in antibacterial gel constantly. Pretty apprehensive about this but I have always been a proactive person so know this is the best decision to make. 

@kiwiangel Today I had my last infusion of Docetaxel & Cyclophosphamide. I got to ring the end of chemo bell! In three weeks my three months will be up.

My experience is that you will feel OK for the first couple of days while the steroids prop you up. After that the fatigue will hit and you will not be able to do much more than lie on the sofa or bed. So you are wise to plan to take this week off each cycle. My chemo was on Mondays and on Thursdays the bone ache started and hung around for 48 hours. It got worse each time, have painkillers on standby.

Be mindful that you are at your most vulnerable to catching a germ on Days 7, 8, 9 & 10. I don't know what your job is, but you might want to think about delaying a return to work until Thursday of the second week. You don't want to get febrile neutropenia!

We all react differently, but as TC is cumulative, you may find it harder to keep working as the cycles go by. Be kind to yourself, it is what it is, and we are doing the maximum we can for The Pulse! I made the call and as hard as it's been, I have no regrets. I want to be here when I'm 80! All the best, let us know how you go, ask me any questions, and have your constipation meds ready to go...  <3 K