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Ann-Marie_AK's avatar
Ann-Marie_AK
Member
15 years ago

Time to introduce myself

Firstly may I say that all of you ladies are amazing!  I joined the network not long after my diagnosis and found your posts so supportive, inspirational and informative.

 So I thought it was time to introduce myself. Hi my name is Ann-Marie, I am 42, married and have 2 daughters – 11 and 8 yrs. I was diagnosed with breast cancer on 15th March 20011.  2 days later I had surgery – wide excision and sentinel node biopsy. 3 nodes were positive and only 1mm clearance of the lump, so back in 8 days later for re-excision and more nodes taken.  Good news was that the rest of the nodes were clear but more cancer found in what looked like ordinary breast tissue. Back again 6 days later for mastectomy and tissue expander inserted. 3 op’s in 14 days really took it out of me but I have recovered well and enjoyed an Easter holiday with my family.

 Onto treatment, I started Chemo on Monday 3x FEC and 3x Taxotere.  This has been the scariest thing so far!!!  I struggled to walk through the doors and could not stop crying.  Everyone was great – my husband, the nurses and my oncologist got me through it with magic pills, hugs and jokes.  I stayed in overnight and got a fairly good rest.  Feeling okay today – it’s like a hangover without the party. 1 down 5 to go! 

 I guess my next meltdown will come with the hair loss but I am preparing for that.  My profile pic shows me last week when I bought my wig – it looks exactly the same as my hair usually looks.  I’ve also bought some hats.

 This is such a surreal experience – I wasn’t sick to start with and now I have to get sick to get better.  But I will get through this! 

PS - still working out how to post - get connected or my blog?  So have posted same comment in both.  What does everyone else do?

 

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  • amandal's avatar
    amandal
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Ann-Marie, just writing to let you know that I have just finished my chemo- 3X FEC and 3X Taxotere- and I survived to tell the tale! I actually found the Taxotere much better than the FEC. I hardly had any side effects at all- I was waiting for them, but save for some bone pain, I felt no different really (except a bit tired). Anyway, hope all goes well for you, and by the way, my hair started to grow back during the Taxotere too!

  • Di_BCNA's avatar
    Di_BCNA
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hey Ann-Marie, and welcome!   Good on you for taking the plunge and posting -- it's not as scary as it seems, is it?  ;)   To answer your question, either place is fine to post. Or both!

    You sound like you're working out the network just fine, but if you need a hand with anything, just ask.  Welcome, again!

    Di

  • Ann-Marie_AK's avatar
    Ann-Marie_AK
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Ladies

    Thanks for the warm welcome.  I'm glad I finally posted.

    Well it's 3:25 am and I am up again.  I don't think I have slept through the night since my diagnosis - except after surgery when the pain relief was flowing fast.

    I don't like laying awake in the middle of the night as too many thoughts go running wild through my head.  So now I get up have a cup of herbal tea and read until I get sleepy again.  

    Thanks again for the warm welcome

    Keep smiling

    Ann-Marie x

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi there Ann-Marie, I'm so pleased you joined us and thank you for sharing your story.

    We are like a very large extended family, sharing stories and experiences, helping out, offering advice and generally sticking our noses into every one elses business (in a very nice way of course).  You can come on here at any time, day or night, for what ever reason, or even for no other reason than you want to chat, vent, laugh, cry or chuck a good old-fashioned tanty!!!

    Because there are so many of us here you will always find someone who has been where you are now so don't be shy about asking questions, and in time you will find yourself in a position where you will be the "helper" - for want of another word!!

    I love your positive attitude ..... yes you have to feel worse before you feel better (how illogical is that?) ... make sure you take care of yourself - YOU are your number one priority.!!!

    Cheers .... Shirl xx

  • ShirlO's avatar
    ShirlO
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi there Ann-Marie, I'm so pleased you joined us and thank you for sharing your story.

    We are like a very large extended family, sharing stories and experiences, helping out, offering advice and generally sticking our noses into every one elses business (in a very nice way of course).  You can come on here at any time, day or night, for what ever reason, or even for no other reason than you want to chat, vent, laugh, cry or chuck a good old-fashioned tanty!!!

    Because there are so many of us here you will always find someone who has been where you are now so don't be shy about asking questions, and in time you will find yourself in a position where you will be the "helper" - for want of another word!!

    I love your positive attitude ..... yes you have to feel worse before you feel better (how illogical is that?) ... make sure you take care of yourself - YOU are your number one priority.!!!

    Cheers .... Shirl xx

  • Christine_Denni's avatar
    Christine_Denni
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Ann-Marie,

    Your wig looks great. You have had a fun time with all the surgerys. I had a mastectomy straight up and 17 nodes removed. I had my surgery 6 months ago on 29th Oct 2010. I refused a lumpectomy and I'm glad I did as they found more cancer in the breast that didnt show up on any tests. I just finished the same chemo treatment as you. Day 4 - 10 after each FEC I was sick, no taste, gastric, no energy. My hair fell out after my second lot of FEC. Taxotere  was horrible but I dont want to scare you. With each lot i got worse. I had my last lot 15th april and I'm still trying to find some energy. I have no feeling in my feet or fingers still. If I had to have any more i would have refused. I still have 1 year of Herceptin IV every three weeks to go and tamoxifen for 5 years to go. Everyone handles the treatment differently. So what happened to me doesnt mean it will happen to you.

    Take care and keep blogging

    Chrissy D :) xoxox

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Ann-Marie,

    Welcome to this site and you look absolutely gorgeous in your new wig. You certainly got off to a rocky start with all that surgery,poor darl. Yes,I think chemo is the scariest part. I had to have the calm-you-down pills too because I was an anxious mess when I arrived at the unit. At first I coped with losing my hair but when I was still bald 3mths after chemo I became quite depressed-Tamoxifen probably added to it. I was getting hot flushes ++ and my wig drove me mad in the height of summer.I mostly wore caps and bandanas.It took 8mths to get short hair.It is now 1yr on for me since my mastectomy(second bout of bc)and I go for my mammo this Thursday. I hope all goes well with chemo for you- lots of nice ladies here to talk to.

                                     Tonya xx