Hi..Looking back Chemo was difficult but not to bad for me... I had 3 x FEC every 21 days followed by 9 Taxol once weekly over 9 weeks. (4 months all up) I finished at the end of August. I then had 29 'fractions' of radiation starting towards the end of September finishing 6 Nov. I had my ovaries out (because of the hormones) and am now on Arimidex...and in Menopause (more yuk!!)
Everyone is different... and I won't kid you that it's easy...(for me the worst was and still is the fatigue) but if you follow doctors orders with regards to meds (and ask about additional supplements), drink lots of water (flush the shxxxx out quickly) and don't over do it. You get through it. Theres a blog somewhere on BCNA about what helped you through chemo..search for it as it has heaps of ideas... I can msg you about more about what helped me and what I'd do differently... it also depends on what Chemo the oncologist suggests. For me (and my other friends) FEC was the worst.. Taxol was a lot easier....
Not sure about increased risk of leukemia, I didn't ask many questions about side effects I just trusted the Onchologist.. if you cannot speak to an Onchologist tomorrow.. ring your GP... you would be surprised what they know and maybe they can book you in to someone for a second opinion.
Take care, keep in touch.....and don't worry about your prognosis compared to everyone else... we all have (or had) Breast Cancer, size, grade etc.. doesn't matter... whatever.. you have/had the Beast and that's what important.
Trina
