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MandaMoo's avatar
MandaMoo
Member
15 years ago

Treatment Plan

I'm now 9 days post my mastectomy and feeling better every day.  I have been very tired and lethargic but today was the first time I didn't feel the need to take anything for the pain during the day.  I even went with my Dad to go and pick two of the kids up from school.  I also visited Medicare!  I have a box full of invoices and receipts already - why does everyone do it differently?

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and had my drain removed - boy that was ouchie - seems it was next to my nerve so irritated it when removed.  I am still getting very weird sensations in my arm, shoulder blade, armpit area - a sort of hypersensitivity - I jump 10 feet high if lightly touched on my arm or back.  My surgeon spent more than an hour going through the pathology report and our next steps - looking at my prognosis based on treatment options etc...  So we came out with a plan and a referral to see the Oncologist.

(My pathology results were 2/14 positive nodes, 3 tumors within breast - largest 2.2cm. her2+ve, Hormone receptor -ve, grade3.  I also had a 9cm wide area of DCIS. All of the tissue has been removed clearly. So we did the right thing upfront with the mastectomy)

We met my oncologist on Thursday - she was lovely, informative and I felt comfortable with her.  I am going to commence chemotherapy on the 29th of March so long as my wounds are fully healed. (I see my surgeon again in a fortnight and also have some fluid injected into my expander at the same time). I am having three rounds of FEC 100, then move onto Taxotere with herceptin (we didn't receive much info about this yet as she didn't want to overload us) and then will continue the herceptin every three weeks for a 12month period.  

I will be an inpatient overnight with the first three chemo at least - my oncologist likes to give IV fluids to ensure that the drugs are well flushed.  I am happy with this and think it may be easier on the family.  We went through the possible side effects but won't know until I experience it what it is like for me.  I have friends who have continued to work through chemo so we'll just wait and see what happens.

On the home front things are OK - there is some sort of normality in the abnormality of the moment.  My 6yo is struggling the most.  She is usually my one that nothing bothers but she is teary and scared.  She apparently had a very fragile day at school and is just finding it all a bit hard.  Tonight the three kids all fought over who would sit next to me at dinner which ended up in dinner on the floor and broken plates and of course tears...  My husband is doing OK - I thought he was fine until we saw the oncologist and he broke down again - he is finding it very hard but being so very supportive and caring.  At least tonight he managed a night out at the football. My folks will head home interstate next week when I am up to driving again and then will come back when I start chemo.  I am OK with it all but starting to resent the lack of control I have over our life at the moment.  I do snap back into form though and say "just focus" on getting this thing beat and it will be better on the other side. 

Bed is calling again - I'm not sure about this lethargy - I'm usually such a nightowl.  I hope everyone has a lovely long weekend. 

 

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  • Loretta_d's avatar
    Loretta_d
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Amanda, Good to hear that you are feeling better & now have a treatment plan. I am on a similar plan, 3 x FEC followed by 3 x docetaxel but no herceptin. I start my chemo on the 17th March. So we will kinda be chemo buddies. I can so relate to your thoughts on all of this, I too hate the lack of control! It must be harder for you having young children, my 2 sons are in there 20's & only one still lives at home. He doesn't really say to much about it but that is just the way he is.

    Hope you continue to feel better & keep up that resting.

    Loretta xx

  • Loretta_d's avatar
    Loretta_d
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Amanda, Good to hear that you are feeling better & now have a treatment plan. I am on a similar plan, 3 x FEC followed by 3 x docetaxel but no herceptin. I start my chemo on the 17th March. So we will kinda be chemo buddies. I can so relate to your thoughts on all of this, I too hate the lack of control! It must be harder for you having young children, my 2 sons are in there 20's & only one still lives at home. He doesn't really say to much about it but that is just the way he is.

    Hope you continue to feel better & keep up that resting.

    Loretta xx

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Amanda,

    You've stepped into the cancer world which is like some weird parallel universe.So if you have early breast cancer(and nowhere else)then you are in the lucky group -luckier still if no node involvement.Nowhere in the real world would anyone link cancer and luck together.Right now you are in fighter mode and maybe putting on a brave front for kids and elderly parents so as not to alarm them too much.That's what I did anyway and my poor husband saw the scared me.At some point you will crack and have a meltdown and maybe when you least expect it.Mine came just after I signed the chemo consent form.I burst into tears and couldn't stop and told my husband to get me to the car quickly.It's a big load on your husband but  then we'd do the same for them.  Your strange surgery sensations will eventually settle but you will always be numb under the armpit. Your arm might ache from time to time but hopefully improve over time. I try to remember to do lymph massage each day-that helps.

    When my hair fell out I ordered good head stuff from www.headcover.org. I bought an expensive wig but hardly wore it cos it was hot and irritated my scalp.I also felt fake in it.I mostly wore caps and cotton bandanas.But you'll work it out as you go along.

                                               Tonya xx

                                            

  • TonyaM's avatar
    TonyaM
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Amanda,

    You've stepped into the cancer world which is like some weird parallel universe.So if you have early breast cancer(and nowhere else)then you are in the lucky group -luckier still if no node involvement.Nowhere in the real world would anyone link cancer and luck together.Right now you are in fighter mode and maybe putting on a brave front for kids and elderly parents so as not to alarm them too much.That's what I did anyway and my poor husband saw the scared me.At some point you will crack and have a meltdown and maybe when you least expect it.Mine came just after I signed the chemo consent form.I burst into tears and couldn't stop and told my husband to get me to the car quickly.It's a big load on your husband but  then we'd do the same for them.  Your strange surgery sensations will eventually settle but you will always be numb under the armpit. Your arm might ache from time to time but hopefully improve over time. I try to remember to do lymph massage each day-that helps.

    When my hair fell out I ordered good head stuff from www.headcover.org. I bought an expensive wig but hardly wore it cos it was hot and irritated my scalp.I also felt fake in it.I mostly wore caps and cotton bandanas.But you'll work it out as you go along.

                                               Tonya xx

                                            

  • MandaMoo's avatar
    MandaMoo
    Member
    15 years ago

    Thank you Di. I am feeling pretty good.  I am surprised a little but I don't think I've had a chance to feel upset or anxious.  I've had tears - particularly in the first week prior to the mastectomy and getting the biopsy results.  I did have a cry on the table while they prepped me in the theatre but I haven't since. I've had a few moments of looking where my breast used to be and feeling  "strange" almost out of body about this happening to me. I do wonder if I am headed for some sort of emotional realisation about all of this but for now I am going with feeling positive and making the most of the good news I get (isn't it funny how good news is relative - gee you've got cancer but hey - it's only in 2 nodes - not 14!; you've got cancer and we need to remove your breast but it's not in your bones, liver or lungs!) I have come some way in recent years - I used to often be negative but now (maybe it's having young kids) I always try to find an upside. And you are so right about 'time' needed to adjust. 

     

  • di-p52's avatar
    di-p52
    Member
    15 years ago

    Hi Mandamoo

    I must say you sound very chirpy - so that is a good thing!  Your results sound good too - so that is a big help.

    It is always tough on our family and loved ones, especially the littlies, who really cant comprehend what is going on.  I personally think it is harder for the carers than it is for us patients.  You must remember, that this has happened quickly (as it usually does) and everyone just needs time to adjust to the 'new life'. 

    Get used to the lethargy - in my own experience, it will be around for a long time.  Two years post surgery for me, and I still have nanny naps and weird sensations where you mentioned.  Do what your body tells you to do and you will cope quite well.  Enjoy your weekend.  Take care

    Di  :)