Forum Discussion
magicmum
14 years agoMember
Who me ?
"Come back for another scan, there's a grey area"
That was just over 4 weeks ago, and I thought "who, me ?" I was so sure it was just a bruise from when I had fallen some weeks before, and then they started scanning in a different spot . . .
*It's very small" "we've caught it early " "you'll be fine"
There's a little part of my head that just won't let me believe those things right now.
I have a wonderful surgeon who has done the wide excision and the sentinel node biopsy (results next Tuesday) and a fabulous support network including my family, my collegues at work and my old Nursing Mothers group - we've been friends forever, nearly 30 years, and their love is astounding.
I am talking positively to myself every day, filling myself with good thoughts, moving forward. Everything so far has been very smooth, and fast. But that fear of the unknown is inescapable in the middle of the night - what if it is already somewhere else ? Is my slightly upset tummy just nerves, or something sinister ? How do I know that my aching legs are just menopausal ? How will I stop myself from bombarding my doctor wih requests for cancer scans on every part of my body ?
How do you cope with that ? Can anyone offer any thoughts ?
120 Replies
- magicmumMember
The call from the clinic came today to tell me my radiation starts next Monday. Means I will going through xmas but at leats it's starting and the next step on the recovery road begins. I also started Arimidex today. Had a bone density scan on Monday and it was excellent ! At least some piece of me is in good nick !
The effecets of chemo are gradually subsiding. I can taste again, that's a bonus in time for xmas. Tummy still hasn't settled back to normal but I guess that'll be slower. I'm feeling ok, ready for whatever radiation throws at me.
Watching every day to see if my hair is growing ! Haven't quite started to measure individual hairs but who knows :P
It's a bit of a bummer how your whole life revolves around doc's appts and tests and scans - takes over everything. Impossible to forget it even for a minute.
My husband lost a cousin the other night to an aggressive lung cancer. She only knew for about 2 months. He's quite subdued, I think he's more worried for me now than he was before.
I am NOT going to recur - I say that to myself as often as I can. It has to work doesn't it ?
Keep on keeping on girls
magicmum
- magicmumMember
Thanks Dan - yes that's what my friend who is 8 years out tells me.
I'm in the REALLY LOW phase after chemo right now, so tired I can barely stand and wanting to eat but feeling sick at the same time. I know I only have another week of horrible and then it's all up from there. I can do the Herceptin and the radiation, I'm sure.
We'll be coming out of Herceptin about the same time, all the very best of good wishes to you for a successful time and NO recurrence.
Life will never be the same again.
magicmum
- DansBoobsMemberI hear ya sister! I'm at the end of chemo but still have herceptin until July next year. It's an awful shadow that will now follow us but as my friend who is 10 years cancer free says the further away you get from treatment the easier it is. So I just hold on to that thought and do everything I can to make my body a hostile cancer environment. Big hugs Dan
- magicmumMember
Chemo #6 - last one - coming up on Tuesday. A few weeks wait and then chemo.
Why am I not happy, excited ? No idea. So tired, so lacking in any motivation, don't want to do anything at all. Getting back to the early fears and worries about "what if". I don't know how to handle this right now. Lost all my courage, positivity. Is that just exhaustion ? Will it come back ?
I don't want to do this anymore.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
Doc appt today - my gated heart scan was good ! That's a relief. Bloods not so much - liver and kidney results not the best but nothing to worry about yet she tells me. Also anaemic. Have been advised to take magnesium as that is also very low.
Nothing to be done for the watery eyes - use drops if they're irritated. *sigh*
Anaemia will be contributing to the tiredness, that's all I needed.
Oh well , after tomorrow I will have only 1 left of the full chemo. Then finish out the year with Herceptin. I hope to be able to have my radiation done before xmas. Timeframe is tight but I'd LOVE to start 2012 with all that behind me.
Better get to bed although not sleeping well at the moment. How is that fair when you are SO tired !!
my best wishes to everyone on this trip.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
Does anyone else suffer from really watery eyes ? It's been like this for a week ormore now, driving me crazy. Blurry and just weeping. I read somewhere that it's Herceptin that does it - which is crap cos I'm on that for a whole year !
Any suggestions would be a help.
Feeling low today as well, you know, one of those down days where your whole positive attitude just goes down the gurgler. I've tried thinking "up" but I can't. Done nothing, just sat around watching telly. Hope it goes tomorrow, I don'tike this at all.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
I've just had a turn at crap side effects after chemo no 4. My apologies to everyone who copes with this all the time, I've been spared before.
SOOOOO tired I could barely move, how is it possible when you tell your arm to lift that it doesn't ? Couldn't eat, drink, nauseous, heartburn. 4 days. Guessing this will be repeated after no 5 and no 6, yayy can hardly wait.
BUT I can't complain really as it's been so little. I can do it, I'll make it through.
I only have to read the blogs of others who are doing it way tougher than me. I salute you. I have NO idea where you get the strength.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
I can't shake the creepy thoughts today. My mind keeps on wondering how will I know if I have a brain tumour ? I'm doing so well it's silly really, except I know it's a possibility. Her2+ recurrence riskier and brain metastases are the ones to worry about cos Herceptin doesn't protect the brain.
Have to ask the doc next time, it's really doing my head in.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
I can't shake the creepy thoughts today. My mind keeps on wondering how will I know if I have a brain tumour ? I'm doing so well it's silly really, except I know it's a possibility. Her2+ recurrence riskier and brain metastases are the ones to worry about cos Herceptin doesn't protect the brain.
Have to ask the doc next time, it's really doing my head in.
magicmum
- magicmumMember
I have absolutely no energy today. Just keep on falling asleep. It's doing my head in. 3 days out of chemo ? Is that normal ? I don't remember it being this bad last cycle, does it cumulate ?
I shouldn't grumble, I'm doing OK. Bloods are good. Headaches have been reduced. I should be thrilled.
Trying to work tonight - prob a mistake but I need the income. Lucky I can just sit in my office and crash !
magicmum