Forum Discussion
Here Goes
Hello. My name is Jenny and I live on the NSW/Vic Border. I have gone to post in here a couple of times but backed out. Denial maybe?
On Wednesday I was officially given the diagnosis of BC. I have had a large lump for around a year but I have 26JJ sized breasts and the lump is down along where the bra wire sits. I put it down to thickening because of the bra wire. I recently started Lite N Easy and after loosing around 10kg I noticed that the lump was much larger than I thought. It has its own postcode ;p Its 5cm x 3cm x 2cm.
So I did the mammo and ultrasound and knew when I called for results, that the urgency by my GP to get me in to see her, that something was very wrong. That day I had bloods, CT scan and was booked in for biopsy. All along I was doing as much research as possible. Armed with knowledge I have always found it easier to deal with things. Must be part of the anxiety I have day in and out.
I met my surgeon on Wednesday who gave me the diagnosis. I was alone at the appointment and was in shock, none the less. I guess I was hoping it was just a mass that they just wanted to remove for safety sake. I do remember asking him what type of Cancer and I vaguely remember him saying Metastatic and that its very common. I am booked in for a lumpectomy and node removal on the 22nd. (Tuesday Week). I am then too do 5 weeks radiation.
I've got all of that in my head and ready to deal with. But now I am reading all of the paraphernalia and Metastatic means I have it in other places in my body? Do they know where? Does this mean I will probably have to do chemo after radiation?
I know I am overthinking all of this and should take it one day at a time. I work 3 days a week and also on partial DSP. Being at work keeps my mind off things. I am planning on taking vacation leave for the rest of the week after my lumpectomy. I am so grateful that my oldest of 2 (daughter) is able to travel up from Melbourne to bring me home from the surgery and stay with me for a couple of days.
Another questions. I had been using implannon rod to control my periods, over the years. The last one was put in around 2011 and is still in my arm somewhere. As I have very thick arms I cant feel it and haven't bothered about it. I believe that it has run out of the hormones anyway after all of this time. Is this something I should tell my surgeon about?
I have so many questions. When will I start radiation? Will someone contact me or do I contact them?
I met my Breast Care Nurse but she was heading on vacation to France the next day. I have the number of another one and I will phone her and make contact with her this week.
It's like my whole life is about the Cancer now. I am being strong in front of everyone else but these times at home alone I am terrified.
Sorry if this is all over the shop but that is how my head works. I have been treated and continue to be treated for Depression an Anxiety for close to 20 years and have only recently found a good balance. The Lite N Easy journey was me actually caring about myself. Some days I shake so much it looks like I am having a min seizure.
Usually I am upbeat and cheeky and able to find the lighter sign of things. But tonight I am low.
Any insights would be wonderful.
365 Replies
- Loratadine @TabooGal Chemist warehouse has a generic brand, just ask them where it is. Don't get side tracked and buy a different chemical, even Claratyne has a couple of different formula. Some oncologists prescribe it for patients having taxol type chemo to help alleviate rashes, the bone pain I'm talking about comes with the Neulasta shot.
I don't know if they will give you that first round or wait to see how your white cell count goes. It's a question worth asking. If you know you will be having it, start the antihistamines the day before chemo and take one a day for a week.
Another thing with the Neulasta, some practices send you home with the syringe and tell you to self administer it 24 hours post treatment. If you don't want to jab yourself, tell them you will pop back into their shiny private facility the next day and have a nurse do it. Life is traumatic enough if you hate needles without having to give yourself one when there is another option - @"Kiwi Angel" I wonder if it's available another way
@SoldierCrab sounds like a good permanent toothpaste. I have been trying charcoal but it takes 10 minutes of rinsing to get rid of the black tongue! Very Gene Simmonds :p - I use coconut oil, bi carb soda equal quantities then add fresh mint leaves blend up put in tub. I use a small spatula to scoop out about 5c size piece brush teeth with......
- @TabooGal my dentist gave me this stuff to for dry mouth - this was raspberry flavoured and apparently u can only get it at the dentist
- @Zoffiel I asked her about bone pain and she said it shouldn't be a problem. I think I will get some just in case. I went to buy some the other day but couldn't find it. Is it over the counter these days? I wonder if I can add pineapple juice to coconut oil and have a pina colada mouth wash? :p
- I think it helped with my bone pain. Some people say it makes no difference. It costs $1 a day. Coconut oil is a bit the same, it's cheap(ish) and there is no evidence it does any harm. Can't stand the taste of it now, but it seemed to help at the time. Mxx
- @"Kiwi Angel" will stock up on Biotine. I reckon I have chemo brain already and I haven't even started. Maybe my brain is practicing? :p
@Zoffiel Bingo with Ms C. I was going to mention clarityne. Does that help with aches and pains? My step dad is stage 4 with no treatment happening. Whatever they are giving him is causing the mouth sores too. Did a google when I was visiting and saw the coconut oil suggestion as well as aloe vera gel or raw celery mulch (gag) - Never needed the mouthwash. I used coconut oil, some of which may have been infused with Aunty Margs herbal remedy, in the evening which seemed to stop my mouth drying out. It also, I think, helped with my bowels which remained fairly regular, but terribly painful, in the couple of days post treatment.
I don't know if BMO prescribe antihistamines along with Neulasta, they never used to. Neulasta boosts your white cell production and can feel like a total body toothache when it kicks in about day 4 after treatment. If Ms. C, whom i presume is your onc, pooh-pooh's the idea of claratyne ask her if she has any objection to you taking it anyway. - @TabooGal I have used biotene mouthwash and mouth spray during chemo. I now have an association with it though and as soon as I use the mouthwash I feel like throwing up. Chemo brain really is a thing - my boss jokes she has sympathetic chemo brain :D
@eastmum I will definitely sus out your thread. Onc only discussed AC but like anything, that can change anytime. I think I will do the same with my hair. Its thick and shoulder length now so will probably go for 2 inches or so all over and have a couple of nice beanies and have ordered chemo headware from ebay. There are lots of ideas on YouTube too I have discovered. Have they given you anything for your mouth? Onc told me they would give me some sort of mouthwash which I should use every day during treatment. I am going to have to warn work about Chemo Brain! And as I am "reception", would my being bald and wearing headwear scare clients? I know it can be confronting to people who have had no exposure/experience with someone who has been on chemo.
The Cancer Centre here also has a wig library too. I am also tempted to get a heap of those bright coloured cosplay wigs and have a bit of fun with them. The scarves and caps I have purchased are bright colours. If I am going to be bald I am going to do it in style!
