First visit to oncologist
I had my first visit with my medical oncologist today, (thanks Mum for your moral support ...and morning tea... and lunch and letting me drive but use your fuel!) It was all very overwhelming with a lot of information being thrown at me about chemo drugs, side effects (yes I will lose my hair), more side effects (some of I will be lucky and get to take even more drugs to minimise), other potential side effects and further treatment down the track (one which I will get to take for 10 years! Oh joy!)
I was told that because of my age (44) and that even though I was very early BC, one of my 4 tumours was very agressive and with it having moved to the lymph nodes and become extracapsulated that 2 lots of chemo would be the recommended option! On the plus side path results from 2nd surgery are all clear which means that I may not have to have radiotherapy!
For those of you interested I get to start with a CT scan tomorrow, a bone scan on Thursday and actual chemo in about 2 weeks. My first cycle is a lovely combination of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide (AC). But wait, there’s more, my second round of chemo is Paclitaxel (Taxol) which I get to have one day every week for twelve weeks. So, basically 6 months of lovely intravenous treatment! I did use a few other words to describe my ‘treatment’, however thought it best that I keep with more appropriate language.
Post chemo it’s a case of watch this space for future updates on hormonal treatment and possibly more surgery!