What has helped you through your journey?
I thought I would start a post to see what has helped people through their journey, so that maybe something might help others.
I will start with:
Ahh Bra Type tops - I found these great post op...
Forum Discussion
Great if all the posts help those starting the chemo train. Try not to get concerned when they give you the sheet of possible side effects. Al of us get some of them a few of us get ones not on the list but none of us get all of them. Stress is the biggest issue so do whatever it takes to reduce stress --- listen to your favourite music, try to relax and drink plenty of clear fluids before the chemo to make it easier for them to find a vein to get the stuff into you. Plenty more after to flush it out! the toilet is your friend as it means you are getting rid of the toxins and any residual cancer.
Just remember chemo attacks all fast growing cells hence hair loss, issues with sore mouth and gums and anywhere mucos is. It makes us more vulnerable to infections we otherwise might not catch so people with colds and infections should be avoided - you don't want to get pneumonia!
Think of it this way - some people do not require chemo at all but then others had 8 followed by another year of Herceptin infusions like me. Most then are symptom free for years even decades while some have recurrences or new primaries. There always is someone better off than you and plenty who are worse off.
Keep in touch with your humourous friends & family and make excuses to avoid those who always are sick, negative and complaining for your own sanity - your battle is hard enough without the naysayers and people who know of someone far worse than you who .........
I liked to think of myself as being pushed along by the medical train steamrollering me and my body into submission to remove that dratted cancer and any cells which had travelled. It was better than trying vainly to be in control of everything when clearly I was not.
Hope this helps,
remember you are on the way up now you have had diagnosis, srugery and are starting chemo. 2013 had got to be better healthwise for most of us
Carol
the fluffy grandma who is enjoying her Japanese spitz dogs and their 6 puppies born the week before Christmas