Forum Discussion

kez52's avatar
kez52
Member
12 years ago

Is there ever a light at the end of the tunnel????

I was diagnosed with grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma end of March this year. Since then I have had lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy and auxillary dissection. Have just completed 4 cycles of chemo (TC) and have really struggled with recovery. Seem to get every side effect going round. After surgery I ended up with seratoma, then cording, which is still an issue. Chemo left me with severe pain in all my joints and still have leg (bone) pain now. Nerve endings in my fingers and toes are dead! 4 days into radiation and I have ended up with lymphodema.

Really had to stay positive when everything seems so negative.

My one little joy came last Wednesday when my first grandchild was born. He is so incredibly beautiful and gives me the will to keep going with this horrible treament.

Sorry to sound so down, but today is one of those bad days!

biopsy
chemotherapy
lumpectomy

3 Replies

  • Deb_Monteau's avatar
    Deb_Monteau
    Member
    12 years ago

    I am two and a half years after diagnosis and I still have very slight nerve ending damage but I feel so much better than during and immediately after chemo.  I had 8 rounds, 4 of AC then another 4 of TH plus 12 months of Herceptin as well as radio.  I had the works, aching joints, cording, muscles that refused to work, I felt like a 90 year old lady at 48 I wa so stooped.  But it gets better.  I put on a few kilos after chemo cos everything tasted so good but have got back to the gym and look and feel so much better.  Its a bit like being pregnant, it takes 9 months to have a baby and about the same or more to get everything right again.  You just have to take things slowly.  We all think that we'll bounce back quickly and maybe there are some who do but I'll bet that most need time to feel right again.  I turn 50 in a month and before diagnosis I was not that thrilled but I have to say that today I am proud to be reaching the big five oh!  I still have a few challenges that I have been left with but corny but true is that each day is a bonus! And congratulations on your new arrival!!

  • NaturalBel's avatar
    NaturalBel
    Member
    12 years ago

    Congratulations first of all on your happy news!

    Feel free to say all you need to and get it out of your system.  I had my doctor saying to me "But you're different!"  throughout my chemo, when I had a severe scalp infection that no-one else ever got from shaving their head, a bought of tonsilitis from a guy fixing our tap at home, oral thrush  and the big one was indigestion from the Dex.  Some things I got away with, and breezed through, but Cording was a big one for me.  Its all random, the more Ive read !  

    I found that unless it meant being sent to hospital, I just weather each storm as it came, the more I read on here, the luckier I felt!  (smiling).  

    But I do understand how youre feeling. X Bel

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    12 years ago
    You poor luvlyIs this your first post Kez, if so welcome.I can relate very well to where you are coming from as your post is a reflection of what I went through.  All I can say to you is that it does get easier.  Do you have a good GP or oncologist to help you with pain management because if you are suffering pain then it is hard to cope with day to day stuff so they should be able to prescribe something to help.  I am taking Panadol Osteo (over the counter from Pharmacy) between 2 to 4 times a day and when pain is bad I will take something stronger.  I did suffer bad with nerve and bone pain throughout my chemo.  I was on pain patches at one stage.  Plus a lot of the side effects seemed to like me as well.I am not sure what you can do about nerve endings in fingers and toes but maybe one of the other girls have some advice on that one.It takes a while to bounce back from all you have been through but things will improve slowly.  If you can get your pain under control and slowly slowly return to some exercise that will help to make you feel better.I have had arm lymphodeama and now dealing with breast lymphodeama.  I am back to see my surgeon tomorrow as my GP said I have put up with this for long enough so she wants it sorted. Hopefully the surgeon will have a solution.  I see a physiotherapist regularly for lymphodeama massage plus I do at least 15mins twice a day (when I have the time) at home myself.  With my arm they bandaged it for a few weeks to help settle the fluid down etc.  This was done by the O.T. at the hospital where I had my surgery.  I have a compression sleeve which I only tend to wear now when I am flying.CONGRATULATIONS on the arrival of your precious grandchild.  I can tell you that I have 3 grandees now and they are my reason for living and for wanting to get fit and well so I can run with them and play with them.  It is one of the best medicines I can assure you.  Don't apologise for being down as that is okay and that is why you come on to this site and blog.  It does us sooooo much good to get it out there and it helps to realise that you aren't going through this alone and hey we understand what you are going through and where you are coming from.Wishing you some pain relief and that you can get your lymphodeama under control quickly.  Enjoy your new and very precious gift.Lots of love always, Mich xooxxo