What to take to chemo and tips
Hey all you lovely people. I start chemo next friday. I am having ac and t. Then taxol and herceptin. I am looking for tips from everyone. What should I buy to make my life easier eg eye drops etc. And what do I take to chemo. Do i need to take a blanket? Just looking for some advice pl3ase and thank you. I read a thread and it freaked me out the amount of stuff i need just to make life normal. Like after chemo you should get a squirt bottle to spray yourself after you pee. Apparently ac and t burns. Your nose drips constantly. Your head is sensitive after your hair falls out etc. Thoughts please and thank you.
Tiredness. How hard should we push ourselves? What does "listen to your body" really mean?
I know I have a few things going on in my life. I am a mother of three who still live at home, I look after elderly infirm parents and my Dad has been in hospital; my heart levels aren't great thanks to targeted therapy; I am not sleeping well thanks to the hot flushes I got from chemo putting me into menopause; I have injured both my knees from pushing my mum in a wheelchair and am on pain meds; I have to have another day surgery to correct a flipped port; yesterday I had my 22nd radiation session with 8 more to go; and I still have to have another 12 rounds of Herceptin to go. I had none of this before BC. So yeah, I get it - that seems like a fair few things to keep me busy, much like other women on this forum, but no doubt people go through much worse. But despite knowing that this is a bit of a full plate I am struggling with how to feel about my tiredness. Everyone tells me being tired is normal when going through radiation, especially after you have had a rough time with chemo. I am also strangely teary, not sad or depressed at all, just teary - will cry at the drop of a hat at just about anything, at movies, tv commercials, my son's uni graduation, a soppy birthday card, baby chickens, a kitten in a tree - you name it, it will bring on the water works just for a minute or two then I am fine, I get over it and then am back to normal. My GP says that too is probably because I am tired. I am also working not quite full time but 6 hours a day. I love work. I love the people and the problem solving and being productive. I feel so rotten in the mornings and feel like I can stay in bed all day, it's a struggle to put one foot in front of the other, but then I just push through it and eventually get to work. By mid morning I come good, then I have radiation in the afternoon, visit my parents if I can, do shopping and cook/buy dinner. But it feels like such a roller coaster. And I feel like if I don't go to work I am giving in to the tiredness, that I am being defeated. Resting, as I do on the weekends, doesn't make me less tired, so what's the point in staying in bed and not going to work? I am definitely not the potter-around-the-house kind of person, so that option is out as well. It just makes me wonder, when we are going through breast cancer we are often told to listen to our bodies, but what does that really mean? I have said this to many women on here, but don't know what it means for me. I feel as if I listen to my body that I may never get out of bed again. Is it important to push through? How do we know when to push through or when to rest? Will I be this tired forever? Sorry for the rant, maybe it's just because I am tired. Nadine
Vent a little
Sorry all, but I need to get this off my chest. I've been trying to be so positive and everything with this, which I am but I've just hit a wall I think.. I'm 35 so it's been a bit of a mess around with my hormones and I feel I'm going crazy now lol.. First it was to increase them, then to decrease it to put me into menopause so the chemo doesn't ruin my ovaries.. I was dealing with everything really well where as now all I'm quite happy to do is quit my job where it's less pressure, yell, cry, throw things and then just sit in my corner and only be disturbed when I ask.. My work has been amazing and have offered me to take time off when needed, work from home, half days or whatever I need to do - which I would take but I still feel like I'm letting ppl down so continue on cause we have been busy.. This is my third chemo treatment, I am lucky and only have one more to go.. But do you get used to this or will it be a huge up and down for a while? I still have radiation to go as well aS herceptin until next year, but the hormone therapy for another 5? Years.. I don't mind some of the menopausal symptoms I must admit, it's just the crazy self I can't stand. ??
breast change after radiotherapy
Hi, I finished radio about 8 weeks ago and have recently noticed my boob is quite a bit bigger than my 'good' one. It seems like it has odema as I had that after my initial lymph surgery and its very similar now but is it normal for it to happen this long after I finished? I did have another armpit surgery 5 weeks ago and had a large ish seroma plus I have got fairly bad cording in my arm. I'm going in for herceptin on weds so will get the breast care nurse to look then plus I'm seeing my radiation oncologist ina couple of weeks but I'm starting to worry that something is wrong.... thanks for reading! Laura
I made it
Wow I'm finished chemo yay I start back in April with ac every 3 weeks 4 cycles then 12 weeks off pacataxol mapping next Tuesday at royal Brisbane for radiation then Wednesday my 5th dose of herception. Then 2 week break then radiotherapy starts 21st/10 I'm nearly there thanks to the ladies who gave me advice on side effects. Now the question how long after chemo does ure hair return? I have got some fluff on my head which is growing reasonably fast so I have hair growth. Thanks again till next blog
Taxol 10, Herceptin 3
Taxol 10, 2 more to go woo hoo! :) First time since starting chemo have not put on weight! Side effects are more or less the same. Quickest wait to see the Oncologist ever, spoke about Radiotherapy decided on Sunshine Hospital. There is light at the end of the tunnel and its getting really bright! Cheryle:)Breast Care Nurse
What does a breast care nurse do? My contact thus far has been one meeting on the day of diagnosis, one phone call approx two weeks later by me, one phone call by me last week and that's it. Is this normal? I'm going through chemo as a private patient and nearly all my contact is with the oncology nurses and oncologist. Who are fantastic. The pastoral care officer has spoken to me briefly two or three times at chemo. (I really don't feel comfortable or at ease talking to her). My plan if you can call it that was scribbled out by the oncologist: 4 AC, 12 Taxol, 17 Herceptin followed by Radiotherapy.
The End Is In Sight!
Hi Ladies, Haven't posted for a while but last Tuesday had the last of 5 weeks of Radiotherapy. Finished chemo at the end of November. Rather a lot of burns from the radiotherapy but just glad it is over and I don't have to trail to the hospital every day. Not feeling as tired as I have for the last 8 months or so. I will still have to continue with Herceptin until August but that is only every 3rd week and I reckon I can cope with that. When I finish that it will have been 15 months of treatment and a real slog as I'm sure most of you know. Chemo finished at the end of November and the question I wanted to ask was about taste. I have had real problems with my appetite and lost about 10-12 kgs but whilst I can now eat most things there is still that not quite right feeling. Takes a few mouthfuls before the tastebuds kick into gear. Is that normal 2 months after the last chemo? I talk to the ladies in the day ward and they are usually back to normal a few weeks after the last chemo. Has anyone else had this length of time lapse before normal operations as resumed:) I also still have numb toes and fingers. Feels like I have cotton wool stuffed in my shoes. JW
nearly at the end
I have 7 zaps to go - the boosts on the tumour site.Just as well - my nipple is really burnt and also the crease under my breast. Good they don't get any more.My radiotherapy cream from our local naturopathic chemist is excellent and has kept my skin moist and protected on the whole. The onc at the clinic is very pleased with the result to this point. It's going to be good not having to drive in every day for treatment - just once every 3 weeks for Herceptin till June. I seem to be on an up - the dark "what if" thoughts have vanished for the moment so I'm happy with that. Happy New Year to all my pink sisters. May it bring better health for you. magicmum