I am keen to keep a record of my experiences with chemo and treatment for breast cancer. So introductions...I was diagnosed mid-December last year after finding a lump in November. Couldn't believe it when the scans and biopsy showed it was cancer though I was suspicious when in my follow up appt from the biopsy I was called for ultrasound and mammagrams again...anyway since then I have had a mastectomy and axillary node clearance. Sentinal node biopsy came back with 2 of the 3 nodes showing pre-cancerous cells, so they took another 7 out in a second op, but all came back clear. I am now facing chemotherapy next week - four courses of epirubicin, and 4 courses (involving two visits each over two weeks) of CMF. I had an appointment with the radiotherapist today and 15 days of that will follow the chemo, then 5 years of Tamoxifen. Herceptin will slot in as well - they're giving me everything - the nurse did say I may feel over treated, but it's all for my benefit.
Emotionally this is obviously a difficult time and I have found the Breast care nurses a great help with this. I have their phone number to ring with any questions or concerns, and they have been present at most appointments to talk to afterwards and check my wound. I would like to do some sort of complementary therapy so am looking into this to help my chemo experience as well, and have had a first wig fitting and permanent prosthesis fitting.
That'll do for now. I will add things and feelings as they occur to me, but at the moment it's waiting for next Wed and the start of the treatment pathway!
