I thought i'd join the online community as i sleep very little.
I've had my 3rd diagnosis of breast cancer this year, previous times were 2011 and 2016. This time it was in my lymph nodes but i opted for a mastectomy too as i don't want to find myself in the same situation next year or the year after. I've not had to have chemotherapy in the previous two times but this time i did.
I decided i didn't want to watch my hair fall out as it was quite long and quite thick so before my first chemotherapy session i shave it to a grade 2, i was pleasantly surprised, i loved it and it was so easy to look after. A few weeks prior to shaving it i set up a just giving page, it raised £1300 for my local chemo unit (i love fundraising).
Started chemo and in the third week my hair started to get patchy but other than that i was fine, i couldn't go to work because i work in a supermarket, too many people too many things to catch, not to mention coronavirus doing it's stuff, so i got on with my garden, cooking, my home and making things. We live near the beach and collect driftwood and anything else i can be creative with so i got creative.
First 3 sessions of chemo went fine, i thought this is easy. Then i got an infection in a bothersome seroma i'd had left behind from surgery. Ended up in hospital for a week, another operation to open me up and clean it out. The hospital staff were amazing and i was poorly so i didn't mind being there. Straight back to chemo, my fourth session of six......i'd been warned the fourth one is the worst one and oh my word they were right. I can't sleep, i do about an hour at a time, my whole body aches and i feel like i've been hit by a truck. I'm still smiling, i only have two sessions left and the support i have had has been amazing.
The chemo unit seems to think i've had a tough journey but until now i thought i'd sailed through it. Almost there :-)
Hi and welcome to the Online Community, although I am always sorry to see folks finding us and so sorry to hear about your cancer journey but good news that you are almost there.
Talking with other people who are on the same type of journey helps a lot. The Community has various cancer specific support groups so can I direct you to our Breast cancer group as this is the place where you will connect with others walking the treatment journey both as patient or family.
Follow the link I've created above then choose ‘click to join' when the page opens.
You can then introduce yourself and post questions selecting '+New' or '+' (depending on your device) you can also join in with existing discussions by clicking on 'reply'.
The Macmillan Support Services provides lots of information. The service is open every day 8am to 8pm and it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 have a look by Clicking here for more information.
You can also email them, use the online chat and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two working days for replies from our expert team.
All the very best.
