Still raw,

Hello Lorraine,

   Please stay positive about the chemotherapy.I had virtually no side effects just tiredness a few days after,hair loss to be expected with my chemo.Don't forget it is killing the good,the bad and the ugly.Eat well,plenty of veg and fruit of all colours and remember good protein.Keep hydrated,especially at night.I exercised every day even if it was what I called a repair day,doing leg and arm exercises in bed.

     Unfortunately on these sites there are not the people shouting out the positive.

     Stay safe

         Yx

Hi , I also had a mastectomy without reconstruction (in January). My surgeon gave me the choice of radiotherapy after the mastectomy and the option of a reconstruction in a year (it sounds like you might want to ask to have a different surgeon btw!) OR a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and no radiotherapy.

Also, my experience of chemo was also fairly free of side effects. Not everyone suffers badly. I was a bit tired on the day I had it and had some hair loss. But life carried on as normal.

You will come out the other side of this. 

Stay strong. 

Thanks for that, I think I was just in a hole and writing it down helped. I am generally quite positive and determined to stay around but I've been surprised at the depth my mood slipped to. 

Chemotherapy still scares me...but so did childbirth - and I survived that

Hi Lorraine,

      I forgot to list my other positives

       Skin tags,I had a lot,turned dry and fell off.

       No excess facial hair,legs and under arms no shaving,silky smooth

       Nearly Hollywood,not quite

        Arthritic fingers all slim and fully flexing,not painful,amazing

        Liver spots on hands,faded or gone.

        Tinnitus goes at times but when back is now a nicer pitch

         No peripheral neuropathy,I used ice packs when having the Taxol part

        Wear sensible,comfortable shoes or slippers when having treatment,someone having treatment with me wore skin tight very high heel boots and complained each time about her painful feet.

       Active ovary that was feeding the tumour knocked out,hot flashes stopped.

        Tried tasting foods that I didn't like before as your taste buds change liked horseradish for the first time.

          Yx

   P.s I'm 63 and feel renewed.

Hi

I'm sorry you feel that " on these sites there are not the people shouting out the positive"

My experience is quite the opposite. You do see the dark side, but that is probably because people who breeze through this ordeal tend not to be the ones who ask for help. But help is there and positives are celebrated. 

Many people go through with apparently little issues, however the affects can come back and bite you on the bum when you are least expecting it.

One of the main positives of these sites is that you don't need to put a brave face on. Here you can actually say "I'm scared" or " I'm angry". There is no shame in saying I'm not coping, there is always someone who has been in your situation, when they say " I know how you feel" they actually do. Sometimes issues can bring on some very dark humour,but no one says you can't have a laugh or a dame good cry. Both things I find beneficial. The spell checker alone is good for a laugh.

A conversation on here helps me to rehears conversations I have to have with other people. 

Love to everyone, New and old.

P.S. today I'd rather be polishing a pilot.

I'm going, I'm going I hope the naughty chair is vacant.

Stay safe.

Hi  and 

The discussion "Uplifting BC Stories" can be found here if you want to have a browse and check it out - runs to around 4 pages 

My wife is now 8 years post diagnosis/treatment and we are luvvin' the new normal. It could have so easily have gone all wrong without the chemo etc

Hugs, G n' J

Hi Lorraine first when I was diagnosed 2 years ago with BC had chemo EC+Paclitaxel.When I was told chemo i started to.google it and it come up with 2 pages side effects.I was dreaming that my tongue will turn black,i will.loose all my teeth,i will "hug" the toilett nonstop beeing sick.None of this happened.The only side effects I had was hairloss and anxiety.But your hair will grow back soon as you finish.

Since August last year I am onnweekly Paclitaxel again and except nail discolouration  bit of skin rash,which dissapeared with a cream and anxiety I live.normal.Well sort of with the anxiety.Havent been sick once,didnt have diarrhoea or anything else.I am still on chemo and miracurously my.hair is growing back.

Like itnwas mentioned before drink at least 2 liter of water and eat lots of veg and fruits.I eat every day 1 bowl of mixed fruits everyday.After each meal i brush my teeth using soft toothbrush and rinse it it baby mouthwash also using paraben and perfume free shower gels because they put lots of chemicals in most of them.

Anyway wishing you good luck.take care

Janet

Thanks for taking the time to write back x