Starting chemo soon - and scared.

Hi, I think I just responded to your other post. It's a very scary time right now, and I found the number of appointments seemed overwhelming at times, but we all find a way through it.  For me, I absolutely needed a notebook to write everything down and remember what questions I wanted to ask. We all respond differently to treatment, but I was lucky and managed quite well through chemo. Sure I had tough days, but I worked throughout treatment and did a lot of walking, which helped a lot I believe.  Hope this helps

Hello again. As it happens, I have looked into Zoledronic Acid. Two things I found out while reading a research paper were that the chances of developing issues with the jaw were really low, even lower, in the research group, where it came to breast cancer. That research paper did not say why, only that this was their finding. Have you been told the names of the chemo drugs?

As for how does anyone cope, for me the thing that works is to find out all the facts from reliable sources, cross the information with any other available reliable source, then run it by my consultant. That normally takes care of the emotional and mental aspects for me. As for the physical, I suppose it depends on the home setting, who is around you who could help, what medications may be available to cope with difficult side effects, and so on.

Thank you GreyCats. The info about zolendronic acid has calmed that fear a bit. It sounded like a probability not a possibility when I was told. I do get uptight about the long term health implications of all these drugs. I am currently on zero medication and have previously been fit and well so it's all a bit worrying for me.  I don't think I do myself any favours by being a "need to know' person either. Thanks for your reply. Wishing you well with your journey also.

HelloLovinLIfe .....It is six years since I had chemo. I hope that helps a bit to reassure you that treatments today, however unpleasant, are often very successful.

During that time there have also been many improvements to treatment and reading on this site, I think the side effects are either less intrusive or if they do occur, there are individual variations which can help alleviate the symptoms for future cycles. Even in my time, severe reactions to the heart were very rare. I think I only know one person who had problems out of the many who post here. The secret is to make sure as soon as possible that you tell your nurse.? onco? gp? if you feel something isn't quite right for you. It doesn't matter if you get checked out and there's no problem.....better the reassurance than to be ill.

I suggest that you also tell your unit how worried you feel when you are next there. Talking through the things that concern you will ease some of the stress then have a look at the monthly chemo thread and share your thoughts  with others at a similar stage to yourself. 

I can't promise the treatment will be easy, although I suspect it may be easier than you are imagining but I can tell you it will finish and you should find yourself on the route to recovery. I know there are articles on Macmillan which list things to have to hand to make chemo more comfortable and this is probably worth reading too.

Take care and I hope all goes well.

Love Karen

This is something you and I have in common. Prior to cancer I had not seen my GP for well over a decade, could have been more. He'd been retired for two years before I found out. There was no medicine cabinet at home because no one needed any. I was able to avoid additional meds during my first chemo regime, but listened to the consultant when he asked me to take what he was prescribing when I went onto a different chemo regime. It was s judgment call. 

Thank you for the well wishing; same to you!