Hi everyone
I was diagnosed with triple positive grade 3 IDC plus DCIS in March 2023. It is considered stage 2b.
I have been having neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemo therapy. 4 cycles of EC with G-CSF injections every three weeks and now I am having 12 weekly Paciltaxel with Phesgo every 3 weeks (18 cycles). I am in week 5 of the paciltaxel. I am exhausted!! It's the summer holidays and I have kids at home. I am not working as I was on a study break when I was diagnosed. Money is very tight. My husband is working all hours.
I want to just get on with things and have been pushing and pushing. My question is... what is best for your body during chemo getting ready for surgery? I feel so lazy and broken if I don't keep going, so I do the activities, swimming, park, baking, days out but then I can't even move from exhaustion. Am I pushing too much or should you push yourself to maintain a level of fitness and normality??
I have had severe side effects throughout. So this is by no means an easy ride.
Thanks for listening.
LKM
Hi LKM
Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. While it’s a good idea to get out and exercise every day to maintain a level of normality and fitness you do need to rest as well particularly as you’ve had bad side effects.
Wishing you the best of luck with the rest of your treatment.
Best wishes
Daisy53
Bless you,
I cant help but feel that the balance is ‘pushed’ in the wrong direction for you at the moment. Chemo is exhausting in itself and the effects are cumulative. You have nothing to prove here - of course it’s good to maintain a level of normality and activity but it’s ok and expected to step it down whilst the chemo does its job. I also had neo adjuvant therapy - similar programme to yours though slightly less sessions. I did pretty well overall with not too many side effects. I walked every day, but I listened to my body and rested when exhaustion came.
Now is the time to call on troops to help out with the kids and look after yourself. That’s the best thing you can do for your body to fight the cancer and for you to be mentally strong to complete your treatment. I found the last few weeks particularly tiring.
I think the notion of ‘pushing and pushing’ would be best reframed to ‘soothing and resting’. It’s one of those times in your life when you really have to put yourself first. Taking some time for yourself is not being lazy, it’s being sensible and considering the bigger picture. Being kind to yourself is never more important than it is now.
And you so deserve it 
️
Jan x
Permission absolutely 100% granted ️ x
