Newbie

Hi

A warm welcome to the forum (although I totally appreciate you'd rather not be here)!

Yes, you're right at the start it is total information overload and at the same time we want to know it all.  I think the best way of dealing with your road ahead is to take each step at a time.  You know you are having chemo next Wednesday, so just ask other ladies on here (once you know what type of chemo drugs you are having) what to expect and worry about the next bit when they tell you it's happening. 

I'm sorry I can't help you on the chemo front as I didn't need it, but there will be plenty of ladies here who will have been through the 'Rocky Road' and can help you along it.

There is also a monthly chemo thread and you can join in the current one, but perhaps look back over the July (and earlier) threads to see if any advice in there is helpful to you.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Hello Woocutter

Welcome to the community that no one wants to join. I am a wee bit ahead of you on the Rocky Rd.

I had HER2+ lump and one node affected. I was dreading the chemo too. I had chemo up front before surgery and the good thing about that was that I could feel the B***** lump shrinking more and more as I went through each of the the chemo cycles. I had three different chemo drugs over 6 cycles at three weekly intervals plus targeted therapy drugs added in during the last three cycles. So although I would have preferred not to have needed it, the fact that I could feel it working gave me a great boost. On the days when I felt a bit yukky I used to say to myself, 'if it is doing this to me, just think what it is doing to the B****** cells', and it completely did for them! 

It is all an awful lot to come to terms with and waiting to get started treatment is pretty bad. However, I didn't find the chemo was as bad as thinking about it in advance. It is doable and your oncologist and specialist nurse and the wider team will do everything they can to control the side effects for you. They have lots of options to offer. I had my support meds tweaked after the first cycle. So it is important to keep a diary of your SE and on which days and to share this with the team. What they know about, they can usually help alleviate.

There are lots of fellow travellers down this old road and they will be along to help you with advice, hints and tips to get you through to the other end.

Wishing you all the best and don't be afraid to ask anything you want to know.

Wallydug

Hi Woodcutter, sorry you are having to go through chemo but it is not as bad as it's press, when you know which drugs you are getting you will also be told about the likely side effects, I lost my hair fairly quickly but 4 weeks later moved onto another drug and my hair started growing back, I had vomiting so I was given stronger anti sickness drugs the next time, and as Wallydug says my lump started sthrinking after the first treatment, loads of the lovely ladies here will give you advice and help and hold your hand as much as we can, thinking of you Love Ann

Same here!! My chemo is starting on Thursday.. very terrified. My picc line is fitting later today.. is that hurtful? Any help please x

Hi oleen

Welcome and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have to have chemo. While I won't say chemo is easy it's doable and you will get all the help you need from your medical team.

The picc line going in doesn't hurt at all. I had one inserted after my first chemo session last year and I didn't feel a thing.  

Wishing you the best of luck on Thursday and with your picc line fitting.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi Woodcutter

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with Breast cancer. Breast cancer is very treatable these days and your medical team will do everything in their power to make sure that you come through chemo.  I won't say it's easy but it is doable.

Wishing you all the best for the start of your chemo next Wednesday.

Best wishes

Daisy53