Just need a chit chat

You're doing great! If the lump has shrunk then the results of that first MRI is so encouraging, it makes it all seem worthwhile. I got some shrinkage with EC and then a lot more with docetaxel. By the time I had my final chemo and had the appointment with the surgeon, she could no longer feel the lump and I had to have a marker put in by ultrasound so they knew where it was for surgery.

A big advantage of having chemo first is knowing it is working.

Stick in there, assume you'll be half way through today?

One thing - I thought I'd feel happier at the half way point but I ended up thinking - oh, but I've still got another 3 to go! It is tough, but you will get through it and be out the other side, enjoying life again. The surgery and rads are a walk in the park compared to chemo, you're getting the hard bit done now.

Hello, thank you for your lovely positive message! I am just so scared that because its grade 3 it could turn into stage 4 and be spreading and they dont know about it! I am such a worry wort! 

My lumps do feel like a different shape to what they were so hopefully this is a good thing!

How are you doing have you finished your treatment etc now if you dont mind me asking?

Just hope it all works for me and I can hopefully be cured from this horrible thing!

Yes this is the third out of 6 and it does seem to be worse each time but it is going so fast! Juts hope my bloods or ok to have it, my body likes to test me haha!

I am doing really great thanks. I finished chemo in Jan, operation in Feb and rads in April. I still need to pace myself a bit energy-wise but I am back to doing everything that I love. They say it takes a good year or so to get over chemo so I remind myself of that when I'm feeling a bit worn out.

I definitely feel like I am cancer-free, I know some people don't even when they have finished treatment and prefer to think of themselves as in remission.

I was lucky, pathology results showed no lymph node involvement (they can tell if you ever had any, even if chemo killed the cancer there) and I was downgraded from grade 2 to grade 1 in terms of how aggressive it was. They also got everything with clear margins.

Chemo is really tough at times, but you will feel better again, I promise you.

Mine was hormone positive so I went through a sudden, medical menopause during chemo with zoladex injections and am on 5 years of hormone treatment. It is probably difficult to really separate out what is chemo recovery, menopause, hormone treatment or just recovering from the shock of having cancer!

But I really am doing great. I would say that recovery is not linear - either physically or mentally. You can find yourself a bit more tired out if you've over done it (I still find this) or you can find yourself a bit down and weepy all of a sudden. I find this comes in waves but I am mostly feeling great, mind and body.

Hi

I am empathise. Its the most awful time, and your mind just wanders and fear for the worse. OK...breathe...we panic, feel anxious, cannot sleep or eat properly...OK breathe. Looking at it practically is one of your coping mechanism...some cry non stop...some take the bull by the horn, some worry and feel scared all the time...all this are natural emotions...and makes us human and so we ride with that emotion, don't hold back how u feel or fight it, but ride it.

You will do what all u can to fight this....and live a good life. And breathe...so if you are like me thinking of the spread also, in fact all of us do...so, now your on treatment plan...think positive for a positive outcome. Trust the experts and medicine to do what it does to help you. And breathe!

I am sorry I cannot help much as I am at the start of the journey, but what u feel is so real and I can offer empathy and send you the strength for your next bout of treatment...I may have to come to you later on to find that when I have my wobbles. This is why this forum is really so goof for. 

And breathe!! 

Much love 

C x