New to group and waiting for chemo!

I  know exactly how you feel! you're ahead of me but I have my results of lumpectomy  and auxiliary clearance  tomorrow, fully expecting a similar treatment plan to yours.  Like you there isn't anything I haven't read  online and have been trying to educate myself in ,prep for results, type of chemo etc. 

as you know noone can say how side effects will impact as we are all different,  but I really think,that we just have  to say whatever is coming our way, will pass.,  hubby keeps telling me to stop over researching  it I can't help it!  once I get treatment plan I'll probably be worse......

personally I found the Lymph node clearence  quite painful to recover from, I'm 3 weeks post op. I had a 2 cm tumour right at edge at bottom of right breast so the two scars are close together.,...

I have already researched wigs and picked up lots of tips on here.

you will get a ton of support on here and all I can say is think of the thousands of ladies who have successfully got through this and they wouldn't be giving us treatment plans if it wasn't to sort this out ! 

I am on 6 months sick from work as I know I couldn't concentrate however that does free me up to over research.....did it take a while for you to get numbness and pain under control from op if you don't mind me asking x  

Thanks for replying hev999,

I am sorry you are in the same boat as me, your positivity is palpable, which is amazing. 

Good luck with your results. When I got my results they sent me for further scans. Try not to panic if they do the same for you. Easier said than done I know. Praying your news is good and reassuring. 

The armpit pain and recovery has been worse for me too. I still have numbness around my upper arm and my armpit is totally numb, the area to my outer breast is also numb which makes it feel strange when two areas you can't feel are touching but I've sort of now got used to it. I keep doing my exercises to stop the cording and have taken off my wedding ring incase my arm suddenly swells due to the lack of fluid drainage. When I walk when my hands hang down beside me low for long periods I have to do hold my left arm above my head to stop the tingling. I look a bit like a mad woman but it helps! 

I've already invested in a wig, I went with a friend I trust. I like to be in control but this situation is certainly not giving me much to control. I've also stopped eating dairy and I'm trying to exercise daily. After reading that oestrogen is in all dairy I decided to remove it from my diet until I have hormone treatment. My oncologist said there's no medical evidence that taking this out of my diet will help, for me having control does. Green Tea is now something I drink (notice I didn't say enjoy!).

The lady in the wig shop was lovely, unfortunately I am a large lady over 6ft and there was only one wig in the shop that fit my huge head! So I had to buy it. It's comfy and now it's ready for whenever I need it. The depth of my head is very deep! Another thing to worry about eh?  To top things off my head is a weird shape! 

Taking control of small steps/things helps me know that I won't let cancer make every choice for me. It steals enough from us.

Good luck today. xxx

I’ve just read both your posts and I finished chemo in September  so I completely get how you are feeling. It’s the most scariest time waiting for results then waiting for chemo to start- too much time to read all about it I think - no matter how many times the oncologist tells you not to!!  Once it actually starts  though it does  feel a relief.  It’s so true that everyone experiences things differently and hopefully you will sail through chemo.  If I can offer any advice/reassurance is take one day at a time- each day will be different and hopefully more days will be good. I had days where yes I was tired And not feeling myself but I also had days where I felt good and used to meet up with friends or even got to go on Day trips to places I wanted to see and eat out. Little tricky with Covid but still doable. Its just so daunting I think because it’s the unknown. Oncology team will be with you all the way so don’t be frightened to ask anything. Definitely find ways that makes you feel in control it definitely helps- I too have stopped dairy - who knows if it will help but for me it helps to feel I’m doing my bit and who knew there were so many herbal teas to try . Look at webpage  look good feel better as well- great charity with loads of advice on nails, hair and make up etc through chemo. Just keep thinking you can do this xx

you have described my numby feeling exactly the same. sounds like yr tumour was maybe similar place to mine. Two areas of numbness rubbing is very very weird. at least you have made me feel that it normal, thank you. don't forget you get a voucher to pay towards wigs. pls let me know how it all goes xxx

Great advice and thank you for encouragement and support. says me sitting here with a fan blowing my head off. thanks to hot  flushes 

Hi, I had a lumpectomy in August and had to wait 8 long weeks for chemo to start. I had 3 EC starting on October 1st and I'm now due to have my 5th (of 9)weekly  paclitaxel on Wednesday.

I think the important thing to remember is that you won't get ALL of the side effects that you read about and the side effects may slightly change for each cycle. I found EC quite tough, the first 5-6 days were hard, I slept a lot and felt pretty drained but by day 9-10 I was meeting friends for coffee, went out for lunch a few times and did bits of housework. 

I bought a note book and wrote down daily notes of side effects, drugs taken and how I was feeling. This then helped the following  cycle to refer back to. I found going for a walk helped my mood enormously, even if it was just a 15 minute walk round the block.

Also stock up on paracetamol, immodium, Movicol or senna tablets, buy a digital thermometer too. 

Once your chemo starts you will get into a rhythm and honestly, there are more good days than bad. I can't believe I only have 5 cycles left, it really has flown. Weekly paclitaxel is more manageable but I'm getting more and more tired. 

Good luck and gentle hugs x

you are an inspiration and I have read and digested all your comments and tips thank you so much! Will update tomorrow after scary results xx

Hope the fan is helping   I’m now tamoxifen and getting hot flushes at night - oh the joy !! Still I think this may start to calm down as my body gets used to it ! . Hope everything goes ok with your results tomorrow

big day is here. not slept well...fan is my new best friend....can't go anywhere without it by my side....can just imagine the surgeon explaining things to me and I will just have the BIGGEST flush ever and so the noisy battery run fan will come out and add to the conversation and I won't be able to hear him and  then that will bring on another one due to anxiety....oh what fun xx hope all on this thread s doing OK today!

Thanks’It is what it is’, my chemo starts next week and I can’t quite believe it still.  This was a great read and very helpful.  X