I Finally started Chemo today, after so much.  I feel like I ran a marathon to get to today and while I don't want to do this, I know I need to and am satisfied that I finally began.

I don't have a signature..because there is no way I can fit it all in 200 characters, I tried.

I was diagnosed Feb. 27th after finding a lump in early January.  Had my first ever mammogram (35 is my docs recommended age and I was 35 and would have had one some time in the next month or so without finding the lump) and then a needle biopsy two days later.  So then was told TNBC, and tested and was positive for BRCA2.  Had a Bilateral Breast MRI (worst test ever) and another needle biopsy on my left, thankfully that was clear.  Skin-saving bilateral mastectomy on April 4th.  My tumor was 1.5mm and my sentinel lymph nodes were clear, Stage 1, grade 3.    Followed up with 6 more surgeries during a 10 day hospital stretch for complications including deep infection & wound vac's that would have been too painful to change awake, finally got to the point where they could change them in office...yeah right, I screamed loud enough for the women in OB to hear me, after that they used locals before trying to change them and then the vacs quit working and had to pack & unpack twice daily at home including tunneling for about a week.  Finally gave up and had the skin removed on June 2nd.  Was looking great for about two weeks until the seroma in my right side gushed out a hole in my incision...that turned into a 12+ week ordeal of leaking fluid.

Finally! Finally, it was all healed and I had my first cycle of Cytoxan & Taxotere this morning (Sept.30)....25+ weeks after my original surgery and 17 weeks after the final one.    Whew!  I am to do 4 cycles, the last should be on Dec. 2nd pending no problems.

WOW! Just want to say I am glad you have made it through your post-surgery ordeal and that you are on to chemo.

 

I hope that the chemo is tolerable for you and that you are able to get to December 2nd with no problems!!

 

You are obviously a strong woman to have been through all you have so far. You can do chemo no problem!

 

Laura

Mary

Sending you ++++ vibes for peace and healing and remember that there really is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel....you'll make it.

Please keep us updated, Rhi.

Hugs,

Kaye

 

OMG you've been through so much just to get to this point!  I'm hoping it will be smooth sailing from here on out - you certainly deserve a break!  Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Linda

 

WOW you've been through the ringer and back so sorry you have to deal with this.Hopefully chemo will be much easier for you and remmber dec-2nd is not to far away I know easier sad then done.Sending...positve vibes your way for an easy street for your chemo treatment and for a fast healing treatment for you through out this journey.

Please keep in touch...

Will be thinking of you...

Hug's

Denise 

Chemo was actually not too bad for me.  My last treatment was Dec 2, so I am 3 months out now.  I have hair growing back and am slowly getting my energy back.  I only felt bad for about a week after each treatment and really the 2nd and 3rd day were the only really bad ones.  I would lay in bed for those two days and then be able to get up and sit in a chair for the rest of the week.  I never got sick to my stomach, only felt a little queasy and didn't get that as long as I remembered to take the meds they gave me for it.  Had some dizziness, of course my hair fell out, I was tired and had a bad taste in my mouth for that first week and my mouth was sore inside, but I never got the open sores in it (my husband would go get me a cherry or raspberry freeze, which did two things...soothed my mouth and kind of masked the awful taste from the meds).  I would say the worst thing for me was that I got severe heartburn  to the point I had to sleep sitting up and even had a couple episodes of actually breathing the acid into my lungs!!!  Sadly I still have the bad heartburn... that stuff sure messes with your stomach.    I am still discovering some things happening even this far out, the last couple weeks my fingernails have loosened from their beds, so I have trimmed them real short and am being careful not to hit them on anything or use them to open stuff, mine never turned black like some of the other women's that I read about, so I am thankful for that.

I will say a prayer for you and be thinking about you!  I hope your chemo goes well and your in the clear!