Posted December 29, 2009 By Michelle
Hi
Just wondering if anybody else is finding the holidays tough this year. Feeling very emotional and discouraged. The dark thoughts are harder to keep at bay than usual. Trying so hard to stay focused and positive but, failing miserably.
Posted December 30, 2009 By bailey
Hi Michele:
sorry to hear you're having a hard time. do you have family support? I actually find it harder after Christmas is over because I enjoy it so much to see all my family come over at Christmas. My parents are both now passed away so I had all my sisters and brother and their kids over for christmas eve and christmas day. it was lots of fun. I still think about my health and how I hate the treatments especially not looking forward to my next chemo on Jan. 6th. try to stay as positive as you can
talk soon
Posted December 31, 2009 By Michelle
Hi Bailey,
Yes, I have alot of family support. My family- my parents and my sister were here for Christmas eve and day. It was really nice and my kids had a blast ! Boxing day on I have been more down and out. Maybe, it's the Christmas hang over.
My last treatment of taxotere on Dec. 18 was rough, much more than the last three rounds of FEC. I had a lot of pain (muscular and bone) three days after and it lasted almost three days. I am dreading the next treatment on Jan8th. I'm trying to not think about it. My husband and I went out for a nice dinner tonight, I am feeling much better.
Good luck with your treatment on Jan 6th, I'll be thinking of you. Thanks for replying to me- it's so comforting that I'm not alone going through this.
Posted December 31, 2009 By bailey
Hi Michele:
you mentioned you were also on FEC, how did you find the side effects from it. I'm in a study so I had chemo then bilateral mastectomy then more chemo. I'm now on FEC with Herceptin my last treatment for FEC Jan.6th. but continue with Herceptin for a year after that and radiation. my main side effects from FEC have been nausea for 2 days following treatment, then feel better. are you going to be put on tamoxifen??
I hope you're doing better and good luck with your treatment. It is nice to talk to someone going through this. I do feel down sometimes, but try to continue on. Be strong :)
Posted January 6, 2010 By Carolyn
Hello to you. I had a double mastectomy and have never regretted it. I am flat chested but at least I am symmetrical. Having only one mastectomy means you are committed to wearing a prosthetic. I am not sure yet if I will have any reconstruction as I had radiation done and I will only consider implants so may not be able to have them. I will not consider any of the other operations to create breasts as I feel I have been through enough without cutting up other parts of my body. I have prosthetics but opt to go flat chested most of the time. It bothered me at first but you know what, nobody even notices even though I was a C cup before. What I miss the most is my nipples. My chest just seems so barren without them. I did Taxol which is pretty much the same as the chemo you are doing and I had terrible pain with it but the amount of pain actually diminished with each infusion so take heart.
Posted January 7, 2010 By Michelle
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for sharing. Your story reassures me that I am making the right decision. I worry being without my nipples as well but, it seems worth it anyways. I feel strongly that I would have regrets if I only had the one removed. It's funny you mention implants because I really am not interested in the tram procedure, it seems like alot more pain and another complicated surgery. I will be having radiation following my surgery as well and my radio-oncologist seems to think that implants will not be an option for me. I hopefully will be consulting with a plastic surgeon before the mastectomy to discuss possible options. Having said that, I have a feeling that I might not want reconstruction once all this is done.
Thanks for the little tid bit about the taxol-I hope the pain is less with this next dose too.
Take care
