New here/introduction

Gabe N Abby Mom said:

Hello Julie,
I hope you'll
Hello Julie,

I hope you'll find this site as helpful as I have. It has kept me sane on my journey.

My advice is drink lots and lots and lots of water while on chemo and rads. I started hydrating 2 to 3 days before each chemo and kept at it for at least a week after each treatment. I liked icy cold smart water because of the electrolytes. When on rads, you'll want to hydrate every day to help your skin.

I would also suggest that if someone asks how they can help, give them a job that will help you (clean the bathrooms, mow the lawn, bring dinner, carpool my kids, etc.). Accepting help is good for you and for the giver...in many cases they truly want to help, but don't know what to do. For you, it allows you to save your energy for the other things you consider more important.

Please come back with any questions, and to let us know how you're doing.

Hugs,

Linda

jo jo said:

Hi Julie....5 kids, i kinda
Hi Julie....5 kids, i kinda know how that is cuz i have 4...they sure keep you on your toes...plus you inherit all their friends and before you know it you have a tribe or a full basketball team...hehe!
Well im sorry your here cuz of the whole stupid cancer thing but its nice to have you aboard...its a great sight. Unfortuantly i didnt find it till after chemo, but everyone has been awesome to me. It has to be tough going thru this with young kids but im thankful that my youngest was 18 at the time so they could help take care of me and they did...it was great! I was a very active person...i was always on the go doing everything and my job was very physical cuz i was a MA/CNA. Everyone has told you to listen to your body...well i usually did but there was a couple times my brain told me i could do something and my body freaked out and i paid for it cuz i over did it. Everyone is different in how they react to all our bodys go thru during this process. Some do pretty good and others dont...i was one of the other who didnt do so good especially with chemo...mine was a nightmare...me and chemo just couldnt get along and play nice...but guess who won that little battle...hehe! One thing that has got me thru all this is my faith and a good attitude with lots of humor!
Oh yah, I had IDC and IDIS, stage II, with lymphnode involvement, i had a lumpectomy and then a bilaterial mastectomy with reconstruction and chemo and hormone therapy but no radiation treatments.

BioAdoptMom said:

Welcome Julie to the club
Welcome Julie to the club that none of us wants to join, but we're glad you found us! This seems to be a great group of very warm, concerned survivors and I am so glad I found it too.

My stats are very similar to yours. I was diagnosed with the same thing in mid January and also had a lumpectomy and re-excision. I also start chemo in the next couple of weeks. What cocktail will you be having? Mine will be Taxotere and Cytoxan.

I have 3 children, 2 young adult sons and an 11 y/o daughter, all still at home. I teach Kindergarten and love to work out too. Wait, that would be a lie. I do NOT love to work out, but I do work out. There, that would be more accurate!

Nancy

jewels5 said:

My treatment plan
Vicki Sam, thank you also for your welcome message and for your advice. I realized afterwards I was vague in mentioning my treatment plan (actually had to look it up for the names again). The plan for me is for Taxotere+Adriamycin+Cytoxan for 18 weeks (once every 3 weeks) followed by radiation for 6 weeks, followed by Tamoxifin. I must admit the one area where I'm still slightly unsure of is the lumpectomy/mastectomy/reconstruction decision. I have opted for the re-excision as I was told by both my med/rad oncologists that my chances of recurrence were the same with both, and also that once the treatment was done I could always go back and say I wanted a mastectomy/reconstruction. Both told me it was a personal decision and the whole thought of doing a bilateral mastectomy almost scared me more in terms of risk at this point. But when I hear others have chosen that route it makes me wonder...

I hear you on the roller coaster. I am finally done with all the testing. There were a couple unusual things that came up in my case that gave another scare, but both turned out in my favor, thank goodness. I also had genetic testing done which thankfully turned out normal.

Thanks again. I feel a tremendous comfort hearing from all of you.

Julie

Double Whammy said:

Welcome Julie
My oncologist told me exercise was good during chemo and I walked every day up until the last cycle. She said walk - that it would help with joint pains, weakness and neuropathy. I didn't walk far and I didn't walk fast, but I did walk. I have no idea if it made me feel better or not as I had few side effects. I know it made me feel good that I could do it. A few times I thought about going to the gym, but I rationalized that I was putting my body through a lot and was doing enough to keep it healthy without hurting it. Only the last cycle was I too weak to walk, but it didn't last long.

Be sure and hydrate and take all anti nausea meds and steroids and other meds prescribed even if you don't think you'll need them, because if you don't, you'll soon find out why they're prescribed. Chemo has an end date, and you'll reach it.

Someone is here usually 24/7 and you'll very likely fine someone who has had the same or similar experience.

Suzanne