Just Diagnosed Too

florence · February 2001

Hi, I am new to this group and just been dx 2 weeks ago. Waiting now to set up my chemo treatment, the waiting part is having its toll on me. This is very frightening. I have a Stage 3, Invasive Ductal Cancer, with many lymph nodes involved. I am very thankful for support groups like this.

nancys · February 2001

Good morning Florence, Enjoyed talking to you on the chat last night. When I first started all this, I set up a notebook binder for all my blood count reports and other information I wanted to keep. You will have your blood checked every week while on chemo and they will give you a copy of that count. It's good to have your copies to compare one week to another. I found with the A/C, my white blood count dropped a lot in 8/15 days, but this Taxol is not effecting my blood counts very much. I get it checked every Monday and yesterday I expected it to be low and it was strong and good. So I went shopping and out to lunch.. Welcome to the site, you will get much support from all of us here. Love to you, Nancy

britchick356 · February 2001

hello florence!
i,too found this network just after i was diagnosed. i was scared out of my mind. there's alot the medical profession doesn't tell you. i agree that the waiting was murder. i think that i went into a shock of sorts from diagnosis time til the surgery. this group is a godsend because they are so ready to help. they helped me thru some very rough spots. i'm doing my treatment backwards from the way most people do. surgery,radiation and then chemo. i'm about halfway thru radiation and will have 9 months of chemo. feel free to ask me anything. it's ok to use the email system to reach me. hugs,cj

judyd · February 2001

Hi Florence, The waiting part of all this certainly can take it's toll on you. Just try to stay busy, anything to keep your mind occupied. That helped me anyway. All the ladies here are great & the love & support they give you certainly will help you through this. Keep a positive attitude. I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers. I wish the best for you. Judy

webaur · February 2001

Hi, Florence!!

Welcome to the group. I have only been on with this group for a week, but feel so much love and support. Just let your feelings known and you will get much help.

I was diagnosed with Stage 3-A Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma with Squamous Metaplasia, 4 out lf 24 lymph nodes involved. I won't go into the whole story, but if you like you can go back to my first post (about 2/20) and read my "dissertation"!! We met with both the radiologist and med. oncologist 10 days after my surgery. At first, we thought we'd start radiation on 2/22, but the oncologist wanted to do a "sandwich" therapy--radiation sandwiched in between two courses of chemo.

Yes, waiting to get started on treatment is THE hardest thing. You feel like you aren't really doing anything to get rid of the beast and every day is a waste and one that any remaining cancer cells can start to grow. I started my chemo (4 doses of Adrimycin/Cytoxin) on 2/13. So far, except for the initial feeling of nausea, I only feel tired. Enough of me---have you decided on a treatment plan yet? Do you have a family? How are they? What type of support people do you have--church, family, friends? Don't hesitate to lean on anyone who offers you help. Remember, you are not alone!! We are all here for you. If there is anything I can do to lend support, please feel free to contact me through the e-mail on the site. Whatever support I can lend is yours.

I've rambled on long enough. Remember, you are in my thoughts and prayers through all of this. Take care!!

God bless.....Wendy

florence · February 2001

nancys said:
Good morning Florence, Enjoyed talking to you on the chat last night. When I first started all this, I set up a notebook binder for all my blood count reports and other information I wanted to keep. You will have your blood checked every week while on chemo and they will give you a copy of that count. It's good to have your copies to compare one week to another. I found with the A/C, my white blood count dropped a lot in 8/15 days, but this Taxol is not effecting my blood counts very much. I get it checked every Monday and yesterday I expected it to be low and it was strong and good. So I went shopping and out to lunch.. Welcome to the site, you will get much support from all of us here. Love to you, Nancy

Hi Nancy,

Thanks so much for your kind thoughts. Well Thursday is my first day of chemo. As much as I am anxious to start I am also afraid. I too have put together a notebook and take it with my for all my appointments. I would be lost without it. What did they do when your count dropped? Talk to you soon and thanks again.

florence · February 2001

britchick356 said:
hello florence!
i,too found this network just after i was diagnosed. i was scared out of my mind. there's alot the medical profession doesn't tell you. i agree that the waiting was murder. i think that i went into a shock of sorts from diagnosis time til the surgery. this group is a godsend because they are so ready to help. they helped me thru some very rough spots. i'm doing my treatment backwards from the way most people do. surgery,radiation and then chemo. i'm about halfway thru radiation and will have 9 months of chemo. feel free to ask me anything. it's ok to use the email system to reach me. hugs,cj

Hi CJ,

Thanks for responding. I too never realized how many people are here for you 24/7, I too hope that I can also help, that is also part of our healing I think. What Stage was your cancer?

florence · February 2001

judyd said:
Hi Florence, The waiting part of all this certainly can take it's toll on you. Just try to stay busy, anything to keep your mind occupied. That helped me anyway. All the ladies here are great & the love & support they give you certainly will help you through this. Keep a positive attitude. I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers. I wish the best for you. Judy

Hi Judy. Right now I find it difficult to focus on anything but this. Where are you at this point? I just found this site yesterday and the support I have received is incredible. Thank you so much. I wish you the best too.

florence · February 2001

webaur said:
Hi, Florence!!

Welcome to the group. I have only been on with this group for a week, but feel so much love and support. Just let your feelings known and you will get much help.

I was diagnosed with Stage 3-A Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma with Squamous Metaplasia, 4 out lf 24 lymph nodes involved. I won't go into the whole story, but if you like you can go back to my first post (about 2/20) and read my "dissertation"!! We met with both the radiologist and med. oncologist 10 days after my surgery. At first, we thought we'd start radiation on 2/22, but the oncologist wanted to do a "sandwich" therapy--radiation sandwiched in between two courses of chemo.

Yes, waiting to get started on treatment is THE hardest thing. You feel like you aren't really doing anything to get rid of the beast and every day is a waste and one that any remaining cancer cells can start to grow. I started my chemo (4 doses of Adrimycin/Cytoxin) on 2/13. So far, except for the initial feeling of nausea, I only feel tired. Enough of me---have you decided on a treatment plan yet? Do you have a family? How are they? What type of support people do you have--church, family, friends? Don't hesitate to lean on anyone who offers you help. Remember, you are not alone!! We are all here for you. If there is anything I can do to lend support, please feel free to contact me through the e-mail on the site. Whatever support I can lend is yours.

I've rambled on long enough. Remember, you are in my thoughts and prayers through all of this. Take care!!

God bless.....Wendy

Hi Wendy. So nice to hear from you, you sound like you have it all together. My treatments will start on Thursday, I will have 3 chemo treatments of A/C and then 3 Taxol, followed by radiation. I have 2 sons 18 and 23, they are trying to be strong for me but it breaks my heart to see them having to go through this. I have a wonderful family and some very good friends who support me, I am fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life. Where are you from, I live in New York. Thanks again for all your support.

webaur · February 2001

florence said:
Hi Wendy. So nice to hear from you, you sound like you have it all together. My treatments will start on Thursday, I will have 3 chemo treatments of A/C and then 3 Taxol, followed by radiation. I have 2 sons 18 and 23, they are trying to be strong for me but it breaks my heart to see them having to go through this. I have a wonderful family and some very good friends who support me, I am fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life. Where are you from, I live in New York. Thanks again for all your support.

Hi, Florence!! It is the wee hours of the morning in NY, but still a reasonable time here. Thanks for thinking I have it all together---I feel like I really don't most of the time. I live in the Upper Mojave Desert of California--where it is usually dry. We have had more rain in the last 4 days than we had all of last year, I think!!! Oh well, as the natives say, the spring flowers will be just beautiful.....but allergies will be horrible!! I am originally from Wyoming and moved here 16 years ago. Good luck with your chemo on Thursday....remember to be well hydrated before you go in and try to have something to eat. I didn't drink much or eat before I had my first one and left with a BIG headache!!! I won't make that mistake again. Anyway, just keep a positive attitude and let your sons love and support you. Must go, my baby is fussing and ready for bed. Take care and contact me anytime through the e-mail. You are in my prayers. Let me know how the chemo goes.
Blessings.....Wendy

Just Diagnosed Too

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