Chemo + Radiation

jeanie1971
jeanie1971 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone, I have breast cancer, already have had enough cutting and poking on and I HATE needles.......I have just had my first chemo treatment, I have to have 8 and then radiation, it is so frustrating what you have to go thru...I know it will get better, it just is depressing and frustrating. I received a port with my first chemo treatment.......then radiation, I hope everyone is keeping their head held high.

Comments

  • lindatn
    lindatn Member Posts: 229
    #2
    Hi Jeanie, Nothing I can say that will change what you are going through, all of us here but Michael have had bc, we love Michael, he has only had leukemia and has been very tough. My point is we all go through hell with this cancer, we all support each other. Three years ago I had my last chemo, then on to surgery and radiation. The road looked very long when I was where you are today. It does end and for awhile you are very afraid it will come back, every check up is major stress time. I have my check up Sept 20th and am beginning to stress already. Of course most of the time it is no longer a dark cloud hanging over my head so trust me it will get better and then sun will shine most of the time. Some say cancer made them a better person, I will never say that but I do realize there is strenght in most of us to call upon. If you feel you are depressed try a antideppresion drug. Husband followed me with prostate cancer and he needed Effexor to keep it together. By the time he was dx with cancer it had become a way of life at this house. I can handle the needles but boy those bone and CT scans send me over the edge so we each deal with the treatment the best we can. Can't sleep ask for some xanax, it will make you sleep but beware it is hard as heck to get off of. I wasn't sure which would go first the tamoxifen or xanax. Still on the tamoxifen but off the xanax. Are you going to be taking tamoxifen or one of the cousin drugs? Hang in there if nothing else this letter has run on long enough you have something you would rather think of. God Bless Linda
  • DiO
    DiO Member Posts: 51
    #3
    I know exactly how you feel! I was there a year and a half ago. It was a very difficult time to get through, but get through it I did, and you will too!! I saw it as putting my life on hold for 6-8 months. I finished treatment 7/1/04, and my daughter got married 9/25/04. My goal through all of treatment was to be back to normal by the wedding, and I was (except for REALLY short hair!!) The good news is that except for a little hand pain from the Arimidex I'm back to my old self again, although I still tend to plan my life in 4 month segments between onc check-ups. I make plans thinking I know nothing will interfere as long as the date is before my next check up! I'm sure the fear and paranoia will continue to get less as time goes on, but will probably never completely go away.

    As you progress through your treatment with all the bumps along the way, just remember we've all been there and made it through, so keep plugging.

    Good luck and God bless, Di
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #4
    Hi Jeanie,
    I think you have a good attitude about it. Make sure you tell your doctors when you are sick or in pain. They can give you some medicines that will help with the side effects. Also, if you are having radiation on your breasts, ask your doctor if you can apply aloe lotion or aloe gel to that area. When I had radiation to my head and neck, I used aloe and it helped with the burning. I wish you much luck! God bless.
    -Michael (leukemia survivor)
  • Wendy59105
    Wendy59105 Member Posts: 17
    #5
    lindatn said:

    Hi Jeanie, Nothing I can say that will change what you are going through, all of us here but Michael have had bc, we love Michael, he has only had leukemia and has been very tough. My point is we all go through hell with this cancer, we all support each other. Three years ago I had my last chemo, then on to surgery and radiation. The road looked very long when I was where you are today. It does end and for awhile you are very afraid it will come back, every check up is major stress time. I have my check up Sept 20th and am beginning to stress already. Of course most of the time it is no longer a dark cloud hanging over my head so trust me it will get better and then sun will shine most of the time. Some say cancer made them a better person, I will never say that but I do realize there is strenght in most of us to call upon. If you feel you are depressed try a antideppresion drug. Husband followed me with prostate cancer and he needed Effexor to keep it together. By the time he was dx with cancer it had become a way of life at this house. I can handle the needles but boy those bone and CT scans send me over the edge so we each deal with the treatment the best we can. Can't sleep ask for some xanax, it will make you sleep but beware it is hard as heck to get off of. I wasn't sure which would go first the tamoxifen or xanax. Still on the tamoxifen but off the xanax. Are you going to be taking tamoxifen or one of the cousin drugs? Hang in there if nothing else this letter has run on long enough you have something you would rather think of. God Bless Linda

    Hi Linda, alot of what you said makes sense. I have just been diagnosed and yes, I do feel the road ahead is long. And I can imagine how stressful it must be at check-up time! It's hard to imagine how many of us are out here. It is life-altering..I don't think I will ever be the same.....

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