How long

Susie2010
Susie2010 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, I'm new here and hoping for some help. Diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in Feb, 2008, had double masectomy due to family history (found out later I had BRCA 1 gene) had chemo (AC+Taxol) from April through July 2008, reconstructive surgery in Dec. 2008. I am cancer free and thank God for that but I am still nowhere near normal. I have phyiscal discomfort from the mastectomy and reconstruction, nerve tingling, numb toes, can't sleep at night, still taking Ativan that I started with chemo. Dryness, ringing in ears and anxiety I'm tired all the time. Have been to so many doctors and gotten little or no help. I was told all the side effects of chemo and surgery would fade but they haven't. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Comments

  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #2
    Susie, welcome to this
    Susie, welcome to this amazing group of survivors. I am not experiencing the same side effects of treatment as you are but wanted to acknowledge you as a new member. There are many ladies and men on this site and hopefully one of them can offer some information to you. Take care and good luck.
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #3
    MyTurnNow said:

    Susie, welcome to this
    Susie, welcome to this amazing group of survivors. I am not experiencing the same side effects of treatment as you are but wanted to acknowledge you as a new member. There are many ladies and men on this site and hopefully one of them can offer some information to you. Take care and good luck.

    Susie
    Welcome to the site. I have experienced similar conditions (12 months since I finish radiation) and can understand your pain. I am very sorry to hear that you still not feeling well, My oncologist as your's have not helped me to combat fatigue and insomnia. I found relief in alternative medicine, including herbs, diet, acupuncture. Sometimes I still take sleeping pills. You can write me a personal message if you want to discuss more tips. The most important is that you are not alone and you are absolutely correct by reaching out and trying to have normal quality of life. I am leaving for lymphedema appointment and can write you more when I come back.
    Hugs,
    New Flower
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #4
    MyTurnNow said:

    Susie, welcome to this
    Susie, welcome to this amazing group of survivors. I am not experiencing the same side effects of treatment as you are but wanted to acknowledge you as a new member. There are many ladies and men on this site and hopefully one of them can offer some information to you. Take care and good luck.

    Welcome Susie. After rads
    Welcome Susie. After rads and even during, I was exhausted. It was about the 3rd week that I felt it. I tried to get as much sleep as possible. I still find that I wear out easily, so, I take naps if I can. My rads oncologist said it can take up to a year to be over the exhaustion of rads. Good luck!

    Debby
  • Minuz
    Minuz Member Posts: 25
    #5
    Welcome and don't feel
    Welcome and don't feel alone. I was diagnosed with hormone negative and the HER 2 equivocal so I was given Herceptin but since it was equivocal I am considered a possible triple negative. I had a mastectomy, chemo, radiation and a year of Herceptin. I too was left with a dry mouth and the ringing in my ears. They sent me an ear specialist that checked everything but it seems there is nothing that can be done. He did see damage there and said I could pursue it further if I wanted to check with another group at a medical university but at this point it just didn't seem as important as just staying alive. I had reconstruction 2 weeks ago and even that hasn't seemed to have come as easy as they made it out to be. I finished all of my treatments over a year ago and none of the symptoms have disappeared. I've found that Biotene rinse and toothpaste helps somewhat with the dry mouth and sucking on lozenges. As far as the ear ringing it is annoying as ?!?!?!? but I've gotten use to it and try to ignore it. Sleeping is another story, good days and bad days I seem to just go with the flow. As someone said to me on this board recently I'm happy to be alive so all these other things just need to take a backseat to you concentrating on being cancer free. I have to listen to my own advice and that of the great ladies that have given me encouragement. Good Luck you will find inner strength to get you through.
    Minuz

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