Starting TC 5-30-17

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Single-Mom-of-2
Single-Mom-of-2 Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi Everyone,

My name is Angel and I am a single mom of two beautiful girls. My oldest is 19 and my youngest is 12. I was diagnosed on March 9, 2017 and I had a lumpectomy with the removal of 2 lymph nodes. My tissue and lymph nodes were not infected. I have a diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ Stage 1A, Grade 3.

I am starting my first chemo on Tuesday May 30 and I will admit I am totally freaked out. I get sick from anesthesia, not very bad just vomited twice before leaving the surgery center the day of my surgery then I was fine. I am Estrogen and Progesterone positive and HER2 negative. My Onc still wants to do chemo my lymph nodes were negative too. 

I am having 4 cycles, every 21 days the chemotherapy regimen I will be getting is Docetaxel and Cyclophosphamide otherwise known as Taxotere and Cytoxan (TC). 

I have heard mixed things about these two regarding how you feel during chemo, and how sick you get after chemo. I don't mind the hair falling out, hair will grow back, I don't mind being tired, hey I love to sleep, but the nausea and vomiting I am not a fan of. Yes I know others aren't a big fan of it either, but I have heard that normally with these two especially the low dose (4 hours of chemo rather than 6 to 8 hours) you don't get that ill from it. 

Can anyone help to ease my mind and my fears? Please anyone. 

I have been depressed since about a week after my surgery and I have been on lexapro to help with it. I have also been getting into these crying stages where I just cry for no reason at all. I mean there was a cute baby on the diapers commercial last night and I cried about how cute the baby was, my girls looked at me like I needed to be locked up in a padded room.:)

Does anyone have any insight they can share with me.

 

Thank you. 

 

Angel

Comments

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #2
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    Angel

    I have a similar diagnosis except I was also Her2 positive, and if I decide on chemo, I will start June 9th. I don't have much to offer regarding the specific chemo you will have, but I have has chemo for another unrelated cancer 6 years ago and I am also a single Mom of one wonderful daughter and she is having a hard time with this. For me, the chemo that I had was not as bad as I imagined. I just want to wish you good luck with it .  Do as much as you can ahead of time to get household chores out of the way.  Drink lots of filtered clean water during the chemo. My doctor is recommending a different chemo for me because I am Her2 positive.  Hang in there And don't forget to breathe!  I think it is more than fine to let our daughters see our real feelings and it is just not natural to be cheerful about cancer.  I have learned to deal with cancer over time, but I don't believe it is ever good to fake our emotions. 

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #3
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    Angel

    Welcome to the group, a group all of us, like you, never wanted to join.  Here we are and forward we have to go.  I have been here almost a year.  I was reluctant to join.  I was mad and scared.  Some days I still am.  It comes with a roller coaster of emotions and it is ok to feel them.  However, don't let cancer rob you of the ability to love and laugh.  Laughter is good medicine and we all need that! 

    Everyone reacts differently to treatments.  Some may have simular experiences, but no one is alike.  These pink ladies are here to encourage, listen, and empathise with your situation.  I am grateful for them.  They have been there, done that, doing that and sometimes over again and I have learned alot from them.

    Please keep us informed about your condition.  I am a postive.  I had that chemo combo, followed by Herceptin and I have 3 more of those to go.  They have also overlapped the Amidex.  They increased my calcium intake and Vt. D.  Drink tons of water, eat healthy foods, follow your docs plan the best you can.  There are many many different topics dating way back and all are relavant.  It also has helped me see how far we have and have not come. 

    Hugs,

    Annie

  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 Member Posts: 242
    #4
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    Hi Angel!  How did your

    Hi Angel!  How did your treatment go yesterday.  This is my second bout with Breast Cancer.  The first one was 7 years ago and I had the same chemo cocktail as you.  I didn't get sick but I remembered being so tired for a day or two after chemo.  Like you, I love to sleep/relax and binge watch TV.  So that is exaxtly what I did.  Hope you are doing well.  It's ok to throw yourself a pity party ever now on then, but I agree with Apaugh LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL.  I'm sure your girls can keep a smile on your face.  I also have two girls.  

  • JuddTessa
    JuddTessa Member Posts: 4
    edited June 2017 #5
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    TC chemo

    I had TC - same regime as you last year. I worked through chemo - had chemo on Monday and felt fine until about Thursday or Friday. The last rounds (3RD AND 4th) of chemo I had the fatigue and was lounging around over the weekends. It is doable and over quite quickly. I did hate losing my hair though - it took 6-7 months before I didn't wear my wig. I also did a lot of exercise after chemo which was fine as I had the steroids before chemo and had energy. Good luck

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