starting chemo in January 2012

I am starting chemo on the 4th January. 2012. I had a WLE and margins were clear. Tumour size 3 cms. Lobular type of Breast Cancer. The Lymph nodes were OK. I had the ONCOTYPE DX Test and the score on the test was 25(16% chance of recurrence) so I am having chemo, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. The consultant says I will have Hair Loss. Tomorrow I have an echocardiograph. I am postmenopausal. I don't relish the idea of menopausal type problems,such as hot flushes, coming back.

Hi
I found out today that I will be starting chemo on 5 January. I was diagnosed in September had WLE and SNB in October, unfortunatley the margins weren't clear and a lymph node was affected so I had more of the breast tissue removed and all my lymph nodes removed on 22 November. Results came back clear so the next step is 6 x FEC chemo, followed by radiotherapy and then tamoxifen (I think I am spelling this all correctly!) I have been reading the December chemo thread and everyone is so supportive of each other. I think this site is amazing, a real support for everyone involved.
Anne I hope you get good results on Friday.
Thejourney I too have been prepared for hair loss, I haven't gone through the menopause yet so am dreading those side effects.
Happyhunter good luck for your surgery on 21 December, I hope it goes as well as my second op did.
Hugs to you all
Gillian xxxx

My chemo drugs are, Doxorubicin(Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide(Cytoxan),paclitaxel(Taxol). I have an appointment on Monday afternoon with a company which supplies wigs and head coverings for chemo patients. I want to get this sorted out before my hair starts to fall out. Thanks AnnieK68 for your good wishes to us January chemo people and to those who have commented regarding their Journey.

Hello everyone,

I have been diagnosed in early October, had a lumpectomy October 13th, biopsy of the lymphnodes were clear, thank God, but had to have a second surgery to remove more breast tissue as the margin was too thin. Have my oncologist appointment on the 4th of January - looks like I am going to have the full Monty, chemo, radiation and now that I read up on it, Herceptin, as the tumour was / is HER2 positive. Cr*pping myself over chemo, it's the not knowing what to expect thing. Feeling a little calmer now reading through the December chemo posts but still..
I live in Copenhagen; everyone was super nice and thankfully language is not an issue, everyone speaks English.
I've been stuffing my face like there is no tomorrow, thinking I must build myself up before chemo (managed it, I've put on 4 kgs and I wasn't underweight before either) but maybe it is time to stop. I thought the silver lining with chemo is going to be weight loss but I see this might not be the case.

Good luck to all of us - I am so glad I found this tread. I was ready to explode!

Julianna xxx

Hi Everyone
Hope you are all as well as can be expected and looking forward to Christmas.
Anne - great news about your results. I know exactly how you felt getting the news that no more lymph nodes were affected as my results were the same. I only had the 1 original affected one from the SNB. I hope you get your appointment with the ONC soon and then you will know when you are starting chemo. It is so much easier to plan your life when you know what direction you are going in.
Happyhunter - wishing you loads of luck for your next op on 21 December. It is awful sitting around waiting for it but if it is anything like my op you will do great.
Thejourney - it looks like you are first of the January girls to start chemo, I will be close on your heels on 5 Jan.
Julianna - welcome to our thread, it is a shame that any of us are here but hopefully we will all keep each other supported over our journies. What is the weather like in Copenhagen?
And me - well I am going to enjoy Christmas and New Year to the full this year building up my strength for starting chemo in January!
Hugs to you all
Gillian xxx

Hello all,

i've been given the date of 10th January 2012 to start my chemo. i'll be having TAC minus the C. 6 cycles, 3 weeks apart for 18 weeks. once that is all out of the way i will start 3 weeks of Rads.

not really looking forward to it but it has to be done. i'll do anything they tell me if it helps keep this horrible disease at bay.

i'm just so greatful i get to enjoy my bday (19th Dec, yesterday), xmas, my Mum's bday (30th Dec) and new year before i start my treatment

hope you are all well.

Lynzi xx

Hello.

Just jumping in to wish you all the best and to say that chemo is doable. I finished chemo (3XFEC and 3X Tax in August and have since had double mx and rads, which finished two weeks ago) It seems endless when you are at the beginning but you will get there and life will return to normal eventually. Look after yourself and accept any help that's offered.

Love to all ladies starting chemo in 2012.
Rach x

Hi
Had a phone call from ONC and have appointment Thursday so should have a plan. Had butterflies for an hour after the call (not with excitement either).
Also been and had my hair cut even shorter; I have gone from below shoulder to short bob and now it is cropped like Frankie from The Saturdays. Haven't had it this short for years but I'm hoping the hair loss will be less traumatic (have taken advice from the December girls).

Anne xx

Hi Lovely Ladies.

Just popped in from Dec thread to wish you all well on your journey. You will find a wealth of support, knowledge and advice on here - it really is a fab place, full of lovely ladies. Although none of us want to be here, you will draw a lot of strength from this elite club!

I am on 6 x FEC, due my second on Friday, and have been pretty lucky with se's. I know you will all be apprehensive, but as other ladies have said it is doable honest! I think the fear of the unknown is scarier than the actual reality.

Hi Anne, Glad you got your appointment through, will feel better once you have a game plan. I also had a "Frankie" cut, which I absolutely loved and wish I had it done ages ago! In fact I Loved it so much I got a similar wig!

Hope you all have a fab Christmas and a healthy New Year
xxx

hi ladies i'm new on here but felt less isolated reading your posts. I was diagnosed with bc on 3 nov have had two lumpectomies and all lymph nodes removed under right arm pit. Went for pre chemo talk today i start 12 jan on fec-t 3 wks apart for 18 wks then mastectomy and recon. My world seems to have been turned upside down yet am grateful i can enjoy xmas with hubby and kids aswell as my daughter's 1st birthday before chemo. I'm very scared had floods of tears today, opting for cold cap too praying my hair wont fall out everything is just so overwhelming.

Hello ladies,

just jumping in to say good luck for jan. You will all get through it. I had 4xFec, 4 tax and finished in oct. This was folowed by 15 rads. i like you thought I would not get through and I did. Still got a way to go but there is light at the end of the tunnel. look after yourselves and try to be positive. make sure you stay on here as there are amazing ladies with fantastic support and advice.

Hugs to you all
Maj xx

Hi everyone
Had my ONC appointment this afternoon and I start FEC-T on 19 january, so 3 cycles of FEC then 3 cycles of Taxotere. I have to have UUS abdomen next week as she thought she could feel 'something' when she examined me; possabiliy a fibroid.
I have also been asked if I want to take part in a trial which will be given along side Herceptin and is thought to be an extra bolster for HER+ cancers. It is caled Pertuzumab and I have a loads of information to wade through. It will mean that I am monitored more closely so feel a little tempted. Will start a thread to see if anyone else has been offered similar.

Have a merry Christmas Anne xx

Hi everyone
Just popped in to wish you all a Merry Christmas & a healthy/happy New Year.I expect your all busy today,I have a very excited 6yr old daughter & a 3yr old son who will be 4 tomorrow what a day that is going to be.
Hello Julie-I did considder trying the cold cap because i didn't like the thought of losing my hair,the chemo nurse told me that it did not work for everyone & added extra time before & after treatment so decided not to go for it & got myself a wig instead.
Tracey xx

Starting AC on the 3rd January - was supposed to be 13th December, however, my wound got infected and my implant had to be removed. My stitches come out at end of this week and having a portacath put in.
Is there anyone out there on AC - how are the side effects?
Wendy xx

hi everyone

Happy birthday Minty27.

It is my birthday tomorrow and my 25th wedding anniversery in the summer so I also riding the rollercoaster!

OH had a meltdown on Christmas night which wasn't helpfull (probably due to huge amounts of alcohol, he drank all my share as well as alcohol just doesn't hold the same appeal any more). He started full scale sobs and the whole guilt/blame thing started (why did you have to get this, why did it have to be the most agrressive type, why,why why) had to leave the room, told him I didn't need this especially at christmas. Needless to say he was tad sheepish in the morning but realised we hadn't actually disscuss anything properly. Time seemed to be filled with hospital appointments. We did talk things though and he just feels out of control and hates seeing me in pain/discomfort. Told him the surgery was probably the easy bit because you have an inkling what to expect and the chemo is an unknown enterty as each person reacts differently and I'm c***ing myself.
I have been following December girls as I did think I was going to one of them but had to have more surgery and they all seem to be doing really well with all their side effects well controlled (think OH thought I'd be spending most of the time with my head in a bowl!)

I have definatly picked up more information from here than from any where else; a leaflet cannot give you the support that first hand experience can.

Roll on to the next appointment, test and scan.
Anne xx