Please help me prepare for chemo

[mika2]

I don't know how I'm going to cope. I have a 4wo and a 24mo. I was diagnosed in late pregnancy. Had a mastectomy a couple of weeks ago. Just found out HER2 result yesterday which means I need chemo and going in on Monday to sign the consent forms.

I'm so worried about the side effects and the impact it's going to have on my DC. It's EC-T and will be 4 cycles every 3 wks followed by weekly cycles for 12 weeks plus radiotherapy.

It's stage 1/2 (seems to be some confusion among consultants) node negative, her2+, grade 2 (although maybe her2+ will change this)

I feel so unprepared and I'm sick with worry it will come back and I won't be here for my DC. I'm only 34 :(

[mika2]

Bump

[mrsrhodgilbert]

Hi mika, so sorry you have been diagnosed with this and at such a poignant time when you should be enjoying your babies. I was diagnosed last year and have been posting regularly on the tamoxigang thread, it's been going for a few years now. The women there are all ages including some with young children. It's a helpful place to ask questions and get advice and support. It's mostly women with breast cancer but there are a few other types too.

I didn't have chemo so can't help directly. Your stats don't sound terrible and it's great that your nodes were clear. Treatment is excellent these days and your chances of seeing your children grow up are very good, keep remembering that. Worrying about it coming back is never going to go away I'm afraid, it's only honest to say that, but this fear you're feeling does not last forever. There will come a time when your treatment is over when you will feel much more normal again will be able to enjoy life and the future.

There will be someone there who has a similar treatment plan to you, I just don't know who will be around today but come and say hello.

[tribpot]

Hopefully you haven't been googling but if you want to click on a link this takes you to the Cancer Research site for breast cancer - at stage 1 your five year survival rate is 99% and at stage 2 it's 90%.

Obviously this won't lead to you going 'oh well that's fine, nothing to worry about really' but I hope it's reassuring.

My step-mother is having breast cancer treatment at the moment but in another European country. She is having an experimental treatment which is very aggressive - it's wiping her out but she is determined to get through the cycles. My step-father was treated some years ago for a rare cancer on his heart and, although the chemo wasn't a lot of fun he really coped with it very well indeed.

You will get a better idea of how it's going to affect you once you start but I think you need to plan for as much support as you can muster with your children. I'm assuming everyone is rallying around you? You must accept all the help that's offered.

Wishing you all the best.

[tribpot]

Link to the latest Tamoxigang thread