Back to Basics...

Forgive me but so many people have been asking about chemo, about when my children arrive and what they can do that I thought I would post here....

Facts.

I have a three centimetre large tumour in my left breast and swollen lymph nodes under my arm. The cancer is Grade III which means the cells are aggressive in terms of their reproduction and they are ER positive and HER2 negative. (They won't respond to Herceptin, the new wonder drug). Having said that, being HER2 negative is a good thing as these cancers tend to be less aggressive and being ER positive is good because it means that it will respond to hormone therapy and new drugs such as Tamoxifen....

I am somewhere between Stage II and Stage III which they won't be able to narrow down exactly until I have had surgery. The prognosis for Stage II patients is currently around 85% and the prognosis for Stage III patients is just over 50%. These percentages are for 5 year survival rates. Remember, though, before you panic (and yes, I am talking to myself,) this data is historical and includes ALL women with the disease of all ages.....

Treatment.
I am following a FEC regime of chemo. My second one is on Wednesday 19th October and I will expect to throw up most of the evening when I return. The following four days I will feel sick and eat very little... I will have 6 cycles of chemo and will be measure after four to see if it is working. If it isn't then I will have a different set of drugs. The reason that I am having it before surgery, is to make sure that we catch any sets of cancer cells floating around my body thinking of setting up home in a comfy lung or accomodating liver and to reduce the chance of mastectomy.

I will then have surgery and after that radiotherapy followed by hormone therapy to prevent recurrence.

Side Effects.
The most debilitating for me personally, are the tiredness which wears me out. The nausea and sickness irritate me and the ulcers in my mouth are a constant reminder.


Hair loss
As my regular readers know, I am slowly but surely losing my hair. Clumps, for the first time on my pillow this morning. I have been told by my doctor that I will DEFINITELY lose it despite it being so thick. I have a wig on order, hats galore and may just shave it and go commando... *grin* But I cannot shave it off until my children arrive back next Friday so they can see their mother fairly normal....

Children
My children don't know YET. I am planning on telling them next Saturday as I don't want to tell them the first evening they are back...

Current worries...
Picking up my children next Friday when I will be in constant sickness mode... I won't be able to drive as the motion makes me ill but how do I make everything look normal to them that evening?

Practical life for the first part of half term. I can't face food or smells after chemo and I will have three children to feed! If you are reading this and you can make an extra dish or two for me to put in the fridge or freezer then THANK YOU....

I have wonderful friends who are willing to take my children on for a day over half term and for that I thank you... I will be in touch with potential days...

I cannot thank you all enough. A difficult journey is only bearable with friends to hold your hand...

Minerva