Breast cancer diagnosis

I am thankful to learn that my COVID test came back negative so it looks like (they check my bloodwork which will be drawn on October 5th to see if I am ready) my treatment on the 6th will go on. Three more treatments to go....

Since learning that I don't have COVID, I continued to be very sick including constant fevers, coughing, runny nose, no appetite. I began feeling a little better yesterday, some foods even tasted good. However, because I dread/feel anxious about how chemo is going to make me feel on Tuesday, I complained about what I have been through which caused a lot of discontent. It never helps anything to complain. On Tuesday, I will do what the doctor says to do. Hopefully, I can stop complaining and just be grateful for whatever help I get whether I agree or not with the recommendations.

Complaining might not help, but it's certainly to be expected with what you're going through. My sister survived breast cancer, so I know how horrid chemo is, but if you have the treatment tomorrow, at least it's one more behind you
Keep us posted.

Thanks for all the hugs. My H and I have been trying to do our best but the stress of the chemo just was too much for us at midnight. We are back on an even keel now after letting off a little steam. He with some help from my daughter have been monitoring me all night long for a couple of weeks. Also, the Monday before chemo is a busy day since I will be out of it tomorrow. Trying to enjoy not feeling as sick instead of thinking about tommorrow.

I moved forward with the chemo this week and no fevers! Though I was so knocked out (I felt paralyzed in bed and was dizzy when I got out of bed) from Wednesday through Saturday that I am attending to a bed sore; however, I began feeling a lot better on Sunday which hopefully lasts a while. Only two more chemos to go.

I am gobsmacked! Omg, girl! What I would not give to be able to wrap my arms around you and find a way to comfort you. Have you had a good gut wrenching cry about all of this? As painful as that sounds, it does help.

On your venting, do you have someone you can vent to who will just listen and comfort you? Honeybunny!! You have the right to vent!! This is crushing stress!


I see you handling this amazingly well, but you still need to vent the unspoken feelings, if you want to. This is up to you, babes, I am not wanting to push you. I am hoping to encourage you. And I will respect your choices, always. You do what you think is best for you, babes.


Lot of warm hugs and kisses to you, Sweetpea! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

So glad you are posting again!

I don't remember crying once about this. I suppose I look at it as something that was meant to happen in order to refine me/teach me more life lessons. I like to do things for myself and need to be more consistent about asking for help when I need it. The one thing that has me trying to fight against the cancer is that my husband would not have me to look after him and I know I do make his life easier in many ways (and vice versa). He is doing everything he can to help me beat this thing. When I think of death, I think of heaven, but also know it would be painful for others if my cancer is not healed. My mind is in two different places as I deal with this....

I understand. And, thank you. It is really nice to be back and see old friends, like you, for example!

I think I understand too TunedOut, although sometimes it's when we get to a place of safety that we allow ourselves to cry and grieve.

You always have been a very brave woman in many different ways.

Thought I was due to give an update because I haven't in a while. I felt pretty good yesterday, and except for waking up so early this morning (hopefully, I can take a nap later), expect to feel good today. My last chemo was on October 20th and the further I get from that day, the better I feel. When the chemo is at it's worst, I have deep muscle aches in my thighs and shins plus is seems to activate muscle aches in all the places in my body that have prior injuries and I have a "hung over" (headache and dehydrated) feeling. During the days right after chemo, I get dizzy, very tired and sleep a lot but all that sleep is a blessing because I sleep through the worst part. I do have some nausea but that is also a blessing because I was 20 pounds overweight and now am only about 8 pounds overweight. I used to have borderline high blood pressure (they didn't treat it but were watching it because it was about 130/85) and now, either because of the chemo or the weight loss, it is plenty low. When I feel dizzy, right after chemo, it is usually lower than ideal but otherwise, when I check it, it is exactly where it should be. My last chemotherapy is on November 4th and I will also speak to a surgeon that day. They still need to schedule my surgery to remove all the cancer. My oncology doctor said they will know the most about my progress when they look inside at what is going on during surgery. I have a wait and see attitude about it.

I am lucky that I have a husband who treats me with love and caring when I am not feeling well. It is a blessing to know that your partner loves you and he has loved me for more than 33 years. Whatever happens, I have a blessed life and a lot of support. I am enjoying life one day at a time.

that's how it should be, tooned out

glad things are going well for you, and you have all that support

33 years is a long time. something to be proud of

Bless your heart, honey, I am grateful to hear that!! xoxoxoxox

Thinking of you. I am glad that you have people around you when you are feeling awful. Hang in there.

You have the most amazing, great attitude and I admire it. . Positive attitude and supportive people help with healing. May you fully heal in your health recovery.

I finished my last chemotherapy (hopefully forever but if my cancer comes back, chemo is to only approved, effective treatment for the type of breast cancer I have):
My oncologist originally told me, there is a 65 percent chance he can cure it (stage 3, triple negative) and I have seen and heard 60 percent chance in many places. My understanding is that how I responded to the chemotherapy will tell me much about what my real chances are. I am scheduled for a PET scan on November 17th. When I talked to the surgeon, we tentatively decided that I will have a full masectomy on one breast in 5-6 weeks. Hopefully the tumor is now a dead mass. The kind of cancer I have usually responds well to the first rounds of chemo; however, the surgeon also said if the chemo spread to other organs, there would be no reason for surgery, instead, it would make more sense to go back on chemotherapy. I looked at all my records, I have not been tested for the Androgen receptor (a new receptor being researched which will provide new cures for about 40 percent of people who have Triple Negative Breast cancer--in the future, some will have an even worse diagnosis than Triple Negative Breast Cancer--Quadruple Negative Breast Cancer). Hopefully, the PET scan will show all the cancer was destroyed.

@TunedOut I am so pleased you got the last chemo done and hope that you will have a good outcome from your next appointment. ♥️

You are being proactive, researching ways and being your own advocate, and that is so good! So glad to hear you are doing well!

When the surgeon's office called me yesterday afternoon to schedule my surgery; they also called my oncologist which resulted in a surgery date of November 24th. I must admit to feeling a bit nervous with the event scheduled for less than 3 weeks from now.

[QUOTE=TunedOut;6967185]When the surgeon's office called me yesterday afternoon to schedule my surgery; they also called my oncologist which resulted in a surgery date of November 24th. I must admit to feeling a bit nervous with the event scheduled for less than 3 weeks from now.

Anesthesia is a wonderful thing when they administer it. You feel worried now but not once you are medicated just before the surgery. It’s also good news that you are improving and they are able to operate. Optimistic outcome.

I’m up too at 3 am.

[QUOTE=TishaBuv;6967186]I think I am translating my worry more into thinking of things I want to get done before the surgery. I am not scared of the surgery but am just hoping the outcome goes well. They said there are more risks of swelling/nerve damage associated with removing my lymph nodes than the breast surgery. I had nerve damage in my right hand/arm (pinched nerve?) from my 2015 operation but it finally healed (it took more than a year). This surgery will affect my left arm (which is better because nerve damage flairs up when you use it) and I am right handed.

Three AM is my normal wake up time. It has been that way for decades. I always looked at getting up early as time for myself to think, plan and do what I want.