Starting Chemo not sure

I was just diagnoised with Stage 4 breast cancer (11/21/2008).  I am a 56 year old female, I did not have any symptoms of any type. I had my first mommograham in August of 08. I never felt a lump, so I did not see any use in having a mommograham. It has been a whirlwind sence 10/07/08 that is when I had my biopsy, and it seems that it has been down hill for me. I had to leave my job because I could not concentrate, or focus. I love my work.  Anyone that has been treated with DOXIL please e-mail me. I am not sure if I really want to use this chemical. I have read about all the side affects. Any information would be helpful. I have a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter and wonderful family like everyone else to live for.

Hi Debbie, I am so sorry about your breast cancer diagnosis. It blew me right out of the water too. I too, must face chemo and radiation. I had a node disection done on Tuesday for staging. The side effects of chemo are quite scary. But - not everyone gets side effects and many of them can be managed. Is there anything in particular that concerns you? If so, talk to your doctor and see if your doctor can link you up to other women who have been through it. If it wasn't manageable or effective treatment they would not be recommending it. Just think of the many many women out there who have beat it! We can too! Take good care of yourself, and let others do the same for you. Love and Blessings, Bonnie

Excellent advice, Bonnie.  Everyone does react differently, and it really helps to have a positive attitude and laugh a lot.  I hand out a "laugh of the day" award to whoever makes me laugh the hardest when I read my email.  Believe me, I do a lot of laughing. You sure can't just sit around crying all the time.  It's much more fun to laugh.

Claudia

Debbie and Claudia, The laughing is a good plan. I rent comedies. On your Christmas list should be things that are fun, funny and will make you laugh. Tell your friends to send you funny cards! Laughing actually has been proven to increase chemicals that help your immune system. Naturallly you feel sad, but limit the time you think about it. Treatment is temporary, (as my husband reminds me). "This is a temporary situation" - Crap to get through. You can do it. The best thing about the future is that it happens one day at a time. Keep us posted out here, ok Debbie? Thinking about you, Love and Blessings, Bonnie

Thanks Bonnie, what type chemo medication did you have? My doctor will be giving me Doxil, and my understanding is the side affects are blistering and peeling of the skin on the hands and feet. Also can cause heart promblems, so I am not sure if I want to use the Doxil.  When I had my lympectomy the doctor took 13 lymp nodes also all with cancer. I have been having physical therapy twice a week, Paige my therapist wraps my right arm and hand in bandages. I can wear them for about 6 hours not much longer because of the pain and nausa,  then I take them off. I can handle just about almost any pain, but being sick to my stomach and not enjoying my life with my husband and daughter. Thanks for listing. Debbie

Hi Debbie, I am so sorry you are going through this. Has your doctor tryed another medication for nausea? Zofran, Emend or Kytril? If one does not work, ask to try something else. Maybe Phenergan suppositiories - although they make you sleepy. Also pain medication. Sounds like you need it. I have not started the chemo yet. They just did my node disection on Tuesday and I don't know the results yet. They plan to use Adriamycin, (Doxorubicin) - I don't know if it is the same as yours, but it can cause enlargement of the heart, which they first get a baseline heart scan, and will monitor this during your therapy. Cytoxan will be given along with it, then Taxotere with steriods. 4 1/2 months they tell me. You sound as pertified as I am. I am trying not the think about it a lot. Are you sleeping? Get something so that you are sleeping. Do you have extended family and other support people? Call on them. Debbie, It is too overwhelming to think about it all at once. They may provide some diversion. I try to think that 1. The chemo will be given gradually 2. I will be monitored closely 3. I will have a headset with music and try visual imagey 4. I will deal with things one day at a time. 5. Not everyone gets all the side effects but medical-legally they must paint the picture. 6. Many many woman have gone through this and are survivers. I plan to ask my doctor about the statistics of how many women do get certain side effects. The actual numbers may be reassurring, I am hoping anyway. If anyone else out there has any other suggestions for us, please advise. Love and Blessings, Bonnie