Diagnosed May 16

shag · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

Hi all, I am new here and was just looking for people that know what I am going through.

I was diagnosed with originally with stage 2 breast cancer (triple negative) After more extensive testing they have bumped me to a stage 3. To think that 6 months ago I thought that the worst news would be them telling me I was diabetic or something. Anyway, I have a great team of doctors at Johns Hopkins and at Yale who are working together to get me through this.

I have agreed to do a clinical trial so that maybe someone far down this rocky road will be helped. The chemo is 14 weekly treatments, surgery, chemo for 21 biweekly treatments then 6 weeks of daily radiation. If there are no delays I should be done with all of it by 12/09. It seems like forever but it should boost my chances so I won't complain (I don't think I will anyway)

I start treatments either this friday or next and I am eager to get it started so it can end. I have been to several appts every week getting to know my team and them to know me and of course more tests but I feel like nothing is happening. I know that this is all important for my overall wellbeing...the tests, the meetings and all of it, I just feel like it has been 8 months and it has only been one. Did anyone else feel like that?

I am very hopeful as I know that my team specializes in this and my friends and family have been very good but I am scared as hell too! I just don't know exactly what to expect...side effects, reactions, costs, ongoing support, all of it.

Any replies would be great! My heart goes out to all of you who are on this board because you wouldn't be here if this wasn't something that has had an impact on your life personally.

Thanks for letting me vent
Shag

APRILANGEL · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:59 am Post subject: Re: Diagnosed May 16

Hi there SHAG. I have just finished my 33 radiation treatments for stage 2 b breast cancer. My journey started in Oct. 2007. I have a journal on carepages.com
It cost nothing to sign up and start your own page and there are many may people there that will support you. If you want to stop by there and check it out my care page name is maryannespage
I read here all the time but I was best suited to share my story on care pages. I turned out well for me as I got a lot of support there and have met a lot of nice folks.
I am not taking anything away from this site at all.
Don't get me wrong. I think people here will understand where I am coming from.
God bless you SHAG as you start all this treatment.
I hope you will come and read my care page. It has been a long journey for me. It has not ended I just got more bad news today. Now I have to have another biopsy on my left breast for calcifications noted on my mammogram I just had last week. They have been there for at least 3 years with no change. Maybe my Dr. just wants to be safe than sorry.
I pray that is all it is. I am scared as hell again. I would hate the think I would have to start al over again for the other breast now. DAMN !
Talk to you soon.
Hugs, MARY ANNE

[quote="shag"]Hi all, I am new here and was just looking for people that know what I am going through.

I was diagnosed with originally with stage 2 breast cancer (triple negative) After more extensive testing they have bumped me to a stage 3. To think that 6 months ago I thought that the worst news would be them telling me I was diabetic or something. Anyway, I have a great team of doctors at Johns Hopkins and at Yale who are working together to get me through this.

I have agreed to do a clinical trial so that maybe someone far down this rocky road will be helped. The chemo is 14 weekly treatments, surgery, chemo for 21 biweekly treatments then 6 weeks of daily radiation. If there are no delays I should be done with all of it by 12/09. It seems like forever but it should boost my chances so I won't complain (I don't think I will anyway)

I start treatments either this friday or next and I am eager to get it started so it can end. I have been to several appts every week getting to know my team and them to know me and of course more tests but I feel like nothing is happening. I know that this is all important for my overall wellbeing...the tests, the meetings and all of it, I just feel like it has been 8 months and it has only been one. Did anyone else feel like that?

I am very hopeful as I know that my team specializes in this and my friends and family have been very good but I am scared as hell too! I just don't know exactly what to expect...side effects, reactions, costs, ongoing support, all of it.

Any replies would be great! My heart goes out to all of you who are on this board because you wouldn't be here if this wasn't something that has had an impact on your life personally.

Thanks for letting me vent
Shag[/quote]

shag · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

Maryanne, I am so sorry to hear that you have to have another biopsy but I have to agree at this point that it is better to be safe than sorry...even though it is scary as hell.

I will pray for you!

I think the waiting is what is getting to me. Wait to find out if it's possitive. Wait to get tests done, wait to get results... Now I am waiting to get started on treatments which is leaving me feeling uneasy and anxious and out of control since it isn't up to me. This is probably why I don't sleep much anymore. I want to start so it can end, so I can feel like I am doing something about it.

I was complaning about not feeling like I was doing anything and my sister told me that getting everything in order was like a coach putting together his team. You can't win the superbowl if you just throw people on the team, you have to interview and test them to see if they are going to be able to take you all the way. When you finally get them all together they will kick ass! I thought that it was a good way to look at it, it really does make sense. So now my team is assembled and practice is starting.

I am so scared! I don't know what to expect and that freaks me out.

I will be thinking of you and hoping that all goes well. Please let me know.
Hugs to you!!!! Shag

shag · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 3

Hi, I finally started treatments today and it will just be the standard 8 rounds of chemo, surgery then radiation. I won't qualify for the clinical trial because it is a lilttle more advanced than they want for it. Oh well! At least now I feel like I am doing something about this.

I'm not feeling any side effects like nausea yet and I don't know when that is going to happen so I am just going to hope that it doesn't especially since they gave me a full arsenal of stuff to ward it off. I have become one of those people that picks up batches of perscriptions at a time...I hate taking pills too so this will be new to me also.

It was just over one month since I found out but it felt like it had been forever.

Stage IIIC Breast Cancer -
Diagnosed 5-16-08
Treatment date started TODAY 6-20-08!!!

APRILANGEL · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: finally started treatments

Hi Shag..I hope your treatments go well. Everyone is different. I do not know what regiment they are giving you but some are worse on your body than others.
Do you know what your staging criteria are ? ..OTHER THAN 3C.
If you stop by carepages.com you can read more about what all I went through during my treatments.
I hope you will. I hope you will start your own page there.
I would love to read your progress. I wish you the best as your journey begins. I went to my Oncologist today. He told me I should try not worry so much as he looked at my mamo and it was not at all like the one for my right breast last year before they started my treatments.
So, I am just waiting to have ti biopsied at the Breast surgeons next week or as soon as they get me in.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Sincerely, Mary Anne
HUGS Smile

[quote="shag"]Hi, I finally started treatments today and it will just be the standard 8 rounds of chemo, surgery then radiation. I won't qualify for the clinical trial because it is a lilttle more advanced than they want for it. Oh well! At least now I feel like I am doing something about this.

I'm not feeling any side effects like nausea yet and I don't know when that is going to happen so I am just going to hope that it doesn't especially since they gave me a full arsenal of stuff to ward it off. I have become one of those people that picks up batches of perscriptions at a time...I hate taking pills too so this will be new to me also.

It was just over one month since I found out but it felt like it had been forever.

Stage IIIC Breast Cancer -
Diagnosed 5-16-08
Treatment date started TODAY 6-20-08!!![/quote]

ksplat · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: finally started treatments

Hello Shag

Firstly, I am sorry to hear about your BC diagnosis. My prayers & thoughts are with you now & throughout your upcoming treatment, radiation & surgery.

I was relieved to read your update & that you had finally started your treatments. I hope the frustration & fear you were experiencing have decreased alot since the treatment started.

I am not familiar with BC, I have a Bro with a brain tumour, but I have taken chemo before. I know how vain we women can be (especially me LOL) & I was pretty devastated with the hair loss I suffered. I am now happy to tell you my hair is back to it's former glory (3 years later), in fact my hair is longer now than it has been for a good many years! I do know that chemo can take it's toll physically & emotionally. Please take good care of yourself.

Please keep us updated through this time, this is a great place to come & "offload" your worries, RANT & RAVE, whatever! We offer support & comfort & friendship, & we try & answer any questions you might have?

Thinking of you,
Cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
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