About her story
A small part of the chemo journey - shaving the hair on your head and dealing with baldness. What cancer takes away - and family gives back. Unconditionally
Abby Brown's Story
Related Questions
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Getting chemo first . Some people do surgery/radiation & then chemo &some do chemo b4 surgery. Is it better to get chemo first or surgery first? how is it decided?
Asked by anonymous
Stage 2B Patient- View all 6 answers
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anonymous
Survivor since 2007
None of it is is better. It is just was is decided is best in your individual case. Leah is right. When chemo is done first it is the attempt to get the tumor to shrink before surgery is done. It all depends on the stage, size and grade of your tumor. Whatever the oncologist and surgeon...
1 comment 2None of it is is better. It is just was is decided is best in your individual case. Leah is right. When chemo is done first it is the attempt to get the tumor to shrink before surgery is done. It all depends on the stage, size and grade of your tumor. Whatever the oncologist and surgeon decide is always what is best for you. Take care, Sharon
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anonymous
Stage 4 Patient
When you get chemo first they can see if the tumor shrinks. I don't know if one is better than the other. I removed mine then removed breast. I would of like to see chemo working, but I wanted the cancer out.
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Chemo on Thursday and a shot in Friday to have bone marrow to start making white blood cells. What was your worst day after your chemo treatment?
Asked by anonymous
Stage 2B Patient- View all 8 answers
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anonymous
Survivor since 2003
Everyone reacts differently. Take the nausea meds as directed, don't wait until you feel sick. Day 1, nausea, Day 2 and 3, worst days, tired, nausea, flu like symptoms, joint pain from the shot Day 4, got better. 5 very few symptoms, but still tired. BUT it was doable!!! And 10 years...
1 comment 2Everyone reacts differently. Take the nausea meds as directed, don't wait until you feel sick. Day 1, nausea, Day 2 and 3, worst days, tired, nausea, flu like symptoms, joint pain from the shot Day 4, got better. 5 very few symptoms, but still tired. BUT it was doable!!! And 10 years later... still no evidence of cancer!!! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and eat small amounts at a time. Wishing you minimal side effects!!! BUT it was doable!!! And 10 years later... still no evidence of cancer!!! Keep the questions coming, we are here for you!
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anonymous
Stage 1 Patient
I had chemo on wed, shot on thurs. Sat and sun were my worst. I had muscle aches and bone pain from the shot. Take Claritin, it helps. You can do this! Prayers to you.
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I know everyone is different, but I am curious about how many chemo treatments everyone has had. I am er & pr neg, but her2 W/ my idc. Doc said chemo for sure, and let will be 4-8 treatments., possibly more. How bout you guys?
Asked by anonymous
Stage 2A Patient- View all 15 answers
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anonymous
Survivor since 2011
Maura, I was also HER2 positive and ER negative. I was stage 2b with about a 2 1/2 cm tumor and at least 2 affected lymph nodes. I did 8 chemo treatments 2 weeks apart. The first 4 were AC and the second four were taxol/herceptin and I remained on the herceptin (weekly for a bit and then...
Comment 1Maura, I was also HER2 positive and ER negative. I was stage 2b with about a 2 1/2 cm tumor and at least 2 affected lymph nodes. I did 8 chemo treatments 2 weeks apart. The first 4 were AC and the second four were taxol/herceptin and I remained on the herceptin (weekly for a bit and then tri-weekly) until last Friday, my last treatment. The GOOD news is that herceptin is an absolutely amazing breakthrough in cancer treatment in the last ten years, so we women with HER2 positive cancer now have a fantastic response and survival rate (whereas before this type of cancer had a grimmer prognosis). I had a total response (clinical and pathological) to the chemo and I have an acquaintance now going through treatment for stage 3a and her tumor is already no longer palpable. So the treatment will be hard but it is miraculous!
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anonymous
Stage 1 Patient
I am ER/PR neg and HER 2 pos. I had a double mastectomy and 12 weeks of weekly taxol and herceptin. Last taxol was 12/19/12. I will continue getting herceptin every 3 wks until September 2013.
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How do you stay positive as your family member undergoes chemo?
Asked by anonymous
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anonymous
Survivor since 2007
I so agree.... many times, I had to be much stronger for my friends and relatives. I had to put on a brave face for them. In my "acting" I did actually make myself feel a lot better mentally and physically. I got so it was no longer an act but I did become my own power-house of positive...
Comment 2I so agree.... many times, I had to be much stronger for my friends and relatives. I had to put on a brave face for them. In my "acting" I did actually make myself feel a lot better mentally and physically. I got so it was no longer an act but I did become my own power-house of positive energy. I looked forward to my chemo treatments and appointments because I knew it was one closer to being completed with treatment. I used to wear silly hats to my oncologists office because his office truly had a uplifting feeling. Always something tasty to eat, other patients laughing like we were all in this boat together. I never felt the treatments or appointments were doom and gloom. I think one has to be their own best advocate and set the mood when dealing with others. Lots of people were afraid of me and some of my best friends dropped me. I understood their fear and once I was through treatment, they drifted back. I actually made a whole new set of pals going through treatment. I had people say some very weird things to me.... like "How long do you have to live?" "My aunt died a horrible death from breast cancer back in the 50's." Some woman sent me a series of talks give by a professor who was dying of cancer..... At times, I just wanted to talk to people. I actually did a blog for the horse community I belong to. I wanted other women to know having breast cancer was not a death sentence. Going through treatment.... I had chemo and a mastectomy.... wasn't the end of the world. I wanted them not to be afraid of having regular mammograms. Early treatment is always the best. You can always ask what your relative needs.... a view meals the first couple of day after chemo is really appreciated. Their taste will change and is sometimes a bit eclectic. I wouldn't fix anything spicy, but just ask. You are kind for being sensitive. Take care, Sharon
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
Betti, Trisha, and Sharon have it nicely covered. I craved normal conversation. A conversation that was not about about cancer is what I craved. An evening of Wine and chick flicks was a wonderful diversion.
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