heidifloyd

Radiation (External radiation ): TIRED. Radiation made me tired. Please know I am only using the word 'tired' because, thesaurus in hand, am unable to locate a word to describe the proper level of absolute exhaustion. Bring a pillow with you everywhere when you are doing radiation.

Drug or Chemo Therapy (Chemotherapy): i was pregnant, so perhaps was a bit more paranoid than the average chemo patient. Cytoxan, Adriamycin, 5 FU were my chemo drugs. Read the warning labels before you start treament, that's my little tip to you. The side effects are worth knowing about so you don't freak out once you take the first trip to the ladies room.

Procedure or Surgery (Lumpectomy): i had a lumpectomy during my pregnancy, then a partial mastectomy and lymph node biopsy once the baby was born. 5 years and a few new lumps and bumps later, i had a full mastectomy and reconstruction.

Oh No: i have a fairly scary family history of breast cancer, so to be candid, my diagnosis wasn't a shock. the fact that i was pregnant, however, made things much more frightening. the first oncologist i met told me that they had no experience with pregnancy and cancer, so the best option would be to terminate. that counts as an 'on no' moment, right?