DottyR's Journey with Breast Cancer
- 1 Clinical Trial Icon Clinical Trial
- 2 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 3 Celebration Icon Celebration
- 4 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 5 Oh No Icon Oh No
- 6 Radiation Icon Radiation
- 7 Drug or Chemo Therapy Icon Drug or Chemo Therapy
- 8 Radiation Icon Radiation
- 9 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 10 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
- 11 Side Effects Icon Side Effects
Survivor: Breast Cancer
Patient Info: Finished active treatment more than 5 years ago, Diagnosed: over 16 years ago, Female, Age: 64
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Experience Icon Descriptions
Procedure: Drag this icon to show a procedure.
Radiation: Drag this icon to show a specific radiation therapy experience.
Drug Therapy: Drag this icon to show a specific drug therapy experience.
Clinical Trial: Drag this icon to show a clinical trial experience.
Side Effect: Drag this icon to show experience with a specific side effect.
Oh No: Drag this icon to show when something bad happened (e.g., cancer’s back, lost job).
Celebration: Drag this icon to show when something good happened (e.g., last treatment, hair is back).
Loss: Drag this icon to show a time of loss (e.g., lost hair, lost loved one).
Decision Point: Drag this icon to show a time when you had to make a tough decision.
Other Care: Draft this icon to show a time when you needed other care (e.g., hospice, psychotherapy).
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Exercise therapy
Clinical Trial
I was involved with exercise at an exercise - fitness program for Cancer patients set up by a local doctor. It has been said that exercise can usually prevent the possibility of cancer spreading and/or returning. Unfortunately, I haven't kept it up. But I feel I'm doing a little better now that I have a job and climb stairs (only 1 flight, 1/2 flight at a time). We'll see.
Hair loss (alopecia)
Side Effects
I wore hats most of the time. Tried a wig but didn't feel comfortable wearing it.
Finished treatment
Celebration
Rang the bell when I finished Chemo. I finished toward the last part of May of 2005. Was so glad to be over that.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
I know that for some chemo is not minimal. To me, mine was minimal. I pray for those that have maximum side effects, and maximum impact on their daily lives.
Gained even more weight back.
Oh No
But trying to lose it again (not very fast, though).
External radiation
Radiation
This person has yet to add any details about this experience.
Chemotherapy
Drug or Chemo Therapy
I know it seems that I didn't have a very hard time with the chemotherapy. I'm just comparing my chemo experience with others that I assume had a rough time with it. It was a little tough at first. I was allergic to the first anti-nausea medicine, my tongue began to swell up and I couldn't get enough food or water down and was becoming anemic. But, when I realized it was happening, I called my dr and got a new prescription for an alternate medicine for this. Then it was okay after that. I did have some minor depression at times, but got through them.
External radiation
Radiation
It did make me weak, of course, got a little "burn" under my breast, but other than that, no serious problems.
Hair loss (alopecia)
Side Effects
This was inevitable. But I had not bad hair days. LOL. My hair did grow back. Not a biggie.
Hot flashes
Side Effects
Yes, for sure. The chemotherapy caused premature menopause. Not a problem. I was uncomfortable at times. I still have hot flashes, but I can live with it.
Weight loss
Side Effects
Oh definitely. Too bad it didn't last. The reason I had a lot of weight loss is because, due to weakness, I could barely bring my hand up to feed myself. And I wasn't hungry a lot. I had to force myself to eat. Even eating DQ Blizzards (with extra banana), I still lost weight. However, even though I was told that I didn't need to be losing weight, I was glad to. Also, during the last 4 treatments (I had 8 in all), my taste buds went to sleep so I couldn't taste anything, so (again), I didn't eat much and had to force myself to eat whether I liked it or not. But I could taste lobster and shell fish (good thing I wasn't allergic to that). My husband took me out to eat lobster, crab legs, and shrimp (grilled) about twice a week for 4 weeks or more until I could taste food again. But, the weight loss didn't last - I ate like before I started chemo because I got my taste buds back. Unfortunately, I gained my weight back and more.