DottyR's Journey with Breast Cancer

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.

I wore hats most of the time. Tried a wig but didn't feel comfortable wearing it.

Rang the bell when I finished Chemo. I finished toward the last part of May of 2005. Was so glad to be over that.

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.

But trying to lose it again (not very fast, though).

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.

It did make me weak, of course, got a little "burn" under my breast, but other than that, no serious problems.

This was inevitable. But I had not bad hair days. LOL. My hair did grow back. Not a biggie.

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.

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.