Coolgm's Journey:

I had surgury at the VA hospital at Bay Pines I Woke up nauceous and had to stay at the hospital overnight. My doctor wanted me to stay home for 3 weeks but after one week I was ready to go back . The results came back a couple weeks later. They found 2 rumors in my right breast one benign & one malignant. Went back to surgery to have Sentinel lymph node biopsy. Thank God that there was no cancer detected.

My first phase of treatment was radiation. I had to go everyday 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The only radiation available was at the Tampa VA so I chose to go a civilian hospital for treatment. The procedure itself is not painful. What happens after is the problem. My breast felt like it was on fire. It looked like I was sunburned. I was given a special cream that helped quite a bit. I couldn't use regular deodorant I had to buy an all natural brand. Bras were uncomfortable. So the first few weeks I had to go bra less (which was a real challenge in office attire). I did find some cotton hook in the front sports bras at Target that worked great. to this day I only wear bras with front hooks.

The first week I had to take pills. Can't remember the name but I had to take 5 a day for I think 5 days. That was the worst. The smell of the pills nauseated me and I felt like I was going to gag. Next was my chemo which was administered twice a month for 6 months. The first week and second week than the rest of the month free. The worst experience I had was with the anti nausea medication (Compazine). I didn't know I was allergic to it. So after taking it I started feeling jittery. I thought it was normal so I didn't say anything. Wrong! After a week the symptoms got worse and I woke up one night sicker than a dog. My husband called the emergency number & they called my Oncologist. My husband had to drive to the VA to pick up another med to counteract the Compazine. Things got better but there are many side affects to chemo. Some subtle some not. I experienced sours in my mouth, my nose would fill with hard mucus, craving for tangerines & oranges, I kept getting a metallic taste in my mouth & strange feeling in my stomache. I was constantly nibbling on crackers, chips & pretzels to cover up that taste in my mouth & icky stomache. I have to say though that the worst part for me was the needles. Now it's been over 16 years and I thank God everyday. Oh yes my hair did fall out. Not all but enough that you could see my scalp.

In 2010 I found a lump in the same breast. Thank God it was benign.