Joining the club, stage1a grade 3

I'm joining the club that no one wants a membership to. I've been diagnosised wthe endo/fallopain cancer stage 1a grade 3. This Tuesday I 'm back in surgery for my port and then begin 3 to 4 cycles of chemo. This feels like a bad dream and never in my life would I ever have thought I'd be in this position. Besides all the other worries, can some explain how the chemo cycles work and also what has been past experiences with losing hair. I know they will explain this all to during my chemo scheduling, but I am curious. My prays and best wishes for all my "sisters" facing the "C" monster.

(((l2857)))

We're very, very sorry you've joined our club, sweetie, but are glad you found us.

Surgery was my "only" treatment, so I can't help with the chemo questions. But, I'm sure someone will be along soon who can help in that regard. In the mean time, you can try some forum searches which might provide some helpful info.

Yes, it is like a bad dream and hard to wrap your mind around. Just take one step at a time and try not to let your mind rush too far ahead of the rest of you. No one plans on having cancer, but we most certainly do plan to kick its behind!

Hugs, prayers and positive thoughts coming your way!

I didn't have the same chemo as you, but wanted to let you know it does get better. It felt like a bad dream for me for quite awhile, but with time it does get better.

Prayers for your health and peace of mind! It does get better but in the meantime stomp your feet, take a nap, do yoga, pet a kitten...anything that helps you get through! This month is my 1 year cancer-versary for breast cancer and Nov. will be my 1 year cancer-versary for endo cancer.

Headed stright up and only going higher!

I too have endo cancer. Grade 1. I should find out the stage tomorrow. I'm getting nervous. I'm keeping fingers crossed it is still stage 1 and won't need chemo/rads. I don't want to ask a dumb question. But what did you mean by port? Hope everything goes well and you only need a few treatments. I'll being sending well wishes your way.

A port is a device planted via surgery which allows them to tap into for the chemo. This avoids putting in needles in the arm each time. BTW. No question is dumb. We all learn as we go through this

I'm sorry, too, that you've joined our club. But I'm glad you found us! I had my chemo every 3 weeks for 3 rounds total. Mine was Taxol/ Carbo. Do you know what kind you'll be getting? My treatments would take 5 hours total. They would give me the pre-meds the first hour (Benadyl, steroids,& anti-nausea meds in the IV). Then I'd have the Taxol then the Carbo. I always felf pretty well after treatment, just a little tired.

The ani-nausea drugs work pretty well so I never had nausea or vomiting. But food tastes kind of weird and I always had a bad taste in my mouth (this lasted pretty much the whole time). I started losing my hair about 2 weeks after the first round and then decided to just shave the rest of it off. I kept my eyelashes and eyebrows til after the 3rd round and then lost them, too, plus the hair on my legs, underarms,and arms! But I'm 3 months out of treatment and my eyelashes and eyebrows are totally grown back now and my legs and arms, too! The hair on my head is about 1/2 to 3/4 in long now and getting thicker .

I think the fatigue was one of the hardest things for me to get used to. I just did'nt feel like myself. I'd also lose my appetite and not eat much, especially the first week or so after treatment, then it would get a little better. You may also have leg pains starting the 3rd day or so but it can be controlled by pain meds.

I got a little bit of neuropathy in my feet and fingers but it's pretty much gone now. I had "Chemo brain" for awhile, too (where I'd forget things etc.). That's gotten better, too.

I hope your port placement went well. I was sure glad that I had one put in! I didn't have any real problems with it except it felt sort of strange having it in there. It was good to have it for the treatments, though. I had it taken out about 6 weeks after I was finished.

I hope your Chemo goes well when you start and you have minimal side effects. I won't say that it's a fun thing to go through but it's not horrible either and you can get through it ok. Please let us know if you have any other questions or just want to share.

Blessings and hugs!

Losing your hair is an unfortunate side effect of many types of chemo. It has been 5 months since I lost mine and it is finally starting to come back. I spent the first few months wearing a hot itchy wig because I didn't want people to see me, but once the hot June weather hit I stopped wearing it and have been wearing scarves and bandanas.

It took me a long time to come to peace with my hair loss. I was so angry and then sad for a long time. By about the third month I started accepting it and kept telling myself that it is better to be bald and alive then dead of cancer. I actually know someone who refused chemo because she didn't want to lose her hair - and her cancer killed her!! My hair was not worth my life. There are also cold caps that can be rented for a few thousand dollars that you can wear during your chemo. I didn't have the money so I couldn't do that.

I kept telling myself it is just hair. It will grow back. And you know what, it does. I see a difference in it every day. It started growing back a few weeks ago and is almost a quarter of an inch long!! Can you tell I am excited? LOL.

Hi Sweetie,

I too am sorry you had to join our club but so glad you found us. As you see, the ladies here will do their best to inform and support you. May the port placement go without a hitch and your chemo sessions the same as they serve to knock any cancer strays to oblivion.

I'm sending many positive thoughts your way and will keep you in praye.

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Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement. I am on the taxol/carbo 3 week cycle for 3 or 4 cycles. My first treatment left me tired beyond belief and pain in my legs that would keep my up at night. I did start taking a powder supplement (L-gut?) and it has seemed to help. I just can not get over how tired I feel. My worry now is returning to work. I'm not sure how that is going to work out.