It would be wonderful if any or all of you who visit this site, could share the story of your journey thru chemotherapy. I know there are a lot of women who are about to start their own journey, or who have already started and would love to hear how you survived the chaos it can bring to your everyday lives. There are shining and wonderful moments, there are sad and miserable moments and then there are the monents that make you realize just how wonderful and strong you really are.

Thanks - I look forward to reading your stories.

The not knowing what chemo will be like and how one's body will respond is like going through pregnancy and labor for the first time. Everyone will tell you their stories about morning sickness and labor but each woman's body handles it differently. Having a younger sister who is a survivor helped me keep focused on the fact that I am not the only person who has to deal with the diagnosis of cancer, that and her goofy cards, moral support and excellent advice (i.e. try not to cry to much in front of your partner because it will make him feel so inadequate, so I'd just tell him I needed to go to bed, even in the middle of dinner)

When I went to the dr. for a "teaching session" prior to starting chemo it wasn't made clear that lab work was needed before chemo could be started (they need a base line white and red blood count) so my chemo was delayed by one day, which caused problems with disability checks, but that's another story. (Be prepared to be poked with a lot of needles) You will need to have blood work drawn prior to each chemo, you may get injections of Neupogen to build up your white blood count faster and Procrit to build up your red blood count. My left arm got bruised from all the injections.

The first 4 rounds were Adriamiacin and Cytoxin, followed by 4 rounds to Taxotere. Thanks to perscriptions for Compazine, Zofran and Ativan the nausea was kept manageable (similar to morning sickness). My hair started to fall out about two weeks later and I shaved my head after asking my 21 and 15 year old sons if they would shave their heads in solidarity. I didn't want to wake up to a pillow covered with hair or find it clogging the shower drain. I wear hats and scarves and some of my co workers have seen me bald (humor really really does help). I was able to continue working through 3 rounds of chemo, or until the exhaustion side effect caught up with me.

When I started Taxotere I felt horrible. My nephew got married two days after I started this drug and I struggled to go to the wedding and a family picinic the following day. I think I got every possible side effect right away including dry mouth, dry heaves...bad enough to make me want to hug the white wishing well, mouth sores, joint pain, finger rashes (all my fingers peeled) numbness in my fingertips, constant eye watering, fingernails messed up, elevated liver panels...the night before my next doctor appointment I told my husband that I had the feeling they would change my chemo drug, which was changed to Taxol, which my body tolerated better. Apparently everyone has an "allergic reaction" to Taxol or Taxotere so I was also prescribed steroids to take the night before and morning of chemo and was also adminstered steroids in the premeds, which are given in the i.v. just prior to the chemo drugs. I needed an extra dose of benedryl to combat itchy palms and soles of feet and tightening in the throat.

During chemo you get to relax in nice comfy recliners and they often have TVs or you can read, sleep or visit with the other patients. My husband came and sat with me during my first chemo and last two appointments but I was able to drive myself to the rest of the visits. After my final chem, as my husband and I were leaving I asked him if my hair had grown back yet.

My sense of smell seems to have heightened (I can't tollerate the smell of bacon cooking) Too many foods taste metallic or "off" so I have lost about 10 pounds, I could stand to loose about 20 more so I'm not complaining. Several other people have also told me and I concur that potatoes taste wonderful when going through chemo. I also found eggs to be good. This week I felt ambioutious enough to cook a Belgian Beef Stew but didn't enjoy it because I couldn't taste it. I hope the taste buds get better by Thanksgiving.

To anyone just starting this journey, you will discover unknown strength within yourselves to survive your personal journey through cancer, but you don't have to go it alone. When your friends and family ask if there is anything they can do, tell them yes, ask them to pick up your groceries, dry cleaning, take your children to school, walk your dog, mop a floor, do a load of laundry, drop off a covered dish. Your friends will feel so much better for being to help in whatever little ways they can and you will have one less dinner, pile of laundry, etc. to worry about, while you focus on getting better.

There are many pros and con's with chemo therapy. I have heard little about the chemo side effects, But ther is no way if doctors

suggest for chemo therapy.

May be chemo is a must in case of invasive breast cancers.

I have seen pretty good information about chemo therapy at my stumble profile.

Its my request to you all to spread awareness on breast cancer during breast cancer awareness month that is Oct-2006.

Wish good luck to one and all.

- Jhon.