Chemotherapy is a word that strikes fear into most of our hearts. We have seen movies and heard such horror stories about undergoing this difficult treatment for a disease that may very well kill us. I've had chemotherapy for breast cancer and I know that in some cases cancer isn't bad… it doesn't hurt… it doesn't make us sick. This is the case for most of us who have breast cancer but do not have distant metastases. But then they say we have to do chemo, and we know we will feel it.
Although chemo treatments haven't changed that much and are still terribly hard on our bodies, the drugs for treatment have changed a lot. For many of us, chemotherapy is not the biggest hurdle we thought. Of course, each of us is different and chemo affects each of us differently, but for the most part, chemo is definitely doable.
My breast cancer was stage IIA, with a 5.8 cm tumor, 8 out of 10 lymph nodes positive, and I was only 39 years old. That bought me a ticket for the chemo ride. And I was terrified. But I found an online breast cancer support group on WebMD, and the women told me everything I could expect and more. I went through four rounds of Antimycin and Cytokine. Both are pretty strong breast cancer chemotherapy. I then did a controversial treatment that included extremely high doses of Cytokine, taxon and cisplatin, so I learned quite a bit about surviving chemotherapy.
Firstly, I would highly recommend getting a port. This is the line that leads to the vein in your chest, the entrance of which is just under your skin, just below your collarbone. It requires quick surgery to be inserted, but if you're having a mastectomy for breast cancer, you can have a chemo port inserted at the same time. If you choose not to do that, you will have to have chemotherapy through your veins, and chemotherapy is really hard on your veins. This means that you will most likely have to endure several attempts to find the vein as time passes. It's already in the veins with the port, so all they have to do is stick a needle in the port to get to it. If it makes you uncomfortable, they can give you a cream called Elma cream. One of the first things I learned was to tell them when I was uncomfortable. Everything is fixable. Before you have access to your port, you will apply a little Elma cream to numb your skin.
Most breast cancer chemotherapy drugs will cause hair loss. This is because chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells in your body. Because of this, your mucous membranes and hair follicles are affected. This is why you may feel nauseous or develop ulcers in your mouth or throat. Again, this all sounds scary, but it's completely manageable. Since you will probably be losing your hair, which can be quite traumatic, I would recommend going shopping for a wig or hat before you get your first chemo. Bring your girlfriend and be adventurous. Try different styles and even colors. If you've always wanted to be blonde, now's your chance! Make a day of it and have fun with it. God knows you have to look for that silver lining every chance you get. Also, make sure you have an anti-nausea prescription filled before you leave, so you can have it waiting at home if you need it. You may be quite tired after that, so don't wait until then to take your medicine.
On the first day of chemotherapy, they will probably give you some steroids, IV or through a port, to help with the nausea. This can cause hunger; it sure was for me! But I would recommend not eating your favorite food on the day of chemotherapy. Chemo is manageable, but once you're done you may find you have associations. For example, I loved the smell of cucumber melon when I was going through chemotherapy. I had everything cucumber melon! But to this day, the smell of cucumber melon makes my stomach somersault because it reminds me of such an unpleasant time in my life. The same can happen with food. I still can't look a chicken burrito in the eye! But I sure didn't eat the taco because I would hate for it to be ruined for me!
Many breast cancer chemotherapy drugs stress your bladder, so be sure to drink, drink, drink. If you don't feel like drinking water, broth, jelly or even popsicles will help. Since you have all your anti-nausea medications filled in advance, take them as prescribed, whether you think you need them or not. Chemo nausea isn't just any nausea, and it's much easier to prevent than to try to fix it once it occurs. If you happen to be nauseous, and I can't stress this enough, call your doctor!!! There are many, many medications for nausea, and you don't have to feel sick just because you're having chemotherapy. Once they find the right medication for you, it will be much easier. So don't suffer in silence! The same is true if you develop ulcers in your mouth or throat.
This treatment will make you tired. Most of us get more tired as the treatments progress because they make the white blood cells drop really low. For this reason, it's a good idea to have Purcell or something similar with you to use when, for example, you need to touch the door handle of a public restroom. Your risk of infection will be much higher during this time.
If you lose your hair, it usually happens 10-14 days after your first chemotherapy treatment. If you have long hair, you may want to cut it short in preparation. I know I felt so out of control during that time. When the hair falls out, it comes loose quickly and in big clumps, getting all over the pillow and clogging the drain. For many women, this is more traumatic than even losing a breast. So I thought that was the only thing I could do about the whole breast cancer thing...when my hair came out. I had cut it really short before and when it started to loosen I had my husband take the clippers and shave my head. My daughter helped out, and we did a little Mohawk and stripes first!
This was my way of shaking my fist at this cancer... it might take my breasts, and it might take my hair for a while, but I beat it! It was my way of saying, "You can't take my spirit!" You can do the same. Your breast cancer does not define you. It's just an acceleration in the course of your life. Put on your gloves and step into the ring. This chemo is your biggest blow. Your spirit is your own and breast cancer can't touch it!
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