Nervous

[Bubba_6]

Hello friend's! Im kind of lost here i was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and also my lymph node under my arm pit.im scheduled to see a doctor on the25th.any advice

[TNBC16]

Hi Bubba. I'm glad you reached out to the group. I'm sure people will respond with lots of good suggestions. I know this is a very overwhelming time...there is a lot of information to absorb and there is a great amount of fear and worry.

A good place to start might be to develop a list of questions for your doctor. This will help you determine what you know and what you need to know.

You can also reach out to SHARE to speak with someone who can help you sort things out.

One moment at a time...

[daf10]

It is very natural for you to be nervous and upset You just received news which has which will strongly influence your life as you know it.

Here are some tips:

Talking to your doctor about chemotherapy and all the different regimens and medicines might seem overwhelming at first. Ask your doctor for written chemotherapy information that you can take home with you. Doctors often have special kits or booklets with information about chemotherapy and how it's given.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask for a phone number so you can call someone if you think of questions after your appointment. A doctor or oncology nurse should be available to answer questions in between appointments. If you have a question, don't hesitate to call.

To help you figure out the benefits and risks of chemotherapy, you might want to ask your doctor these questions:

Why are you recommending chemotherapy?

What are the chances that I'll get more benefits from chemotherapy compared to the treatments I'm already getting?

Is chemotherapy likely to make me live longer?

Will chemotherapy reduce the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence)? By how much?

Which chemotherapy medicine or combination of medicines is best for me?

What are the pros and cons of the regimen you're recommending for me?

How will we know if the chemotherapy is working?

If this chemotherapy regimen doesn't work, are there others we can try?

What are my other treatment options?

Are there clinical trials on chemotherapy that you think would be beneficial for me?

While there may not be perfect answers for every question, your doctor should be able to discuss the risks and benefits of a chemotherapy regimen with you and help you make the best decision for you and your unique situation.

[concernedfriend]

So glad you reached out and joined the group. You might also want to check out SHARE's Metastatic Breast Cancer Support page to get additional information and support:

healthunlocked.com/share-me...

[Mabethea]

Take someone with you to every doctor visit that can listen with you and can count on to take good notes so you can focus on what s/he is saying.

Before I started chemo I had someone tell me to take up for yourself. It's your body, your life, and do not be hesitant to question or ask questions.

Don't hesitate to ask for help. At the beginning I had folks at church sign up to bring meals. After a couple of weeks I stopped it. As my fatigue got worse, I finally asked for help with meals again. Everyone of course was so glad I asked, and were more than willing to signup. BTW we used takethemameal.com. I live with my sister and she is doing everything (She told me when I am well, I am going to have to empty the dishwasher forever :))

Surround yourself with positive people. Keep a great attitude yourself. That is so important. Not "I have 5 more cycles, but one down...woohoo!"

Have a Bible verse you can hang to. Mine is Joshua 1:9.