Chemotherepy

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the right side and had a lumpectomy with lymph node removal on March 7. Fortunately I was able to do my counted cross stitch the next day (slowly).

I start chemo this Thursday. I am a bit nervous about it anyway, but my question for this group is...

Has anyone gone through all this and how did it affect your stitching?

"Naomah" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

More power to you if you could stitch the next day after the lumpectomy !

I am sending you powerful thoughts for Thursday, chemo is not as awful as it used to be, but still no joke. Very good luck ~

Sheena

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, and had a mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction. I was fortunate (maybe) not to have chemo, though I understand that under today's guidelines, I probably would be advised to do so.

I can't speak for the chemo, but I can say that all the reconstructive surgeries made my brain a bit fuzzy, and I had to do much simpler designs -- no complex shading, etc.

There is a listserv that has lots of fellowship and good information -- you can find out more about it at

Good luck!

-- Jere

Good luck to you. I hope you have a quick and uneventful recovery.

A non stitching friend of mine is going through chemo for breast cancer now. She isn't a needleworker, but she has been going to work and using her computer in between doctor's visits.

Lucille

My surgeon was pleased with me being a needleworker. He said it was good therapy for my arm

My Oncologist was telling me that one of the drugs he will be using might case some nerve damage and that if I started having trouble with buttoning my shirts to let him know and he would adjust the dosage. I told him to heck with buttons, that if I started having trouble with using my needle he's be the first to hear about it :)

I quit smoking 6 years ago and if I don't keep my hands busy I go nuts...and if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

I expect to tire easy, but am glad to hear that I will most likely be able to keep on stitchin'. I also expect to have some concentration problems sometimes too.

I get the radiation after the chemo and also 5 years of hormone therapy. The prognosis is good and all the tests have shown that there is no cancer anywhere else and that the Dr. got it all in surgery. I'm 52 and hope for a few more years anyway.

Many thanks to all who are responding.

-- Naomah Black WIP - Chatelaine # 22 "Water Garden" Lavender Wings "Witches' Dance" Roy Black's "Conversing With Fairies"

Dear Naomah,

I am have no answer for you questi> I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the right side and had a lumpectomy

Naomah wrote: > My surgeon was pleased with me being a needleworker. He said it was good

Naomah -

Best wishes to you as you face chemo.

I have no experience, but "listening" to the other comments (and summarizing), you might want to choose some small projects with not too much shading (when concentration wanes/fatigue sets in) but also manageable to hold easily (no big scroll bars, etc.) and short lengths of plain floss (so you don't have to stretch out your arm a whole lot - minimal tweeding, metallics, etc.). IOW, simplify! Then you'll also reward yourself with some relatively quick finishes. And pick something with real beauty and/or humor to nourish your soul!

And check back with us to let us know how you're faring!

Sue

I am through it now. The alternative, which is death, is my motivation. I cannot stitch because it effects my vision and I can't drive, either. My hair is falling out in clumps and sometimes the malaise is overwhelming.

Every>I was diagnosed with breast cancer on the right side and had a lumpectomy

yup they sure are. Thoughts to you all and the best wishes in the recovery process

Love and best wishes to both of you, and anyone else going through simlar traumas.

Pat P

Congratulations on quitting smoking. Glad to hear that the surgeon got all of it and it has not spread. I lost a very dear friend a few years ago to cancer, and my duughter-in-law just lost her aunt to an inoberable brain tumor this year. The hormone therapy can be a bit wierd. When I was going through it, I basically went through PMS and had night sweats and chills. At 52 I hope you have many more years ahead of you. As the old jewish saying goes, may you live to be a hundred and twenty. And I always add to that, and may the last words you hear be mine.

George

Yes, I have been thru Chemo for breast cancer too. Just smile and keep a good thought. I am a survived for 4 years and counting. It make you very tried and they sometime give drugs for it that have big problems. Make sure your doctor is very clear on those lovely drugs. The drugs they gave me cause me to shake like mad, food would not stay down. My red count drugs were ok. It took a year for my hair to grow back. Doing Little bit of stitching was the only thing I could do during it. This nurses would just laugh and say " You have a good outlook, and do that needlwork it will help". Don't give up, we need more survivors.

My prayers are with you. Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer - my mother's mother died from it. My mother is a 6-1/2 year survivor, so at the age of 40, I started getting annual mamograms. She didn't have many problems with the chemo and made it 14 days without losing her hair - thought she was one of the lucky ones to keep it, but the next morning scratched her head and away came a clump of hair. She had me cut it off with my clippers that I have for cheap haircuts for DS and saved it for the birds in the spring - it was gone within 2 hours. She's not a stitcher but is an avid reader, didn't have any concentration problems with that. The biggest problem she had was with the radiation. It lasted six weeks, five days a week and the last three (I think) days, they upped the dosage. Her skin was a deep maroon from the burn. The oncology radiologist didn't offer any cream or medicines and mom didn't want to complain. Luckily, she went to her regular oncologist the following Monday (four days later). Doctor walked in and asked how she was doing - all mom did was open her gown and show her the burn. Doctor immediately prescribed her some great cream and pain meds (and, I'm sure, called the radiologist!). Best of luck to you, and remember that a lot of help comes from friends, family and humor!

My mastectomy and chemo was in 1992. The best advice that I got was: first, don't worry and/or feel guilty if your days and nights are mixed up, ,just rest or not whenever you want; second, get a jumbo box of popsicles. Buy the biggest, cheapest box of store brand that you can find. You may get tired of drinking so much liquid, but that ice will feel soooooo good.

You will lose your hair, but summer is coming and it won't be falling in your eyes on those clammy, humid days. I had more problems with the Tamoxifen than chemo, but I was pretty depressed because it brought on menopause and I had to give up breastfeeding my only child. She was eighteen months and we were tapering down, but I resented that it wasn't my choice.

Don't be annoyed if you are not returning soon enough to "normal" or whatever you think that should be. You may find yourself looking at things differently.

Thank you for all the responses.

Had my first Chemo on Thursday the 6th. It was Monday the 10th before I could even attempt a simple 14 ct aida piece. My concentration was not here and the headache was. By Wed the 12th I was feeling "normal" and now I am working on the Chatalaine again.

I will take a simple piece with me to Chemo this coming Thursday. ( I get it every other week.) Reading was out of the question due to all the conversation going on. That's fine. Seems like a good bunch there. My nurse's name is Darvon ! At least she picked an appropriate profession.:)

The drug Emend is a God send for the nausea!

The only thing I still have going on now is my taste buds aren't working properly. Here it is Chocolate season...er... Easter and Chocolate tastes like cardboard! All the chocolate bunnies are safe this year. Even my Cadbury Eggs are bland! Only flavors that really taste at all are citrusy and Mexican, Italian, and good country southern. Ah, well, it could be worse.

My Dr. did up my Zoloft. I had been doing so good until the evening of the chemo. I guess seeing it actually going in my port made it finally hit home. Boy, did I come unglued! 2 days later I was back together again, at least until the next time.

-- Naomah Black WIP - Chatelaine # 22 "Water Garden" Lavender Wings "Witches' Dance"

I'll pick you up at the airport next week and we'll eat every meal at Ernesto's. :)

{{{{{Naomah}}}}}} The Babies and I are sending you positive "stuff". CiaoMeow >^;;^<