Chemo day has rolled around yet again. Cycle 2, Day 2 – my 5th treatment. My Nurse Specialist Bx is off today so Ld, another member of the team is here. I ask her and my Oncology Nurse a few questions and talk about the sharp pains I have been getting. They refer me to KS, the Nurse Practitioner who comes and chats about my symptoms and side effects and measures my tumour. KS then checks in with Dr Sk who is on-site working in the clinic. On her return I get an update. Today’s chemo of Paclitaxel will continue. Next week’s treatment will also go ahead. If there is no reduction in size or hardness of the tumour by then, I’ll definitely be switched to AC dose dense chemo early and may start the following week.

KS takes a photo of my breast so the Oncologist I will see next week, Dr Na, will have a visual to refer to. I will be given gabapentin which may help with the nerve pains and may also help me sleep. They will also prescribe an anti histamine nasal spray which should help the post nasal drip that I’ve been experiencing for months now. So, no real change for today, but I feel good – I have voiced my concerns and feel that the Team have listened, considered and put in place a solid action plan. I am willing to go with that.

There is a nice crowd of similar age to older women in Infusion today. No matter what their story, their prognoses, or their treatment plans and intent, I know that each of these women share my feelings, fears, and pain. We have different paths, but the journey is the same.