I think you're right about maintaining your sense of humor - it's a powerful force!

I was VERY fortunate. My breast cancer was discovered during a routine mammogram.

I was in total denial - had NO symptoms whatsoever - but happened to be in the right place at the right time with the right medical personnel who jumped right into action with precision. By the time I was just beginning to accept that I had cancer, the ordeal was effectively over. But I was minus a natural breast and a lot of lymph nodes. I did have a newly reconstructed breast though.

They got everything, so no follow-up radiation, no chemo and no more surgery needed. Oh, SOOOO lucky! The Force was with me. But it took me about six months longer to accept what had happened and to realize what a bullet I had dodged.

May The Force be with you too! May you look chic with your new haircut and glamorous with your wigs! May you soon regain your sense of taste! Most of all, may you regain your health completely, sail through this ordeal, and be able to look back at it and laugh with your sense of humor intact as well!

I went back to the plastic surgeon who did my breast reduction almost two years ago, about the lump of "scar tissue" that was hurting me. He put me into surgery that night to remove it. Then the next week he told me it was malignant....I had a lot of trouble believing it. He referred me to a big cancer group, and the tests began. Tests here and there and back here again.
Then another surgery to install the port for my chemo and sentinel node.
Chemo began right after that. The sentinel node was clean, and I finally got my stage number, 1...the first good news since the whole thing began.
The chemo itself has been a trip. My digestion has been so messed up. I'm now taking a proton-pump inhibitor and Imodium, and I can finally breathe easier. Another glitch was that they discovered I have a freaking blood clot near the port (seems to happen in about 15% of cases), so now I'm also on blood thinner.
Hoping that my second chemo, and the ones to come, will be a little easier, now that I know what to expect, and have meds to help with the rough stuff.
Thanks for the encouragement and good thoughts!

I had a different long-acting anti-nausea med this time (a free sample of a newer and VERY expensive drug), and it seems to work beautifully. My biggest issue this time is fatigue. I was just tired all day and took a long nap middle of the day. Never really snapped out of it. I guess it's not even worth complaining about - I'm not in any pain...it's just not fun.
I had just enough energy to prepare my Cooks' Illustrated Skillet Lasagne, and even eat a little (yum).
Hoping to feel just a little more awake today.

I remember you talking about your breast reduction but I don't recall much after that. Sounds like you have been through quite a whirlwind of events. And it sounds like you have good doctors!

Keep us posted.

...and to discuss my general "health" with my doctor, since I've been feeling so yucky.
Surprise! I'm doing GREAT hahah. My particular chemo is strong and everything I'm experiencing is what is expected. After getting the fluids I felt maybe 5% better.I did get a new prescription for a med to help with my digestive issues. It slows down peristalsis and I decided to wait until today to try it, as it sounds like a heavy-duty narcotic.
More fun! Hubby had a glass of wine and asked me to drive my car when we went to the drugstore....it wouldn't start! We looked under the hood and there was all this gross stuff on the battery. Will just call the dealer today as he was befuddled by what he saw...hopefully we can get it towed there. It's 3 years old and has never given me a day's trouble. Oh well.

Just had my third chemo this past Monday, and I'm doing better than I had expected. Fatigue isn't as bad as last time, and neither is the digestive situation.
Whenever I go to the oncologist's office, whether for my treatment or other, I'm always struck by how awful other people's situations are. Breast cancer is really nothing compared to lung or rectal. I'm SO HAPPY I gave up smoking, because the survival rates for lung cancer are way worse than for breast.
And now I'm just about halfway through my chemo!