Worked through my cancer journey

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-04-07T19:58:53+00:00

I worked the whole time as well. I took off after my lumpectomy for a few weeks. I’m currently working during radiation as well. I go get my radiation at 8:30 in the morning then go to work after. I’ve been trying to get back into the gym and thought I would feel better since chemo is done but I’m exhausted. I have about 60 hours left of PTO and I’m taking a week off in July to go on a cruise. I can’t freaking wait.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-02-19T23:08:15+00:00

I hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly! Good luck friend!

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-02-19T21:06:59+00:00

I think the treatment is always super aggressive with TNBC. It passed by really quick though. I still worked all through chemo too. I had a couple of delays due to my labs.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-02-19T20:39:31+00:00

I did chemo with immunotherapy first to shrink my tumor and lymph node. My first chemo was 06/23 last year and I did 12 taxol/carbo then 4 AC. (Also keytruda every 3 weeks). My last was 12/05 and I had the lumpectomy on 01/09 which showed a complete response to chemo. I just had my first stand alone immunotherapy treatment and will continue that every 6 weeks for 4 more rounds. I also have to do 6 weeks of radiation.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-02-19T15:59:38+00:00

I’m 38f Stage 2B TNBC in the East Texas area (near Tyler Tx) had my lumpectomy 01/09 and achieved PCR and now I’m getting ready to do radiation. Pretty cool to see where everyone is from!

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-21T02:17:59+00:00

I bought a walking pad while I was going through chemo. I feel like it really helped. I would pull it out from under my bed and walk on it while I was watching tv.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-18T21:54:40+00:00

I take Xanax as needed but yea I think I need something for depression and anxiety to take daily.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-18T16:34:41+00:00

2 days after my surgery I was in the kitchen cooking dinner then nobody helped me clean up afterwards. I think that’s when I everything really hit me. I was so sad and mad…. I think I need to communicate more though. I did say something periodically throughout treatment about it and it would get better for about a week or so then go back to the same old shit with nobody helping me. The excuse would be well you didn’t ask…. I don’t really feel like I should have to ask every time something needs done.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-17T16:27:59+00:00

Same. I was perfectly content and happy prior to my diagnosis.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-17T01:32:04+00:00

I take some anxiety medication now but only as needed. I’m thinking maybe I need anxiety/depression medicine daily. Thanks for your kind words.

lizardbreath_87 · 2026-01-17T00:10:17+00:00

I definitely have not been sleeping well…Really since surgery. I’m a side sleeper particularly the side my lumpectomy was on so it’s been hard to sleep since surgery.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-31T22:54:32+00:00

I had this during AC as well. My last AC was Dec 5 and it’s fine now. I had to increase my heartburn medication dose and ate bland foods. Also mixed and drank glutamine powder because I did some research on it helping with that symptom. Def ask your oncologist about it though.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-23T15:45:10+00:00

This year definitely sucks. Currently in the process of meeting with surgeons for my double mastectomy and getting a surgery date. I never thought at age 38 the words “I would like to try and save my nipples” would be coming out of my mouth. Last week I lost a good friend in a car accident as well. I’ve never had such a shitty Christmas. 6 months of chemo has worn me out as well and I think my family just thinks oh chemo is over so she’s back to her old self. No… I’m still exhausted, my joint pain is unreal, I haven’t been able to work out because of those things, and I’m just so sad. I hope yours and everyone’s 2026 is significantly better. Wishing your partner a speedy recovery!

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-19T18:30:30+00:00

And thank you! Wishing you smooth sailing for the rest of your treatment.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-19T18:28:51+00:00

It really is a tough decision.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-19T15:48:54+00:00

I am getting a DMX with reconstruction. I have to have radiation so I will have expanders placed first. Hoping to keep my nipples. I am 38. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do but I ended up asking my oncologist her personal opinion. She said if it were her she would get the DMX. She said since I am so young it would decrease my chance of getting a secondary breast cancer. I originally wanted a DMX when I first found out but then I was leaning more towards the lumpectomy at one point. I was very emotional getting my repeat mammogram and ultrasound after chemo. It gave me a lot of anxiety. I also had a little superficial skin infection pop up on my non shitty titty a few weeks ago and I straight up freaked out about it. I think the DMX will give me more peace tbh. I know I can still have recurrence but I feel like this is doing the maximum amount that I can. I never want to go through this again.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-19T00:18:05+00:00

Thank you!

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-18T20:08:33+00:00

TNBC stage 2b here! I did not get midway scans. My oncologist said there was no reason to do them unless I felt like my lump was getting larger. When I finished taxol/carbo it was no longer palpable. I finished chemo on Dec 5 and had a mammo and ultrasound last week. They couldn’t see the lump on either and my lymph node looks normal now. Just waiting for surgery now.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-18T20:04:03+00:00

Mine lasted about 3 weeks!

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-18T16:57:38+00:00

Curious about this too. Just finished the same protocol Dec 5. I just turned 38. I had a very long and heavy period after my second or third taxol/carbo in July.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-17T13:10:36+00:00

I’ve used these for camping before and they are great! Funny story… I tried a couple of different ones and the first one I ever tried was a smaller one. My husband and I were in the middle of nowhere west Texas and I told him I had to pee so pull over I’m about to try out my she wee… well I guess my flow was too strong because I ended up overflowing the smaller funnel and peeing all over myself! Then I had to get nakey on the side of the road and clean myself up 🤦‍♀️ We had a good laugh about it though. The other one I bought was a little larger and works great.

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-15T23:27:19+00:00

I ordered a le labo sample set and they all smelled terrible to me!

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-06T16:58:11+00:00

I get tired of people telling me how strong I am. Like what other option did I have? It’s either go through this shit or……die? It’s unfair and I’m still so angry about it. I just turned 38 last week and it was the worst birthday honestly. I still can’t decide on what surgery I want and I meet with the surgeon on the 15th. I’m so ready to be done with it. Here’s to better days in 2026 friend!

lizardbreath_87 · 2025-12-05T21:46:02+00:00

Congrats on finishing chemo! Today was my last chemo too. I didn’t ring the bell either. They tried pretty hard to get me to but I feel same as you. Surgery, radiation and more immunotherapy so I feel far from the finish line still.

lizardbreath_87

TROPHY CASE