Just diagnosed with breast cancer

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Here is one I have not seen before...I am going into my last semester (2 exams, 2 clinicals and 2 weeks to go this semester) of NS and have just been diagnosed with bilatereral breast cancer. I am having a double mastectomy over winter break and it is my intention to return in January. Yes, I am insane if you are asking yourself that question...I am also going through a divorce and have a teenager at home.

My question is...Have any of you heard of someone going through school and undergoing chemo? I know nurses are tough and I am determined. I am willing to give it my all and if I can't do it return next year. My health is number one. Any suggestions or histories to share would be great....Thanks.:uhoh21:

RN2BNTN,

I read your last post and burst into tears of happiness. I have been pulling for you, and you are such an inspiration. You really went through a lot and yet you made it through it all. :bowingpur You are an amazing woman with a giant :redbeathe. You are going to be an amazing nurse. :nurse: When I am stressed and feel like I can't do it, I will think about you. Thank you for sharing your struggles with all of us. Congratulations to you for perservering and getting through nursing school. I would love for you to post the text of your benediction speech after you give it.

A big hug to you, and wishes for health and happiness.

Best regards,

Jean

Thank you so much for your support. Believe me, when I saw my final exam grade was a passing one I broke down in tears myself. I am back to these boards for the encouragement and advise to pass the NCLEX. I am doing my management rotation/preceptorship on the floor that I was on after my surgery, not real thrilled with that but it's only 7/12 hour shifts each one day at a time. I will be happy to post my speech after I givve it.

Again thanks for your posts, they truly meant so much to me.

Laureen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

HI! I just saw this post by chance and started reading and couldn't stop, lol! I just wanted to tell you that u are one AMAZING woman, along w/ the others that have battled cancer in NS!! I wish you the best and CONGRATULATIONS on making it through NS!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::bow::bow::bow::bow::bow:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.
Hi Everyone,

It looks like I have made it and have joined the ranks of SURVIVOR...I have finished chemo and after a meeting of the minds I will not need radiation therapy after all. :anpom:. It feels so strange, not scheduling my life around the next Drs. visit or worrying about being neutopenic.

I think my greatest news is that I PASSED NURSING SCHOOL...Our final was Monday. I WILL be walking across that stage May 2nd. :bowingpur. I have been honored with being asked to give the Benediction at our pinning so I am working on that. I have been so blessed during this crazy journey to have so many wonderful people praying for me and being so supportive.

On to State Boards. WOO HOO.....

I have been following your journey and am so in awe of you.

I admire your sheer grit and determination.

I have tears of happiness and joy for you in my heart.

May you be the most passionate nurse out there and put in to practice what you have learnt on your own journey. :yeah:

CONGRATULATIONS to you my dear :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

YEAY RN2B in Tennessee! Your post made my day; it was a tough one up until now. It's been a crappy week period. But your good news reminded me just now that there are more important things to focus on than trivial setbacks.

I've been praying for you all this Spring (imagining how chilly and green the rolling hills of TN are this time of year) and whenever I heard Bob Marley sing, "Every little thing, gonna be all right."

I've been praying for you to have a good outcome and for reaching your graduation goal (YEAY!)....and have been wondering from time to time if you were doing OK and that all the other crap you were dealing with on top of the stress of nursing school wasn't suppressing your immune system so you could heal and not become too neutropenic. And, it sounds like you had your fair share of low WBC as I suspected you would--so you didn't fly by as I had hoped for you --but you did well enough to graduate Girl! YEAY!

I was going thru extreme stress while going through my Breast Cancer journey, and I think that's why I ended up with such profound side effects. I could have never stayed on top of a full course load--I was just going thru my chemistries then.

But now, here you be Sister Friend--a survivor just like me! You are a changed person down to your DNA--newly forged from steel. You have newly minted cells that you are going to tell every night before you go to bed (stay healthy-stay strong - stay loyal to me). This experience, as painful as it's been, will make you a better person. And, you may just get a new head of curly hair--I did!

Tanti Brachi Caldi (many warm hugs in Italian because it's more from the heart)

Bertolozzi

PS: If you ever want to come visit the SF/Bay Area Miss TN, you have an invitation to come stay with me Sister Girl.

WE ARE SURVIVORS! God Bless Us All.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Girl,

Your heartfelt response made my day as well. I will be in LA in June, I just might have to drive up North to see you. Hopefully, I will be a single lady by then as well.

I am hitting the health food market to try to clear chemo brain as quickly as possible to stay focused for NCLEX. Lots of antioxidants. It was amazing to eat so many of the foods I missed during treatment, you know the things you can't have with an ANC less than 500..berries, spinach, sushi, and this incredible fresh OJ they have at this market I love (unpasteurized)It is strange though, I do feel different down to my cellular level. Now I have to drop the steroid weight....UGHH....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele.

you are my hero, truly my hero.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Sent you a PM--

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations on passing & of course, completing your chemo. I just discovered your posts & have been catching up on your experiences.

I, too have been diagnosed with BC. Fortunately, the lump was found shortly after I graduated. I don't think I could have done what you did while finishing school.

I just had my 3rd of 4 treatments, also Taxatere & Cytoxin. I have been fortunate in that I've had no nausea but lots of neutropenia that has prevented me from working some days in the clinic. I spent 3 days in the hospital after I picked up a nasty URI that has been going around here lately.

My big fear is chemo brain. I am still orientating at my job & really need all the help I can get.

Good luck & enjoy your graduation.

Dixie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats on passing nursing school and it sounds like your boards! I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Yes, chemo brain was and is an issue. I did drop down to a C average on my tests but I kept telling myself that C=RN as far as my test grades went. I finished with a B. My recall is really poor so I am extemely nervous about boards. The great thing is though that at 5 weeks post chemo I really feel, and hear from my friends that I sound like me again.

I am not having too much trouble keeping focused and organized on the floor during my final rotation. Hang in there sister, you are going to make it. Please feel free to PM me at any time. I hope you are taking advantagge of any resources your community has available. The ACS, Y ME and our local hospitals were awesome resources for me.

Will you have to have radiation as well? Hang in there only one more TX to go!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I admired you determination, I am a 11 year survivor and don't know if I could have kept up with nursing school. You are amazing, the boards will be easy after all you have been through.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, that's all just wow!! I just want to wish you the best in everything and anything else that is involved this journey. I also want to Thank you, every time I think I've got too much going and just can't study anymore I'll be reminded of the determination you have. I pray for you and your children and hope that I can have a smidgen of your courage, strength, and determination. :icon_hug:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Will you have to have radiation as well? Hang in there only one more TX to go!

Fortunately, not. The only reason I needed chemo was because I am a double negative. (estrogen & progesterone receptive neg). I chose a mastectomy to avoid radiation. I live in Iowa & our winter was very hard this year. There is no way I could have driven to the cancer treatment center for daily radiation treatments.

It's good to hear that chemo brain improves. I need all the help I can get. Oh, yes, I did pass my boards. Of course, that was prior to my diagnosis. Don't worry. You know what you have to do. You may need to study harder than you would have but you'll do it.

Dixie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment