Welcome aboard Diggy, you’ve come to the right place, you’ll get lots of support here and make new friends. I had WLE & ANC surgery on 9/2 and start chemo Fec-t next Tuesday.
on countdown, just want to get on that chemo train so I can count the weeks til I get off again. We’re all going through the same thing on here soo it’s good to learn from others experiences.
take care xx
Hi Diggy and welcome,
I’m also grade 3 and HER2+++. My regime is TCH (Docetaxel and Carboplatin x 6 and Herceptin x 18). I start on 8th April with the loading dose of Herceptin, then chemo on 9th April.
I thought some of you AAA’s might be interested in the Lancashire chemotherapy protocols. This link has links on to the various regimes. Most of you will be on the FEC or the FEC100, which includes FEC-T. You can see what the various protocols for each of the regimes. cancerlancashire.org.uk/your-network/Resources/professional/ChemotherapyProtocols/Chemotherapyprotocolbreast.php
Linda xxx
I think my hair is shredding, last night my scalp was sore and if I pulled on some hair it came out? I feel anxious about thiis. I am on my first chemo towards the end of the cycle next one on the 2nd of April. I intend to use the cold cap again. Feel low today.
Debra.
I’m mum of two (15 & 17yrs) married with a lovely husband and 46. I was sat devestated in front of the Dr last Tuesday who told me I have stage 2 BC in the right breast with lymph gland involvement. They tell me the lump is 4.5cm and on monday I had a marker or coil put into the middle of it so that they can monitor how it shrinks after chemo. Only then will it be removed and then I can have reconstructive surgery. Has anyone had things done this way round. I have mostly heard of massectomy then chemo. I start chemo in two weeks. Lv to you all. xxx
Hi PrimroseHill, welcome to the AAAs, there are quite a few people on this and other forums having chemo first so you are not alone! I had hormone therapy before surgery (they didn’t think i’d need chemo) it worked in that it shrunk enough so they got clear margins in my WLE but it was in lymph nodes so Chemo it is 
Day 1 on The Chemo Coaster!!
Hi everyone had my first session this morning it lasted 9-11am.
I had a terrific nurse and my OH came with me and is a huge support to me!
Started off with Epirubicin (pink fluid) - the only effect was that it felt quite cold going in, nurse gave me a little heat pad for my arm which felt lovely.
The second infusion was Cyclophosphadine (clear fluid) - the effects with this one were a little strange, a tigly/prickly feeling ‘down below’ in nether region and also on my head, this only lasted a few minutes…we had a giggle as I was squirming in my seat!!
The third infusion was Flourouracil (clear fluid, 5FU) - the effect with this one was a strange fuzzy feeling in my head and nose, bit like synusitus or feeling you get when a head cold is starting. I had a little break part way through on this infusion just for the effects to ease a little.
I’m not really sure what I expected from my first cycle but I felt OK.
I’m a few hours into a fuzzy headache but not feeling nauseous so that is a bonus.
I will keep you posted with how I’m feeling if it helps others to have an idea of what to expect.
Welcome to our new member’s, glad to have you with us and hope you find the support and advice that you need.
Amber - thanks for your good wishes and best of luck looking after the dogs, I am sure you will manage really well.
Debra - sorry to hear about your hair thining so soon. Keep up with the cap, I read about s girl who had hair thinning with the cap but she did not lose it all, I will try and remember what book it was in and let you know. I wish you good luck and a successful result with the cap. Try not to pull at it and wash it and brush less frequently than you normally would.
Linda - thanks for the link to the protocol info this will be interesting reading over next day or so…feeling just a little too tired to sit in front of PC this afternoon.
Pauline & All - just to say I had another annabandana and bohemia headwear order arrived today and is great I can reccomend the 3 seams padded front bandana from bohemia and little scarves with detachable flower from annabandana…had them on for a preview straight away.
I’m going to sign off now and hope to link back in tomorrow.
Hope your all doing ok, thinking about you all!
Love Lori xx
Thanks Lola and amber for your welcome. I’m planning a haircut next week - pixie style - easier to look after while still there. Bought a ‘handy band’ from sea salt (and matching top!) to wear on my head if/when needed. Someone who had chemo suggested taking along a laptop to look at photos of happy times and beautiful places to make the time pass. Planning to do that with my partner. Yes I want to get started too to get it over.
Dear Lori
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Hope the headache goes soon. Wishing you a restful night. X diggy
hi all,
in april i am going to have neodjuvant chemotherapy EC + TAXOL . i am LBC ER+, HER2-
since Jan. on Tamox/zoladex which apparently not shrinking the tumor.
- has anyone done Chemosensitivity Assay / test ?
- is there any labs or med. establishments which offer RAD51 and or A207 gene tests?
any help appreciated.
mery
Thank you Zuzy and all of you in Awesome Aprils. I hope you don’t mind my joining you and I know I’m at the begining of what is looking to be a long journey. (Start Chemo in two weeks), have two scans first to make sure it has not gone any further next wed & sat will let you no how I get on. What does WLE mean? Also my oncologist explained everything about what type of chemo I was going to be on and for how long and that I needed a course of injections in my tummy before I start. Does this happen before evey cycle? I was completly mute and everything went in one ear and straight out the other with absolutley nothing registering apart from it’s a serious desease but you can get through it. (This is the only part I can remember getting up and giving her a hug). Luckily I took my best friend who spelt everything out after we got out. Is there really a chemo fog? Ive got it already and I havn’t even started yet.
Lv to you all and thanks again.
Sandy xxx
Update on drains - apparently they’ll be in till Sunday! Not A happy Angel!
Mary , I had tamoxifen and zoladex too, did work for me but still need chemo now anyway, don’t know anything about the tests you mention, sorry!
Sandy , WLE is Wide Local Excision (basically a lumpectomy), I don’t know what my chemo will be yet, seeing surgeon to check up on op results next Friday then onc after that
Lori , glad it wen well, hope SEs are kind to you
Debra , fingers crossed for you and the cold cap
Everyone, hope you are well and have a lovely Easter
xxx
So sorry about drains, Zuzy - had mine for a week. You’ll feel amazing on Sunday, I’m sure!
Virtual hug
Wendy x
Welcome, Primrose Hill and Diggywiggy.
Thanks for your first chemo account, Lori - glad it wasn’t too awful and may your side effects be minimal.
Went for MUGA heart scan today - something else ticked off the list. Also ordered some stuff fom Annabandana which means, I suppose, I’m no longer in denial about chemo. Having portacath fitted on Tuesday -absolutely terrified cos it’s only a local anaesthetic and I am a panicky wimp! Anyone else had this yet? Would love to hear reassuring experiences!
Off to the lovely (cold!) Lake District for 4 days, during which I’m going to try my damnedest to pretend life is normal.
Have a wonderful weekend, awesome ones. 
Wendy xx
Evening Angels,
Linda- you are a wealth of knowledge, that chemo link is excellent
Primrosehill & Mery- welcome to the gang
Debra - will think of you on the 2nd as I get my first cycle, Iam worried about my hair too, but have decided to take control and cut it when I start to feel my scalp becoming sore.
Lori - well done on day 1, thanks for posting, will compare notes next week
Just topping up another glass of red and more choccy, have urge to be good to myself or am I trying to justify being greedy lol,
have a lovely night xxx
Good evening AAAs
oh dear looks like I gone and got me a seroma
off to mope.
Love LS xxxx
Hi AAAs
Room for one more ?
I will be starting my chemo TAC on 5th April
Bit worried but at the same time keen to get started
I was diagnosed in Jan with dci with some micro invasive cells the dr described it as tiny clusters of cells
I have had a skin saving masectomy with expander implant. Then node removal afterwards 5/29
I am keeping positive and have lots of family and freinds support but thought it would be nice to have contact with others who are going through the same thing
I am waiting to hear back from the BC nurse about trying the cold cap with TAC otherwise its hats and maybe a wig as I won’t be a pretty sight without hair, mind you if the weather stays this cold then it will be woolly hats or maybe a balaclava!
x
Hi everyone,
My appointment with the Oncologist has come through for Tuesday next week. Whilst I am glad to be moving forward with things I am very nervous about everything. I’m having my hair cut into a Pixie crop today, which I’m kind of looking forward to. I’ve not had a short haircut since I was 14. At least I get to try something new out before I lose my hair 
I really don’t like the cold much so the cold cap sounds like torture to me, wimp that I am 
.
Thank you for posting about your first cycle Lori. I hope you’re feeling better today.
Hello Littlescoot, I also have a seroma - was due to start chemo on March but having had seroma drained 3 times it seems to be settling and my new start date is 12th April… Grrr I just want to get it over with. Would like to join this April group as we go through this. Hope you are all OK and get a chance to relax over the Easter weekend. NB x
Just popping in from valentines thread just to mention most of us valentines have suffered with a toxic / burning stomach or acid reflux / indigestion , the best thing we’ve been given for this is Omoprazole which u can get from your gp , i started taking it halfway through Fec 1 & it’s a godsend , I first thought it was just one of those SE’s that u had to tolerate but it’s not , can’t recommend Omoprazole enough I take it every day now , you can always check with your onc first that its ok !
Good luck to you all on your journey & if anyone needs any advice just ask we are a friendly lot x
Hi everyone -
Sorry to hear about the seroma’s girls I hope these are not a huge problem for you or delay your treatment too much…not that the treatment is all that but I’m sure we all want to get it over with.
Day 2 on the Chemo Coaster is not too bad at the moment although the headache I developed y’day about 2pm did not let up until lunchtime today. The paracetamol done next to nothing for the headache so back on the tramadol!! I also had nausea and alot of reflux…Unfortunately I had absolutely no sleep last night so although I have some respite from the side effects I’m feeling very tired. I guess the anti sickness and steroid tablets are not working too badly for me going by other posts I am not suffering as much as some folks.
I had my 24hr post Chemo injection done at home that was painless. Hope I can continue through without any more effects but we will see what happens!!!
Hope you all have a great Easter Weekend! Best wishes,
Lori