Hiya, i am having tchp, i am having my 2nd session tomorrow. Well mine is docetaxel, carbolplatin and phesgo. I am her 2 + and er +. I havent cold capped. I had alot of thick hair but i suffer with migraines and also didnt want to be there for the extra 2 hours or whatever it would be with the cold cap. X
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I did shave it off @olliek , only because it was bob length and coming out in handfuls all round the house, on my clothes and pillow and in the shower. I possibly didnāt need to as it clearly hasnāt all fallen out at all, is just thinner. But the rate it was falling out then plus they told me Iād lose my hair just made me think I should do it. Am still getting used to the cold head though! Am hoping as I say that my fuzz will grow now and I wonāt be completely bald. Hope it works out for you too!
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Hi 
,
I start next week on docetaxol and phesgo and have also decided not to cold cap. I have pretty thick hair and just keeping my fingers crossed it comes back as I am post menopausal 
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Good luck lovely! I am sure you are prepared but please message me if you want to ask anything x
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Hello April starters, I hope everyone is doing ok and managing to enjoy the sunshine.
The hospital confirmed today that I will start chemo next week.
I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer on December 31st (not a very Happy New Year!), and had a single mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction and node clearance 4 weeks ago.
I have been reading lots of the threads on this forum since my first appointment, and have found it so valuable- itās amazing to be able to speak to others going through similar experiences.
I have a 4 year old and 1 year old, and itās been reassuring to read about others going through treatment with young children.
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Hello fellow warriors! Thank you all for sharing. Itās really helpful to hear how you are all managing on this journey. I will be starting chemo within the next couple of weeks. Iām HER2+ and will be having neo-adjuvant therapy of Taxol/Carbol 6x 3 weekly, with Phesgo 12x 3 weekly. Surgery will take place after chemo. Is anyone on the same regime, and if so, how are you finding it?
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Hi everyone,
Iāve been reading for a bit and thought Iād say hi. Iām Nicola am 40, diagnosed in December with IDC (ER/PR positive, grade 3, Oncotype 44).
Iāve got three girls (19, 11 and 6) they keep me going, but I do feel so bad that theyāre having to go through this with me too.
So far Iāve had two surgeries ā one in January and another in March, but margins still arenāt clear, so the plan is chemo first (3 EC and 3 docetaxel), then a mastectomy afterwards with DIEP.
Iām due to start chemo next Thursday, with pre-assessment Monday and a heart scan Tuesday.
I was initially treated through the NHS for diagnosis and surgeries and honestly had wonderful care. However, Iāve been waiting since mid-February to see oncology, and after speaking with my NHS consultant, he actually encouraged us to move over to private care through my husbandās medical insurance, which we hadnāt originally considered. So here we are.
Iāve got long hair and Iām pretty apprehensive about that part of the journey. Iāll be trying scalp cooling and hoping it helps.
Spending the next week getting all the bits sorted ā any tips would be really gratefully received.
Still getting my head around everything, but this forum has already helped a lot.
Sending love 
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Hi @ellie2 sorry you also find yourself here! I am her2 + and er + and i started chemo on 20th march, so only a bit ahead of you. I have docetaxel, carboplatin & phesgo injections, every 3 weeks (if all is well) 6 sessions. Im 42 so mine wasnt found through mammogram but more areas where found through the scans x
Hi @lola12 sorry you find yourself here! I am 42 but on a diff chemo regime to you, got my 2nd session tomorrow. I havent cold capped as for me i suffer with migraines and i didnt want the added time to be there also but there will be alot of advice from Other people that have/are cold capping so dont worry. If you look prelovedreloved they have scalp cooling packs and lots of other things u might need, some things are brand new x.
Hello Everyone,
Starting my chemo April 17th. I am 33. No kids. All I can think about is my ovaries 
. Is anyone else worried about fertility damage?
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Hi, Iām 49 and was diagnosed HER2+ in January. I had gone to my PCP for HRT. She insisted I get my preventative screenings up to date. Lo and behold, they found two small tumors during mammogram, confirmed with biobsy - no symptoms, no lumps. I had lumpectomy, port placement and onco-plastic reduction all in one surgery in Feb.
Today I had my second taxol infusion. Last week (taxol/herceptin), my symptoms were low grade nausea (if my stomach was empty), slight headache, pretty painful joint pain in the evenings. The nurse said today thatās what to expect from here on out.
Curious if Iāll lose my hair. Read at some point that if your scalp starts tingling, that may be the start of it. Itās tingling as I write this. Not terribly worried . Iām a marathon runner in FL. My hair has always been a struggle during training and stays in a ponytail 85% of the time.
Thatās my story. I have a great support system. Iām just counting the days until I can return to my running group and that the steroids donāt cause much more weight gain (hence the HRT that started all this!) before the happens. I can now only wear my stretchy pants and I am about sized out of them!
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Hi Lola, you know my hairloss adviceā¦ cut it as short as you can possibly do it before that first cold cap. I know its hard and you dont want to but it will make things easier as you go through it. The hair doesnt just fall out, it becomes very weak at the edge of your scalp. So any brushing or washing could pull more out than you want. If I comb my hair it comes out, if I leave it, it stays put. The less you need to touch your hair the better
Get yourself a silk/satin pillow case, despite my hair coming out in flurries when I blow dried it yesterday (on the coldest setting but I wont do that again) ive woken up with non on my pillow this morning so it does help.
Get yourself some really gentle, as natural as possible hair shampoo/condition, though if you go pixie short you wont need it much. After cold capping you can rinse and leave it haha Itās so easy having short hair I might never grow mine long again!
Only wash your hair with cold/warm water because a combination of the cold cap and the chemo makes your scalp really sensitive and itchy. Another reason for cutting it short, after my first round I wouldnāt have been able to brush it. Instead ive got a wide tooth comb to gently go through it.
For mascara, find a water based one that comes off with just a splash of water. You dont want any unnecessary rubbing of your eyelashes or eyebrows, 3 rounds in and mine are hanging on. But less is more. Be ready to embrace your more natural godess look. I promise you get used to it. And remember itās not forever, its just for now. I hate wearing loads of make up in the summer so its a good season for less is more.
When they put your cold cap on they spray your hair so its wet, they also put a conditioner on it for you so if you want to take your own you can. I went for a coconut spray leave in conditioner.
If you can find yourself a heated blanket, one with a battery pack that will come in handy. You will have a cold head but the rest of you can stay relatively warm under a blanket. (It might be worth you asking them as for private care they might have it all for you which would be nice)
So as short as possible, and less is more I might be delaying the inevitable but having short boy hair is better for me at the moment especially since I decided not to find a wig. My worst hair days are now my best and I can walk in public, head held high without a care now. No one knows what my hair looked like before, no one even cares. And I posted pics of my haircut on Facebook so no one was jump scared if they saw me haha
Lots of love
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@woods2 it sounds like Iām on same regime as you. I started in February so am moonlighting on this thread 
. Weekly paclitaxel (the same as taxol), 3 weekly injection of trastazumab (same as what youāre on, for HER2+). I was also a runner (ultras back in the day but in last 10 years shorter distances, also loads of walking, spinning, weight trainingā¦.). Iām 56 and had mastectomy last November, all clear margins and no node involvement.
I didnāt cold cap but cut my hair shorter - it started falling out about 3 weeks in. However, Iām having chemo no.9 today and itās stopped falling out and has even started regrowing (I shaved it when it fell out). So thereās hope on this drug. I was also able to continue with a lot of exercise until about a week ago when the cumulative effects of fatigue and mild aches caught up with me. Am still walking every day. Keep an eye on your HR as mine spiked when I ran so Iāve stopped (for now!). Stress on body I think.
My only other side effects (from both drugs) are occasional headaches, loss of nasal hair and very sensitive nasal tissues meaning my nose bleeds a little each morning (put Vaseline up your nose, reason it bleeds is because itās dry as no hair to trap moisture), facial rash (allergic reaction to paclitaxel which is now well controlled with mega dose antihistamines). No bowel issues, nausea, sickness and only mild fatigue. Taxols are well tolerated and if you were fit and well to start with I think youāll be fine overall.
Steroids - I only get given one in my premeds on infusion day, none to take home. So I just have the one bad night of sleep and Iāve put no weight on at all in 2.5 months. Are you having more steroids than that? It does seem to be a postcode lottery what you get given!!
If thereās anything you want to ask about this regime Iām happy to share my experience so far 
.
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@olliek Thank you Iām actually feeling a bit better today (Day 8). Wig shop visit this afternoon 
Do hope all goes well for you when you start your treatment later this month x
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Hi @foxgem
My treatment path looks to be similar or the same as yours (4 x EC dose dense every two weeks, then 4 x paclitaxel every two weeks), so your updates have been so helpful, thanks 
I start on 22/4 so just over a week to go, had a portacath fitted on Wednesday in readiness. Hair cut next week. Just want to get on now but am dreading it in equal measure.
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Hello
Welcome to the newcomers in the group and for sharing your journies and thank you to the earlier starters for the updates- it helps us so much.
Iām laughing foxgem as Iāve just done everything you advised! Had a pixie cut at teatime yesterday- still a shock when I pass a mirrorā
- my lovely hairdresser also brought a beautiful wig from a client who has completed her journey. Then online to order a silk pillowcase and Iāve just washed a warm blanket to take for my 2nd round as I got a bit cold last time! Iāve felt really well most of the time since my first ec. Doing everything as normalā
A bit spaced out for the first few days but luckily not felt ill at all. have had daily walks and visited parks with our Grandchildren, even managed a big shop yesterday . Iām still getting a bit of unbalance but nothing too bad.
Thank you for the advice to just carry on as normal, but sensibly- thatās really helpedā
Best wishes for the first timers soon to start. I found it nowhere near as bad as I anticipated and you will be looked after so well on the day .
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Sam
Sorry to hear you have had to pause your exercise regime. That must be a blow for you but Iām sure you will be back on track as soon as you feel well enough. Youāve spurred me on these last 2 weeks to keep moving as much as possible through all this! It really does make you feel better.
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Yes thatās the same regime as me. Getting to the first one was awful and it really hit me, I was very spaced out for a few days. But the last 2 have been much better. Each one thereās a little less dread and the side effects are more manageable. If we keep moving our bodies, even just a little bit, just a 10 minute walk and try to eat as well as possible I think our bodies can adapt really well. And hydrate, drink as much fluids as possible
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Thatās really helpful thanks. Itās so useful to see all of your comments in terms of trying to work out whatās to come. Iām struggling generally with the lack of control (I love a spreadsheet and Iām a teenage boy mum - so I do a lot of organising) so itās helpful to get a sense of what might be next. Thanks
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Hi Iām starting TC chemo on the 27th, Iām TNBC this is my second bc diagnosis, so I different regime than last anyone has the same chemo?
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