Round 2 of Ac tomorrow. Found this fortnight quick. Also trying to reframe my attitude to chemo and look at it as medicine to fight cancer rather than the ‘red devil’ 
Gearing up for hairloss this round. I think that will be harder for me than losing my boob.
Hey @lola12 sorry you find yourself here 
I’m on the same regime as you 3 x EC and 3 x Docetaxel every 3 weeks. I have my 3rd EC in a couple of days and still have a full head covering of hair minus a thin crown but it can be easily covered with my hair back and a headband on. I still have my long curls and it’s still fairly thick despite alot of shedding! Alot of people choose to go short and I can absolutely understand why they do now because the 1st big shed when you have long and thick hair (or any hair for that matter) is devastating, it was coming out in thick fluffy handfuls on day 21 of my 1st cycle but it has slowed down alot now but I cried like a baby on day 21!! I’ve not had another big shed yet, day 19 post 2nd EC and a few ladies have said the shedding slows down drastically on docetaxel and they even noticed regrowth!! It’s helped me keep abit of normalcy because I still look the same which was really important to me as I have 2 young children (3 and 5) and I haven’t told many people (friends/school Mums), so to most of the outside world I still just look like me!
I have bought a couple of hair toppers just in case and have a back up wig too, but luckily haven’t needed them just yet! I’ll post a picture of the wig topper, it was an amazon bargain at £35 
1st 2 pictures are my hair around 17 days after 2nd EC, the last 2 are the hair topper x
Hello @buddies ! Just coming on here from the January thread (although I post in the others!) I finished TC last month and am now in the middle of radiotherapy so am happy to help if you need any support x
Brill thank you @anncuk - I’ve just had my portacath fitted today…….im having four sessions of TC and a little scared x
@buddies I totally understand your fear - I was the same and had no idea how I’d manage it - but I promise you’ll finish the 4th cycle and feel so proud of yourself for doing it!
Hi folks,
So went for my info session on the chemo ward today in prep for start date on Thursday. They presumed I had a PICC line already which I don’t. Nurse said not to worry they can administer via cannula in the meantime.
Apparently I am not having steroids the night before because of availability but will have them on the day - just wondered if that’s normal?
She also didn’t mention what drugs I would be taking home with me ie; anti-sickness etc. Do you know what I should expect?
On a more practical note, what do you all recommend I pop in my bag for my first session?
Thank you xx 
Hi, @olliek I am an SEN TA - so do mostly 121 support with a key group of pupils and specific class. I fortunately do not have the responsibilities teachers have when dealing with their own sickness/absence and covering all your roles within school.I have not been back to school since November. Had my op start of December and then a further op and now chemo… a rather longer journey than I initially thought. Looks like I won’t be back before Oct half term I fear as have radio to do after chemo (which should finish start of August) although I may try to show my face from September as I miss my working life, pupils and colleagues plus want to be back at start of the school year. I do also know I probably would not have been very good at coping with my role and my cancer at the same time so am giving myself this time to focus on getting well - all be it on statutory sick pay any minute 
Hi @puglover56 . I’m just on weekly paclitaxel and I have no steroids at home at all, just a dose on the day as part of the premeds. I’d say it depends what you’re on. They should explain it to you.
You will be given anti sickness in the premeds plus some tablets to take home if you need them. I’ve never touched mine and I’m 10 weeks in. But lots of people do need them so they’re good to have. As for other meds, again it depends what regime you’re on. I don’t get anything apart from antihistamines which were prescribed for me about 5 weeks in as I developed an allergic face rash.
There’s loads of info on all these threads about what to take with you but in summary I’d say all you really need is water, maybe snacks (though food is usually provided) and something to do - book, kindle, crosswords….and your phone. Am sure others will add into that list. That’s pretty much all I take. I’m usually there around 3 hours.
Good luck on Thursday. I had my first EC session yesterday, There wasn’t time to fit my PICC line either, so I’m booked in to have this before my 2nd session. The cannula was fine.
In terms of medicines, I was given the steroid and anti sickness 30 minutes before the infusion. I’ve been sent home with steroids, anti sickness and the injections.
In my bag I had I had lots of things I didn’t use , but it was helpful to feel prepared
A big water bottle, entertainment (book, headphones)
If you’re cold capping you’ll need conditioner and a stretchy hair band to protect your forehead.
Hope that helps!
Hi all! Start round 1 of EC- T tomorrow. 3 x EC then 3 x Docetaxel - 3 weeks apart.
Been a journey since December when I was diagnosed. Have had 2 surgeries, and will need a mastectomy now post chemotherapy as still cells in those margins! Need to park that anxiety till September.
I’ve been watching these threads since February when it was confirmed I would need chemo due to high oncotype score at 44. The tips, advice and support shown between everyone and the sense of being in it together is lovely.
I feel a mix of terrified, apprehensive and overwhelmed but also very ready and just want to crack on.
Cut my long hair yesterday to my collar bone, which despite being quite stubborn initially about doing it, and while it was emotional I don’t actually hate it. Really hoping with the cold cap and the shorter length I’ve given it a good chance.
(New) bag is packed with probably way to much stuff, all tips from those that have done this before us!
I have 3 girls (18/11/6) and really hoping this journey is easy on us all.
I was signed off for two months last week however plan to work in between cycles as much as I can. For now though the focus is on the next few days!!
Any chemo eve night rituals anyone can recommend?
Lots of love to us all!
Well done on recovering from 2 surgeries already, that’s a lot to go through. It must be frustrating to need a 3rd surgery, but if it’s helpful to hear, I had a single mascetomy with DIEP reconstruction 1 month ago and the recovery has been so much better than I expected.
It sounds like you’re ready for tomorrow. My 1st EC was in the afternoon so I made sure I went on a nice walk, had a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and drank lots of water before my appointment. I felt quite wiped out after so had an early night and woke up today feeling ok.
Good luck tomorrow!
Also, one of the senior nurses I met on the chemo ward who has had breast cancer recommended this shampoo and matching conditioner to help with loss and growth
I started cycle 1 of 6 cycles of carboplatin, docetaxel and Phesgo for HER2 positive, oestrogen and progesterone negative BC 2 days ago. Felt fine on day 1, just glad to get started. Really feeling the dexamathasone comedown today. Is that common? Felt dizzy and spaced out today, think it is all just hitting me now. Positive thoughts to everyone.
Hi @laineyb73 I’m on the same regime. Had my first session on 3rd April. Felt OK until day 3. Then diarrhoea, acid reflux, tiredness and a bitter taste in mouth. Started to feel better and more myself by about day 8. Hopefully that will be the same for you. At least having few weeks between sessions gives your body a chance to recover.
Unfortunately though I developed a temperature of 38.4 on Saturday night. Phoned the emergency number and was advised to go to A&E. Expected it to be heaving at 11pm on a Saturday but is was really quiet! They were expecting me and started blood tests etc straightway. Also gave me IV antibiotics without knowing results. I was transferred to the cancer assessment unit where I stayed until Tuesday evening. My temperature kept spiking at around 38 which is obviously the threshold. None of the tests found a cause of infection. So they let me home armed with oral antibiotics. They phone me every day for 3 days. Things finally seem to have settled down today thank goodness! I asked the oncologist who agreed discharge if it could be the chemo/Phesgo itself. She said it could be but they always treat as if an infection. I’m concerned it might delay my next session (24 April) as white blood cells have to recover sufficiently first. They gave me a Filgrastim injection to boost them.
Not the smoothest start to my chemo journey but it was reassuring the ‘system’ works and I received great care. Fingers crossed round 2 will be less problematic!
Hi @cami3 i am in a similar situation to you - 35 & no kids. Due to start Chemo on the 23rd and I’ve been pretty stressed about fertility and what to do (my fertility referral got messed up so have ended up choosing not to do embryo freezing to avoid further delaying my chemo).
If you ever want to chat I’m here 
feel free to message me.
my oncologist yesterday said in his years of experience he’s seen many women go through chemo and long treatment regimens and still had pregnancies afterwards.
What’s your chemo treatment plan?
And to everyone else thanks for sharing your insights/tips/fears/hope. Helps me feel less alone and it’s comforting to see the same mixture of feelings in other people. Having my first ovary suppression injection tomorrow ahead of chemo so feeling a bit nervous about that as not sure what to expect 
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to share two Etsy shops I found that might help you feel more confident in your new look 
Personally, I don’t plan to wear a wig—I’m going to embrace scarves and my bald head, paired with some bold earrings. Nothing against wigs at all; I just haven’t found one I love yet.
If you have any wig shops you recommend, please share
LadyAlopecia and HailingCrafts
Hi everyone
Joining the thread as I had my first oncology appointment yesterday and will be starting 3x3 weekly EC and 12 weekly paclitaxel on 24th April.
I was diagnosed with stage 1, grade 3 TNBC in November and underwent surgery for a lumpectomy and SLNB with 5 lymph nodes tested in December. Thankfully margins and nodes came back all clear in January and I was told there would be potentially up to a 12 week wait for the recommended course of adjuvant chemo.
And now, after 3 months of nothing, it’s back to having a ton of cancer stuff to do all at once and it’s been quite the whirlwind!
I was a bit iffy about whether to go through with the chemo at all, however I’m not sure how I would live with myself if it came back at a later date and I hadn’t done everything I possibly could to prevent it so I’m now happy I’m doing the right thing for me even though it might not be the easy thing.
I hope everyone’s treatment goes as smoothly as possible and I’ll look forward reading all of your updates. x
Thank you, I am planning the same, although I do like the idea of a bucket hat with some hair attached round the bottom to give the illusion 
I will have a look at your recommendation x
I was just wondering what those who work are doing during treatment?
At my first in-depth discussion with my BCN when I was diagnosed back in November, she advised I don’t physically go into work as I work in a busy office in a front of house role and the office is also located a good distance away from the town I live in, involving a train commute at either end during rush hour.
However a different nurse was present at my first oncology appointment yesterday and I raised the issue again but didn’t get anything concrete from her.
I’m planning on contacting my BCN to discuss again as I want to know medically what the best thing to do is, but really was just interested to see how others were navigating this?
Thanks in advance.
