Hello!
that’s really kind, thank you.
I have a small local infection from my port fitting so I’ve missed chemo this week but I feel okay. Tired, foggy, and achey but okay.
How are you?
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This made me feel a lot better.
I started last week but I’ve had to miss this week due to a small local infection on my port incision.
I’m managing side effects but it just feels like December is so far away.
Congratulations for being at the end of regimen 1!
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@aimee11 my first chemo is Weds next week and I’m trying the cold cap too - did you find it really unpleasant? I’m hoping it will be ok! I’ve heard it’s the first ten minutes that’s not too nice but you get used to it? It’s forecast to be 29 here next week so the cold might be welcome!
Hi everyone found out I have breast cancer on Monday this week, due to visit the chemo centre on Friday all abit overwhelming to be honest. We are going way to wales for the weekend afterwards all I want to do is hide away to be honest. We have got tickets for the trampoline place in the cave 5yr old very excited! Me not so much before this really not now x
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Oh no, I sorry to hear you’re having to deal with an infection on top of the chemo. I hope you’re feeling ok despite it all 
I am ok thanks, getting PICC line fitted tomorrow and starting chemo Friday! It’s starting to feel more real. You would think after 2 surgeries it would have already sunk in by now!
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Hi @titch1,
The diagnosis is a lot to take in but to also be visiting the chemo unit this week, no wonder you’re feeling overwhelmed.
It is understandable that you just want to hide away but I hope trip to Wales gives you a bit of a breather while you enjoying watching the wee one bouncing about.
I hope Friday goes ok at the chemo unit visit as well.
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Hello all,
Reporting in (at 3am, thank you steroids) following my first chemo session.
I’m on a similar regimen to @mssteel & @maxibon: Started in August on a 12 week regimen of weekly sessions of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel with Keytruda in every 3rd session, followed by EC for 12 weeks being administered every 3 weeks, along with the Keytruda.
It’s a lot!
And sadly will take me way past Christmas but that’s ok, it just means that for once I get to dictate how we spend it, haha! In all seriousness I’ve decided not to have an end date in mind cos I know things can change so just trying to do the whole day by day thing.
Speaking of, first day was ok! I drank an absolute tonne of water, ate healthily the night before (salmon & lentils anyone?) went on a walk after the treatment and had a good soup (chicken broth) in the evening.
I was able to work albeit very very slowly during the treatment itself and afterwards.
Only side effects were dry mouth and then in the evening I got very peckish and ate half a tub of ice cream, a lot of chocolate and some crackers - again thank you steroids!
Oh and being awake now of course. But I’m doing ok thus far.
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@chacha, I hear you on the steroids! I probably only sleep a couple of hours on the night of the treatment, but weirdly feel amazing the day after, which happily falls on a Saturday for me, so if it works out like that for you too, hopefully you’ll have a good day today. Not going to lie, this is routinely for me followed by a crash, but I just go with it and have so far got through it just fine every time. I also eat super healthily when I feel like it and eat in a more, shall we say, fun way other times and sometimes a combo of the two. It sounds from your post like you have a pretty roll with the punches attitude which is, in my opinion, invaluable when it comes to this treatment as it can be a bit of a twisty ride!
I didn’t bother looking to the finish line in the early days either and I’ve always focused more on being in it and making the best of it as much as I can, even the tough days. I can honestly say it seems to have whizzed by. I am now getting a little giddy though as after tomorrow’s Pac, I just have 7 weeks to go!
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That is awesome news! Yes I appreciate the apparent possible contradiction but I’m dead pleased for you!
Thanks for the additional info. Yeah it seems like my side effects, so far, are matching yours (and those of a new friend with the exact same cancer and treatment who is much further along, having just finished all treatment, including surgery and radiation. I’ll try and get her to sign up here to share her invaluable experience)
I signed up to have my treatment day on Weds in the hope I had a good couple of days to work from home
Thursday and Friday followed by a rough weekend and then hopefully followed by working again (maybe even in office?) on Monday Tuesday. Do you think this is at all feasible?
I know it sounds mad but just prior to my diagnosis I landed my dream job after years of horrible ones. They’re being really cool about it but I want to work cos I love it. But I do need to be honest with them so any hints about what I can realistically expect are super helpful!
Thank you!
On the subject of work, I think it’s totally feasible that you might be able to work from home or even from the office. I met a young woman in chemo a few weeks ago who still goes into the office full time without issue and loads who work from home at least part time. I think the fact that you love your job will go a long way as to whether you’re able to work too and it could be an asset to how well you get on with treatment.
I would check with your team if you haven’t already if they think physically going into your office is a good idea as your immune system can take a hit during treatment so depending on your job role, your office setup and how you get to work, they might advise against it. My job is a very in-person, front of house role with lots of contact with everyone and anyone plus a busy train commute either end so I was advised against working from the office. There’s next to no work I can reasonably do from home and I am a bit meh about my job to be honest - a sort of don’t hate it but don’t love it either situation! - so I’ve taken the time off as sick leave to focus 100% on treatment.
It might be handy for you if your employer can be somewhat flexible about when you do and don’t work and maybe give them a heads up that it might be a case of trial and error. I found that the Paclitaxel only infusions for me have followed quite a predictable pattern for how I feel in the week afterwards, but the Pembro/Pac/Carbo combo threw up some surprises each cycle and I did feel worse for longer as they went on. I will add though that this year’s heat has exacerbated things massively for me. I’m definitely of the opinion that chemo and Summer do not mix!
That’s awesome thank you so much. I really appreciate the insight as I know it’s linked so much to the specific drugs!
I’m on a mega combo of Paclitaxel and Carboplatin every week so unfortunately it looks like I’m in for some surprises but hell I’ll just go with it.
Your advice is invaluable thank you.
And to everyone else, I sincerely advise everyone try and find your treatment buddies as the different drugs do such different things!
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Hello Everyone 
I wanted to pop on here to introduce myself, and sending you all the comfort and well wishes 
Nothing turns your world upside down quite like this and it can be so overwhelming.
I was diagnosed with Grade 2 HER+
I began my own chemo journey on the 1st of May, and due to have my last (cross every body part!) chemo on the 17th of August.
I was given EC and currently on Docetaxel - I cold capped for three sessions.
The community on here is wonderful, so please do have a read of previous threads - everyone I’ve interacted with here are all wonderful and here to support
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