Thanks for this thread. I’ve just been to see the Onc and given loads of information. I’ve had WLE, all clear round the edges, Sentinal node removed with one other and all clear. I’m lucky so far. Then bombshell of change from Grade 2 to Grade 3. I’d been coping well until then and this really threw me. So i’ve been given the stats by the onc and have to make a decision with help of OH as to whether or not to go for Chemo. I’ll be having Radio and Hormone tabs and the chemo will increase my already reasonably good survival rate over 10 years slightly. Another 3%. It might seem a small percentage improvement but it all helps doesn’t it? It’s helping me to read of your experience with chemo, to make my decision. I won’t ask what would you do as most of you don’t have the choice. It’s hard isn’t it. It’s losing my hair that is the most worrying for me. Guess I am vainer than I thought.
Hi Hipchick!
I had the last of 6 chemo treatments on 9th March.
Back in November I was given the choice of having chemo or not as only one node was effected.
I decided to have the treatment as I wouldn’t forgive myself if I hadn’t done every thing I could to lessen the chances of it going somewhere else inside me.
I got some side effects which were fairly manageable and don’t regret going through these last eighteen weeks. (or 126 days)
I was upset when I lost my hair 2 weeks after the first chemo. It just confirmed to me that I was a cancer patient and I didn’t like it! I’ve come to the conclusion that all bald people look the same!
Looking back the hair loss seems rather minor.
Everyone is different but I sailed through the first treatment with few side effects and stupidly thought that I would handle the other 5 without much trouble.
However I have never felt sick at all, not even nauseous, my main s/e was terrible indigestion and loss of appetite. I was given meds for the indigestion but although the appetite did come back after the first 3 treatments, I lost it conpletely after FEC3.
I had absolutely no desire to eat anything at all, mainly because I never felt hungry but also I lost my sense of taste.
My husband was a great support.
I hated having to choose to go through the treatment but it’s over now (touch wood).
18 weeks seemed such a daunting prospect at the beginning especially when you’re scared and just had (in my case) a full blown mastectomy after an unsuccessful lumpectomy.
There are many kind people on this site who will help you through this time.
Good luck.
Wendy.
It doesn’t feel like it today!!! Post Day 5 of FEC 3 and my goodness I feel rough. Absolutely shattered with no sleep in night and still can’t sleep today. Rather emotional too! So glad that some of you ladies cope far better than this, as it is not very pleasant. Any suggestions? Each one of mine has been slightly different but all with tiredness and can’t sleep. Red face and hot legs are another SE. Horrible, want to get better now. IMPATIENT!!! Adi x
Hallo adi!
I bought some sleepease tablets from Boots and took one occassionally when I wanted a good night’s sleep and they worked!
I didn’t take them every night as I didn’t want to get dependant on them.
Yes, I found it took ages to get to sleep at night and then would wake up after about an hour! Horrendous!
I was advised that the sleeplessness was due to the steroids.
I don’t know if it’s any comfort to you but I found FEC3 the worst of the lot.
Halfway through treatment was difficult for me as so many people said things like “Oh you’re halfway through, not long to go now, nearly there” and I felt like shouting at them.
I hope you feel better soon.
Wendy.
Thanks Wendy will try and get some see if I can sleep. Body obviously needs sleep to recover. Vicious circle. Take care x Adi
hello Ladies,
im 2 weeks post fec3 oh my my emotions are running riot, cant stop crying, ive been kinda lucky regarding se, ive had no sickness at all, just the loss of taste, sore arm which is still sore, hot flushes, a major headache which i put down to dehydration, my main concern now is loss of confidence regarding my apperance, i hate the way i look.
Donna
xx
For what it’s worth, I’m going through chemo at the moment (had 2 lots of FEC so far, another 6 doses of FEC/Tax to go). I read everything I could about how to minimise the effects, and took ginger supplements for 3 days before chemo, plus taking all the right tablets for anti-sickness. Plus I take a wide variety of supplements including vitamins and minerals and something called lactoferrin, and try to eat a wide range of healthy things (er in addition to some very unhealthy ones 
)
Both times I’ve had the chemo I’ve felt a bit nauseous on day 2 3 and 4 (lessening), and a bit tired now and again…and my sense of taste is a bit odd. And I’ve lost my hair (which I thought would really bother me, but the wig is fantastic). But my life is actually pretty normal - I’m still working when I feel like it, still seeing friends, still booking breaks, and still coping pretty ok. That might change when they put me on the different chemo of course, and I think it might get harder through all 8 cycles…but it’s doable so far.
Hi Donna!
I used to drink a lot of water before BC but during chemo it tasted really awful so I resorted to buying fruity iced lollies which I could at least taste a bit and they kept up the hydration levels.
Also they temporarily relieved my badly dry horrible furry and foul tasting mouth!
As for hating the way you look, so do I. No eyebrows or lashes, red bloated face - it looks like some monster when I look in the mirror. But the worst of it is when I have my wig on and people tell me how well I look and I should style my hair like my wig because it suits me so much!
However 19 days after final chemo and it seems to be sproutong back a bit.
You will get through this and feel better. You will get your hair and eyelashes back.
Hang on in there - if I got through it so will you.
Wendy.
Wendy thankyou so much,
xxx
just remember hipchick-that’s YOUR 3%!!!3 more chances in a hundred to one of those who comes through 10 years alive and well.I’d grab that 3% with both hands[I did].
Valx
Hipchick, like you I’d first of all been told Grade 2 so expect WLE, rads and hormones, but the path report gave me HER2+ and Grade 3 so my treatment was “upgraded” to include chemo and Herceptin as well as the other stuff. But even before I got that bit of news I was going to ask the onc if there would be any additional benefit in doing chemo and I would have asked for it even if just for that extra 3%. That’s only what I would have done, in your own situation the decision is yours and you will still get lots of support on here whichever way you decide to go. Although this thread talks about chemo being do-able, nobody would say it’s easy, so it’s not a straightforward decision. I wish you lots of luck in deciding.
CM
x
Donna, I started a thread in the “helpful and interesting” section on appearance and looking good, do feel free to join in and get some tips, it is so hard feeling awful about how you look on top of everything else isn’t it. Have you been on a “Look good feel better” session? They are really good and you get some nice free stuff. Best wishes to everyone xxxxx
Hipchick, I had the same dx as you, grade 2 upgarded to a 3, I had just got my head round having rad & hormones then it all changed, 6 fec & possible herseptin, the only good news was after further testes I dont now need herseptin, which to me was a huge boost. When I was told I would be having chemo I never considered saying no, as my doc said all along that they would overtreat me so that I had the best chance of still being here in 10 to 20 years. So bring it on!!! Like some ladies on here I feel so ugly when I look in the mirror, I was never the most confident person. I am not long divorced & that took what confidence I had.I have to say to my self daily that Im still me, just with no hair, & if people stare or dont what to know me because I dont have hair then they are not worth knowing.Im just waiting for the first person to say something to me about my hair that is not nice, then god help them, they will get both barrels!!!.We must not let bc take away who we are lesley xx
Hipchick, aka Jane here again. We’re talking to my Onc tomorrow but I’ve pretty much made up my mind and will go for the chemo. Vanity will take a back seat for a while. I have to give it my all. If I had a new cancer I would never know if I could have helped prevent it by having chemo. If I have it I’ve given it my best shot. I will demand a ginger wig. Always wanted to be a redhead. Thanks for your support, my new friends. Now where do I get those Star Trek ears?
You might also want to think about the cold cap, which works for some people at reducing hair loss to an acceptable level. There’s a thread that some cold cappers have been posting on somewhere (no idea where!) that you might find useful.
It doesn’t work for everyone (my hospital quotes a rate of 60% of users find it works for them) and even if you do use it you’ll still have some hair loss, it just depends how much you find acceptable. That would be worth looking into and asking about when you see your onc tomorrow.
CM
x
Thanks CM. Been looking at scarves and stuff. If I get a turban I can wear my harem pants again.
Thanks perko, I was grateful to read your comments. I have just started chemo, having EC, 2nd one due 12th April. I will be having 4 in all and then start tax for 4 treatments like yourself. My diagnosis is exactly the same as yours. Once chemo is finished I will be having a mastectomy and then rad.
I was very apprehensive when I went for my first treatment and your feelings replicated mine, it seems that I am not alone with these emotions.
Every day I think what is in store for me and can I cope, I hope it gets better and I know that everyone has good and bad days, but as you say, stay positive and think of the chemo as a good thing, that it is fighting these bad cells, and not something which is nasty.
I am so glad that people have found what I wrote useful when I started this thread a few weeks ago. Chemotherapy is probably the worst part of what we have to go through and we need all the help we can get. It is true that everyone’s side effects are very different and those of us who cope relatively easily with chemo are the lucky ones. My heart goes out to everyone who is having a tough time of it. Take each day as it comes and try to remain positive - you can do it!
I am now four weeks post-chemo and have just started radiotherapy which is not as scary as chemo.
My hair has just started to come back - a fine white (yes, white, not even grey!!) down nearly all over (who cares about the colour as long as it’s hair!). No sign of new eyebrows or lashes yet though 
Good luck to all undergoing treatment and stay strong :)))))
Bumping this for janeypaney
thankyou lisa ive read with great interest and thankyou girls for the positive and not so positive but i guess you cant have best of both worlds. i was dx jan 11 2012 with lobular grade 3 and 5 lymph nodes involved had mastectomy on 3rd feb . it was thought after mri it was between 2 and 4 cm it was 9cm so huge. im now awaiting ct and body scan then follow up on thursday 7th march with info on treatment. i must say that many times i have thought i cant do chemo i just wont cope and to tell you the truth i still think that more times than not but like everything i have had to do so far i have done and i guess it will apply to chemo too. much love to lisa for reposting this thread and much love to all you brave girls xxxxxxxxxx jane