@jessybessy I don’t have a copy of it, I was just told the outcome, it wasn’t discussed in detail. Maybe I should push for that next time I see my surgeon.
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Yeah they should give you a copy of your pathology report. Do you mind if I DM you? X 
@naughty_boob thankyou! I’m currently just lurking on Jan starters but I imagine I’ll chip in at some point 
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Afternoon all
Welcome, welcome @knock-knock and I’m really glad you’ve come to say hi. I think we all hit that wall at some point and the tears flow but I also think it is important to let them flow and to acknowledge and respect how you’re feeling. Losing 2 friends so close together would be a blow to anybody at the best of times. By coming on here and saying how you feel, you are doing just that. We can all remind ourselves and each other that our odds are great and the advances in breast cancer treatment in recent years have turned things around for us but although we know these are huge positives, it isn’t always possible to feel that way, no matter how many people exhort you to “Stay positive”. (Seriously, one person who I never see socially for years at a time took it upon herself to call upon me unnanounced on a Saturday night when I was at my lowest, sit and drink beer when I couldn’t and keep parroting that at me, ensuring I felt the very opposite. Well-meaning but ill-judged….). We all have down times and not surprising, we are going through something major and for us HER2+ pack it’s a long-winded affair. Keep talking to us, keep processing and remember that chocolate cake-filled duvet days are ok and sometimes exactly what we all need.
@hlc Let us know what your oncologist says and absolutely be like Arnie!!
@jessybessy - I’m sorry…that’s disappointing and not the result you wanted but don’t despair, still lots they can do. There are Kadcyla girls on here who can give you advice and who you can compare notes with. Hang in there. 61% is good shrinkage so now you need to whack it with surgery and whatever other treatment your team decide to give you and finish it off once and for all. A big hug to you and really great that you’ve already hooked up with @jane13. Like she says, we’re in this together and it’s great to have our buddies.
I had my first haircut in over a year last night. It felt great. My dark, short curly head was looking a bit like Sideshow Bob and now it is nice and even. I have organised a reunion of all my college friends this June as this bc experience has prompted me to do so and I am hoping it looks less helmet-like by then! Not that it actually matters. Hair is all well and good but I can get ready in the morning in a fraction of the time I used to these days.
Big love buddies,
Salbert
xx
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Hi all, well I am nearly 6 weeks past my single mastectomy with diep and on to the start of 12 weeks of Paciltaxel along with 3 weekly hercepcin on Friday. Feeling very scared and anxious which I hope will pass once it starts. Just wanted to ask if anyone worked through this plan ? I work from home at the moment and can carry on for the 12 weeks. Just need something to occupy my mind.
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I had bi lateral lumpectomy followed by 12 weekly Paclitaxel and Herceptin and I didn’t work. But I worked in education and it’s the worst place to be when you are immune suppressed. Every is different and reacts differently to the drugs, for me I was ok at the beginning for 3/4 days, one of them I was having treatment again and with the travelling, I couldn’t plan anything. At 8 weeks I had a temperature that needed iv antibiotics so I was in hospital for 6 days, I was already on a reduced dose and they reduce again so I could finish the full 12. That’s just me, you could be totally different. As time went on I felt more fatigued and achy for a couple more days and so had maybe 2 good days. I was on 2 chemo starters groups and some of the wonderful people worked through chemo and had flexible or reduced working hours. Others like me couldn’t work. You won’t know until you start treatment.
I would highly recommend joining a chemo starters group. This is the link for January 2025, as you are starting on Friday
Chemotherapy is not easy or nice but it is doable. It not only gets rid of those pesky cancer cells but also our good cells which is why you may feel rubbish. Just be kind to yourself.
I coldcapped for the 12 weeks which great success. www.cancerhaircare.co.uk are a great charity that support hair issues through cancer treatment.
https://www.littlelifts.org.uk/get-a-box/ Can send you a free chemotherapy treat box, you have to supply a diagnosis letter for verification but they delete it as soon as they dispatch the box.
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Yes I worked full time from home apart from on the day I had chemo after having it. I wanted to keep busy too but felt well enough to until I got Sepsis. I have had chemo befire so knew I would be able to work again although managed to work more this time as I was on Paclitaxel. Last time I had FEC-T.
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Well i asked oncologist today and the answer was no scans afterwards. Im absolutely floored. I wll have a ct before radiotherapy but it wont be looking for anything suspicious. So the herceptin till November and letrozole for 10 years with 5 yrs mammograms along with 5 sessions of radiotherapy. Im being booked in for a heart scan like i had b4 chemo to see if any damage and will have those at 4 monthly intervals . Was hoping to get a date from them today for radiotherapy but no. She did say however shed chase it up cos someone should have contacted me by now. I feel like ive been side lined. + ive not heard a word from my breast care nurse she called me 3 weeks before i started chemo and said ill call you again once you settle into treatments. 
Ive worked alway through my 12 weeks paclitaxel and herceptin. Except Christmas of course. Found it quite manageable. I had every friday and had rubbish weekends due to no sleep with steroids on friday nights and feeling groggy. No sickness. Watch out for the taxol rash… i had my last treatment friday and my face is horrible with it. Oncologist today has prescribed me tablets and ointment in hope it will improve my appearance and advised no makeup for a while. In regards to hair loss ive been lucky. It thinned hell of a lot but to anyone that doesnt know me theyd never know ive had chemo. Best of luck. Please message me if you need anything 
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@hlc you had the same treatment plan as me. I wasn’t given any body scans to check for spread. The CT scan was for radiotherapy planning only. They told me that extra scan can cause anxiety and sometimes pick up things that are nothing but can involved more tests and procedures which can overly impact our lives. I have my annual mammogram and bloods before Zoledronic acid. I did push the GP to check bloods including cholesterol due to being on Letrozole, it was in my paperwork for Letrozole but the GP had never heard of it.
The breast care nurses should check on you, can you call them. Mine have an answerphone system. Where I am I have clinical nurse specialists from the oncology team who also check on me and I finished Herceptin mid September 2024. They call every 3 months.
I hope you hear something regarding your radiotherapy, I had my CT planning while I was still on chemotherapy.
Hi all, HER-2 positive (diagnosed last week) and start chemo next Wednesday 29th January, completely terrified.
Looking for any help preparing for chemo side effects, on Phesgo sc and Docetaxel and Carboplatin iv x 6 courses.
PICC line insertion and echocardiogram next Tuesday.
Any advice on stuff to buy and any help or hugs gratefully received 
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Hi @diddlydi1 welcome to the group. It’s a lovely supportive bunch.
It might be helpful to join the monthly chemo starters thread as well. It’s great support to go through treatment with others in a similar situation as well as look at older months for extra information. I joined a group thinking I was having chemo then surgery but ended up the other way around for me. But following an earlier month help prepare me.
I had Paclitaxel a taxane like Docetaxel and Herceptin. I was going to be on your regime but one of the tumours was smaller and I had a complicated family history of heart problems.
www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk do great course for hair loss, head gear and hands and nail care which are all helpful. www.cancerhaircare.co.uk can also be great source of information and help. Cold capping? www.coldcap.com.
https://www.littlelifts.org.uk/get-a-box/ This charity can provide a box of goodies for chemotherapy.
Chemo is not easy but it’s doable. Just be kind to yourself, rest when you need it and ask for help. Meal prep in advance if you can. Your appetite may change as well as taste and smell. Treatment affects us all differently and we all come into treatment at different ages and health.
I’m sure there will be others that can offer more help and guidance.
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Hi @diddlydi1. Chemo is not lovely for sure but I found the worst of it was fear of the unknown. Once you know what’s ’normal’ and what’s not it gets easier. So my biggest advise is don’t be too brave and report any side effects you are finding tough to the hotline, as they will always have either a medication they can prescribe to help, or advise on how to alleviate the symptoms. And these groups are amazing for ‘normalising’ it all which is calming. Not that any of this is remotely normal! But it’s our collective new normal. If you are starting on EC I’d advise not eating once you get home from chemo - so eat well before the infusion! First cycle I mistook first wave of nausea for hunger and ate and spent evening on bathroom floor. That never happened again! I just take myself to bed or sofa straight from hospital and go to sleep early (with the aid of an over the counter sleeping tablet to combat the steroids). Honestly try not to be scared. That’s the biggest thing. Remember why you need the chemo - this also helps me.
Id say for me the biggest ‘battle’ in this chemo journey has been keeping my mental health in check. It’s manageable if you can stay mentally strong. Easier said than done!! Good luck. You will be fine!!! Xx
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Hi @diddlydi1
Like you, I am new to this world. I have no tips but will be keeping an eye on your updates as I start EC on 31st. I feel weird as I am totally excited (I think that’s the word) to get it started. I get bloods on Thursday but was told the won’t put a PICC line in as I have lots of good veins….lets see how long that lasts 
Take care and good luck for Wednesday.
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Good morning @diddlydi1
Welcome to the thread. I’m on the same drug regimen as you. Started last Friday. Felt great over the weekend because of the steroids though sleep deprived because of the steroids. Double edged sword!
For last three days I’ve felt like I’ve been run over by a bus or three! I’ve taken the week off work and I am listening to my body which is telling me to rest. Makes me feel lazy as I’m a doer but I’m reminding myself that I am doing, doing what I need to do to get through!
Consider joining this group January 2025 chemo starters - #194 by indigo2 as you are starting treatment this month.
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Sorry its not the results you was wanting… however there is still treatment! You are going to be fine 
positive thoughts. You got this x
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Hello and welcome! You having exactly same treatment as me. I was only HER2 positive.
I know its scary the the thought of chemo and i was exactly same… just think of it as curing you and it zapping away all the naughty cells.
I had a total pathological response with my chemo and phesgo. And after my op i was told no cells was found and that i am now C free.
It seems daunting but you totally got this! There is light at end of the tunnel and its the only the way to get to it. Xx
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Did anyone doing tchp have there doeses kept the same for the 6 ? Im halfway through and shes happy with how im coping and my kidneys are good still shes keeping the doeses the same, unless my kindneys start tk get affect x
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Hello, i kept at the same does all way through as i coped well with it. I did not want mine lowering though either i wanted to attack it with the strongest 
as long as you are managing with side effects etc x
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