Gosh, so sorry to hear the timing of your diagnosis and with such a young baby. That’s such a lot to deal with. This forum is a great source of support & info. Wishing you all the best.
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Hello I am starting chemotherapy next week. I have been in turmoil all over Christmas/New Year deciding whether to have it ( and all the other treatments) or not. They are throwing everything at me. Finally decided to go for it today.The hospital has been brilliant but I am really scared. The oncologist says it will be 18 months before I am back to baseline and the chemotherapy is the briefest part of it all. Looks like this year will be a bit of a write off for me. Wishing everyone the best of luck with their treatment.
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You are not alone & you’ve found your way here where many of us are walking this path (riding a rolllercoaster more than a path!) together. The day I was diagnosed I told my surgeon I had an interview for a really great job the following week & she looked at me like I was completely mad & obviously then kindly explained I would be in treatment for the next year so I truly understand the shock. I was scared-still very much am-but get started and then cross off each stage & the time will pass anyway xx
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Hello! I start my TC chemo this morning (3 weekly / 4 cycles)…needless to say I’ve not had much sleep but that may have been the steroid tablets I started yesterday! Or the panic!
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer in September after finding a tiny lump the size of a pea in my right breast in the shower by pure chance. A wonderful friend of mine encouraged me to go to the Doctors and thank goodness I did as being 47 I hadn’t been called for any checks yet.
Unfortunately the timing was terrible as my diagnosis came one week after starting a brilliant job (I had been at my previous job for almost 20 years!) however my new employers couldn’t have been kinder to me.
I’ve had two lumpectomy operations in November/December to get clear margins (my lymph nodes are clear too) but due to two more tumours appearing between the first and second ops I’ve gone from being told I’d just need radiotherapy to having chemo too, plus hormone therapy for the next 7 years.
I think this forum is a fantastic way of supporting each other, even if it’s just to read that other people are going through it. It all helps you feel less alone even though family/friends can be brilliant support too.
Wishing all the best to everyone going through treatment - we can be in it together! 
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Wishing you luck ! It’s so disappointing isn’t it when you are expecting radiotherapy and hormone treatment and then find out you need chemotherapy. Still gutted tbh but I have made my decision so I will have to go with it. Hope all goes well for you, looking forward to hearing how you get on.
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Thank you ! They don’t sugar coat things do they? Unfortunately for me I also have MS and have had to stop the treatment for that . I’m hoping that it won’t get worse. I was told to focus on the cancer treatment in no uncertain terms ! Wishing you all luck. It will be so helpful to hear how everyone is getting on
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Thank you and I totally agree! I never thought chemo was on the cards but here I am! The hospital were so fantastic today, the staff make it so much easier and I met some lovely ladies going through treatment who I’ll hopefully get to see every time I go.
I felt really wobbly and sick when I left after treatment and spent the afternoon in bed, just tried to eat some soup and it tasted vile! I think my taste buds have already started to go! Crossing my fingers for a good night’s sleep although I’m unsure whether the steroids will allow that! Hope everyone else is getting on ok who started treatment this week
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First one down lovely lady! Rest well tonight. My soup was apparently also poooooooo flavoured tonight!!! (Day 3!)
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Sorry to hear about your soup! I absolutely sympathise!
I managed a few hours sleep and so far so good, just felt a bit sickly this morning. Oh I did have a very flushed red face but my temperature is ok! I’ve taken more steroids as advised and the first anti nausea tablet. Next up later is the pegfilgrastim injection and I am NOT looking forward to doing that!
Very bright red swollen face here too! The anti-nausea tablets are our friends-I’m taking them as needed as don’t need to add that back in. Take care-it’s a gloomy old day today outside here. Use some numbing cream & you’ll get the injection over with xx
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Thanks so much! I managed it but feel really achy now, not sure if it’s linked?! I hope you have a good sleep and we will see what side effects tomorrow brings!
I am starting my chemotherapy on Wednesday next week-
6 cycles of carboplatin and docetaxel - 3 weeks apart
and phesgo injections to continue for over a year I think
PICC line insertion on Tuesday
Xx
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Hello! How are you feeling about it all starting? X
Hi just came on here to ask a similar thing. Had my first EC on Tuesday and Picc line fitted today. Cold cap was ok - focused on maltesers and playing a game for first 15 mins! Wednesday was fine but yesterday exhausted and today steroids have made me jittery and I’ve not been sleeping well at night so weird mix of needing to move but not having energy. Did a bit of yoga yesterday that helped. Waiting to see what the steroid crash is like tomorrow. Eating ok so far which is a relief. Long may that last. Picc line makes me feel more like a patient though but better than the canula each time. How are you all getting on? Anything that’s worked well?
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Hello! It’s scary isn’t it what this can do and the different side effects? Today was day 3 for me and it really started to kick off! I felt so nauseous in the night with cold sweats too, my body has been aching, my taste has completely gone wrong but the main new thing today has been the tingling and vice like feeling on my scalp which I assume is hair related as it is tender to brush…I’m shocked how quickly that has happened! My hairdresser is seeing me on Sunday to either give me a short pixie cut or shave it off, I’m torn what to do now!
Positive things - I’m using Polybalm on my nails to try and help them and have signed up for a Look Good Feel Better makeup course at the hospital in a couple of weeks. Also took delivery of some MooGoo skincare products and a chemo hoodie from Porto & Bello. A negative was the trip to the wig shop, I look ridiculous in them!
I hope the steroid crash isn’t too bad for you and it’s good about your eating! Love the maltesers! I know what you mean about the cannula, I ended up with 3 in me and am covered in bruises! Let us know how you are getting on, I think it really helps sharing this, and any tips too! x
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Hi - I started 4 cycles of EC on Wednesday and have been ok - nauseous and tired. But gave myself the G-CSF injection yesterday and later on in the evening my whole body was aching. I was thinking to take it in the evening to hopefully sleep through the aches. Anyone got any tips? I have 4 more to take. Sx
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Hi, I’m starting Eribulin in a week’s time. This is my third chemotherapy treatment and I’m not looking forward to losing my hair for 3rd time or side effects but it’s necessary so trying to keep positive. I’ve already had EC and Taxol. Wishing all the best to everyone starting this month 
@rmdw I have a port and found it so much easier. I can swim with it and haven’t had any infection. It’s also good for taking blood if your veins are weak. I suppose it depends how long your chemotherapy treatment will last. I am about to start my third chemotherapy drug this month - it’s been a long journey but if you only have a short treatment then you might prefer a Picc line. For me, the port has worked out well but I suppose it’s what the medical team recommend and personal choice. Hope all goes well!
@sharync Sorry you are suffering. I also had the injections with EC and found evening was best time. I didn’t get aches every cycle though so it may get better. If your neutrophils aren’t dropping much, you could ask if you could have less injections but of course it depends on how your body reacts as you may need this amount. I had very bad neutropenia so the injections were essential. I think it helps to remind yourself that they are helping you and if possible go to bed and rest as much as possible. Hope it gets better with time.
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