This thread is for anyone due to start chemotherapy in March 2020. I’m sure others will be here soon but please introduce yourself and you can all help one another through this phase of your treatment. If you have any questions please post away on here and others in the community will watch over you whilst you are getting started. Once you are into it you’ll be pretty good at helping each other. You can also ask the nurses on this forum if you have any concerns. In the meantime, the top tip is always to stay well hydrated throughout chemo, aiming for 2 litres of water per day.
I finished my chemo over a year ago and doing very well again now. Here is my story which has some chemo tips on how I coped which were collectively shared from others who had gone through the same from this forum:lifeafterlola.blogspot.com/p/chemotherapy.html
If you decide to set up a private group its good to stay on here also during treatment as I know from experience there are some people who watch but don’t immediately pluck up the courage to join in. Your conversations can be a real comfort to others.
I am 49, married, with a six year old son. I live in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire and having my treatment at Huddersfield HRI.
Diagnosed with triple negative - stage 1 just before Christmas, so caught early thank god. Lump removed plus 3 lymph nodes on 14th January. Luckily not spread.
I have signed up to a clinical trial and if successful I will start this alongside chemo - every week for 12 weeks…then every other week for 8 weeks, then radiotherapy for 3 weeks. I think! I am so bamboozled with all the information I have been told. I am going to concentrate on the first 12 weeks!
The main things I keep thinking about at the moment…
Having a PICC or a central line - what is the best option for me.
Cold cap - yey or neigh?
Menopause - I am 49 so I am sure I am peri menopausal. But I have a mirena coil so haven’t had a period for years. I have been told to have this taken out (appointment next week). Am dreading it if I start having periods again on top of what I will be going through in the coming months. I take Menopace supplements but am confused whether to take or not as it has isoflavones (linked to breast cancer).
I have tried not to read too much, defo no google! Just this website and Macmillan. So far I have felt really positive about the ‘journey’ I am about to take, but it’s all becoming a bit real now. It will be good to have support from others going through the same thing!
I was diagnosed back on September 17th 2019 (that date will be etched on my mind for ever!). It was ER positive so I was started on letrozole and zoladex as peri-menopausal. Staging tests showed suspicious growth on ovary so I had full hysterectomy and removal of tubes and ovaries in December…wham bang into full menopause! But the silver lining was that I no longer need to be on zoladex as don’t have any ovaries ? Turns out the growth was not malignant which meant I could then get on with treatment for breast cancer. I had axillary node clearance on 6th February and went to clinic today for my results.
6 out of the 15 nodes were positive so I’ve to have chemo and radiotherapy. They could never find the primary tumour in my breasts despite multiple MRIs and biopsies so it was only today that I finally found out that it is invasive lobular cancer, grade 2 that I have.
They said chemo would start in about two weeks so I figured I’ll be in this March thread ? I’m to have Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide every 2 weeks for 4 cycles, then paclitaxel every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. They are going to give me biphosphonate infusion half way through first group of cycles as they say it not only strengthens bone density which the menapoause has weakened it also reduces risk of recurrence in bones in future. I think they said that will be very 6months for the next few years.
I’ve agreed to join a trial that monitors heart muscle throughout chemo as I figured I’m happy for them to monitor anything if it might help in the long run.
I was given a prescription for a wig so that’s top of my list to go see about and I’ve emailed my local Maggies centre to see if I can attend their next ‘look good, feel better’ session.
I’m 44 years old, mother of a 14 year old daughter, 12 and 7 year old sons. I live in Harpenden, Hertfordshire and I’m having treatment at the Luton & Dunstable hospital.
I’ve found a big lump on my left breast on the 2nd of December and on the 16th December I received biopsy results- grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma (both oestrogen and progesterone positive and HER-2 negative), and they also detected DCIS on right breast - MRI did not detect the cancer in the lymph nodes, and size just above 3cm. I was in shock, but also determined to have a good time during Christmas! I then had a bilateral mastectomy on the 23rd January and results then were worse than I (and the doctors!!) expected… not a good time at all (I feel some tears coming as I’m writing about it) - the tumor is actually grade 3, size 5.5 cm, and has spread to one of the two lymph nodes that were removed on the left side. Skin was also involved and few margins very small… needless to say it has been a whirlwind of emotions but I’m feeling better now that I’m not too sore post operation, and trying to remain positive! I like to believe that I’m a positive person! I have been given a date for the first chemo session - 12th March and will have a pre-chemo appointment on the 6th March. My treatment will be 3 cycles every 3 week of EC, then another 3 cycles of docetaxel every 3 weeks too. This will then be followed by surgery for lymph node clearance and decide what to do about the skin - going flat with later reconstruction or only remove part of the skin and see what tests says. Well, that’s a conversation to have with the surgeon in 6 months…
I’m glad I found this group, and the tips and messages on previous posts have already helped me a lot!
I’ll give a go with the cold cap - I’m dreading it as I’m always cold… but will try. I used to have wavy long bob hair and decided to curt it much shorter - if hair falls out it will come back to normal sooner, right?! ? and I was even told I look younger ? I think for me it is all about taking control (when I can…)
I’ve had a wig consultation and will order a short straight bob if my hair falls and right now I’m feeling good and even went to the gym with a member of the Well Being team supported my McMillan - it was great! I guess I’ll do that as much as I can now and will try to exercise everyday ? I’m hoping I don’t feel sick and will definitely going to let my nurse know if I do!! The list of questions for the pre-chemo appointment has been very useful - I’ll ask many of those questions too
I was diagnosed with Tripple Negative Breast Cancer in February, I am having Chemo FEC-T first before surgery and had my 1st cycle 26th March.
I am 54 with 2 children and love love love greyhounds.
After my chemo I found it very difficult to drink enough water as I felt nauseous all the time but thankfully a week on I am feeling so much better.
Unfortunatley due to the current environment I have not been able to choose a wig or attend a wig fitting, I am sure there are many others in the same situation, loosing my hair is the scary bit for me and am hoping someone can help advise me on scarve tying techniques.