I have triple positive BC and am due to start chemo next week (hopefully, date TBC). All the technical terms and abbreviations are new to me. All I know is that I am having TCHP chemo (then lumpectomy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, etc).
I think I am doing ok. Sometimes I can’t quite believe it’s me I am referring to, BC is just not something you ever expect to happen to you.
Breast Cancer Now have been amazingly supportive and are putting me in touch with a volunteer to talk to. Does anyone have any top tips for coping with the side effects?
I am not planning on wearing a cold cap as I don’t think I can bear the disappointment and heartbreak of losing it anyway. I have long red hair so I am going to chop it all off, so it’s one thing in my control.
I will stop there… I would love to hear from anyone else starting chemo this month to go through it together
Hi Linds7oaks, sorry you find yourself here but Breast Cancer Now and everyone here will help and support as much or as little as you need Have they given you your cycle of your chemos? Once you get first one ticked off you settle into a routine. If your antisickness meds don’t work, ring your rapid response number they will tweak till they get combination right fir you if they don’t work first time, don’t think oh this is just chemo, that’s what your antisickness are for and your team Drink lots of water, helps flush things through Get to your dentist before starting chemo and have check up oral hygiene is very important keep eye out for thrush mouth or thrush it will need antibiotics from your team not an over the counter remedy. Get a thermometer to keep check of your temp during chemo and if your wee burns but no temp, ring your rapid response again it will need antibiotics. A good cream to use during chemo is udderly smooth with extra urea from amazon, lots of us found this worked very well on how dry skin gets during chemo when your average hand cream didn’t seem to hydrate skin enough. Ask away and step by step you will get through. Don’t know if little princes are accepting hair again yet, but you could see if you can donate your hair to them, turns loosing hair into a positive and helps another You might find going to a Bob to start with better, then buzz to a grade 1 or 2 when you are ready, anyway you are in control of what happens to your hair and it does feel empowering to have control of that, but remember you are in control, might not feel like it right now but you are Try and read mountain lion by strawberry blonde think it’s in hope and inspiration, helped lots of us over the years. Shi xx
Hello all
I’m also starting Chemo on 30th, mine is after having breast conserving surgery and I’m getting FEC-T treatment as I am HER2+, so this is to prevent the cancer returning.
The past two weeks have been my worst so far as I’ve been waiting to hear if I had to have Chemo; my thoughts have been horrible, I’ve also been angry, upset, OK, why me and all those other thoughts that we have no answers for.
Yesterday I put a post on Facebook and raised £500 for Breast Cancer Now, which made me feel that with the help of my friends I’ve been able to give something back. I’ve been reading these post for the past few weeks and it has prepared me for the appointments as some of the words used I’d never heard of before. Thank you all.
I’m going to cut my hair off before I start the treatment as I just can’t imagine picking my hair out of the plug hole. It has so far pretty much gone by with little unease for me, lots of anxiety, but it sort of felt like it was happening to someone else, so having a physical reminder may not be as easy to handle.
Good luck ladies and I look forward to sharing our experiences on here.
Julie x
It deeply affected me to hear of your recent diagnosis. I just got my first dose of chemo on 3/11. I am on TCHP and while I do not feel good, I expected to feel a lot worse so this is good news. I have a lot of meds that help me out along the way. I just pray that my Higher Power will abate the worst symptoms. I know what a whirlwind it is to think you’re fine one minute and be in a new universe the next.
I am from the USA and found this forum by accident because I didn’t want to feel so alone dealing with this. IT has been a blessing.
I too am gonna cut my hair by this weekend. I have a 10-inch long braid but have already given it up in my mind. Plus, you’re right, if you cut your hair, you remain in control.
I had a Neulasta to help build white blood cells. Its a little shot thingie which side effects are bone pain. I take a simple antihistamine (Claritin) once a day/every day and it seems to help. That is my little tip. I don’t know if that is part of the protocol where you’re at. I drink a lot of Gatorade too.
I want to encourage you because I envisioned catastrophe but I have actually tolerated TCHP okay. I don’t mind staying in touch as you move along in the surreal situation we find ourselves in. IT is essential to think positively but you’re allowed to feel down when you’re tucked in your bed in the middle of the night. I promise.
