This is amazing!!! Well done @sammy75 Such a huge achievement 
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Thank you so much @foxgem im very emotional currently xx
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Not for me @foxgem … I have my 12th (weekly) Paclitaxel tomorrow marking the end of Phase 1 
of Paclitaxel / Carboplatin / Pembrolizumab … straight into Phase 2 (EC plus Pembrolizumab) the following week for three months, then surgery …. radiotherapy … continued immunotherapy ….. long-hauling until March or April next year 
…… it is wonderful to read of all you March ladies nearly finishing though, for sure
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I was thinking the same 
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Here’s to the end of phase 1 I can’t imagine how you all do those weekly paclitaxels. The pacs really packs a punch!
I try to remember the saying from an oncologist that I read here in the forum… give me a year of your life and then I’ll give you your life back
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@sammy75 what an inspirational photo - well done you! It’s so lovely to see one of our own get to the active chemo finish line. Yay you!
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That’s what they said to me when I was told I needed chemo before surgery/radio - this year is for us so next year is for you .
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I love this … what a way of putting it!
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Well, this just made me tear up quite a bit.
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When I have my last herceptin injection in August it’ll be almost 11 months since diagnosis. I would love it to just be a year and that’s that. It will depend on whether I take the hormone blocker or not. If I do I suspect it won’t be the end of it 
. Still struggling with this. Have contacted Penny Brohn and Yes to Life, have a call with GP next week.
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From my perspective of you @sam1204 you have absolutely conquered this journey so far. Each hurdle you’ve managed to research and find the right options and advocate for yourself so well. I am suprised at your struggle with the hormone side of things. Can I ask what your main worries are?
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Thanks @foxgem 
. 5 years of Letrozole adds 3% to my Predict score (takes it from 89 to 92). So not a lot really. But not nothing. I have two main concerns: 1, side effects from the drug itself (joint pain, menopausal symptoms, depression, weight gain - I could go on!), and 2, the impact on the body of entirely removing oestrogen (even after menopause the body still produces it, in fat rather than ovaries). Zero oestrogen is directly associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heart issues. As you know I have a very active lifestyle and before BC zero other health concerns or conditions at all. Having given cancer my one year I just want to get back to my lovely active retirement, all my exercise, hiking, travelling etc which I’ve had to give up/rein in. The thought of things like long term joint pain, and the other health conditions, just aren’t in my life plan! The oncologist answer to these issues is “we can give you medication such as statins, BP meds and pain killers.”So even more drugs. I’m a person who rarely pops a paracetamol!
I don’t feel I’m getting a holistic assessment of my lifestyle and circumstances, the letrozole is simply the next step on a one size fits all NHS pathway which isn’t about quality of life, it’s about survival stats at any cost.
So I’m trying to find someone to give me a second opinion/assessment based on a holistic view of ME, to help me decide.
Make sense?
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Yes that all makes sense After experiencing some joint pain with the pacs I definitely worry about that in my future. I will have 10 years of hormone therapy after this and they will want to remove my ovaries so it is something I am thinking about alot.
As you’ve said you are such an active person. Maybe the physical side effects for you will be far less than you think. If we have learned anything so far its that movement actually helps the pain and the fatigue. If you added some weights in that would help bone density. Plus you know you can come up with an awesome diet. My worst days have been the ones I dont move or eat right. And maybe there are herbal/vitamins and supplements you could try.
The only perspective I have is from my mum who was put on tamoxifen for 10 years. She has 2 years left. She said that it took some getting used to at first. Her knees gave her some trouble and the hot flashes at night were bothersome but she said it was better than breast cancer and now she barely knows she takes them. If that was the price she could pay it. She was 50 at the time so perhaps that makes a difference. She also didn’t have access to predict tools so she didnt have anything like that to help her decide.
Have you thought that you could try it for a few months and if you really dont get on with it then atleast you will know you tried?
This is such an interesting question that I’ve also been aware of @foxgem and @sam1204. I’m also going to need Letrozole (or some such) for at least 5 years and probably Ribociclib for 3 years and I have to say the idea of the drugs afterwards fills me with dread. For the moment I’ve put all my full thinking about this in a box as I’ve still got chemo, surgery and radiotherapy to deal with but yes the drugs afterwards are a minefield so I’m interested in all perspectives on this one - thanks for putting it in the thread xxx
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I’m also reading all the conversations about hormone therapy. Unfortunately not with the mindset that it’s in any way optional for me. It’s a 5-7% improvement over 10 years according to V3 Predict. I watched the BCN webinar about hormone therapy recently and the oncologist suggested that in younger patients its even more important as that chance of recurrence goes up in an almost linear fashion over time.
Like you @foxgem I’ve been put down for 10 years hormone treatment - this would stop age 44. Ovaries are suggested to be removed for BRCA2 40-45, so I’m really struggling with this concept that I’ll basically never have any estrogen again. I will be seriously considering getting them removed within the year, if my oncologist agrees.
This is a very different situation to you though @sam1204, you’re right that they don’t look at you as a whole person. I can’t think of a single time I’ve discussed anything like my usual diet, activity levels or mental health with a clinician - as a way for them to tailor treatment to me. They’re focused on the cancer, that’s what they do - and I’ve been doing the private route! So it’s not just the NHS 
I haven’t tried to push for that though.
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Thanks @demimiray and @clarabelle1 and @foxgem . Yes I may well decide to take them and see how I go although my onco said I have to stick at it for at least 3 months including side effects, otherwise don’t bother as it takes that long for things to “settle down”. I just want to make an informed decision based on my own set of factors and circumstances. If that decision is a yes at least I know I’ll have made with it using facts and it will be tailored to me
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So sorry to hear this - hope the appointment goes well
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I’m only starting my paclitaxol 2 weeks from today. Im feeling a tad unnerved by everyone’s experience and thinking of giving up this cancer game for a new hobby. Birdwatching and ballroom dancing have come to mind 
A quick question - do you still have to do the filbrastin on this regime? (My infusions will be weekly for 12 weeks.) I’ll only be meeting my new oncologist next week - I’ve a feeling I have a plan change in store for me 
new oncologist says I must have radiotherapy but we’ll try two weekly paclitaxol which will knock a month off chemo 
our daughter who took solidarity a bit far by joinng me on the journey during my two month wait for chemo just has radiotherapy to go now - next week. Such a huge relief. She actually walked 100 miles in May to fundraise on behalf of us both - she is amazing
Bit of a cheek but
Onwards and upwards…
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Hello all - hope you’re surviving the heat - your fridge room sounds perfect @sam1204!
@sammy75 that photo is wonderful. You have done so well and that photo sums up what an achievement it is to be done! Congratulations you resilience has been fantastic.
I’ve had chemo 7/8. Happily no reaction with the help of lots of steroids. @katie91 is your final one 9/6?
Long road for me ahead. My chemo was neoadjuvant so it’s surgery planning next. Then radiotherapy. Then I’ll be on ovarian suppression every 28d, tamoxifen for 10 years and targeted therapy (probably ab) for 2y (apparently diarrhoea is fun on this). My onc said data follow up more significant for ab than rib, and rib is 3y not 2y and immunosuppresses so might not be ideal with young kids.
The surgery is a massive decision @foxgem. Don’t be rushed and think through what is right for you. I still don’t know what to do. The options seem to be (1) no reconstruction; (2) reconstruction using an implant which for me would be delayed as radiotherapy will shrivel implant (though they may use expander in interim); (3) reconstruction using my own tissue - this could be Latissmus Dorsi flap where they flip muscle from the shoulder/back area round or some kind of microvascular surgery (but most don’t seem suitable as I don’t have enough tissue for DIEP). Feeling unsure but need to do some more research and thinking. Please do share thoughts everyone! I’m v small breasted so having a large knocker wouldn’t work but equally conscious I’m in 30s still.
The hormone blockers seem to vary so much in impact per person. A neighbour of mine who had very early BC 30y ago aged 40 and remains in remission took it (following lumpectomy only - no other treatment) and said she barely noticed the side effects (!) of tamoxifen for best part of 10y so it seems very variable. But also I’ve come across stories about what gruelling effects sometimes happen with it and Letrozole as you cite @sam1204 . I’ve been looking into the Osteoporosis risk and resistance training and walking seems to help.
@twink1 they took me off the filg jabs post-EC when pax started. However wbc / neutrophils went too low so I’m now back on it. But my cocoa consumption plus that meant in my last blood test neutrophils were insanely above normal limit!
Really is a marathon not a sprint all of this. But I’m trying to be positive. The other side of this I really hope we all have a superpower in survival, strength from the sheer resilience this requires and what I hope will be brilliant perspective on life. Xxx
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Hey @jululemon lovely to hear from you!! My last one will be on 16th June 
when’s your last one? So glad you’re coping well with it!! Sending lots of love
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