This topic is for anyone starting chemo in May 2025 to share thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment.
You can find more info on chemo on our pages: Chemotherapy for breast cancer | Breast Cancer Now
Hi I’m Emily. Due to start chemotherapy in may but don’t have a date yet. I had a local recurrence and although it’s er+ and her2- I’m apparently one of only 2to4% who get this in 10 years and there is no data or clinical guidelines so chemo it is 
Got to be honest I’m a bit anxious. I seem to have got myself a reputation for being brave and taking this all in my stride…I had dmx with diep reconstruction…so whist I let everyone else carry on thinking that I hope you don’t mind if I come in here and have my wobble. 
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Hi, im Trisha. Im due to start chemo w/c 12 May - 4x EC then 4 x Paclitaxel. Ive a Grade 1 cancer which doesn’t usually indicate chemo or radio but i have 45% of axillary lymph nodes involved, including apex lymp node so we are going tge whole hog! I’ve had single mastectomy and diep reconstruction in Dec 2024 followed by full axillary lymph node clearance in February 2025. Tbh - im a bit fed up being ‘brave’ and ‘positive’ and ‘coping so well’!! Im having my hair cut into a pixie cut this week so the shock of losing it is (hopefully) less, and I’ve ordered a couple of cute wigs which my hairdresser will trim to suit. Ive also been practicing hair wrapping in cute scarves!
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Hi Emily & Trisha, my name is Kerry and I had a lumpectomy for a grade 3 tumour and breast reduction in the middle of Feb. Originally I was told HER+ from biopsy but then this changed after further testing following surgery so HER2- ER+. I am also due to start the same Chemo regime as you Trisha (4xEC and 4x Paclitaxel every 2 weeks). They are planning for me to start at the beginning of May and I am just awaiting my appointment for pre-treatment checks. I too am feeling very anxious and nervous about how I will cope, the unknown is very scary. Hopefully we can support each other as we go through this process. Hope you are both having a good week.
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Hi I’m Kate,
Nice to meet you all. Even writing this first message, I’m already grateful for this group and to be able to ‘chat’ to people who understand.
I had lumpectomy and node removal in March. Triple negative grade 3 cells, ductal invasive, nodes clear.
Starting chemo 8th May. 9 weeks of EC (3 weekly) followed by 9 weeks of paclitaxel (weekly). Then radio to follow. PICC line fitted 6th May.
Taking it one day/appointment at a time and also digging my head in the sand, trying to pretend this isn’t happening for the next 2 weeks while I enjoy a normal Easter hols with my children, as I’m terrified of what’s to come in the next 5months!
@trishap1 I’m inspired with your organisation and planing for the wigs and head scarves. I’ve looked online at a few but feel overwhelmed with the choice and unknown of it all. I have always had long thick hair and I’m not great at wearing/applying make-up, so I’m nervous about being bald and also not being able to do my make-up (drawing on eyebrows and eyeliner etc) to a suitable standard. Sorry to sound so vain, I just don’t want to scare my children. We haven’t told them much about the treatment and I want things to be as normal as possible for them. I have also booked in with my hairdresser to have a pixie cut next week to minimise the trauma of losing hair 
. I’m hoping my hair is long enough to donate to the princess trust.
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Hi all. Really nice to speak to you all.
Go and look at Preloved reloved breast cancer and beyond…it’s a charity run by a lady called Jo. For a donation she will send some wigs and scarves etc. she’s lovely to chat to too.
I’m dithering about my hair. I was 50 in February…yay happy birthday me and I’m scared what to do. Pixie cut does sound good. But I just don’t know.
Kate I’m having my eyebrows microbladed today. It’s fine as long as 2 weeks before you start. I found a lady who does it half price for chemo ladies. It’s not cheap though but I decided I could lose my hair just not my eyebrows.
Trisha nice to find another DIEP lady. How are you getting on. I’m 8 weeks post surgery today x
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Hi lovely ladies,
I don’t have my dates through yet but consent signed this week so expect to start in May. I feel very lucky - this is Oncotype score chemo. Lumpectomy removed cancer (two surgeries as the margin was off) but because of score they’ve moved my plan for ‘mop up’ chemo just in case. 4 rounds of TC. Wig fitting at hospital on 2nd May. I didnt want to cold cap but consultant said hair might not come back due to TC…said id try it for first round as so insistent. Feels like a faff, because i want to get in and out with the minimum amount of time being vulnerable I think!
I have a 9 year old and I feel like I’m about to ruin her life for next few months by being not the life and joy I wanted her to have. As you can tell, I’m feeling really down at the moment but I am rubbish at waiting so knowing I have to do this I just want to get on. I remember when first diagnosed being warned it was the waiting that would mess with your mind!
Fascinated by microblading. I assumed you couldnt have it while you still had your own brows but now I must research more. Its that or transfers you stick on and I just know theyll end up half way up my forehead so I’ll be permanently surprised!
Anyway, love to you all. Xxx
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Hi, my diep recovery was okay. Im using silicone scar tape and its making a huge difference to all my scars in that they are soft and getting paler by the week. I got upset while stying my hair yesterday at the thoughtbof my long hair falling out so i got a last minute appointment at hairdresser and now sporting a very chic pixi cut! I’m loving it! Only sorry i didbt cut it short agrs ago! But at least i now know how ill look next spring when my hair grows in again! I also had my eyebrows microbladed a couple of weeks ago- stung like anything but worth it. Best my brows have looked in ages. Im struggling with the idea of being bald and losing my femininity but was joking with my husband that one moring he will wake up to find ive slapped a couple of googly eyes on the back of my head, staring at him. After 40 years together i may not give him butterflies but i definitely give him palpitations, which is almost the same thing!!!
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Children are so resilient and although this time might feel your not focussed on her youre doing this so you have many more years with her. And your showing her strength and endurance as a woman.
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sorry you all find yourselves here get your teeth checked out at your dentists before starting chemo, they will fit you in asap tell them you are starting chemo. Book your look good feel better sessions at your trusts Macmillan’s, you get free goody bag of make up and an afternoon usually where girls from the makeup counters who volunteer to help at look good feel better sessions show you how to create illusion of brows and lashes and make up tips on how to apply make up and it’s also chance for you to meet others who are local to you who are going through treatments too. You are also entitled to complementary therapies too so ask about them too at your Macmillan’s, your Macmillan’s also usually do a selection of pre loved wigs you can buy for a donation and also ask your teams about a wig voucher if you are not cold capping if your hair is long enough think about donating it to little princes trust who make wigs for children I gave my hair to there before starting chemo, so i decided what happened to my hair if that makes sense felt like taking bit of control get some senokot/movicol and anosol and baby bum wipes the steroids you take can block your botty up. Sorry if tmi, just wanted to share a few tips as will everyone else on the threads if your antisickness meds don’t work ring your rapid response number you should all be given they will tweak your meds till they get right combination if they need to. Keep check of your temperature too during chemo step by step and a treatment at a time 
you got this, hang on tight to each other and you will get each other safely through breast cancer now’s here for you and everyone on the threads are too ask away 
Shi xx
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You definitely can have it done with hair there. It’s not cheap though
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Thank you Shi xxxx
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Excellent advice. We were eating lunch and I said to her ‘oh im a bit scared about chemo you know’ to see what she’d say as shes very much not spoken about it. She said ‘you’re allowed to be you know. It doesnt upset me but it does if you try not to be upset just for me. Crying is allowed if you need it’. What a cutie. We talked about other stuff after but I talked about it and felt better for it and her response. Resilient indeed! X
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Hi everyone 
Just came back from mums first oncology appointment.
All went well and after knowing treatment plan, now I feel but how do I say, something is getting started to fight this monster hehe
Doctor was so nice and explained so well, he said goal is curative, my mum will have have EC 3 cycle with anti her2 (Phesgo) and it says Docetaxel 3 weekly 4 cycle
Than, surgey and after biopsy, they will tell wether more treatment such as radiotherapy, tablets etc
My mum got type 2 diabetes as well, they she will get steroids too, closely monitor her diabetes, infection etc temperature checks daily
All new terminology for me 
can someone explain to me bit more about the cycle and more about all these drugs
Any tips how to look after my mum and any food or drinks to avoid or anything like she can take to have good immunity
Thank you
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Cycles. I’m in March 2025 Starters and on 6 cycles, broken down as 3 x EC and 3 x Docetaxal. Each of my cycles is 3 weeks, Day 1 of a cycle is the day of chemo drug infusion then I get 3 weeks to recover before the next one. But, as I understand it, some folk are on 2 weekly cycles and some folk have drugs weekly (weekly cycles). Depends on your treatment and what drug regime
. I’m sure others will join and add to this. Hope helps.
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You explained it brilliantly!
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Looks like same regime as my mum. Her first chemo will be this coming Thursday. Feel happy and anxious at the same time. I believe more the after effects. Will keep updating on this thread
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How you feeling, what symptoms did u experience or if any at all. I Will keep updating on this thread and let you guys know my mums first experience
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In truth no one knows till they have their infusion how they’ll be. Earlier threads tell my story and others with different drugs. TBH I haven’t had problems with EC - I’ve been very lucky as some have struggled. You just don’t know. Expect mum to be a little less energetic though.
Docetaxal - I had the first one on Tuesday. Weds and Thursday no problems whatsoever (I had a drug leak during infusion but all seems ok so I don’t see that as an issue). However (and I was warned) Friday and Saturday I ache - a lot. Key for me is take the paracetamol and ibuprofen routinely. I try and make sure I take them by the clock so the effects of the pills don’t wear off. This hasn’t been great but I am expecting will pass in a day or so (always the optimist!). My experience doesn’t mean it’s what anyone else will experience. I’m still working all the way through too if that helps.
If mum gets the Filgrastrim jabs - I also haven’t really had issues with them. Best tip is take them in evening about 6pm (dead easy), take a paracetamol and go to bed about 1000 and hopefully sleep through any aches.
If you skim through the threads though you’ll see it’s very different for everyone. There are tonnes of tips from people I’ve benefitted from and hope you and mum will too.
She will get through it. We all do somehow. Hardest is the first one I found. After that you have a better idea of what to expect.
Finally, there is something on here called Someone Like Me where your mum can buddy with someone who is in sane/similar journey. The nurses are fab. And the forum is in my experience very supportive. There are also lots of community champions who share their knowledge and are brilliant.
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I didn’t have Phesgo - I had EC - epirubicin and carboplatin (sic?) together and am now on Docetaxel (the T means Taxane)
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