Hi May starters, just wanted to say hello. I was going to be an April starter before my chemo was cancelled.
I had another surgery to remove all my lymph nodes. Long story but basically the decision to have chemo or not came down to how many nodes were affected. I already had 2 and 3 looked “thickened” on a scan.
They removed 18 in total and 8 were affected! So with 10 in total I will definitely be starting chemo but prob not til early June as I need to heal from this surgery.
I’m relieved to have had the clearance which was a win win - either I wouldn’t need chemo or more cancer would be removed and I’m glad those little suckers are gone! My OnCotype score is 19.
I was diagnosed in December ER/PR+ HER- so I’m no stranger to waiting but I’m going to use this next month to get as fit as possible hope you’re all doing as well as poss and it’s good to meet you.
These monthly threads are great for connecting and easing the loneliness of this journey.
I was knackered yesterday and slept for 12 hours last night. Which has to be a good thing lol. Feel more me this morning and less like I’m coming down with flu.
Hoping to go for a short walk later but might put on a film and chill. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Feeling a bit down. I think it’s hard because you can’t plan anything nice to do as you don’t know how you will feel. Hopefully I’ll have more of an idea next time round
Glad you a doing ok . I think it’s hard when you just can’t have anything in particular to look forward to. Just be kind to yourself, you are doing amazing! Have a lovely day chilling and rest up. X x
I’m new here and about to board the chemo train this Tuesday (6 May) — first class seat reserved for Carboplatin, Docetaxel, and Trastuzumab (lucky me, it’s a trilogy). I’ll be doing 6 cycles every 3 weeks, and trying out the cold cap — fingers crossed I get to keep some of my follicles as souvenirs.
I’m 41, single, childless, and recently diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. I had a mastectomy in March, which I’m still emotionally unpacking — but hey, here we are. No PICC line (yet?), just using a cannula until further notice.
Emotionally somewhere between “I’ve got this ” and “How the **** did I get here?” — but I’m so glad to find this community. Would love to hear from others on similar treatment or just anyone willing to share advice, stories, or hair survival hacks.
Grateful for the solidarity — sending strength to all of you
Hi, welcome to the club nobody wants to join! I have very similar treatment scheduled starting on Thursday! I’m going to give cold cap a try too! Like you emotionally from practical to wreck! no middle ground! Hope all goes well on Tuesday, you got this!
I don’t know how or if it’s possible after first chemo…my mums lump is completely flat, just a slight lump but not big at all. Well, I have the feeling that chemo gave so much pressure to the lump that it started to leak fluid but I don’t know
I have contacted out of hour line for advise and they said just to keep an eye on temperature or any other symptoms that might be concern and to call back otherwise just to keep an eye
But the lump is not visible to our eyes anymore, just the lump part has gone dark
@drummersmum Awww glad you had not any other symptoms, make sure drink lots of water, what my mum also does is she drinks fresh homemade juices like carrot and ginger, keffir Yougurt etc to boost immunity
@sunflower9 all the best You can do this keep us updated
@alidan I am sorry about your diagnosis. I know it’s hard but keep your heads up you can do this, once you had your chemo, you will feel mentally at ease knowing that something is happening and going right direction. My mum refused cold capping but I heard it helps with not losing too much hair
@stephy1 welcome to this amazing community, it’s not a great news at all to find out that you have BC but you can do this and fight this monster off. Once you start your treatment it will give you a peace of mind knowing that something is finally happening. We are all here for you, I’m so glad I found this community, it helped me and my mum a lot, you will get lots of tips and advises and a place to let your heart out. All the best and keep us updated
Hi everyone, I had joined the April chemo starters but been a few delays and now due to start 12th May.
I’ll be having weekly Paclitaxel x12 and Herceptin injection every 3 weeks for 1 year.
Radiotherapy following chemo but not sure dates for this yet.
I am going to try the cold cap and hoping this may save some of my hair.
Feeling very anxious, I keep putting on a brave face for family and friends but feel absolutely terrified.
Not sleeping well so feel shattered before chemo has even started.
Wishing you all the best of luck for the chemo journey ahead and sending love
Hi everyone,
I’m new here but due to start chemo on Thursday (8th). 4 EC cycles, 4 T cycles, all fortnightly. Had a lumpectomy and lymph node removal for Grade 3 ER+ PR+ HER- IDC with clear margins but high Prosigna score so recommended chemo in addition to radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Also trying the cold cap - found some YouTube videos which seem really helpful to show you what to expect. https://youtu.be/uGLg876OoWw.
Hope everyone who’s started their cycles already is feeling ok. We’ve got this (even though it often feels like we don’t). I seem to also go between feeling calm and terrified. Or sometimes it still feels slightly surreal. But very glad I found this forum.
That sounds like so much to unpack. I’m 38, single and childless so at a similar point in life and this year’s felt like a wallop. Sending hugs and hope tomorrow goes well.
try taking a few deep breaths in when u a slightly awake in the middle of the night, no stress, we all only have less than 2 hours really deep sleep every night, you’ve got this!
Hi everyone!
This is my first post.
I had a lumpectomy and full node clearance in March and booked for my picc line today and chemo starts tomorrow.
I’ve got 4 rounds of EC fortnightly and then 12 weekly of Paclitaxel.
My tumour was bigger than anticipated when operated on so didn’t get clear margins so will need another op, followed by radiotherapy and then hormone treatment.
The road seems extremely long ahead but trying too keep positive!
It’s great to meet you all!
rosy buttons sorry you find yourself here ask away whenever you want everyone in the forum will share and listen and breast cancer now’s here so do if you want to look at all breast cancer now can help you with as much or as little as you need we got you Shi xx
Hi @sassy3 , if u gonna try cold cap, ask if the nurse let u take paracetamol beforehand, no pain at all, i took 2 beforehand, and hope everything works well for u.
I got my date through - TC starts next Friday 16th May. Have a new job that starts on 1 June and because its a school oncologist says can only work at home. Theyve been great and are going with it - i told them at interview. I’m full of so many emotions right now, i didnt want to change job with all this but its hard to find work in my sector and an amazing opportunity came up, if i hadnt id have been demoted or made redundant by the time my treatment was over.
So im full of worry, cant get my head around all the things out of my control, exhausted, dont want people fussing over me at all, just want to sneak off and privately get it done. So many lovely well wishers but I just want to be left alone.
Had wig fitting and chose one so itll be there if cold capping doesn’t work. I feel a bit worried that Im feeling about 20 years older than I really am. I dont feel fit and healthy as it is. Tough luck really. Just keep doing what im told I suppose! X
I’m Maia, starting chemo next Wednesday 14th. Getting PICC line in tomorrow, which I’m weirdly more nervous about than the chemo - have surprisingly managed to maintain my crippling fear of needles and injections throughout this shitty process.
I had a WLE and lymph node clearance in March (ER+ PR+ HER2-, grade 2, 3 positive nodes) and have had a bit of a delay to starting chemo due to moving between Hertfordshire and mid Wales so I’m mostly grateful to be getting started with it. I have 12 weeks of weekly Paclitaxel then 4 cycles of EC every 3 weeks, so six month total Then of course radiotherapy and Tamoxifen to look forward to after that.
Grateful for any tips to get ready for the first cycle. I’ve bought some PICC line covers and hats (don’t think I’m going to bother with the cold capping).
Love to everyone going through this. Xx
Well went for my first chemo, cold capped, all was going ok, had phesgo injection all good, then started infusion and had bad reaction! Infusion stopped! Nurse led team could do no more so i have to wait for hospital appointment to try again!
Hi Maia
I’ve just finished 3x EC and will be starting paclitaxel for 12 weeks (starting in 2 weeks). So we will be doing the 12 weeks at a v similar time. I’ve also got a picc line. It’s a simple procedure and done within 20-30 mins. It really is a good thing to have as saves time with blood tests, treatment. With a picc line you do have to go to hospital every week for it to be flushed and redressed (but as you’re going weekly it will be done at the same time as your treatment). I cold capped for first 2 cycles but lost my hair so I now have 2 nice wigs and hats, sleep hat.
Happy to keep in touch and please ask any questions! I mean any! Someone will have the answer on this great group!
Also the 24/7 number is there to be used so phone them and don’t wait if you feel
Poorly or want to get something checked out x
hope you’re all doing as well as poss and it’s good to meet you.
. I think it’s hard when you just can’t have anything in particular to look forward to. Just be kind to yourself, you are doing amazing! Have a lovely day chilling and rest up. X x
but I don’t know
we got you 
Then of course radiotherapy and Tamoxifen to look forward to after that.