I’ve been slapped with the don’t-be-so-cocky-feeling-well-after-a-week stick.
I’m absolutely wiped out again today and yesterday (day 9&10) following my first EC cycle. I’ve got an awful cough/cold and feel like hell. The GP prescribed antibiotics incase it goes to my chest so hoping they’ll help. I’m so annoyed with myself for having one good day and thinking that was me set to feel well for there on out. Hopefully I’m allowed to have my second cycle on time but we’ll see. This really is a journey. I’m so pleased to see others are faring well, I really hope that continues for you. And I’m sorry for peoples hair loss, it must be so devastating, I’m dreading it too. Lots of love. xxx
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Hi Coll and all,
That’s a shame about your cold, but hopefully with the antibiotics it will calm down quickly. I think yes maybe we can expect it to be just a constant up-and-down like a rollercoaster and play it day by day if that makes sense.
I really hope we all have more good days than bad days and also find the time and space for self-care, do things that give us joy, and sometimes to just feel sad about losing control over our bodies and losing our good health and hair. Mine is okay for now (maybr cold capping helped)?but I’m getting very tense and so sorry for all who have been starting to lose their.
Let’s hope it will really gros back quickly in 4 to 6 months as I read so that’s maybe a sword we can hold onto. Much love to everyone on a sunny day here in Birmingham today. Rose Xo Trish, Birdie and Phebe - hope you are ‘ok’ xox
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Hey hey all you Chemo Warriors… Started my chemo on 22nd have 3 round of EC every 3 weeks and 4 rounds of paclitaxel every 2 weeks…was a ll a bit of a rush…had a port fitted on the monday night week before, then echo the midday on tuesday after that chemo assessment on the wednesday and another marker fitted on the wednesday eveing…didnt realise how bruised i would be…even the nurses were surprised…so when I turned up as a newbie for chemo was shaking wondering what and how I would feel…together with the freeze cap… thrown in together with I have fibro aswell…all this before surgery that will be coming in after…but so far so far so good…manageable but hey this is only 2 days in…hugs to all of you and thank you for listening
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I had strong curry, after chemo, it gave me the worst heartburn, definitely not recommended!
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Hi… I’m doing ok thanks. Don’t feel myself but don’t feel awful if that makes sense.
Just not really fancying food still and seems an effort to eat!
My hair is really shedding now 
Glad that you’re feeling ok. I had a bad headache the first round but haven’t seem to have had one round 2 
Sending lots of love xx
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Has anyone had a migraine since starting chemo? I’ve only ever had 3 in my 39 years, but had an awful one on Sunday and couldn’t even keep water down, oncologist said that was probably due to chemo too. The gift that keeps on giving! Plus a 2 week long period (and continuing!) despite starting ovary suppression injections. Feeling incredibly sorry for myself today, can you tell? Huge amount of hair loss this evening after a shower. Chemo round two tomorrow and my neutrophils were lower than we expected but they are letting me go ahead. Just need to sleep a bit more this round, fingers crossed! Sending much love to everyone. x
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Hi everyone.
I too started chemo in October. I have a grade two cancer on my left breast and I was told initially I needed a mastectomy and no chemo. A day before my surgery I had more results that showed my cancer was HER2 positive as well as hormone receptor positive. Surgery was cancelled and within a week I was sitting in the chemo chair. To say it was overwhelming is an understatement.
I have six cycles of docitaxel and carboplatin, as well as Phesgo injections for 18 cycles. When I finish chemo, they will do surgery and then target the hormone receptors after that. It feels like a never-ending journey ahead.
I started chemo on 4th October, did a cold cap. I have had good days and bad days, haven’t we all? I am wiped out and bored out of my mind at the same time. Missing normality. Today I called the 24 hour line as I had what I suspected was eczema but it looks like it is shingles. I feel defeated and overwhelmed by a feeling of fragility, as if I were made of glass. I am having some tests to confirm the shingles diagnosis in hospital tomorrow. I am hoping to be able to have my next chemo cycle on Friday but I am not sure if I am being naive. Nothing seems to go as expected and that is quite hard to come to terms with.
I think one of the hardest parts of this for me has been the lack of control over what is happening. I am a busy mum of three boys who usually works full time and now it feels as though things are happening to me. I can’t really make anything happen at the moment. I wonder if anyone has any advice on how to feel a bit more in charge of their days? Anything that helps you?
Xxx
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@jbc81 just popped over from the September starters as I am HER2 positive grade 3 so same treatment as you but started last week of September so now two cycles in.
Like you I also struggle with normality as usually Work full time etc etc. my children are grown up though. I am currently working 4 hour days from home at the moment as fatigue really affects me. I take the week off of chemo as I feel wiped out.
I have lots of activities I have planned. I walk for one hour every day, I am learning to crochet and have bought painting by numbers. Also have puzzles and books. My husband and I are also booking a weekend each cycle in an airbnb so we have something normal but safe to look forward to.
In terms of side effects I have both times had oral thrush and a really sore mouth, tongue and throat which has also impacted my taste so food tastes bitter which is horrible. I also get a rash across my face around day 8 which seems to last for a few days and then goes!
Good luck with it all, you will find your way around this x
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@jbc81 So sorry to read your post and what a horrible time you’ve had. You are still early on in diagnosis so your feelings are completely normal. I’m a working mum of boys and was diagnosed in May. Ive had surgery and now doing chemo but your thoughts struck such a cord. I am the doer of the house and suddenly was no longer. I felt exactly like a part on a conveyabelt. Moving along so slowly whilst it all happened round me. In the early days I’d drop my youngest at school find somewhere remote to park and just walk (March more like) till the feelings were a bit numbed. It will take time for these feelings to stop for you. Definitely getting outside a bit if you can. Try to stay off your phone for cancer topics. I cant ‘recommend’ it but I did ALOT of vinted …calmed the mind and distracted me! I am off on sick leave but I do keep in touch with colleagues, meet my mate from work for coffee and ask about work stuff as it keeps me absorbed outside of cancerland. I’ve found a couple of friends who get it… and my amazing sis in law who help me to see beyond and still talk to me about children, fashion, film etc as well as the sh%te stuff. Box set tele and books as a last resort. Dont let the hospital drive your day/week. I was supposed to get my PICC line dressed every saturday by district nurse…err no! Come on a Monday when the boys are at school. Monday it is then. I go to M&S food for a treat as soon as I walk out the chemo room!
Wishing you well… I hope they sort the shingles. X
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Hi phebe
I had my 1st round of EC yesterday. My appointment was booked for 10.15am but didn’t start my treatment until after 1.30pm. Apparently mess around with the lab & the amount of checks the chemo has to have. I coped well with the treatment but as soon as it finished I felt very sick & tired even though I had taken the anti sickness tablet that’s supposed to last 5 days. When I got home I had a really bad pain behind my eyes which I still have now 
. I don’t feel as sick today as yesterday & I’ve had my steroid & antibiotics. Hope you are feeling a bit better! Also I had no appetite last night but have forced myself to have a piece of toast this morning with taking meds. Take care x
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Bless you. Well done, that’s one started now! Hopefully your appetite comes back soon, just try little and often perhaps? I hear that helps with the nausea. X
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I wish I had advice but just want to say I hear you and feel you. Sending much love x
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Hi @phebe - jumping across from the September starters group as I found this post on a search - hope no one minds me jumping in. Have they said anything about your 2 x week period & has it affected your bloods for chemo in any way? Is it the Zoladex injections you are taking? Im due to have them after chemo but my onc offered me them to stop me having periods during chemo but said there would be side effects so I declined, but now having the worlds heaviest period (to the extent I am seriously worried about the blood loss) & was thinking I’d start the ovarian suppression. But if theres a risk I’ll still have periods I’ll most certainly scrap that! Do they know why yours are still coming? X
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No one will mind, thanks for sharing. I’m sorry about your heavy period 
I wonder if it did effect the bloods, but mine isn’t especially heavy. They told me to go to a&e if I have any clots though? Another thing to worry about 
I’ve only had one zoladex and they said it can take a few to kick in, but my post menopausal friends have said this happened to them in menopause too so who knows? I think I wpuld have liked to wait too but some of the symptoms they said would happen with or without the injections and because I am under 40 they recommend it now 
I hope your symptoms improve, sending hugs xx
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Hi Harriet just wanted to send some positive though and hugs your way. This is a journey none of us want to be on and we try to cope as best we can. I can only speak for myself and say that I tried to take each stage as it came, tried to stay as positive as I could. It’s so good we have this forum to put our deepest thoughts in writing and not worry about what we say. There are always friends here to offer words of encouragement and tips. One thing that also helped me was a group called Breast Friends CIC. They have a Facebook page and arrange wellness walks and get together. Hopefully there will be someone not to far from you. I am now also an “ambassador” for my area in Suffolk. Take care xxx
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Sending my very best wishes to you. I’m going to be 70 in March 2025 and been on this journey since July 2023. I can’t even imagine how I would have coped with it if I was in my 40’s. I’ve been coping by not thinking too far ahead. Taking each day and every side effect one at a time. I try my best to stay positive but when I’m not, I talk to the Macmillan ladies at my hospital and they always seem to help. They referred me to the Hope Course and I met some wonderful ladies, not just breast cancer. We now have our own little WhatsApp group (10 of us, varying ages) to chat, encourage and meet. I find it very helpful. Take care xxx
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Totally agree with the getting outside, walking and clearing the mind. What I have found also has made a huge difference are sessions of acupuncture which are helping to clear the toxins and make me calmer and accepting of the next few months. Have also purchased a grounding sheet for the bed which is helping sleep as 0300 is a very lonely time of night! Wishing everyone well with their treatment xx
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Good Morning Everyone,
Hope you had an as good weekend as possible. It is sunny here and I look forward to getting out. I have been feeling much improved in week 3 of my first cycle (6 TC regime 3 week intervals) after a bad first 10 days. Bracing myself for blood test tomorrow Morning and then - pending good results- 2nd cycle on Tuesday. Feeling apprehensive and somewhat scared about side effects worsening and worsening of hair loss but got to do it to decrease my risk of distant reoccurrence.
Thinking of you all and struggling today emotionally, feeling sad as my hair is now shedding in larger amounts. Will stick with Cold cap for now - hoping it will only get thin and not all go. I am not to vane usually but my hair is one of my best features and I realise how sentimentally I am attached to it. Love and a big hug to everyone who is going through this or other chrmo trouble. This too shall pass. Rose 
xx
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So, Tis the night before first chemo. I’ve just joined to read all the messages from this wonderful community of warriors. Thankyou all xxx
Lumpectomy bilateral reduction in august. Grade 3 70mm bitch, but thankfully nothing in lymph nodes, nothing showing in ct and bone scans.
‘Only’ 4 TC cycles to get through, then radiotherapy and hormone therapy, heart condition has saved me from more/other treatments
Cut hair short last week, hate it, not doing cold cap, my hair is rubbish anyway, im more worried about lack of eyebrows and eyelashes.
From all the comments i am content that what will be, will be. But also that being a little prepared helps. So ive not packed chemo bag yet 
managed a decent shag with the husband tonight though:wink:
Im positive, but really not looking forward to this shizzle 
Im not sure ive posted or replied, bit rubbish at social media interaction 
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Good Morning Kew,
Thanks for sharing. We are on the same TC regime and hope all will go well for you today. First cycle can be nerfwracking.Will have my second today and thinking of you. I found a flask/mug of tea or other hot drink helps and some snacks and things to distract.
For after the chemo, in case your mouth goes dry some peppersmith chewing gum with xylitol helps and food might taste strange. Lots of water/liquids my breastcqre nurse said is important and try to try to get rest/ sleep if not easy.
There is a nice threat o September starters about what people like the taste of and it varies.
It took some days to get back eating okish and I recommend-if you like cheese- Boursin or strong cheddar, (won’t taste salty really); also like Apple pie -and Lemon cake, and for a drink some rasberry lemonade or orangy flavour sparkly drink…or .alcohol free berries and cherries cider… lemon sherberts are a treat too - I found. But might be different for you.
If you get white bloodcell booster injections after chemo, they can increase leg/bone pain but painkillers can help and it should get less after some days. Short walks outside can be good.
And if you like music - take your favourite and earphones maybe. Good to hear hair isn’t a big bother for you. I am telling myself now what ever happens and troubles, it is only temporary- and we can get through it. And stick together here.
Mine was 43mm mixed lobular-ductal; lymphnodes and margins clear luckily, grade 2, intermediate risk, had therapeutic mammoplasty (one breast -the ‘bad’ one only for now, other one later… ) and radiotherapy after Chemo.
Will be thinking of you and everyone else today and hope you are ‘ok’ and if not at the moment, that is also ok here. And we can say it as it is/feels anytime.
That’s one of the reasons I really like this forum. Husband comment made me laugh 
- and humour is great antidode to this strange ‘journey’, trip we are on. Without. Booking it. Feels like having been kidnapped/hyjacked sometimes to me by the C-diagnosis and treatment. A real bitch this is - but we are tough too and warriors as you say!
And maybe let’s think about a proper trip/journey once this is all done 
and we get to ring that bell!
Greece or Tenerife for me please with family… 
can’t wait. Good luck today and sory for rambling (bad habit) and distraction from procrastinating about start of cycle tomorrow. In the middle of the night. Take care Kew xo, Rose 
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