October 2026 chemo starters

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy monthly threads
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This topic is for anyone starting chemo in October 2026 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

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Been told need chemotherapy
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Hello, I am a 47 year old mum of two boys (11 &13). I will be starting chemo in October - fortnightly EC and then Paxli.

I was diagnosed with a mucinous cancer in one breast in April. After various tests due to dense breasts a ductal cancer was diagnosed in the other breast in June. I underwent double mastectomy in July and recovered well. I am back at work (I work P/T).

My prosigna scores came back last week after a bit of delay. They are 75 and 60% ten year risk and so chemo is the next step.

I have three friends who’ve been through chemo and their hair has grown back beautifully so hair loss isn’t something I’m too troubled by but I’m sure it will hit me. I’m a bit anxious about effects of steroids as I’m a very poor sleeper!

I’m wishing everyone well. I am glad to have this forum because whilst I have lots of support, I think it’s hard for people to know what to say and it’s very hard to describe how you’re feeling whilst waiting for chemo!

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Hello, I’m seeing the oncologist tomorrow and expecting him to give me a start date for chemo in the next week or two so likely October. I’m nervous about it and will be glad to link up with others also facing this. It’s daunting but the sooner it starts, the sooner it will be finished! I had a right side mastectomy in August after diagnosis in June. I had one lymph node test positive.

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Hi A Tip to all new starters for October - love and light be with you - you will get through this and the support on this web page is like gold dust. Plus having gone through the procedure 2022 i was given the tip to look back at other starters in previous months even years, as many of the questions you have will have been covered, with a variety of answers. Plus feel free to ask me some questions as i check my inbox weekly. another tip look to a happy event 6 months down the line to focus on, i started in september and my friend suggested i look to wimbledom. also remember the team of nurses who will be treating you are also your support line, many make the experience fun simply by the banter they create amongst patients. For those considering Cold cap, it works the hardest part is the first treatment getting used to the actual cold. Helps to know how much hair you shed normally on a day to day basis. I lost 50%, I even wanted to go grey naturally, without the horrible line traversing my head, I achieved this. My hair grew back thicker, and even curly from very straight. some patients reported a change in colour, so their are interesting times ahead. First session i was advised by my sister to take a blanket, something to read- if on cold cap better to have a magazine as then easier to turn the pages as one arm is hooked up, some fruit when you get peckish, and a turban/towel to dry your hair off after. All the best Moonsox xxxx.

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Good luck with your appointment today Mo. I can relate to the feeling of just wanting to get on with whatever treatment lies ahead. The wait is so anxiety laden :frowning:

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Thank you so much Moonsox :heart:

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Yes thank you Moonsox, really helpful. Lu_le I wish you well also xx

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Hi :waving_hand:t3:

Like Lu_le above, Im also 47 and starting EC in a week for 4 rounds and then Paclitaxel in Dec weekly for 12 weeks.

Im hoping I can handle the cold cap :face_with_diagonal_mouth: And also having a PICC line put in

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Hello,

I’m 41, and have one 14 year old daughter. She’s a keen crocheter and currently making me a blanket :heart:

I had a therapeutic mammoplasty at the start of August to remove a 24mm grade 3 ER & PR positive, HER2 negative tumour. We weren’t able to get clear margins as the tumour was close to my skin. My oncotype came back as high risk, so chemo is my next step and I’m due to start on the 7th October. Four cycles of 3-weekly EC, followed by 12 weekly cycles of Paclitaxel. I had my port fitted last week so currently have a sore neck!!

I am planning to give scalp cooling a go, but I’m open minded as I know nothing is guaranteed.

Hope everyone is well and wish all of a smooth start to treatment.

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Hello, I’m starting EC on 8th October for 3 cycles and then Docetaxel, both every 3 weeks. Like you, Spotted Stripes, I’m going to give cold capping a go, but am open if it’s too unbearable. They say it gets better after the first 15 mins or so once you get used to it… I’m 60 so a bit older than you ladies. I wish everyone well as we start this chemo journey next week :face_blowing_a_kiss:

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Hi All,

I’m 31 years diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer at the beginning of September. Due to my age and my dads sister dying in her 40’s of breast cancer I am waiting the results of my genetics test.

It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions already. I’m sure we all feel the same that we never expect to be told we have cancer… I’m putting on a brave face for everyone around me especially my children who are 4 and 5.

I’m incredibly nervous to start treatment I have my first oncology appointment Monday and was advised treatment would usually start 2-3 weeks after so looking like I will start chemo in October.

I am also going to try cold capping, my biggest worry I guess which I know is small in the grand scheme of things, but it’s loosing my hair :frowning: I know this is a small price to pay but it’s the only thing I have actually liked about myself over the years!

Anyway lovely to meet you all :sparkling_heart:

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Hello! I am a 38 year old with grade 3 TN invasive ductal carcinoma in my left boob and lymph nodes. Diagnosed on 14th September 2026. I am starting chemo and immunotherapy next week. Waiting on an appt to get a chest port put in.

I am going to try coldcapping and see how I go. Although I feel rocking the Pitbull look (Dalé) will make my morning routine a bit faster! :laughing::heart:

Look forward to chatting with folks and seeing how we all get on. :blue_heart:

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Hello October starters I hope you are doing ok. I am a June starter and recently finished up some neoadjuvant chemo. I have an accessible hoodie (for IVs, ports etc) and trousers (they were useful for my Phesgo injections in the thighs). I just wondered if anyone would like them? It sounds a bit stupid but I liked having a uniform to wear for my chemo that wasn’t my own clothes. They also were easy to wash and tumble! I am a size 10 top size 10/12 bottom and they are a small. https://direct.asda.com/george/women/sweatshirts-hoodies/adaptive-clothing-khaki-hoodie/GEM1357869,default,pd.html?cgid=D1M1G20C28

the trousers: https://direct.asda.com/george/women/joggers/adaptive-clothing-khaki-tapered-leg-joggers/GEM1357871,default,pd.html?cgid=D1M1G20C10&strategy=Others%2520also%2520viewed&placementid=PDP%2520%257C%2520Horizontal%2520%257C%2520Cross-sell&variation=Others%2520Also%2520Viewed%2520-%2520Viewed%2520Together&product_id=GEM1357871&slotClicked=2

If anyone could make use of them feel free to message me and I can post them on (or I’m central belt Scotland).

Wishing you all the best!

Eilidh

Ps if any of you had the opposite and a mastectomy before chemo and want to swap tips feel free to get in touch!

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Hi ladies :waving_hand:t3:

I had my PICC line put in today (QA hospital Cosham) and all went well. A bit uncomfortable but nothing bad. It took about 1.5 hrs total. I hadn’t appreciated that it was a serious medical procedure so watching the guy then get all scrubbed in and all the sterile stuff done whilst I was laying there felt a bit daunting. But he was lovely and chatty and it was all relaxed.

The only thing I forgot was to drink lots beforehand :woman_facepalming:t3: so I guzzled lots during the consultation and it was all fine.

I managed to buy a cheap PICC cover in the Macmillan shop as the tubigrip given was baggy and ugly.

Also took the shower cover prescription to the GP and will have to wait for it to arrive at the pharmacy. Apparently cling film will be ok in the shower in the meantime.

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Hi Samuella, that’s useful to know about the PICC line, I’m having mine done next Wednesday with chemo starting the following day. I met with the nurse the other day and got shown round. She was lovely, went through all the side effects with me but kept saying things like, “I can’t remember the last time I saw anyone with that side effect” and “I hardly ever see that side effect” so that helped a bit. It’s all so daunting, trying to be as prepared as I can. Wishing you all, all the best xx

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I will PM what I can remember about the Mastectomy, but my brain isn’t great as mine was in 2019 and Ive since had reconstruction.

Can you share any tips on the things you took with you to Chemo sessions?

Im just trying to get my bag ready for Monday

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Hey @samuella I brought my tablet with some films downloaded. I brought my kindle too the first time but really didn’t feel like reading. I also had a huge water bottle with a sippy straw and a separate bottle with juice. I brought a warm soft pashmina for round my neck, panty liner for my head (I was cold capping), wide tooth comb and leave in conditioner and a blanket. I wore compression socks and gloves and brought suzi pads (I just wore them for the docetaxel). lip balm, hand sanitizer. I asked my friends to leave me voicenotes on WhatsApp on my chemo days and hearing them talking absolute shite always cheered me up :heart:

The most important thing for me though was the snacks :joy: I had crisps, ginger nuts, boiled sweets to suck on, gummies and some cereal bars and dried fruits that were never consumed just there to provide visual balance :zany_face:.

The nurses were great company and they spend lots of time with you for the first one. I never felt poorly or nauseous whilst getting the chemo, the antihistamines feel like you’ve had a couple of glasses of wine but otherwise I felt like me. I drank a lot of water before and during so there’s also a lot of toilet breaks!

Wishing you all the best for Monday. It’s good just to get the first one under your belt and then you can predict what days are going to feel like what, for me it was a very similar pattern each cycle and that meant I could have a rough idea when I was going to feel well and plan lots of lovely things on those days.

Hope that helps xx

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Had my port-a-cath put in today. Had local anaesthetic for it but there was still a lot more tugging and pushing than I realised! Felt a bit like pizza dough! :face_with_spiral_eyes:

They put a “tent” over my head so I couldn’t see anything. My head was turned to the side anyway but a nurse would walk past every now and again with a “You okay?”

There is pain and discomfort at the site as the anaesthetic wears off. Took some ibuprofen and hoping to get some sleep. I napped as soon as I got home but the anaesthetic was still active then, haha.

Chemo starts on Tuesday October 6th! Let’s melt this motherflipper! :raised_fist:

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Hello again and welcome to all those starting this month. There is some wonderful advice from dab hands… thank you so much :smiling_face:

I have had a hugely hectic couple of weeks at work so apologies for disappearing. I am finding I’m working harder than ever because I’m worried about needing time off and falling behind :neutral_face:

So I had my first chemo session yesterday and wanted to offer some insight and hopefully reassurance :slight_smile:

I also had my port-a-cath put in the day before- that was easy peasy but a bit sore overnight because if it goes in close to chemo they leave the needle in but now the needle has been removed its not noticeable at all!

So as people say, the nurses are lovely and I was allocated a nurse who stayed with me the whole time and ran the infusions. I took all prescribed tablets before and I went for the cold cap which was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. It helped to breathe through it and keep distracted. A few of the women in the room (mostly in their 40s like me) were on laptops. I read a book. Most of those using cold caps still came in with scarves on so it’s clear the cold cap isn’t always a miracle.

The “E” is three red syringes which I barely registered as they went in. It comes out the same colour as it goes in so prepare for red wee! The “C” felt a bit “buzzy” going in. If any of you have had the iodine dye dying a CT scan, it feels a bit like that. I felt very slightly shivery and tiny bit tired immediately afterwards but Ok for the rest of the day.

The nausea kicked in that evening but went away with my second dose of antisickess tablets and steroids.

I went for a short (slow) bike ride to the pond with my boys this morning and have just done my injection to up the white blood cells ( you only need one of those the day after treatment).

YOU CAN DO THIS! I hope this is helpful to you all. I think the kindest people work in cancer care, we can be grateful for that :folded_hands: xx

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Thanks,Lu_le, it’s great to hear how it was for you in such detail, really reassuring when we’re all so nervous. Thanks for sharing. Sorry for the stress of juggling work for you. So nice that you managed the bike ride with your sons. Take care xx :face_blowing_a_kiss:

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