Hello all, any Sept starters? I had a mastectomy on 18th July and I have an oncologist apt next week, with a view to starting chemo in Sept. I’ve had a very stubborn seroma drained 3 times. I’m still getting to grips with all the info… but I’ve been trying to learn as much as I can so that I can reassure people when I tell them. Does anyone else feel like that? 
Hi. I’ve just got my date today - start 5th September 3xEC & 3x docetaxel. Had a lumpectomy on 6th June with 1 of 6 lymph nodes with cancer. Just keen to get going now as it feels such a long time ago since my operation. Any helpful tips of what to take in my chemo bag. Good luck with your treatment xx
Hi, I had lumpectomy in July and went to oncology appointment today - he told me it will be EC chemo but they can’t proceed because my neutrophil count is too low 
I was absolutely petrified of chemo but now feel petrified that I can’t have it……
So hopefully I’ll be having it in September but who knows!
Hello, gosh yes I’m keen to get going now too, waiting is definitely hard but hopefully you feel better having a plan. Not sure about what to take other than very warm clothes and maybe gloves because I’ll be giving the cold cap a go x
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Awww I’m sorry to hear this! Can they give you anything to increase your levels?
Not sure! Have CT scan to go to and then back in 2-3 weeks to see oncologist and he said in the meantime he’ll speak with haematology! I’ve spent the last few hours researching what to eat to try and improve it!
I’m undecided about cold cap so if I’m a little behind you I’ll keep checking so please update as to how you get on!
Lots of love 
I really hope you can get started soon. I will definitely keep you posted about the cold cap. Love to you too 
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Hello. Tentatively joining this group. Just waiting on a letter to tell me when I will be starting. I’ve recently been diagnosed. 36mm lump above my left breast. Er 0, pr 0, her2 +++, grade 3. Just want to get started and get this sucker shrunk so they can remove it. Trying to get everything ready and in place. Got wigs ordered to try, got a note book to keep track of good and bad days, sanatizer at the ready, qlso looking at compression sock (some lovely ones popped up on my insta) . Aha I’m never so organised. I decided I’m not going to cold cap, thinking of trying to donate my hair to the little princess trust if I can.
Hope your all ok
Xx
Hello! I hope you get a date soon. I’m hoping to find out more about when I start chemo at my oncology apt on Tues. I have a left side grade 2 IDC hormone positive her2 negative, 2 positive lymph nodes, and I had a mastectomy with axillary node clearance (the rest of the nodes were neg). What does the compression sock do? I know what you mean about getting organised! I guess it might be us trying to bring an element of control into things. I might hate the cold cap because I tend to not do well in the cold! What part of the country are you in? I’m in Buckinghamshire. I just really want to get started too. xxxx
Hi. Mines an IDC too, a little on the fast growing side which is stressing me out even more.
How are you feeling after your mastectomy? Im waiting on blood test results for them to decide if I will have either a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
Yeah, when everything else is out of our hands, at least we can be prepared. And I’ve been reading through some of the other chemo threads, and a few have mentioned using compression socks and gloves to help with neuropathy. Some mention wearing them during chemo and at night times. Also creams for scalps and skin. Aha the joys.
I’m from Bolton
Xxx
Thanks so much for the info about compression socks. Waiting for results is so hard. I hope you get a plan soon. My mastectomy wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be really! I went home the same day and had a drain for three nights. Even the drain was ok. I keep telling myself that even though none of this is exactly fun, it’s definitely do-able.
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Welcome to the chemo starters thread.
Thinking of coldcapping? I cold capped successfully on 12 weekly Paclitaxel, my hair thinned and I lost two small patches above my ears, probably from my glasses ( wear them over the cap!) I had a nurse say to me on my 12th infusion that she didn’t know why I bothered as I would loose my hair, cat got her tongue when the cap came off to a near full head of hair! I did have my bob cut to a pixie as I have a lot of hair and the cap works better with less weight.
Great information for hair care, headwear, eyelashes.
Freebies for chemo. I loved my bag of goodies and regularly use the fabric bag.
For great tips and tricks for skin, hair, nails, clothing
A wonderful charity supplying recycled and new goods. Jo is a cancer survivor.
https://prelovedreloved.org.uk/
You are all strong, you can do this. Chemo isn’t nice but it’s doable.
Thinking of you all. 
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Thank you very much for all the links. I shall introduce myself here on the September starters, as I start 1st September. I originally was diagnosed with high grade DCIS only, so I had a lumpectomy. At pathology a 3.5mm IDC was found ( I was later told it was actually 5mm ), anyway, I then had to have a SLNB, routine and not expected to show anything, but 1 out of the 2 nodes had cancer, 2.5mm, so macro. I was told I was ER+ and that they were awaiting HER2, it came back as HER2+ . After originally cancelling the Oncotype score ( due to HER2+ ), they then decided to go ahead with it anyway and the score came back high. After meeting with the Oncologist the Wednesday before last, he said a CT scan would be beneficial, so I had that last Thursday and the results should be in this week ( dreading it). They have already set my plan as EC x 3 , with Filgrastin injections, then Paclitaxel x 12, weekly and Phesgo injections for 1 year, but every 3 weeks. I have requested a Picc-line, but I may have that after the first lot of EC chemo now. My heart echo scan was normal. Good luck to everyone else about to start this journey. I am not going to cold cap, I have bought a wig, blondish with reddy bits. My normal colour is silver grey ( natural), thought it may make me feel young and healthy, although I laugh every time I put it on! I read a tip on this forum, about Polybalm, nail strengthener, available on Amazon. Most people kept their nails when using it ( you can read reviews on Amazon).
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Very best of luck to you with your treatment I love your wig idea, how brilliant! I’m looking at wigs too because I know I might hate the cold cap and it only works half the time.
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Thank you
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I was told at my first oncology appointment yesterday following my mastectomy that the plan for chemo will be: 8 x fortnightly cycles with 4 x EC and 4 x Paclitaxel, totalling 16 weeks. I will have a PICC line. Start date to be finalised but hopefully around 22nd or soon after. Really really just want to get on with it now xxxx
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Great that you have now got your treatment plan. Same chemo drugs as me, just slightly different cycles. I start the EC on Monday, as long as I don’t have any severe reactions ( I am allergic to so many things), I will be pleased to get going .
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Really hope it goes well on Monday, will be thinking of you xx
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Thank you, will let you know 
xx
Hello. I hope your first treatment goes well on Monday. And I hope the CT scan results come back with good news. Thankyou for the tip on the nail balm, i had a bit of a wobble this afternoon reading through some comments that some ladies have lost toe nails and finger nails. I didnt even realise that was possible.
Im still waiting on a start date. Had a call from Christies on tuesday to say they have my referral and someone should be in touch in a few days. Bloomin hate all this waiting.
@frunca thats a great mind set. I’m glad it went well and that your healing well. I was told today I’m inspirational because Im still smiling and going to work. I don’t really have a choice aha if I think too much about it I’ll sink and I cant do that to my family, especially my little girl. I dont feel like an inspiration.
I hope your all doing well. Hopefully when I next post it will be with a treatment plan and start date x