Hello everyone! I’m 20 years old and was recently diagnosed with stage 2 Er+breast cancer. I’ve already had a single mastectomy and I actually start my chemotherapy tomorrow MORNING. I’m doing the ACT regimen for a total of 8 rounds! I was just wondering if anyone had advice or tips or anything that could help me get through the next 4 months of treatment. I’m now on medical leave from my college and quit my job and being 20 and having to completely change my life around has been leaving me feeling so lost. I feel like I have no one to talk to that understands what I’m going through hence me joining this forum. As vain as it sounds my main and biggest stress is losing my hair and cold capping is not an option for me. Everyone around me is saying “it’s just hair it will grow back” and that im “young and can easily deal with the side effects and I should just get over it” but it feels like more than that. Anyways! Any advice about ANYTHING during chemo: hair loss, appetite, pain, etc. would be appreciated and I hope everyone is doing well 
Hey Mimek12, wishing you all the best for today - I’ve only done one round and relieved to get the first one over so I know what to expect. If anyone says it’s just hair and it’ll grow back, ask them to brave the shave with you! Be kind to yourself x wishing you well today
I think people try to be kind but comments like ‘it’ll grow back’ really aren’t helpful. It’s not vain at all to worry about your hair, I would say it’s probably been the most traumatic part of the experience for me. As women, a lot of our identity and self confidence comes from how we choose to wear our hair and when that’s taken away - it’s not easy to navigate.
Anyway, practicalities! I tolerated chemo reasonably well to be honest, very little in the way of nausea and absolutely no sickness. In terms of diet, whilst a balanced diet is obviously recommended, I just ate what I fancied, when I fancied, as my taste buds changed quite a bit and my appetite became quite picky. Most of what I fancied was carbs! The only pain I had was bone pain which could have been from either chemo or pegfilgrastim, but it only lasted a few days and I managed on painkillers.
Most important thing is to listen to your body! It’s good to try to get a little exercise when you can but if you need to rest, rest.
Chemo isn’t a walk in the park but in my experience it’s very doable. Wishing you the best of luck 
Welcome to the forum @mimik12 .
You could maybe join the January chemo starters thread where you can get support and advice from others going through chemo at the same time January 2025 chemo starters
There’s is also a younger women section of the forum where maybe you can connect with others ? Younger women
Best of luck tomorrow . Jill
@mimik12 just wanted to say hello and that this forum is so supportive nd helpful. @Jill1998 has already signposted you to the chemo starters and younger women sections.
You are not vain worrying about your hair, it’s not easy at any age. I was 54 when diagnosed and was able to cold cap and it worked really well for me. I had a wig and never needed to use it. Many people who loose their hair wear a wig and you rarely notice the difference. Some people wear a wig that is colourful and different, I remember seeing a young women at Velindre cancer centre with a beautiful blue wig. Some choose to wear turbans or headscarves.
www.cancerhaircare.co.uk can offer support and help with hair loss and regrowth. They can also send you eyelashes that were designed for lash loss.
Thinking of you today. You can do this 
Hey there,
I hope your first treatment went okay. This a super strange time and you are absolutely valid in all of your worries. I’m not cold capping either and I know the day I find my hair on the pillow I’ll be a teary snotty mess…and that is completely okay. Join the Jan starters. I have lurked, read voraciously, asked a few questions and been reassured. Sometimes you just want to write, this is what it was like today…just to express it. Not that many people can possibly understand where you’re at, but these fine folk absolutely do. You’re not alone, you have a community of support right here.
Take care,
x
I think that it is really harsh for people to tell you that yr hair will grow back and you will get over it,I found it devastating that I lost my hair and I was 57 at the time! Whomever tells you that I would give a wide birth!
I can’t comprehend what it must feel like at yr age as it was bad enough at my age!
Yes it does grow back and very often not the same as it was initially but mine has gone back to the same if nit better than it was.
You keep yr chin up, deal with what you have to by drawing on support from loved ones, I can’t believe people are saying things like that to you! Let them try it and see how they feel xx
Hi there, welcome to the forum! All the best for chemo today. These two organisations give freebies and it was a really nice treat for me going through chemo:
Littlelifts uk - box of goodies
Lookgoodfeelbetter - make up session with nice free makeup
But for today, these items helped:
A journal, I wrote loads and really helped
Sugar free mints
Snacks
Yes, hair loss is very difficult, people say the stupidest things! It will grow back better than before. I lost all my hair just before the second round. I think it upset my family more than me at the time. My scalp hurt so much by that point, I felt so relieved to shave it off. So my main feeling the day I lost my hair was relief… strange how god helps us to cope at the toughest times 
Make a date with a friend every week at least! For a walk/coffee. They all tend to say let me know if you need anything… well yes I need loads of help!! They are usually scared that you’re too tired to go out, so I found that I had to reach out if I wanted to meet people, in which case they were so happy I did.
You are so strong, and you will get through this, 
Wow those comments from your friends are definitely not helpful. I have two 18 year old granddaughters so not much younger than you and I know how distraught and petrified they would be if this happened to them. I cannot advise on chemo as I was blessed in not needing it but all I want to do right now is to give you a big cuddle and tell you we are all here for you and will support you every step of the way. Come on here whenever you want/need there’s always someone around to continue that cuddle and know that I feel for you as if you were another of my granddaughters, you now have a Nannabee watching out for you. xxx
So sorry to hear you have to go through this at 20. I’ve endured chemo twice and one thing I learned was to keep a diary of everything. I used to note what I ate, exercise, tiredness, pain, medicines and even bowel movements.
The chemo makes you very forgetful so if you can look back on how you were feeling after the first chemo by the time you are on round 2 it can help to know that say the tiredness lasted from day 4 to 7 or that you were constipated on day 3 you can do something to help before it gets too bad.
I found my taste buds went so ate more spicy and salty food just to taste something.
I just wanted to send my thoughts and love too. I hope round one went as well as it could. Each day you’re nearer the end of treatment. Losing my hair was horrid, the worst part of the chemo treatment so I’m so with you on that. I got my hairdresser to cut my hair short before losing it. I found my memory was foggy too so the tip to write everything down is a good one. Other tips:
Being honest with my specialist nurse/doctor so they could help me with side effects etc
Audible books so I could just rest and listen
Make up became my friend - look good feel getter is a great service - make up counter assistants are so helpful too.
Breast Cancer Now young women’s services (Lavender) were brilliant - I felt very different being younger with breast cancer - it was good to share with other younger women.
Journaling and drawing - even if I never went back to look at what I’d done ever again!
xxx
Hi sorry to read this as you are young. I’ve been through the same but I’m 73. Worries though are the same, I lost all my hair despite cold cap and have worn a wig exactly like my own hair throughout. It’s very realistic and makes me feel 100% better. My hairdresser cut it to my style. On a practical point a game changer for me was advice to drink lemon barley water. It makes water so much more palatable and it’s so important to drink plenty. I wish you all the very best. You will get through it.
Sorry to hear that you have joined this club, it really does have the best supportive people 
Im 31 was diagnosed at 30. Currently halfway through chemotherapy then it will be surgery for me.
Take it easy on yourself, but like the other ladies have said try have stuff to keep yourself busy. Getting out walks and meeting up with friends when you feel uo to it. I usually take it very easy the first few days and then start to get out a walk and doing stuff.
Once you start your treatment it will go fast
Wishing you all the best x
Good luck with your chemo honestly they control the symptoms of the medication so well it’s really not as horrible as everyone believes… talk to your cancer team they will be amazing most of all stay positive that’s what got me through
I’m so very sorry to hear about your diagnosis at such a young age. My daughter A C was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer last year just after her 23rd birthday.
AC had a mastectomy and completed chemotherapy in May last year. AC also had to take a year out of uni and give up her job. She had to leave her friends at uni and move back home with us while having treatment. Her life like yours was turned upside down. It has been very difficult at times but she went back to uni in Sept and is doing well. So hang in there the weeks will go by and chemo will come to an end. Be kind to yourself and I do hope you have family and friends that are able to support you.
I will show my AC your post and see if she will reach out.
Sending best wishes. M.
Hi Mimik 12 just a quick note in the hope this might help. I was also terrified of losing my hair and also terrified of the cold cap (especially as my mother, who’d also had breast cancer and lost her hair had said there was no way she could cope with the freezing cold) and I feel the cold terribly anyway. So I tried hypnotherapy to cope with my fear and it worked! Still a bit scary and I went back for another session - just two sessions of hypno in all - but tbh it was easily coped with and not unpleasant. I made sure and kept checking throughout that the cap fitted as close to my head as possible so that my skull was as close to the freezing water and was protecting my hair follicles by cooling them. And best of all I didn’t lose my hair. It thinned a bit towards the end in one place, that’s all. I hope this is something you might consider and wish you all the best whatever you decide.
Ive had 3 doses of docetaxel .this is a very rough drug the oncologist lowered my last dose but still feeling crap. My side effects didnt start until 3/5 days later.fatigue, constipation, no taste loss of appetite. Had the cold cap for two doses but didnt have it going forward my scalp was too exposed so stopped having it.ive got one more cycle.its very hard going.
It is so overwhelming, frightening but the unknown is the most scary of all. I hope your first round has gone well and doing the first one answers all the unknown questions we naturally have.
Losing your hair, yeah that’s a toughie. This coming from me who’s had short cropped hair her whole adult life and not been bothered about my hair ever, suddenly it falling out in clumps after first round I was devastated & a blathering mess. It was falling into my food, my eyes, itching me so my husband shaved it all off on 0. I’m usually a 2 on my sides. It was the best thing for me but I understand that’s not how everyone feels. It’s so personal isn’t it and agree with Sharlou “it’ll grow back” doesn’t help. The losing of eyebrows too has been hard to deal with for me, honestly in our September chemo starters group were often saying “the gift that keeps on giving” there is always something new to contend with.
I’m not sure what chemo you’re doing but I’ve done 3 rounds of EC and 3 rounds of Docetaxel, I’m almost at the end of my radiotherapy, nearly a year to the day my lump was discovered in a routine mammogram.
I’m not going to say it’s easy but some bits have been manageable and other bits horrendous, it truly is a rollercoaster but honestly the worst is the unknown and second guessing. Question your team, write your questions down especially when you get into the drugs as your memory will be pants. This forum is amazing, lean in and reach out, everyone is here for you.
Good luck x
Hi @mimik12 Not having been in your situation I can only imagine how it must feel for someone of your age. However, re the hair situation: My friend invested in a good wig and tbh she loved every minute of wearing it. Her hair is now growing and she looks amazing with short hair but she still also wears her wig and enjoys having 2 very different images.
I was lucky and escaped the chemo route but for me it wouldn’t be ‘just hair’ either. You have to do whatever it takes to keep feeling like “you” and not letting treatment define who you are. You can do this xxxx