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