So sorry to hear you’ve got flu lilly, do you know where you might have caught it?
My logic was you should be having cycle 3 tomorrow out of the 8 cycles so that would mean you would be over a third of the way through the 8 cycles. I’m having the same as you lilly, 8 cycles 
.
I a so small chested and my tumour was the size of an egg prior to treatment, my oncologist could see and feel the reduction.
They wont do an ultrasound until after treatment has finished. Each Trust has different protocols as I know @gerry22 had an ultrasound halfway through treatment.
Taxol for me this afternoon then I revert back to Fridays next week.
I really hope you feel better soon lilly xxx
Oh yes Diamond that makes sense with it being a third.
I’ve been feeling sorry for myself. Just so weak, hard to breath, my heart races up to 150 just hanging up washing. Starting to feel slightly more normal now but still scared to do anything.
Hope you’re feeling ok after Taxol. This feels like such a slog 
I’m not sure where I got the flu from. Not been near anyone with germs. I did go to a few shops at the weekend though but nowhere busy. Just think it’s going to be easy to get things that we normally wouldn’t.
I’m wondering if I’m anaemic too 
just look so pasty and dark rings under my eyes.
Amazing it wasn’t that long ago I was fit and healthy 
Hope your week goes well xx
Oh lilly you poor thing. Its bad enough going through what we are going through without the poxy side effects and catching flu from god knows where. When is your next appt with your Oncologist or possibly try and talk to him/her over the phone.
Taxol was ok on Thurs, I’m now keeping everything crossed that my bloods are ok for cycle 3 on Friday although my Oncologist said if they are low again she will reduce my chemo dose.
Sending you a massive virtual hug lilly and hoping you turn a corner and feel better soon both physically and emotionally xxx
Hi Diamond I’ve got a face to face with my oncologist on Wednesday
I got the ‘Survivors Guide to TNBC’ book - on kindle. A lady in the Facebook group wrote it. She mentions something she first heard about on This Morning called LifeMel Honey. It costs £40 apparently- lasts 3 weeks, you have to have it everyday. No proof but it helps tonnes with neutrophil levels. She reckons it helps 90% of people who were struggling. I’m not sure you would be interested but thought I’d mention. I feel I’m constantly throwing money at stuff and not sure if it’s worth it
Thank yooooo. Big hug to you too Diamond. So glad you got your treatment this week. We’ll be back in synch again then if we both have it next week 
xxx
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Hi, i hope you don’t mind me dropping in. I am delighted to find this thread as i seem to be on the same course of treatment as you all.
Summary for me. Woke with a painful pea size lump in breast on christmas eve. tnbc confirmed in 11 jan 21mm on initial US, 41mm on scan 2 weeks before treatment started plus 1 node (rotters node between major and minor pectoral muscle - quite unusual apparently) no other nodes affected. I am quite small chested (b cup) and the lump was tennis ball size and very very painful by the time i started chemo.
Start treatment early feb… 4 rounds (weekly treatments) day 1 pembro, paclitaxel and carboplatin, then day 8 and 15 just paclitaxel. I have just completed round 3 and have 4th round day 1 next thursday. After first round i could tell that the mass had shrunk so much and into round 2 it was no longer painful. So far no stoppages but a couple of reactions during paclitaxel (chest tightness and increased heart rate etc) and same issue day after when home.
Next i go onto 3 rounds of EC and pembro day 1 (3 weekly).
i have been cold capping and i have thinned but i still have a good head of hair but i have been warned that the cold cap might not stand up to EC as well. But i am ok with that as i opted to cold cap to try and look as well as possible for as long as possible to help my kids (that are primary/secondary school age) with the transition.
I had an mri early on because of the node involved and i am now awaiting another mri in next month due to complexity of my node involvemnent in order to plan surgery.
I have also had ct staging and follow up US (2 weeks ago) which shows lump down to 18mm. This also led to pelvic US as they wanted to check ovaries etc, All ok thankfully.
I have really enjoyed your posts Diamond, Lily, Gerry, i obviously wish we weren’t all in this boat, but if we must traverse such choppy waters its good to do it in good company. I wish you all the best for the weeks ahead. If you can, please continue to share your experiences. I am daunted by the prospect of EC and any information would be greatly appreciated. Take care 
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Wow Anna - thanks for sharing. Yes you’re very welcome to join us. I’m amazed how quickly they started treatment, how fast your tumour was growing 
and how much it’s reduced
You’re a cycle ahead of Diamond and me. Yes I’m not looking forward to EC either - the only bonus is that it’s closer to the end of chemo.
Amazing you’ve had no stoppages
And glad to hear cold capping is going well too.
Keep in touch xxx
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Great to hear from you. The rate of growth was terrifying. By the time i had the triple test i had pins and needle in left arm and pain deep in my chest. As soon as i had a diagnosis i was thankfully sent for every test imaginable and mri found rotters node that US did not detect. I think proximity to chest wall escalated things very quickly. Although i must say that the Trust that i am with are amazing. I will keep you posted on round 4. I had no nauseau the first 2 rounds and i stopped taking the dexamethasone after 1.2 as they gave me too much energy (i did too much and i badly sprained my ankle weekend of 1.2) and my oncologist and i agreed to stop and see how i got on. Then after day 1, 3rd round nauseau hit so back on dexamethasone and metaclopramide (which i am about to change as it is causing constipation and oncologist thinks its adding to fatigue). I have mostly been ok fatigue wise unless i have had a reaction to paclitaxel which really drains me. Day 4 is my low energy day and falls on a sunday. I am still working 4.5 days a week but its becoming harder now but it helps keep me busy and focused (and pays the bills 
) but work have been absolutely great so i know i can make changes as the treatment progresses. I will keep you posted.
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Hi Anna, very pleased you joined our thread. Like lilly said your treatment started quickly which is great.
Im a b cup also and prior to treatment starting mine had increased to the size of a boiled egg and like you I could feel it shrinking after cycle 1, day 9.
I opted not to have the cold cap, my sister shaved mine off the sat before last, which wasnt bad as it gad hung on for 5 weeks. It was getting really thin so it needed to go but I must admit it can be a bit chilly even with the headwear on.
I’m not thinking about EC yet, just hoping my bloods are ok so I can have cycle 3 this Friday . @gerry22 has her last EC on Thurs and has had to write off a few days in between the EC treatments but says outside of that she has felt the most normal since her treatment commenced.
We will be there to support each other on this shitty journey.
@lillytiger how are you feeling now, better I hope and you can have ypur cycle 3 on Friday xxx
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Gerry you had your last chemo today, I bet you are over the bloody moon that part of it is done.
Well done you 
xx
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Thanks @diamonddapple - my bloods have come back good so day 1 cycle 3 tomorrow. I still feel breathless/ weak/ coughing from flu.
I’ve been signed off sick now until next Wednesday. Think I need to see if I can feel ok again or if this is the new normal.
Hope your bloods are good too and tomorrow goes well for you
@gerry22 so pleased for yoooo. I can’t wait to get it all done.
@anna_x51 - I hope your treatment went well today
dig deep everyone and keep moving forward 
Hi
I hope day1 round 3 goes well today Diamond and Lilly. I am sure you will smash it!
Great news that you have time off until Wednesday. Xx
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Cycle 3 Day 1 done.
My neutrophils were low when I had my bloods done on Weds but they had redeemed themselves by this morning, thank bloody goodness 
Hope yours went well lilly
Did your Oncologist think how you are feeling could be your new norm?
I felt more tired today after treatment but I’ve just been for a long walk to wake myself up xxx
What a relief @diamonddapple so glad your bloods were good today.
Mine was fine. I actually feel better than I expected. My breathing is better. I’m getting better at pacing myself though and asking people to do things for me.
I saw a different member of the team. I didn’t ask. I don’t want the answer to be yes. Going to wait and see
Well done on your walk. I’m too scared at the mo. As I don’t want to overdo it.
Hope you’re feeling ok too @anna_x51?
Take care everyone
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I am so glad it went well for everyone today, i hope you feel better this week, just keep swimming… and be kind to yourselves!
My week in truth has been a doozy but i have adjusted to it and am putting my best foot forward. I have unfortunately hit a bump in the road and am now having to abandon pembro, paxi and carbo and either jump straight to EC or surgery. The mdt will discuss on monday and call me. It seems like they are leaning towards surgery in 3 weeks followed by EC and then radiotherapy and I am ok with that. I am meeting surgical team on thursday and will discuss then. I am now opting for bilateral masectomy (goldilocks) which is my preference as i have some very rare complications on top of this form of bc. Don’t be disheartened by this please. My mdt team have stressed how unusual my case is. I have always been a rare bird. I am ok, hopeful and far too stubborn to let negative thoughts encroach on my plans. I have a brilliant medical team who although were scatching their heads at the beginning of the week, are now on the case and will have a firm treatment plan agreed on monday.
So i think i have leap frogged to align with Gerry now.
Big virtual hug going out to you!
Anna
Diamond and Lilly, great to hear your treatments could continue to go ahead. We just want to plough on and mark each one off on our road to the finishing line! Lilly I had some days (about a third through the weekly pax) where I felt very breathless and weak, held onto furniture to steady myself and that was without any underlying infection! It was a bit scary but did pass and only felt it on one cycle. I’ve got to say I gave in to the luxury of resting a lot without taking much exercise (61 and retired with great family support) for the first 12 weekly treatments. I totally admire and feel for the ladies here who have to juggle family, work and treatments.
Anna, looks like you’ve even jumped frogged me, my single mastectomy is scheduled for the 23rd of May no immediate recon as it will be followed by 5 days radiotherapy. It is never easy to have plans change, especially I imagine in such a significant way but delighted that you are in the very safe hands of your team and sound like you are adjusting to things. Don’t we all just love a rare bird!!
All the best for now and with lots of healing wishes xx
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Glad your treatment team are excellent Anna. As we know the treatment responds and reacts differently for each and every one of us. The specialists are used to these hiccups and adapt our treatment as necessary. They have seen it all before. Emotionally for us it’s initially a knock back but we are strong and will have a few down days then put on our warrior head, hold our heads high and say Fuck Cancer.
A couple of my friends bought me a bracelet which says Fuck Cancer in morse code, which I wear all the time.
My cancer is lobular tnbc which is quite rare as lobular bc can be bi-lateral although nothing showed up in the other breast on mri. I am leaning towards a double mastectomy but need to discuss that with the breast surgeon. I won’t have reconstruction, small breasted and 63 years old.
Sending love, hugs and strength to you all xxx
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How has everyone been this last week.
@anna_x51 what was the decision of the MDT on Monday my lovely.
@lillytiger how has your week been after cycle 3. I really hope you are getting over the flu lilly and you haven’t had to go back to work.
@gerry22 hope you aren’t feeling too bad after cycle 8 but you must be euphoric chemo is done
I’ve felt more washed out and tired this cycle but ok.
Virtual hugs to you all xx
Hi Diamond, just my usual down days from day 4-8 but beginning the bounce back now. It is such a relief to know that my body doesn’t have to ‘brace’ for another chemo cycle. I had my PICC line taken out last week after final treatment, it’s been my buddy since the 7th of November. I’m totally surprised at how liberating this feels, it’s like a metaphorical ‘tie’ to treatment has been cut 
. I remember being almost overwhelmed at the idea of 24 weeks of treatment cycles last November but I can honestly say that the weeks have literally flown by even if sometimes it didn’t feel like it at the time. I have a surgery date of the 23rd of May for my unilateral mastectomy, I know I’ll be anxious but will put it to the back of my mind as much as I can and enjoy a period of recuperation. I wish all you ladies the world of good, stay strong and focus on the finish line, lots of healing thoughts, Gerry
I am so happy for you gerry. Like you say rest up and recuperate and get strength for surgery knowing you have completed the 6 months of gruelling treatment. What a relief. I hope you will have a celebratory drink or 2 once you feel ok.
My treatment plan includes more Pembro post surgery so I wonder whether my Picc will stay in xxx
Diamondapple My treatment plan also includes ongoing Pembro after surgery and radiotherapy. It will be given six weekly. The nurses will try to cannulate for these sessions. I was given the option to leave the PICC line in but with the weekly maintenance/flushing of it I didn’t want to be tied down for another several months. I guess it’s a personal choice