Breast Cancer Now Forum

My breast cancer journey started over 7 years ago and I have had two lots of different chemos since then. This will be my third lot and I am looking for a bit of feedback please. I had my first weekly Paclitaxel yesterday and so far so good, I don’t feel rotten! The steroids are keeping me awake though and have been since 3am! I am scheduled to have 24 weekly sessions, which seems a lot, but put into context, I suppose it would be 8 x 3 weekly cycles, if it was done that way!  I would be interested to see if anybody has had/ is on Paclitaxel and how they found it? It’s early days for me and I am expecting some side effects. I’ve also come onto this forum, as I know we’re all in the same boat and support is essential! I have plenty of support at home and beyond, but can’t share my deepest thoughts with loved ones, for fear of upsetting them xxx ... View more

I’ve dipped in and out of this forum over the years and read with interest, the uplifting stories. These stories give people living with secondary breast cancer real hope! I’ve never actually posted, but I’ve just started on Paclitaxel, so here goes! Diagnosed initially in July 2013 with weak ER+  breast cancer in right breast. Grade 3. Sentinel lymph nodes clear!! Lumpectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and tamoxifen. Went on my merry way until.... Oct 2017 -recurrence in right arm pit. Full lymph node clearance and 6 x Docetaxel chemo. ER+ confirmed. Letrozole. CT scans clear. Went on my merry way again. January 2019 - I found a small lump near my right clavicle. Biopsied lymph node and confirmed that it hadn’t gone away! Still ER+. Evidence in further lymph nodes. CT scan clear. Did not start chemo straight away, as Consultant felt that Fulvestrant and Abemaciclib was the best course of action initially. CT scan in August 2019 showed 2 small nodules in lung, but they weren’t concerned.  Further CT scan in February 2020 showed  enlarged lymph node on aortic arch, no increase in nodules in lungs.  So was plodding along until delayed CT scan in August 2020 showed some more enlarged lymph nodes in my abdomen, nodules still knocking about in my lungs and and a 2cm lesion in my liver. I knew something was wrong as I had a further enlarged lymph node near my left clavicle. Since that date in August, I have felt sick to the core! They’ve said they’ve going to hit them all now with Paclitaxel, but I am worrying that they’ve left it to late! I am a positive person who reads your stories with interest (especially Nicky08), but this has well and truely knocked the stuffing out of me. We have a 9 year old Daughter and I need to be around for a while for her. I am waiting to enrol on the PBCP at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, for anyone who wants to have a look. It’s a joint Cancer Research study looking at Genome Sequencing. I have asked my Consultant  to refer me to them, as they have said if I have a sample which they can biopsy, then I can enrol. You never know, it might throw something up! I emailed them direct, as I’ve googled all kinds during the nights when I can’t sleep!  I had my first weekly Paclitaxel yesterday and so far so good, I don’t feel rotten! The steroids are keeping me awake though and have been since 3am! I am scheduled to have 24 weekly sessions, which seems a lot, but put into context, I suppose it would be 8 x 3 weekly cycles, if it was done that way!  I would be interested to see if anybody has had/ is on Paclitaxel and how they found it? It’s early days for me and I am expecting some side effects. I’ve also come onto this forum, as I know we’re all in the same boat and support is essential! I have plenty of support at home and beyond, but can’t share my deepest thoughts with loved ones, for fear of upsetting them xxx ... View more