Hi I just popped onto here after over a year. I hope I can give you some reassurance.

i was told u have BC in October 2021 fit and heathy 38 year out. Oestrogen Fed Invasive Ductal carcinoma, I also went from a grade 2 too a grade 3. I had a lumpectomy and my nodes were also clear. 
I had 6x FEC-t chemo followed by 8 sessions of radiotherapy now I’m on Anastrazole tablets. 

I too was petrified of re occurrence I felt the worst when I was at my weakest. I felt very alone, and really vulnerable . I was lucky enough to make some friends on here that were going through the same as me and it really helped, you could do the same or find a site called someone like me. No one really understands how you’re feeling unless you have been through it yourself,. I used the cold cap to feel as normal as I could as I didn’t tell my children, it was the right decision for me.

You need to only think about what’s happening now, you have a bump in the road and need to focus on getting all your treatment done, you will waste your whole life living in fear. We are well looked after, mammograms every year plus you will be under the breast clinic for 5 years so any worries you have them too.

I hope you will manage chemo okay, you will be fine and smash it out of the park. 

You’ve got this! Much love Sarah 

Hi Sarah, thank you so much for your lovely uplifting message, it means so much - I cry when people are nice to me at the moment but in a good way! (People have been so incredibly nice since my diagnosis). I’m so glad to hear you are doing well and it’s all behind you now. 
I hadn’t heard of this type of chemo FEC-t was yours her2 negative? I thought I would be getting the dreaded AC (just from googling which I know I shouldnt do) and I had resigned myself to cold cap not working. But it I could cold cap and keep my hair that would make such a difference. My oncology appointment is next week so I don’t have the plan yet just been told by the surgeon to expect chemo because of the grade 3. 
xx

Hi I was HER2 negative, I was given Chemo due to my age and it’s a grade 3, I also had a Oncotype DX score done but decided I didn’t want to know my score, I think I was eligible for this due to my Tumor being Oestrogen Fed. The cold cap was really tough. I can’t remember what FEC-t stands for I was on 3 of one and 3 of another type. 

i would cry and anything and everything. I am sorry your going through this, but you will look back in a year and give others support and it will feel like a lifetime ago.

Just think how brave you are,, going too get checked saved your life. You are strong and this is never coming back! It’s not there anymore it’s gone,, now it’s time too have a mop up if you hv chemo or radiotherapy. You must remember that your not alone, if your worried about it coming back you could ask your Consultant to refer you for counselling. Also talk to your oncologist I can remember mine saying too me that doing nothing other than the op would most likely be ok but they just want too mop up anything. Xx

We did previously discuss oncotype but I think now they are just going to go ahead with chemo anyway because of my age, and I think like you I wouldn’t want to know my score anyway. If there’s a chance of keeping some hair I think I may as well give the cold cap a go, although I hate being cold so know it will be hard!

I have already been referred for counselling, hopefully I can start that soon, I do think talking will help and I really want to try and change my mindset to living more in the moment and worrying less about the future.

thanks again for your kind words, they really do mean a lot and it’s great that you still pop on here now and again to help people like me, keep doing it if you can xx

That’s all great,, so glad your going too speak to a councillor. Try the cold cap, but be committed-to the end of your treatment if you can. I  lost some hair but it grew back so quickly.. 

Let me know if you need any tips or help along the way, I will keep this feed open.. 

Good luck with your oncologist ask lots of questions xx 

That’s all great,, so glad your going too speak to a councillor. Try the cold cap, but be committed-to the end of your treatment if you can. I  lost some hair but it grew back so quickly.. 

Let me know if you need any tips or help along the way, I will keep this feed open.. 

Good luck with your oncologist ask lots of questions xx 

Thank u xx

Hi, I saw the oncologist today and got lots of info on chemo. But I was surprised when he recommended letrozole for the hormone treatment as I had been expecting tamoxifen which is what I thought they gave to pre-menopausal women. I see you are on anastrozole which seems to be similar - how are you finding that? Do you get bad side effects? And are you also on the injections to shut down the ovaries? Xx

Hey again, Letrozole and Anastrazole are very similar they work differently to tamoxifen, but have excellent results in pre menopausal women. 
I have an injection 3monthly callled Prostap that shuts my ovaries down ( absolutely no problems with that) I take Anastrazole once  a day. Yes I suffered with Menopausal symptoms for around 6 months, but I’m okay now, I take an antidepressant as this was the only thing I was able to take to help with the hot sweats. This was my only side effect. I have gained weight due to the fact my eostrogen has been reduced.

I also have a drip in hospital once every 6 months only for 5 years , something to do with my calcium levels. I have calcium-D tables 2 per day. 

When you go and have your chat with your Chemo nurse about your chemo  treatment you will come out of the meeting in fear, it is no way as bad as they say, they give you worst case o and every side effect. 

you might have a PIC line fitted in your arm, this was also harmless and really convenient, I would go to the hospital once a week to have it flushed and re dressed, i actually liked going as it gave me an opportunity to chat to the nurse! 

Don’tet them do you like and chemo same day, I did and it was all too much.

Im not shore what chemo your having but I wrote some notes down after my first round of my side effects, that help me prepare for my next one. Your first is the hardest, make sure they give you lots of anti sickness tablets to take home and have one when you get home from Chemo. 

did they mention Radiotherapy xxx 

sorry typo xx 

Don’tet them do your pic line and chemo same day, I did and it was all too much.

Hi, thanks so much for getting back to me. Yeah I will be getting the injection to shut down ovaries as well. That’s good that your symptoms aren’t too bad, have you gained a lot of weight? And how’s your hair? I read it can thin your hair quite a bit? Which would suck after chemo! I’m not vain but I don’t want to look drastically different. I will be getting a bone strengthening infusion every 6 months too. And the chemo they recommended was 4 x EC then 4 x paclitaxel followed by 2 weeks of radiotherapy. 
I asked about a port/pic but he said they wouldn’t do that unless they had trouble getting a vein, I was a bit surprised by this as I thought a port/pic was best.. I may ask the nurse again about this next week when I go back xx

Yes all the Same as me pretty Much, my hair is absolutely as it was pre C, of course I used the cold cap. My hair started to grow back just before my last Chemo actually as I did have a bold patch where the Cold cap didn’t fit quite right. 

I’m surprised about Pic line, maybe ask again or see how you get on. When is your chemo chat xx

I’m going to give the cold cap a go. My chat with the nurse is next Wednesday so I’ll ask again xx

Great. Let me know how you get on. I will give you lots of cold cap tips then. Hope your feeling more positive and settled now you have a plan xx 

That would be amazing thanks. I’m feeling ok afterwards. I didn’t really enjoy looking at that NHS predict thing that shows you the survival numbers, it was a bit grim but definitely showed a benefit to chemo so I am on board with this. It’s more the hormone stuff I’m concerned about, I’m not looking forward to being menopausal at 35, but I know I’m lucky to have these treatment options, it’s just tough to think about once you’ve already gone through all the chemo and radio.. xx

I get that completely, it’s all so daunting. I hated feeling menapasal too! But it’s wasn’t forever. I have put on around a stone, but I hope to lose it afterwards.

Have you had your children ? Not to be nosey though but maybe you could freeze your eggs. I have had my children but I hope I can have one more at the grand old age of 45 after my 5 years   ( we were trying before, I was diagnosed at 38) As long as my periods re start. The hormone tablets become second nature I don’t even think about it now. 
Xxx