Hi

I'm so sorry you are going through this too. It's horrible but it's doable so hang in there.

I finished my chemo on Friday last week. 12 weekly Paclitaxel and 4 2 weekly EC. I rang the bell!!! What a relief.

I found the weekly Paclitaxel a lot easier that the EC. I didn't really have any side effects having weekly treatment but the EC was a little bit different. Low energy levels, feeling generally rubbish, hot flushes, horrible taste in my mouth and not being able to sleep was just awful. But you've just got to stick with it. Like you said it's only temporary.

I did use the cold cap all the way through. I just had my hair cut into a short bob and although it is thin I've managed to keep it! Anyone who doesn't know me wouldn't notice. But I have lost all of my eyebrows and eyelashes! 

I had a breast MRI yesterday and have my surgery booked for 14th Nov. I'm having a lumpectomy and then I think it'll probably radiotherapy afterwards. It's been a long journey since being diagnosed at the beginning of March but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. 
 

This forum has been a big help. There's always someone to talk to who can relate to what you're going through.
 

Hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly and you have fewer side effects with thr Paclitaxel. Keep thinking about that beach, you'll be there before you know it! 
 

Take care.

x

Ohh I'm so pleased to hear you've rung the bell, it must be an amazing feeling. You sound like you're on the same treatment path as me (just with ec and paclitaxel the other way round). My surgery will be new year & lumpectomy depending on its response to the chemo of course. But my fingers are crossed. Your experience on the paclitaxel does make me feel better about it & less worried 

Very best wishes for your surgery. It'll be over before you know it and last March will seem like a distant memory 

Xxx

Thank you! Yes it felt great to know that part of the treatment is over. Still a little way to go yet but there is an end....soon. You'll get there too, hopefully you'll breeze through the Paclitaxel. I preferred that the treatment was every week. I felt like I was constantly doing something to try and get rid of it. Not waiting a week in between like with the EC, it felt too long.

Yes just looking forward to the surgery being over and having a nice Christmas. Let's just get this year over, hopefully we can start afresh in 2023! 

Sending hugs for the rest for the rest of your journey.

x

Hi

No problem, how can I help you?

X

Thanks so much x 

I just wondered with your hair loss and the cold cap, how quickly did the hair that you did lose fall out? Was it quite sudden then stopped or little but gradual? 
 

I had the cold cap for my first cycle 2 weeks ago but the last two days I feel I'm losing a fair bit of hair when I brush (minimal brushing), so I am just trying to put my mind into some sort of rest as to whether this doesn't actually mean it's all going to or if it means the cap probably hadn't worked :( 

really appreciate any information you'd be happy to share.  I hope you are doing ok xx

Hi

My hair loss was quite gradual. I used the cold cap weekly as my chemo was weekly and I didn't seem to lose much hair throughout the 12 weeks. I then moved onto EC chemo, I had 4 2 weekly sessions, that's when I started to notice it coming out while I was in the shower washing my hair. I finished my chemo in Oct and I still had a full head of hair although it was a lot thinner and I used scarves and hair bands. I had my surgery in Nov and my hair continued to come out gradually but I still had a full head of hair no bald patches. Just before Christmas I did ask my friend to cut my hair into a pixie style as it needed tidying up.  It looked fine although I was very self conscious. But now my hair is growing well and I had it trimmed at the hairdressers earlier this week for the first time in about 10 months. So I would say persevere with the cold cap, I know it's not the most pleasant feeling but it worked for me so hopefully it'll work for you too. 
 

Thank you yes I'm doing really well at the moment. Hope your treatment is going well too. I'm here anytime. 
 

X