Hi 

stayed away from here because of very very low mood and not having a start date 

I am not triple neg as I thought I was I am her2 positive, do you know much about this . Being told I will have something called Phesgo... don't know anything about this and cannot google as too scared .. xx I start chemo Saturday. Xx 

Hi Athena,

Being oestrogen negative means you won't get the hormone drugs in the future. And I'm on Phesgo for being HER2 positive. 2 drugs, Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab. Or Herceptin and Perjeta to use their other names. It's done by subcutaneous injection into the outside of your thigh and goes in slowly over 5 mins, the very first one takes a bit longer.  It used to be done just like chemo over 2.5 hrs. Did you manage to get a port fitted? You can still have it done like chemo if you don't like the jag idea. 

Yes they come with side effects but everyone is different remember. You won't start them until later on along with your chemotherapy drugs so I'd just focus on chemo for now. One step at a time.

I didn't realise they did chemo on a Saturday. Feeling any braver yet? And it's ok to have low moods, think we all likely get them. It's a bit of a roller-coaster emotionally but you will get there xx

Hi thanks for helping me again 

only going in on Saturday as they are catching up on treatments as the IT system went down ... 

stll very very anxious 

they spoke about PICC line but I was overwhelmed with information on the assessment that I forgot to mention the port I will tomorrow.. 

Did you have the immune boosting jags, 

Inreally hope I will obtain PCR  too and then be NED 

inam so happy for you ... 

they have told me that even though I have a PR score of five I won't have hormone therapy x 

how t

did you cope with your side effects 

looking to get help for thing to do or maybe you didn't have any xx 

Hi, how did it go?  Were you alright? 

Yes I had the Filgrastim injections and the steroids. Steroids make it possible to feel happy and sad at the same time the nurse said.  Yup, I agree. 

I coped with side effects by phoning my Breast Care Nurse to get meds to combat them. I got side effects every day, lucky ol me. Try to stay on your feet though when possible so you don't get blood clots. And take your anti sickness tablets on time, prevention is better than cure. Even 15 minutes late can start the nausea. 

The cancer hotline also help with chemo side effects if you can't get your nurse xx

Good morning 

it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be although it took an hour to find a vien , they will not fit a port as an 8 week wait . I am having a PICC line put in on the 24 

th this is the next chemo day . 
Side effects are massive hangover this is the third day 

I managed to use my treadmill for 15 minutes yesterday plus potter around the house  cooking dinner 

bit strange having  red pee on the first day but very well informed this would happen .. 

I decided I would shave my hair off so my partner did this when we came home from chemo... 

I sobbed but I didn't want to wake up with clumps of hair on my pillow ... we was supposed to get married on the 17/09 

this cancer took that away from us for now so I took that back. 
can't say I am looking forward to the rest of the treatment 

but I can only hope paclitaxel works as well as docetaxel at melting my tumour... 

so happy it has killed all of yours ... time will tell for me 

 I will have my scan after my 4th EC , any tips on the headaches please ? X 

Really pleased things have gone relatively smoothly. Like most things throughout this journey, the reality is often not as bad as the expectation. I'm not saying there won't be blips along the way, but things tend to be not as scary as we make them out to be in our head.

As for the headaches, you'll learn what to expect side effect wise, so I'd take painkiller pre emptively because getting on top of pain is a lot, lot easier before that pain arises than it is once the pain has set in. But yeah, the headaches just seem to be something a few people do get. Ask your nurse what you can and can't take. The wife wasn't allowed to take paracetamol, not because it was dangerous, but because it can mask a temperature brought on by an infection and you do not want that. But your doctors might have different advice for you.

Hi

as always thank you so so much for your help and advice . 
would you recommend any vitamin or supplements to take ? 
 

Before taking anything e.g. supplements, pain meds etc i would definitely call your care team. Unless they were given to you by the hospital or gp. Some things can interfere or even react with the meds you are taking, so it's always better to ask those looking after you. Never take anything because someone on the net told you they were fine or were recommended something.

Seriously, don't be afraid to keep calling your cancer nurse, this is exactly what they are there for. In our experience, they don't always answer the phone, in fact, they rarely did, but if you leave a message they will call back.

Hi Athena

You've managed your first chemo infusion, that's a good start anyway and brave of you if you detest needles.   Yes the side effects can vary from day to day but get used to drinking lots of water as it helps your body to recover from what has been put in.  As my husband said, do not take anything without making sure your team know about it. Other than what they gave you from hospital.  Phone the nurses or use the cancer hotline.  The hotline always answer, open 24 hours a day.  I could't take anything for headaches but your hospital might let you.  Remember to watch out for constipation.

Are you doing the injections and how do you feel on steroids?

And how often are they giving you your EC rounds?  

Well done for managing the treadmill and cooking.  You've got this. Stay on your feet for a good bit of the day and it should keep you safe.  

Shaving your hair off was brave as well.  Be kind to yourself but looking after your body is the best advice I could possibly give you.  And just roll with it.  

Everyone reacts differently and there are different doses of chemo handed out.  Your Oncologist is responsible for prescribing what you can tolerate.  It's hard to go through but you're fighting this now.  Keep reminding yourself and feel defiant xx