Hi Jess,

Sorry to hear your news. I don't have TNBC but do have breast cancer, I started chemo Fri 17 Feb, so it's early days. I have to have 20 weeks of chemo. 

Do you know what chemo you are having?

With the nausea with the current chemo I am on (EC) eating beige carbs has really helped. When I felt the most sick I couldn't stomach anything else. Toast, crumpets, bagels, crackers etc. The oncologist recommended it and I don't say no to an excuse to eat more carbs, haha.

When my mouth will begin to get sore ice pops are good. I've made loads from mango purée and put them in the freezer, so I'm prepared.

The general advice is just to eat a balanced healthy diet. So I am not using this as an excuse to eat toast 100% of the time haha. Just when I need it. When the sore mouth comes I have been warned I may need foods that are easier to deal with then, also if you get a metallic taste that might change what you want to eat. But hasn't happened to me yet.

My skin hasn't started to get dry yet but I know it will and I've done a lot of research and spoken to lots of BC survivors. Aveeno body wash and body lotion, the skin relief soothing range (the blue bottles) is great, always on offer at Boots.

Get a sensitive toothbrush and toothpaste. For your face, stop using retinoids or peels, scrubs etc. I cannot recommend La Roche Posay Cicaplast B5 Repairing Balm enough, it's so soothing and calming. 

I have chosen not to cold cap. Personally I think patchy bits of hair looks worse than going full bald (for me), so I just went ahead and shaved it off. It was ok actually. I felt like I was taking back some control and I look not too bad, haha. It's just temporary, hair will come back.

The cold cap stuff looks so uncomfortable too and it extends the amount of time you're on the chemo ward significantly, I'm already going to be there long enough, I couldn't be bothered! I was also worried because they need to factor in the extra time in the chair, that it would limit the speed in which I could begin my treatment.

Hope that's helpful, any other Qs fire them my way. Don't apologise, there's no such thing as too many questions. All my love x

Hi Jess 

hipe you are well after your operation 

my best friend and I both had BC last year my friend had triple negative she had 15 rounds of chemo first then lunpectomy and radiotherapy in nov she's now on 8 courses of chemo tablets as a mop up she's finding the tablets ok as her hair has grown fully back and the chemo tablets she takes do not cause this , she is doing amazing and is nearly finished everything treatment wise she's managed really well and looks amazing now 

hope all goes well for you stay here for support there's so many lovely ladies here , I should have left  now as I finished everything in nov but can't seem to as it gave me support and I try to support now 

big hugs love Lara ️

Hi Lara,

I'm so pleased you haven't left because I need your kind of advice.

Thank you for replying. 

I am well thank you I'm just ready to move onto the next stage. 

So great to hear that you and your friend are well. 

I had some reassuring news last week that it is stage 1 TNBC ... they took 20 of my lymph nodes and those are all negative so my chemo and radio they said is a mop up.

I'm so so scared for chemo. I have to very young children and I'm worried about them. So I'm just trying my best to prepare now while I'm well.

Jess xxx

Hi Chars,

Thank you for such great advice. 

I haven't reached out until now and I'm so pleased I have with your response.

I'm not sure which chemo as yet ... I'm hoping to find out this week.

I'm so undecided with the cold cap I've heard lots of mixed reviews. I'm scared to look different I have 2 very young babies and I'm trying to keep everything as normal as I can....

Thank you for your advice I will definitely back with more questions for sure ! 

Jess xx

Hi

Could I ask did you have chemo and if so which type. I'm now in the same boat 

X

I have used the cold cap and it's only on the latest round of chemo that I found it "challenging" as the hair on top of my head had thinned a lot this leaving the scalp more exposed.  I will continue w it I think as I've been told it can make your hair grow back faster afterwards .I didn't find hair loss as traumatic as I thought I would

I've had 3 out of 4 rounds of EC.  Felt v tired for certain parts of it and slightly dry mouth , also lack of appetite for about 4 days but apart from that I've had very few symptoms.  I guess everyone is different in what symptoms they experience.

Before the EC I had 12 rounds of chemo plus immunotherapy X1 every 3 weeks.  It was tough but hallelujah I didn't experience any sickness - they gave me plenty of anti sickness meds.

AND it was all worth it as most recent scans showed " no evidence of active disease".  Still surgery, radiotherapy to go though.

Everyone's experience is different but good luck!