Hi GL91, I’m so sorry about your diagnosis, it’s especially shocking at this age, I’m 35 and was diagnosed in February with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma too, I’m just over half way through chemo now. I have 2 young kids, a 3 and half year old and almost 2 year old. If you need to talk I’m here xx

Oh im so sorry you are going through this too! Its sickening isnt it. Did yours effect any lypmth nodes? Mine is 2cm ans 3 lypmth nodes are swollen. They told me chemo first before anything else, is that what they are doing to you too? Thank you.. im scared of the chemo etc. X

Hello I’m doing ok thanks, ended up in hospital for a few days cos I had an infection and temperature. I think it’s quite common by this stage in treatment. I’ve done 4 rounds of EC and 1 out of 4 paclitaxel. I am cold capping and it’s been going pretty well, my hair is very thin and looking a bit bare on top but I still have hair, I wear a big head band and it looks ok. However I did really struggle with the length of time paclitaxel takes, it’s over 5 hours you need to have the cap on which is tough, I ended up taking it off a bit early cos I had a terrible migraine so not sure what effect that will have and how the next sessions will go. EC was fine, it’s only about 3 hours which I found bearable. 

Do you have your plan yet? x

I got the treatment plan today. It’s weekly chemo for 12 weeks with herceptin followed by radiotherapy. Really glad to hear the chemo and cold cap is going well. Wendle85 did you get your plan today? 

The size of your lump seems similar to mine. I get the resuts of the biopsy a week tomorrow. I really don't want chemo  or radiotherapy but I see you are having both. Can I ask why and were there other options?

The chemo is because the cancer is her2 positive. That alongside my age, 43, has determined the treatment plan. The radiotherapy is due to having had a lumpectomy. I believe you don’t need radiotherapy if you have a mastectomy but I was advised lumpectomy was best for me. I think it’s just 5 days so straight forward after the chemo. 
Do you know it’s cancerous already if you are waiting for biopsy results?

Not for definite but they said it appeared suspicious to them. It is 2cm and there is no sign of it having spread anywhere else. She said it was smooth edged. I think that's what she said anyway

Hi, how did your treatment plan meeting go? Wondered if yours was similar to mine with ours being so similar. 

Hi smudge so they have said to me weekly paxilatel then 3xec chemo herceptin and radiotherapy and also to start tamoxifen for the oestrogen positive part what chemo is it your having?

Weekly pacitaxel for 12 weeks with 12 months herceptin. Then radiotherapy and tamoxifen.

So the same apart from the 3x ec chemo part??? What’s that? Also how many weeks is your weekly pacitaxel?

The ec is another sort of chemo it’s usually every three weeks I’m waiting a call back on Monday as they confused me how many of each type of chemo but they said weekly pacitaxal I think for 9 weeks and then 3 x ec chemo along with the herceptin then radiotherapy and tamoxifen it’s mad how every consultant says different plans 

Yes, it is mad. It’ll be interesting what they say when they call you back on Monday. Did they give you a start date? I think mine might start on 19th August as they said I can go on the big family holiday we already had booked. 

Yes, it is mad. It’ll be interesting what they say when they call you back on Monday. Did they give you a start date? I think mine might start on 19th August as they said I can go on the big family holiday we already had booked. 

I have a holiday booked 10 aug til 20th I’ve already cancelled one so she said I can have my hol first but I’m starting tamoxifen straight away then will need to stop it a week before my chemo starts 

That’s great to have the holiday then come back refreshed to start chemo. I don’t start tamoxifen until after everything. 

Just checking in- how are you feeling about getting started? I hope you’ve had a good holiday. We did. 
I start the weekly paclitaxel chemo on Monday. I’m trying the cold cap but have bought a wig and big hair bands for if I need them. Getting a good wig that looks like me and I feel comfortable in was a challenge but I think I’ve got there. 

how are you getting on? I start with pax next week, weekly for 12 weeks and then EC 3 or 4 x every 2 weeks. Gonna try the cold cap. May fail be gotta try. 

Hiya so I started yesterday I was so scared and upset before I went it went well had my herceptin first then the paclitaxel on steroids for three days no sickness yet been eating loads tbh don’t fee tired yet had hot flushes last night but was having them anyway before I’m not cold capping tbh I have short hair anyway so will embrace it I have got some wigs and hair coverings if needed it wasen as scary as I expected will just see how the rest of the week goes hope all goes well for u keep me posted xxx

Thank you.  You too. I hear the herceptin can have it's own sideffects so hopefully it will be as manageable as it can be. 

So good to best it wasn't as scary as you thought.  The nurse did say to me that the first was the worst just because you are scared and you don't know what to expect. Xx