Hi

I have grade 3 bc also and have had chemo before my surgery. I had 6 sessions of chemo three weeks apart, and finished it about 3 weeks ago. The symptoms vary depending upon the type of chemo you have, let me know once you have your plan and I can share what I experienced.  

A few things to start thinking about: will you lose your hair, if so ask if they will contribute towards a wig if that’s the route you are going to go. And get an appt sorted with a wig provider. Make sure your dental work is up to date.  Is someone coming with you for your chemo sessions? Think about things to do while you are there, my husband and I watched a film each time. Your skin will be dry so get a good moisturiser. And start to drink lots of water if you don’t so already.  Ask if they have any alternative therapies, mu hospital has a therapist who does massages, reiki etc for free. 

Hope the session goes well tomorrow. 

X

Hi Em38, how big was your lump? I’ve been told mine is around 15mm but need a mri to give precise measurements. It sounds as though I could also be on a 21 day programme also. How many cycles do you have to have? I also need a clip fitted once I’ve had my mri x

Hi ladies

mine was 6 cycles every three weeks.  My lump was over 8cm, I had an MRI after my 5th cycle and the lump has gone and my lymph nodes are reduced so it does work.

I found cycles 1-3 much easier than 4-6 which was a deferent mix is drugs - Docetaxel I think. Took me two weeks to recover on the last 3 cycles and I’m still fatigued now. 

The worst side effects for me were losing my taste buds, fatigue loss of appetite and joint pain. I got my head shaved so I didn’t have to watch it fall out. I asked for some pain killers for the joint pain as it was stopping me sleeping.  And I drank smoothies and ate Lots of Greek salads and ice cream. Just be kind to yourselves and don’t expect to much of yourselves. Sleep when you need to sleep easy when you need to eat. 

Wl

Hi LeaW

Just accepted your friend request and thought I'd have a little look and see what stage you were up to treatment wise. I know these first few weeks before treatment started were the worst for me personally and getting reassurance and help from ladies on here was so much help to me.. Im 40 and was diagnosed in July with breast cancer. Iv 2 lumps one was about 22mm and the other 8mm, stage 2. I'm having chemo before surgery which I started in August and Iv just had my last lot of the first type of chemo I'm having today.. I'm then having an ultra sound to see if it's shrinking it then I'm moving into a different type. Any questions you want to ask me please feel free to fire away. I would reiterate what the other ladies on here have said.. look after your body and yourself, think of what your putting into it.. lots of water, lots of fruit and veg to give your body the strength it needs. 
Have you been on the breast cancer care forum?? There have chemo threads on there for each month.. so if your starting it this month you can jump in with other ladies that are too and share your progress and tips and just chat with them really. I'm in the August 2019 chemo starters but there's one for each month. It's been a real help to me chatting to ladies that are all going through the same as me.

sorry if that's all a bit much to take in  

sending hugs your way 

Lisa xxx

Hi Lisa thank you for the response, it's helped. Yes the anxiety is real at the minute. I've had my mri today, clip fitted & pic line next week then chemo starts next Friday 25/10, really cant wait to get started with it, haven't been on the breast cancer care forum, how do I access it?? Xx

Hi I'm so glad it's helped you. I totally get you it's all very scary and I'll tell you what everyone told me because it really is true that once youve started your treatment you'll feel more settled in the way that you feel like something is actually happening. I too have clips/markers in also. Just google breast cancer now forum and you can sign up for it. They'll already be an Oct thread going as some ladies will already of started there chemo so if you just search Oct 2019 chemo starters you can jump in with them. Other ladies like myself can also pop on from earlier ones and give you any tips and help that we have found helped us. I find I don't sleep great the week after my treatment due to the steroids which is why I'm replying at this time! I've slept from 10.30 until now though so that's a bonus haha I usually read for a bit then that gets me back off. I'm been having mine every 3 weeks and found after 7 days Iv started feeling more myself, definitely after 10 days I'm pretty much back to normal. Everyone is so different though so just listen to your body and rest or sleep when needed. Iv found this so hard as I'm usually a million miles an hour all the time. Working full time. Gym. Kids. 
alwsys here for any advice or even just a chat 

Lisa xxx

Hi, I also am stage 1 grade 3 and had the full both sides breast mesectomy. I had my first session of chemo last week (26/may/2022) chemo drug they're using is EC. I also have opted to use the cold cap. When the drug was being given I had a perfume like taste in my mouth all of a sudden and felt acid indigestion but they gave me extra fluid so it passed very quickly. I'm currently day 6 past my first treatment and I've had many unwanted side effects some quite extreme. I've since found out I'm on the highest dose of that type of chemo and that its probably to strong for which is why I'm still not great. My hairs still on my head but I was told its usually starts falling out by week 3/4 if its even going to. My personal experience so far has been debilitating to the point I've suggested I don't want any further treatment but I've been reassured I won't feel this bad on the 2nd treatment. 

Side effects:

Dry mouth

Bad Nausea

Headaches

Muscles aches and pains

Weakness

Tiredness

Stomach cramps 

Diarrhoea 

They say the first session is the worst. 

Hi, I finished my Chemo on the 14th April I had 6x FEC-T after grade 3 Stage 1 Idc, I had a lumpectomy.

i suffered from all of your list the first round I had, I actually felt so awful I thought I couldn't carry on, I am glad to say though after day 10 I felt much better, and then was ok ready for my next round. After my 2nd it wasn't as bad as the first round. It was also better as I knew what to expect, my advice is carry on with it if you can. Are you changing to Docetaxil after your EC? That's different again, I suffered from body aches but no sickness. 
 

hope you start to feel better xxx