Hi, hope you don't mind me joining. I had my diagnosis a few weeks ago, HER2 positive and receptor positive, grade 3 ductal, 56mm.   Started chemo (TCHP) today!   Not really sure what to expect in the coming days.....

[@linds16]‍ Hi Linds, of course we don’t mind you joining - welcome to the club no one wants to join! I’m so sorry for your cancer diagnosis. You are very similar to me, I started off with what was thought to be 1x 6mm tumour Her2+ after it was removed in a matter of weeks it was multi focal and over 50mm - so it went from grade 2 to grade 3 too. I started chemo last tuesday - Wednesday & Thursday not too bad, apart from the almost immediate metallic taste from the Carboplatin, and awful smell eminating from my pores, just a musty awful smell. Other side effects were lower leg pains, headaches, nausea, and the worst was definitely stomach cramps. Yesterday started with a crusty, bloody nose lining. Feeling okay today, slight stomach cramps, hubby picked up Esomeprazole 20mg from the chemist and that’s nipped it in the bud - wish I’d known about it at the weekend! The hospital meds saw off the nausea, so all in all not too bad, Docetaxel has one heck of a rotten reputation. I do understand the compound effects, but i’ll take it as it comes, cycle 2 is 6th april. You take care my lovely, and if there’s anything I can help with - just ask. Forgot to mention, get yourself some black nail polish asap, and some cuticle cream, it helps stop UV light getting to your nail beds and destroying your fingernails and toenails. Rub the cuticle cream in several times a day to keep your cuticles moist, if they split through being dry you might get an infection - only found this out today. Lyn. XX

[@yorkiegal]‍ thanks for the hint 9News nail varnish, I'll get onto that tomorrow.   Can't believe I've been here 7+ hours....isn't it boring though.....but has to be done.  I'm nervous about what to expect these coming days for sure.

Good to hear your first cycle has been relatively ok 

[@linds16]‍ , I was there from 8.45am and left at 2pm, the herceptin was given as an injection to the abdomen, so I only had two via IV infusion, the  first 2 chemos I think are given ultra slowly just incase you get a bad reaction, after that they speed it up, I was told two hours tops after chemo 2.  It certainly is boring, chatted with a few folk, had lunch, tea trolley round constantly, not too bad. You’ll be okay, another tip - clean your teeth gently after every time you eat, and gargle with a salt water, and spit it out afterwards, so far no pesky mouth sores, they could be delayed tho? I make up a 500ml water bottle with a tablespoon of table salt in and leave it in the bathroom for after teeth brushing, it’s handy and I don’t forget to do it. My tongue has a horrid white strioe down the middle but no sores, my dental hygienist told me to do this. No alcoholic mouth rinses at all, they are too strong. Don’t be nervous, you’ll be fine. Hope you sleep okay with the pesky steroids. Lyn. XX

Hi Lyn, how are you doing?   I've had a good day, just a few mild stomach cramps, so am even more anxious about what's to come tomorrow.  Really appreciate your tips, have got my black nail varnish on and started gargling!   Keep well, Linds 

[@linds16]‍ hi how do you feel after first chemo ? I hope you doing well . Iam post surgery and waiting for my chemo to start in some point at April. I see that all of us here with Her2 positive and grade 3 its means it fast growing! Afrer my surgery i feel a relief as i cancer free now . Take care and keep going , its all temporary and we will find the way out soon ! XxZana

[@yorkiegal]‍ good morning , how are you lovely lady ? Its been more than week after your treatment how do you feel? I had my Bday yesterday nice family party , four of us and at some point i forgot about my cancer(not really). Iam two weeks after surgery and something bothering me in my under new breast area, reconstruction part i guess . I still have some little plasters all around but my breast looks more normal not swollen just little blue colour lower part. Few days left until my pathology results appointment and at this time i feel that iam thinking about it , never stop to wait what else it can bring for me... xZ

[@Anna71]‍ 

Hi Zana, thanks for asking. Yesterday was good, felt pretty normal to be honest.  Definitely a bit weaker this morning, you know how you feel when you're about the get the flu, but I am up and about and have been out for a walk.  So glad you are feeling good after your surgery and yes, it's great to see a clear way forward for the 3 of us.  Take care, Linds 

@Anna71,@Linds16,  

Hi Z, Stop thinking about Monday, enjoy the rest of your week. I’m so pleased you had a good birthday, mine is next week. I was feeling 100% yesterday, but today I have the constant runs, on the loo several times an hour, that is ‘new’ today - I’d rather have a new dress or sandals, Lol! Otherwise all good, I was thinking I might get two good weeks out of three, I’m lowering my sights to one week in three. But in the scheme of this rotten chemo I have got off lightly so far............. lets see how it progresses. I have boob pain too, a permanent dragging feeling.XX

Hi Linds, I felt a bit ‘flu like’, the only way I could describe my stomach was like the colleywobbles, cold inside and jittery, like when you’ ve eaten something that didn’t agree, then the awful cramps would start, they’ve stopped now, they were really awful at their worst over the weekend. It’ll be interesting to see how different our chemo symptoms are moving forwards. Stuck in dashing distance of the loo now, oh dear, never mind - nowhere to go anyway except for a walk!XX

[@yorkiegal]‍ yes i had new dress on my Bday i was ready for big 50 day long time ago :)! You make me laugh about your thoughts about the dress , its good to have sence of humor at any point of life especially me now free of any hastle of treatment. And you my dear With your new new day at loo it may be better than all of ladies saying they struggle with constipation! Have a lovely day:) XZ