Hi,

I also have dipped in and out. It is reassuring in a way to have a plan and know what the plan is. 
 

Chemo itself wasn't so bad. I had a PICC line put in on the day and everyone was lovely. Felt ok afterwards. I was suprised at how quickly it goes. Have had a rough couple of days with tiredness and feeling sick but they did give me medication for the sickness if needed. Each day is better now though than the day before which is hopeful. 
 

Hope your chemo goes well. Keep us updated x

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I'm at a different stage of treatment having just finished my active treatment. I had my surgery first (mastectomy) and was initially told I probably wouldn't need chemo but after they did the pathology on my tumour they decided I would benefit from chemo and radiotherapy to hopefully prevent the cancer returning. I had my last radio on Monday .  Like you the thought of chemo scared the c**p out of me but I'm glad to say I tolerated it really well and it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd built it up to be in my head. I had 8 cycles every 2 weeks. I would have my cycle on the Wednesday and I would feel a bit rough for 3 or 4 days starting the Friday but then would have a week or so of feeling ok before the next one. Everyones experience and tolerance levels are different so don't be scared by what you've read or how chemo patients are often portrayed on TV because that might not be your experience. Best advice is drink lots of water before and after each cycle and to listen to your body when it tells you to rest. I found fatigue to be the hardest thing and would nap most afternoons and would go to bed early. 

It is definitely worth giving the cold cap a try, unfortunately it didn't work for me but had it been working I would have definitely persevered with it as certainly found it tolerable. Quite a few of the women at my chemo unit were using it and worked well for them.

As for the mastectomy, I was amazed at how quickly I recovered from the surgery. I wasn't able to have reconstruction at the time and now because I've had radio i won't be able to have one for at least a year. However I very quickly got used to having one boob and was relieved that they had removed the rumours with clear margins! I actually got more upset about losing my hair than my boob!  

Anyway, wishing all of you who are just starting or still having your treatment all the best! 

Lots of love and strength xx

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I can't believe how amazing everyone is on here at calming people down, especially when they have their own stuff going on! I'm so, so grateful. It's so good to hear that for you chemo wasn't as bad as you expected. You should be so proud of yourself getting through all that!

I'm having chemo first and then mastectomy on one breast and immediate reconstruction but that's the plan for now, it may change as things go on. The plan has already changed in two wks so I'll just try and take each day as it comes. 
 

I'll definitely give the cold cap a go if I can. So many questions for the oncologist when we chat this wk!

Thanks so much again for taking the time to reassure me.

Sending hugs x
 

Hi sorry just me again! Did you all have a marker put in? If so what does it do? I had one put in but I didn't ask why I just went with it x

Hey, 

Don't ever be sorry! We've got to help each other through this crap :)

Yeah I had markers put in, as far as I know they do it so they can a) remember where the tumour is that they took biopsy from and b) so they can see changes to it like when it shrinks with chemo!

Sending love x

Oh thanks I thought that's what is was for I just didn't want to Google it sometimes it sets off my anxiety! I'm so glad I found this thread you know. Our stories sound so alike! I'm sorry your going through it but I'm glad I've found someone similar to talk to about it. PS I feel so much better now that I have my plan. You know I said about the 24 rounds? It's 3 months of chemo and then changes to something else I think it's still classed as chemo but it's a different recipe ( if that makes sense) 3 months of that too but that's once a week for 3 months xxxx

I know exactly what you mean about Google! I'm trying to stay off it too because it always ends up with me freaking out! The nurse said to me the other day that they regard Google as a swear word!! They hate it and I can see why.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place! I have meeting with oncologist soon so I'll find out what type I am getting etc. It's so rubbish that this is happening to us but we'll get through it, we have to!!

Keep your chin up x

Hey,

I'm so pleased for you that you're feeling good! It's not something any of us ever imagined having to go through so it's no wonder we all freak out about the thought of chemo and everything else! Thank you for the tips about rest and cordial, all these tips help calm me down so much.

I've not even spoken to the oncologist about the cold cap yet so may not even be an option. Although the more I look in to it the more I wonder if I should not bother with it. I sometimes suffer from really bad migraines and I've heard that the cold cap is not good for migraine people like me. I'll ask all those questions though and see what I decide.

Sending hugs and keep smashing it!x

Keep us updated! Xxx