How long does chemo take to kick in?

Does anyone know, or have any experience, of how long chemo starts to take effect? I had my first session last Thursday (and have it every Thursday now for about 20 weeks), but my breast cancer lump is getting bigger. It was 31mm, triple negative and grade 3, so I know it can grow abnormally fast, but it feels massive now; actually aches when I take my bra off, I'm guessing because of the extra weight? I'm just so worried about it growing quicker than the time it takes for the chemo to work. Don't know if I should phone the breast care nurses, not really sure what they would say.

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  • Hey

    hope your feeling ok with the chemo 

    I had my chemotherapy weekly too. I started with Taxol weekly for 12 weeks and then Carboplaitin added in every 3rd week then when the 12 weeks were done I had EC every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks. Mine was also Triple negative, Grade 3. 
    I had 2 lumps and the smaller one seemed to get bigger to me at the start before it gradually started to disappear. When I had my Mastectomy they said I still had some risidual cancer in there but the smaller lump had pretty much gone. 
     

    I got totally obsessed with measuring my lumps even tried to draw a line so i could measure them which I think is why I kept thinking they were bigger at first. Thinking about It, it probably wasn't until I stopped doing that and left tnem Alone that I started to notice they were getting smaller.

    Try not to worry too much.. that chemo is good stuff! But mention it when you next go so they can put your mind at rest  properly :) 

    hope your ok. If you need any more info I'm here 

    Sarah xx


     

     

Reply
  • Hey

    hope your feeling ok with the chemo 

    I had my chemotherapy weekly too. I started with Taxol weekly for 12 weeks and then Carboplaitin added in every 3rd week then when the 12 weeks were done I had EC every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks. Mine was also Triple negative, Grade 3. 
    I had 2 lumps and the smaller one seemed to get bigger to me at the start before it gradually started to disappear. When I had my Mastectomy they said I still had some risidual cancer in there but the smaller lump had pretty much gone. 
     

    I got totally obsessed with measuring my lumps even tried to draw a line so i could measure them which I think is why I kept thinking they were bigger at first. Thinking about It, it probably wasn't until I stopped doing that and left tnem Alone that I started to notice they were getting smaller.

    Try not to worry too much.. that chemo is good stuff! But mention it when you next go so they can put your mind at rest  properly :) 

    hope your ok. If you need any more info I'm here 

    Sarah xx


     

     

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