New here, going through treatment for breast cancer

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Hi everyone, 

Recently diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer back in August ER+ HER2+, just had my second round of EC chemo and honestly finding it so hard. Side effects knock me out for a good week. I wonder if anyone else has the same experience with EC? Will my body become a little more resilient to it as time goes on? 

I also can’t help but feel like I am stuck in time and completing my chemo feels so far away. Hoping I find some kind of new normal for the next 5 months? Grateful for any tips, thanks xx

  • Hi  and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but sorry to hear about your diagnosis. 

    Navigating a cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from people who have walked or are walking the ‘exact same' journey can help a lot. (I have a completely different cancer).

    This New to Community area is like our reception desk where we look to try and direct you to the best part of the Community for you to get support.

    The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend that you look to join and put up your own post in our dedicated Breast Cancer Support Group.

    This group is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support. To connect in with the group please click on the link below…….

             Breast cancer

    ……. and once the group page opens you will see a [Black - Click to Join - Banner] at the bottom of the page, click in this box and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

    You can then introduce yourself to the group by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [+] in the top right of the group page.

    You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

    The Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00…… this service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear.

    Talking to people ‘face to face’ can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing.

    Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community.

    Mike (Thehighlander)

    It always seems impossible until its done - Nelson Mandela

    Community Champion Badge

  • Hi hun , welcome I am also new to this community but thankful my chemo journey is behind me , firstly so sorry for your diagnosis and that your feeling really unwell, I too had 6 rounds of chemotherHeartpy this year the first 3 also EC , I was unwell with this but the worst for me was yet to come , about a week after my 4th infusion which was my first of Docetaxel I was extremely ill, but it did suHeartside eventually, if I could give you any advice it would be use the meds that you are given to ease any side effects, make sure you have painkillers handy (as this is something I wasn’t given, eat wHeartatever and whenever you can , stay hydrated, and rest , also talk to people about how you are feeling as the mental effects can be as bad or worse than the physical effects, it seems like you will nHeartver get off this never ending cycle of treatments and appointments but before you know it you will be finished with the major treatments, try to stay positive and be kind to yourself, your physical Heartnd mental health is going through something traumatic and you have to adjust to a new you , good luck n always here if you hav  Ed any questions or need a chat , sending hugs Heart️xxx

  • Thank you so much for the reply good to hear you have completed your chemo now as well - hope you are doing much better  

    I think the hardest bit is just accepting I’m going to feel awful for a while really, so maybe once I get used to it a bit more, my body will relax and not feel so tense and mind will just go through it, that’s what I’m hoping anyway. 

    Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it xx