Hi

I did not have the same chemo that you have mentioned, but I was originally diagnosed as HER2 negative; it was following removal of the tumour and subsequent biopsy that it was found to be HER2 positive. This meant that my treatment plan changed from surgery and radiotherapy to surgery, chemo, radiotherapy, Herceptin injections, letrozole for 5 years and zoledronic acid infusions. My oncotype score indicated chemo wasn’t needed, but it was the HER2 that meant I would have to have it as I needed the injections and in the uk they don’t give Herceptin without chemo. I had 3 EC and3 docetaxel. I lost my hair. I have heart scans every 3 months. It was scary, but honestly it is not as bad as you may think. I didn’t feel ill the whole time, I had good days as well as some not so good. We all react differently. It is hard but doable. I finished chemo last December and am having my haircut again tomorrow. I honestly feel fine now. 
All the best 

Hi there. I hope you are ok. 

I also had Her 2 negative but I was told and understood from my own research that this is the lesser aggressive type? Her 2 positive and triple negative are the other types. I note this chemo regimen is given for Her 2 negative and triple negative. 

I felt exactly the same, I was so scared of chemo and losing my hair and don’t get me wrong when I did lose clumps of hair it was really upsetting but I have accepted it now and I wear my wig every day it’s like my own hair and I don’t think any different. 

7 weeks today I finished chemo, it’s gone so quickly and it will be the same for you. Please do not worry. 

I know it’s very difficult making all these decisions, believe me I still have hard one’s to make now. Ultimately no one knows if cancer will return or not but what the doctors do know is that every treatment they recommend reduces the risk. 

Thankyou. I am glad to hear it was not so bad. It really helps to not feel alone. The thought of chemo really scares me. Did your hair start to fall out immediately? 

Be well. 

Thank you for your feedback this really helps. I hope it will go quickly for me also.

All the best. 

Hi

You are certainly not alone xx. My nhs trust did not have the “cold cap” facility which many other trusts do. It may be that yours will and so you could try to cold cap which does help with hair loss and thinning , but I have no experience of it! But to answer your question, my hair began to fall out about 2 weeks after my first chemo of EC. I decided to brave the shave and had the lot off. I had a wig which I wore under my cap when I went out. I felt comfortable. I also had loads of scarves and turbans. Before my final chemo in December my hair had begun to grow back. By my birthday in March I was confident enough to go out without my wig or hat. I just thought if people want to look, let them. It felt quite liberating to be honest! My hair isn’t yet as thick as it was and it is quite soft, but I love it!

Hi

I was HER2+, so was told I’d need chemo when I got my full diagnosis. It was shocking, and I really get your disappointment, but I was just happy to follow the oncologists recommendation.  ie if they think something will reduce my chance of recurrence, I’m happy to take their advice.

Chemo isn’t fun, but for me it was nowhere near as awful as I expected. And the time flies by. I completed my chemo end March and will keep having Herceptin until the end of the year. The Herceptin is great - virtually no side effects - you need to have your heart checked every few months but again - that is quite interesting and not at all horrid. 

So good luck. Focus on the long term results - you want all these treatments so that you get to live normally again afterwards. You’ll be through it before you know it

Thank you for your reply. I asked my doctor about the cold cap, but apparently, it is not suitable for the chemo that has been recommended to me. She did offer an alternative, but the side affects are much worse, and they have less experience. I'm glad to hear it was not so bad losing your hair,  as currently it is really scary just to think about. 

Thank you for your reply and kind words these group really helps me feel less alone. 

Hi Sally

I have a similar situation as to you. I was diagnosed with HER2 Negative stage 2 before surgery but it was upgraded to stage 3 positive after it was removed and my oncotype reoccurrence was in the 50s so my worst fears were confirmed. I had a fantastic oncology team. Very supportive and always went out their way to ensure a smile.

I had to have 3x EC (Epirubicin; Cyclophosphamide) and then 9x Paclitaxol. I also had to have 10x radiotherapy with the same reason as the reoccurrence score was so high.

The EC was very aggressive and I did lose all of my hair after 1 treatment and it wiped me out with some extreme side effects but once I started Pacli it started to grow back albeit slowly!! I finished chemo in January this year and radiotherapy in March this year. 

I now have to take Tamoxifen for the next 7 years. 

I am so scared and paranoid that it will come back, even after 14 months of diagnosis (I was 45 at diagnosis). I was told that even after the surgery and all of the treatment, there is a low chance it will come back but still a chance nonetheless.

I wish you all the best on your journey