Newly diagnosed and started treatment

Hi Sapphire, what a worrying time you must have had waiting for the results of so many supicious lesions. I would have been so worried!

Such good news though that they are treating it. I am currently doing EC chemo myself having had a lumpectomy in Jan and in Feb. Radiotherapy to follow and hormone therapy too. I imagine you will also be doing hormone therapy too.

I just really wanted to pop on so you didn't feel alone. It sometimes takes a while for people to reply, but we're all very supportive here and if you have any questions, someone will always know the answer or point you in the general direction.

You take care now xx

Thank you. It’s so helpful to learn of people with similar diagnoses. Everyone’s testament seems different doesn’t it. I think I will be on letrozole once I finish all the chemo! 
thanks again. 

Glad your first cycle seems to have gone well. If your anything like me it is a relief in a way to actually start the treatment rather than just worrying about it! 

Good news that the lesions are nothing serious but it must have been so worrying waiting for the results to come back.  

I have done 3 EC and am due to have 2nd Docetaxel on Friday so getting towards the end of it now , just radiotherapy to go, it seems like forever at the start but you will be surprised how it passes.  The main thing is to take time for you and rest when you feel you need it.

take care

kathryn 

Hi Sapphire,

So glad to hear that your liver lesion and lung lesion are OK and you’re getting curative treatment. Must have been a really anxious time for you. My consultant said there was ‘something in my liver they weren’t too worried about’, then done a liver function test which came back OK.

I’m not ER+ but am HER2+. My cancer is in my lymph nodes, stage 3, locally advanced.

Had 2 EC then a breast MRI, which showed the tumour had shrunk but not enough so moved on to Docetaxel plus T and P. I’m having my second one tomorrow. I’m getting 4 of these so will be 6 chemos in total then a 6 week break before surgery. Have an appointment with my breast surgeon in 2 weeks to discuss my surgery in July (think it might be a mastectomy- not sure). Then another 6 week break then radiotherapy. Similar treatment plan to yours I think. There’s more info in my profile but that’s probably enough!

Glad you’re not feeling nausea. I didn’t either. Such a relief. Constipation though, not great, but there are things to help. The tiredness lasted for a week the first time, or until I finished the white cell boosting injections. Are you taking these? My mouth was really dry and became sore, but then, I wasn’t using mild toothpaste and a soft tooth brush at that point. So that didn’t help.

Hoping that your side effects stay minimal.

Bluebell xx

Thanks. I think chemo brain has already hit as I have 4 EC and then 4 of the combined treatments before surgery so sound similar to you. Not 6 as I said above! It was definitely good to just get on with it. He nearly postponed it for a week as he hadn’t had the liver scans back but thankfully he got a phone call while I was with him so it all changed very rapidly and I started chemo he next day! It’ll all take up the rest of this year but glad they can treat it now. 

Hi Bluebell. I’m due 4 EC and then 4 combined before surgery so very similar to you. 

What did you use for the constipation? I’m trying to up the roughage but of course it’s hard with a horrid taste in my mouth. How long does that last?
I've bought a soft toothbrush and am using sensodyne. Is that what you did?

I start the injections on Saturday for 7 days so that will be starting on day 5. Did you find the effects of the chemo cumulative with each cycle? 

The fatigue and headache and mouth taste are the main things right now but all bearable. 

Hi Sapphire,

Hope you’re not feeling to bad with side effects. Everyone is different but the horrid taste should fade, maybe in about 5 days. 

You’re having more chemo than me but I’m to continue with T and P for a year. 

Yes, sensodyne gum health. I’m using zendium saliva gel at night too. Some people have had mouth gel on prescription.

My constipation only lasted a few days. Upped my roughage with prune juice and more fruit and veg (homemade soup). I got Psyllium Husk capsules too. Quite a lot of people, me included, suffered from heartburn/reflux. I didn’t recognise it at first as was just a feeling of fullness. A daily Lanzoprozole tablet really helped. You can get them over the counter but they are expensive. The chemo unit nurse gave me some.

Make sure you’re drinking enough as your headache might be related to that (dehydration). I found EC very ‘drying’. To my skin and mouth too. Was slapping moisturiser on everywhere!

Are you giving your own injections? I learned it’s better to give them in the evening as they make me tired (quite a few people do this). On day 6 and 7 they caused  ‘pulsing’ lower back and leg pain but already had co-codomol, from GP, which worked and I slept fine. Paracetamol might work too.

I was very tired for the first week with EC then it just went. My second EC I actually felt better. Hardly any SEs. Had a scheduled MRI but not enough shrinkage so moved on to Docetaxel with T and P. Everyone is different with SEs and response to treatment so just have to see how it goes. If I was suffering with SE, or had any  concerns, I would phone my BC nurse or GP as there is no point in putting up with things.

Exercise is good too. Even a short walk. Which I’m trying to get motivated to do! It really helps.

Hoping you feel better soon.

Bluebell xx