Next step is Chemotherapy and I’m struggling to cope!

Hi AnaGamboa,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you now have to start chemo. The thought of having chemo can be very daunting, it’s only natural to feel anxious. I’ve just completed my 6 rounds of chemo so it can be done. 

Everyone is different, and responds differently to chemo, so I think you have to try and keep a bit of an open mind.

I had no nausea or sickness throughout my chemo. I lost all my hair but didn’t try the cold cap, I device that helps prevent hair loss. I think it works well for some. Tiredness was at different levels each round. Exercise can help to minimise it. 

You will be sent home with anti sickness meds after your first round. Your BC Nurse, or out of hours team, will always be available with advice and help with management of side effects. If you need stronger or different painkillers, anti sickness meds etc you can get them so there is absolutely no need to put up with things.

I would say it helps to have a store of things you might need like painkillers (you can order something stronger from the Doctor just in case too), Imodium, something for constipation, bonjela, mouthwash, sensitive toothpaste, a soft tooth brush, moisturisers etc. Lots of people seem to get reflux/indigestion so maybe ask for something like lanzoprazole too.

There is a June chemo thread on this site where you can get great support, advice and tips.

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../june-2021-breast-cancer-chemo

It is daunting but you will get through it. Wishing you all the best.

Bluebell xx

Hi AnaGamboa, sorry to hear that chemo is now part of your plan.   I have been having chemo every 3 weeks since late March. I have to have 6 cycles and only have one more to go.   I have managed pretty well to be honest.   I have worked all the way through with maybe the odd few hours off here and there after each treatment but I do work from home and have the ability to be very flexible.

I am still new to this game but I do know that people can react very differently to chemo, but for me, it was all about being positive, being in control of what I can control and walking.  My consultant has been really clear that regular exercise helps, and hopefully that is what worked for me.

If you check out the blog pages, this is one I wrote a few weeks ago and it might help you to be a little more prepared.

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/one-life-live-it/posts/chemo-side-effects---hints-tips

best of luck, from my experience it is nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be xx

Hello, I'm 35 and was diagnosed a few weeks after you. I still haven't had any treatment and am waiting on a treatment plan but it looks like I'll be having chemo first, so most likely around the same time as you. Just wanted to say hi :)

Hey Bluebell 
Thank you so much for your advise it really helped a lot to ease my mind a bit!

Do you mind me asking was it just your hair or did you loose your eyebrows and lashes as well? And what mouthwash are you using, cause there’s a lot of information about it and it’s not very clear. 

thank you  

Hey Irishgirl16

Thank you very much! I’ve been hearing that is not as bad as everyone thinks a lot and it really makes me feel better about it. It’s really good to know you kept working throughout, because I can not picture myself not working for the whole cycle, but I’ll also take it easy and listen to my body!

I do exercise regularly so hopefully that’ll help. 
thank you and all the best with the rest of your treatment

Hi Kisekae

I’m glad you reached out! How are you coping with all of it? For me the waiting periods have been the worst till now, specially waiting for results, but I try to think that whatever it is I will deal with it. These past few days my positivity took a toll that’s why I reached out to this group and I see an improvement already! 

If I have chemo first I’ll let you know my experience!

Stay strong 

Hi AnaGamboa,

Glad to hear you feel a bit better about chemo now.
As I was having EC chemo (this is the one that has a strong effect on hair) to start with most of my hair came out about 2 weeks after my first round. Everyone is different though so this might not happen to you. My eyebrows and eyelashes started coming out about round 4. They are not completely gone, about 25% still there.

As long as the mouth wash is alcohol free you should be able to pick one you think you’ll like.

Bluebell xx

Thank you very much Bluebell! You’ve been a great help.

I hope all goes well with the rest of your treatment!

Hello Ana, I'm 34 years old and been diagnosed last Feb with IDC ER+, HER2 neg.  I've just met up with my oncologist and my Prosigna (test to check whether I need chemo or not) results were 44 making me an intermediate risk of the cancer coming back in 5 to 10 years.  I opted to have the chemo as I don't want to take even the small risk of it coming back.  I will be having EC 4 to 6 rounds and like you I am also quite anxious as I have a child that will be starting school this sept.  Hope your appointment goes well xx

Hello Jane I think our cases ar pretty similar. I haven’t done the prosigna test yet but I think that even if the risk of not coming back is low I’ll have the chemo anyway, cause I really don’t want to go through this again! Do you know when you’re starting yours? I’m also freezing some eggs because I don’t have children yet, so that might delay mine by a week or so. 
I hope everything goes well with you and I’m here if you need someone to talk to