About to start chemotherapy

Welcome to the club that nobody wants to join! Waiting for chemo to start is almost as bad as waiting for a more detailed diagnosis. It gets so much easier once you know what you're dealing with.

This forum and forum.breastcancernow.org are full of tips on what to take to chemo sessions, but always remember that people often post when they're at their lowest so sometimes it can read worse than it is for most people most of the time.

Hi Emma45, great to meet you just sorry about the circumstances. I too have IDC HER2+ not hormone positive. I have just completed 4 rounds of EC and whilst unpleasant I was able to keep working though in reduced hours and just taking it easy. I found the first week after EC I was extremely tired and I could sleep most of the day, so I was not working that week. Stay hydrated, drink lots of water (I drink orange squash, robinsons must be so happy as I am drowning in the stuff) it really really helps. My side effects started on day 3 and lasted till day 7,8.  I started my sickness meds on the the evening of day 2 but everyone’s different, see what works for you but for me it stoped the nausea hitting me as hard on day 3. Then in week I 2 felt much better , still not 100% but mostly human. I felt spinny, linked to nausea but was very lucky that I wasn’t sick, the meds help a lot so ensure you take them. I have just had my first Paxcital and Herceptin yesterday and so far so good, let’s see if the side effects kick in 12 weeks on this and then a break before surgery and possible radiotherapy. Herceptin for a year. 

I got some great advice at the very start of my journey from the breast surgeon who I met when I made my initial appointment. She said chemo is my friend and that I should look after myself and the care team will look after me. I have had my wobbles but overall I live by and believe this mantra, being positive has helped me a lot. 
This forum is wonderful and the ladies are always available to offer support and their experiences. 

thinking of you and wishing you good luck  in your journey. We are all here for you x 

Hi Emma45 similar diagnosis to yourself but not hormone positive. Have finished neoadjuvant chemo, just had surgery, waiting for results before possible Radiotherapy and soon to restart phesgo... Targeted therapy for the HER2 bit.

Welcome to the team! Looking back on my chemo experience... The anticipation was so much worse than the reality. Like you I had a port, which really helped. Felt ever so nervous every time, but every time was a bit of an anticlimax. In a good way. The staff were lovely and reassuring, talk you through it and answer any questions. Do take the anti sickness meds. I needed Senna (anti- constipation) too. Some need anti diarrhea. I got them prescribed in advance from the GP so I was ready and prepared. No big deal. The biggest issue for me was changes to my taste. So...before you start... Go for a slap up meal at your favourite restaurant, or take away. Hang the expense and ignore the diet. LOL. If your taste does change, experiment, as different things are enjoyable on different days. However, this does return to normal afterwards so no long term worries.  

Great your daughter is going off to uni. You can focus more on you during this time. I had same with my child and it worked. You can keep in touch with your different experience! Distractions are good. I've read loads of books. Take care. Good luck.

Most of all know that the chemo if do-able. You've got this

Thanks for the advice....I will take a look. Yes I think you are right in that the waiting and the unknown are harder.  In a strange way I just want to get started so I can get it finished.

Thank you so much, that has really helped. I have bought The Royal Marsden Cancer cookbook which has recipes and nutrition tips for the different side effects of treatment.  I will definitely take the whatever anti sickness meds i'm offered as I have a fear of being sick. I was told that sea bands would help as well, they certainly did during morning sickness.

It's great to hear from someone who has already been through similar with the whole uni thing. I felt so awful that the going away experience would be overshadowed and initially my daughter said she didn't want to go.  Once she'd had time to process the whole thing she has changed her mind and is excited to be going now.....phew! I know it will be the best thing for her and news of her adventures will cheer me up.  My son is in his final GCSE year so he is actually dreading all the extra input I will be having as I have been signed off work (I work in a primary school....a bit germy!)

I hope you don't have to wait too long for your results and that the chemo and surgery have done what they should.  Good luck with the next part......Take care and thank you!

That is great advice! thank you so much.  I will definitely take all the meds     Wishing you lots of luck in the next part of your treatment.  You are so right....positive thinking is key! Take care xx

ha ha, great minds think alike. I also bought the cook book. Haven't made anything from it yet though LOL. But I do like cook books, so will experiment with some one day. I did feel desperate at one point and bought sea bands. Never usually sickly at all. I would say they did help if even just psychologically. What helped even more is speaking to the BCN about feeling sick... They put me back on some meds... Huge positive difference. (I never actually vomitted throughout just feelings of nausea). They do like to be proactive re nausea as apparently it's easier to prevent that treat vomitting. Be proactive and don't hesitate to ask for help or discuss symptoms. 

You're daughter will have a ball. Wish her well and send her on her merry way. Great you are signed off. Some people work through their chemo but I personally couldn't have done that. (Retired). You'll be able to rest whilst son at school and store up your energy for him when he gets home. Plus time to prepare for uni for him... Little jobs round the house and basic cooking skills. LOL.

One thing that really helped me... Try to get out every single day for fresh air and a walk. Even if very short. Huge mental boost. (Didn't make it every day, but that's ok too!)

Take care.

Ha yes....I too haven't tried any recipes. I do tend to buy cookbooks just to read and look at the lovely food!  The nurses have said that they will keep on top of the nausea almost before it starts so that's good.

We have made a cleaning chart....I tend to spread it over the week anyway as hate having to blitz it. So hubby and son are preparing to get stuck into some of my daily chores.  I am determined to get plenty of fresh air. I have two dachshunds who enjoy a gentle walk twice a day so I have made it my goal to get out with them at least once a day. I won't beat myself up if I miss a day though....we have to be kind to ourselves don't we?!

Take care x

Sounds like you are well prepared. Good luck.

Hi Emma

Sorry to meet you on here, as it means you are now part of the club that no one wants to join. I had the same type of BC as you. HER2+ and slightly ER+, diagnosed November 2020.

I had neoadjuvant chemo 3xEC and 3xdocetaxel plus Herceptin and Pertuzumab [the H&P go on every three weeks until March 2022]. I was also given bisphosphenate infusions very 6 months, two down four to go, as these make recurrence in bones less likely.

The chemo is quite doable with the support meds. and great that you have son and hubby at home for extra support.

I got a complete pathological clearance [confirmed by the pathology report of lump area and nodes, which were removed at lumpectomy etc] from the chemo.  I could feel the lump soften and shrink as soon as after 2-3 weeks into the chemo. I thought at first I was imagining this, but it was confirmed by my surgeon and then by MRIs mid and late chemo. It also got rid of BC in two nodes, that they could tell had previously been cancerous. 

I also completed 15 rounds of radiotherapy, plus 4 boost doses after surgery and now am settled into taking Letrozole for the next 5 years.

Now feeling very well and apart from going for the infusions every three weeks, life is more or less back to normal.

My hope for you is that you get a similar pathological clearance. It is such a relief.

Wishing you all the best.

Wallydug