Can’t stop feeling anxious about treatment

Hi, 

I have just started my Chemo for Triple Negative BC, my Ultrasound indicated no lymph node changes. And it was a big relief when the CT can back clear. Like you, I though it would make sense to remove it, but I think they do Chemo to shrink and kill cancer cells to remove as little of the breast as possible. 

First Chemo was ok and I’m 8 days in. I’m trying cold cap treatment to reduce hair loss. 

What’s your treatment plan? 

K

I had this too. When I was first diagnosed, they said lumpectomy then radiotherapy. Couple of months total of treatment time then all done. Then I got the results of my MRI and mine was on my chest wall, so they wanted to shrink it first so they could be more sure of clear margins when it came to the operation. I was quite upset as all I heard at the time was that they didn't want to operate and I needed a CT scan to check it hadn't spread any further.

What they actually said was that the chemo would shrink it to give the least invasive operation with the best outcome, that they are actually considering chemo first for more and more patients, especially in my age group (mid-40s) as it gives good long term outcomes. They throw everything at you so that you can 'live for decades to come'. My surgeon also said that having chemo before surgery can be an advantage as you know the chemo is working - they do two MRIs during chemo so can see whether it is shrinking or not and adjust accordingly. When you have chemo after the cancer is removed you don't really know whether it's doing anything for sure.

The CT scan is completely routine, but it was by far the worst 2 weeks in my whole experience when I was waiting for those results. I had no lymph node involvement form the MRI (and confirmed later when they removed 3) but they need to tailor your treatment plan to you and so they get all those diagnostic tests done ahead of chemo. That way, they are giving you the right thing.

It is really scary but I was glad I had chemo in the end, it felt like we had done everything to give me good long term outcomes. And seeing the shrinkage with those MRIs is a real boost.

I'm also on hormone treatment for 5 years. As I was pre-menopausal, they gave me a choice of tamoxifen or putting me into a medical menopause hen I was going through chemo and then adding in the aromatase inhibiter later. I chose the menopause route as there is less chance of recurrence.

It is a really scary time but once you have your final treatment plan you should hopefully feel much better. Remember they are doing everything for you and they know so much about breast cancers now that they can really tailor the treatment just for you.

Thank You so much for your reply, I was only diagnosed last week on the 24th and had my treatment plan on the 31st it was just a shock, as like you I was told where take the lump out and do radiotherapy and should all be finished within 2 - 3 months. Also Ended up doing loads of googling and some sites were indicating that a CT scan was only usually given if they expected secondaries, which I thought strange when there no evidence in the lymph.

Have you finished treatment yet? and if not was wondering how far into it you are.

Sending hugs  

Thank You for your reply, it’s my first time on here, but I usually find forums and chats so much better then just keep googling information .so Yes chemo first to reduce the size of the lump can’t remember how long for thou and then remove . I’m currently awaiting the CT scan so just hope they don’t find anything else.

• my daughters getting married in July so I think I might consider cold cap would be really interested to see how that goes. If not It will have to be a wig  l Sending hugs  

The waiting for results and treatment you never wanted to go through is horrible, please try and take one day at a time and be gentle with yourself.  

The cold cap was uncomfortable but bearable, it was in 30 mins before treatment and then 90 mins after, I was in the unit for about 3 hours. As this was only the first treatment I’ve not noticed anything yet. I am doing 3 x EC, then more scans to see if it working. Later onto 12 x weekly  Paclitaxel. I have long hair, not cutting it just yet but will take it as it comes to see if cold cap is worth the time and effort. 

I am so scared about all the test results but whatever it shows is power to make the next step to making us better. We live thinking we are invincible and hope we never have to cross this path but here we are. I am thankful we live in a time when these tests are available to us. 

Positive thoughts are with you, on here we know! x 

Hi Bentley boo  , sorry to hear about your diagnosis good that your nodes are clear. 

I had a wide excision (lumpectomy) and have to have further excision as the margins weren't clear so they advised chemo in between (which I've now had). I have invasive lobular,   which type of cancer do you have (if you don't mind me asking) . Its interesting that they want to do chemo first .

Xx

Hi, I am on the same chemo plan as you, and had my second chemo yesterday.

I had the cold cap, and unfortunately my hair started coming out 4 days prior to the 2nd treatment. It is now coming out quite a lot.

I will see how it goes before I go for number 3 treatment

fingers crossed for you x

Hi I was

Hi Bentleyboo,I was diagnosed on wednesday,its chemo first for me too,then lumpectomy,then possibly radiotherapy..

They mentioned taking 2 lymph nodes.

Im terrified,its a lot to take in and like you i struggle to sleep,waiting to see oncologist which should be in next fortnight,

Thinking of you and happy to chat,helps so much talking to someone whos going through it 

Dee x

Hi, I too am going through chemo first, FEC-T, then surgery, then possibly radiotherapy. They told me I was having chemo first to shrink it as much as possible then surgery, which is the best way to go. The treatment plan is tailored your cancer diagnosis to give you the best outcome at the end.

Ultrasound and biopsies showed that it may have gone in my lymph nodes but after further testing and waiting for results and from the MRI it was found that they are clear.

A further recent MRI shows that the tumour us now shrinking after starting on the docetaxel part of the chemo treatment. I am over halfway through chemo so my last one us end April. Chemo for me is quite brutal but everybody is different with side effects and we all react differently. I think that if the tumour is shrinking then the treatment is working so I'm grinning and bearing the side effects to get to the end.

Hope all goes well with your treatment xx