New here - 1st chemo

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...What a lovely place, should have joined sooner! I found a lump in November 2021, ER+ grade 2 breast cancer. After the surgeon explained all options with honesty, I was feeling a bit unsure, so she suggested an extra option: take Leztrozole for a few months to see if the tumour will reduce in size enough to have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy (as my skinny figure limits reconstruction options). In May 2022 ultrasound imaging did not show a significant shrinking of the lump. So I opted for a mastectomy without an implant (at 61 I don't particularly want one pert implanted breast and a natural one that goes south). So on 23rd June, I had the mastectomy, followed by an axillary lymph nodes clearance on 21 July. Thankfully only one node had cancer (macromeststasis). I've recovered very well from both ops, so, after agreeing to have an Oncotype DX genomic assay done on my cancer, flew to have a holiday with my family and swim in lake Geneva. The next day of my return, the surgeon said that my Oncotype DX score was high at 41, so I would be invited for a consultation with an oncologist..."but you don't have to have chemotherapy if you don't want to" she said. This last comment sent me in 3 weeks worth of frenzied mental states scouring the internet, speculating, second-guessing and writing a impossibly long lists of a questions for the oncologist. Eventually my dad said "just follow what they'll guide towards, this days it's all about evidence medicine". So I calmed down and today, I've just started the first of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. I'm feeling a bit yuck, but the nausea is comparatively well managed with no less three medications each acting in a different way. So I think I'll stay the course and trust the legacy of the clinical trials that point towards chemo reducing my risk of recurrence by more than 15% at 9 years!...However, any advice on coping with the first few days of chemotherapy would be warmly received!

Mazz over 2 years ago

Hi Sophie, so sorry for your situation! I had a similar diagnosis, my oncotype score was 28, but I decided on chemotherapy even though I was only 3 points above avoiding it, they gave me a choice as well, but I was persuaded by my oncologist telling me that any secondary cancers would be very difficult to treat! No brainier! Six cycles in total. So I had 3 cycles of EC and found all three quite easy, I had each treatment on a Thursday and went to my keep fit classes the day after! I can honestly say I felt absolutely fine throughout, perhaps due to the steroids! Loved them! The plan was to have 3 paclitaxel infusions after that; I managed ONE and was absolutely wretched for three weeks following it. By the time my next one was due (3 weeks after), I couldn’t cope! So I decided to stop. I had to inject filgrastim for 5 days following the paclitaxel, which I did for four days but didn’t do the fifth because I was convinced it was that causing the absolute misery! My oncologist told me that the cycles I’d had would still be helpful. I then had radiotherapy which was easy. Forgot to say I’d had a mastectomy first of all, with no lymph node involvement, so, theoretically, was “cancer free”. Anyway, continue with chemotherapy as long as you can, it’s definitely going to help! Also, you’ll have Anastrazole to prevent any recurrence, I’ve been taking them for three months and I’m absolutely fine with them, sleep great and toilet great and find my mood is great, so fingers crossed all will be well. There’s often a lot of negative comments about the drugs we have to take, but nobody much comments when things are going well. Best of luck, stay positive xxx

Daisy53 over 2 years ago

Hi sophie1breast

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Make sure that you drink plenty of liquids and try and get out for a walk if you can as that can help with any side effects you may have. Keep taking the anti-sickness tablets as long as you need them and don't hesitate to contact your chemo unit if any side effects you may have get too much for you as they can suggest an alternative medication or reduce the dose of your next chemo.

There's a chemo thread that you can follow on this forum and contribute to if you want. This is the thread: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/240592/june---august-2022-breast-cancer-chemo/1783197#1783197.

Wishing you the best of luck with the rest of your treatment.

Best wishes

Daisy53

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