Starting Chemo

Hi HappyMandy, sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Chemo is very different for everyone. This is just my experience. Do you know your chemo drug and cycle routine. This can help others who are having the same chemo give you their experiences. I had EC to start with every 2 weeks for 4 cycles. I keep a diary everyday to write down how I felt as it holds a similar pattern throughout that particular one. I found the first cycle not too bad, was very tired. I did start to feel like myself after about day 7. I didn’t start work until my 3rd cycle. I had a few hours there as that was all I could manage. I

’m now on Docetaxel and targeted therapy (Phesgo) for the HER2 and so far have been wiped out with tiredness and high temp spikes. I have been checked for infections and all is clear. It could be a reaction still from the Phesgo as I had that when I was given my injection but it could also be a reaction from the filigrastim injections too as that can cause a fever. However these are just my experiences, there are others on her who have managed to work throughout their chemo treatments.
Just remember to be kind to yourself and listen to your body. Don’t push yourself. You can click on my name and read my journey so far if you like. Others will also include their biographies under their names too. 
Wishing you all the best on your journey. 
Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi HappyMandy,

As cuffcake says chemo is different for everyone. 
I had chemo before mastectomy and started with 3 weekly EC for 4 cycles. I didn’t have a single side effect apart from hair loss, which didn’t bother me.

 I then went on to have 12 weekly doses of Paclitaxel with one carboplatin every 3 weeks. I did have side effects with this but count them off one by one. Keep a diary - it’s useful to record medication and daily temperatures. Also when the chemo finishes you can look back with pride knowing you did it. 

best wishes xxx

Hi, I have breast cancer and also carrying the her2 gene, I had my first chemo 3 weeks ago, it was ok, the side effects I had was the horrible taste in my mouth which lasted around 2 weeks, and hair loss, all of it, make sure you drink loads of water before during and after this helps flush your system I have been able to carry on as normal I yave 5 mor chemos to have and a lumpectomy all good upto now 

Hi, sorry you're going through chemo and as others have said, it's very different for different people. I worked throughout all my chemo treatments. My job is flexible so I was able to take time to rest and then when I felt like it, I could log in to emails and take calls. I tried to schedule later starts in case I had a bad night and it worked out well, though my colleagues were super tolerant.

In terms of preparing, you might find this link to my blog to be useful. It's practical stuff I wish I had known at the start Chemo blog link

best wishes and good luck 

Girls, thank you so much this is all enormously helpful.. I have realised since diagnosis that I had significantly overestimated my bravery and underestimated my vanity but just seeing how you all cope and that you very much do cope is so encouraging.. I am going to start prepping and facing up to what may come..again thank you so very much.

As the others have said chemo is different for everyone and you never know how you’ll feel. I was told that my response and side effects were the textbook expected. If you click on my name I’ve added some details on my experiences of treatment. I think it very much depends on your job. I was signed off as I work in a school as an LSA and I’m eternally grateful as there’s no way I could’ve done my job 2 out of 3 weeks of the cycle. Many people do carry on working with adjustments though so as I say it depends on your job. All the best to you xx

that made  me smile. . , . me too! def not brave, also totaly estimated my vanity and i have  no hidden depths, but have discovered a rather black sense of humour. Sorry you are joining us all on this journey, however, the community on here is super helpful

I had thin, fine hair and hate the cold so opted against cold capping, hsir completly gone by week 4 but so far pubes and eyebrows are holding firm. Other than diarrhoea and fatigue have shortness  of breath after even short walks, sore mouth, vile metallic taste in mouth and seem to get urine infections after each bout of chemo (asked drs for antibiotics to take automatically when symptoms start, they obliged - thank God!) Oh, and for 3 days the steroids gave me insomnia , made me eat like a pig and made me extremely irritable (my poor hubby)

Agree with the diary of symptoms, found that quite therapeutic. Basically pace yourself, this is def a marathon, not a sprint . . . good luck with the chemo next week and plan lots of little, low energy trips/ activities that bring you joy xx