Chemo and herceptin

Hi Rosie 28

Sorry to hear this but I have found the anticipation of the treatment to be worse than the actual treatment.

my advice is choose you wig before any hair loss as it is the best way to getting it as near as possible to your own. My treatment was through the winter so woolly hats were my go to.  
The time soon passes and - although it doesn’t seem that way at the time it is certainly doable even at my age I am 76 and live alone. My daughter has been a wonderful support.

i am now post chemo and surgery and had my 10th injection last week 8 more to go

Try to keep your mind occupied online jigsaws. Rubbish afternoon TV, talking to friends whatever keeps you from worrying.

Wishing you well Xxx

Thank you skylark this was a lovely positive message . Yes I am looking at wigs next week . Yes I am so nervous of what might happen . When did your hair fall out? I am glad you are through the chemo . I hope you are recovering well. Many thanks for your reply 

Hi Rosie 28,

I have breast cancer and just finished my chemotherapy moving onto radiotherapy now. Whilst I didn't have the same regime as you I had 4 cycles 3 weeks apart of EC. My hair fell out after the 2nd cycle.

I had my wig in ready. I thought I would be devastated loosing my hair but I wasn't. My wig is very much like my own style and colour and people have asked me if I didn't loose my hair. When I tell them I'm wearing a wig they are quite shocked as it is a good match.

Good luck with your recovery xxx

My hair started to fall about two weeks into treatment it was a pain brushing it off my clothes so asked my daughter to cut it off - no point in going to hairdressers for a shorter style as it was going to go anyway.  My hair was always my crown and glory and friends always admired it but I didn’t find it as traumatic as I expected it to be what I did find was how cold my head got in bed so bought a sleep hat from Amazon.

i used Aveeno shower gel and shampoo each day and it didn’t take long after chemo for my hair to start to grow.  My last chemo was in March and have had my hair trimmed twice since.  Have gotten use to my short pixie cut and not having to bother with rollers or blow drying

look after yourself and feel free to ask questions - not saying that I have all the answers but so many lovely people on here to help.

Take care Xxx

Hello skylark 

thank you so much for your reply and your positive comments on hair loss . I think it’s the waiting and the anticipation that’s so hard . I don’t want my grandchildren to know I am ill so the hair loss worries me . Did you consider the cold cap ? 
thank you for your support x

Hello miss molly

thank you for your positive message . Did you consider the cold cap? I think the waiting is hard hopefully when it happens I will cope with it . Many thanks for your support x

Hi Rosie 28,

I did consider it but I didn't want anymore discomfort. Also if you use the coldcap you need to be there one and a half hours before and after treatment. I thought it was to much with no guarantees. My friend used it and her hair thinned so much she had to wear her wig. I believe if you have good thick hair it's better. My hair was fine. 

I explained to my grandkids that gran was taking medication to help her get better but it would make her hair fall out which would grow in again. The 2 wee ones helped my daughter to cut it when I had hardly any left before she shaved the rest. We made a game of it.

Now I wear my wig and they don't give a second thought to it. They have accepted this is where we are. My chemo stopped 3 weeks ago so not sure when it will start to grow again. Be interesting to see if it's thicker and what colour. I thought I would be devastated but I wasn't. I was more concerned in recovery and will do anything to make sure that continues.

Good luck with what you decide. Keep us updated. 

Hopefully others with positive experience of coldcap may respond xx

Hi Rosie 28

yes I did consider the cold cap  but I knew that I wouldn’t be able tolerate the cold.

as for the grandchildren I didn’t want to tell them but my daughter disagreed the oldest was 19 15 and 9 years old she told them that grandma was poorly but to get better she had to have medicine that would make her hair fall out, I was surprised just how well they coped and I would always have a hat ready by front door to put on. when I lost my hair the youngest little fella came in unexpectedly one day before I had a chance to put my hat on and he said grandma it doesn’t matter about your hair your still beautiful - can’t tell you how much that meant to me.  Children can sense when things are not right so it is less frightening for them to have some age appropriate information.  Talk it over with your daughter/ son as to what they think is best..

Take care Xxx

Hi Rosie 28

I had exactly the same treatment plan for a 5cm tumour.  I started with EC for only 2 sessions as the tumour didn't respond. Within 2 sessions of Paclitaxel it was shrinking! By the end of the Paclitaxel course my mastectomy results were completely clear, no cancer left! I've just finished my last Herceptin We're all different and whatever concerns you the most try to address before your treatment starts. For example hairloss was important for me so the day before treatment I had my hair trimmed to 1cm and bought a beautiful wig exactly like my old hairstyle. Within 2 sessions my hair had gone and despite being only 1cm it was everywhere! I found that distressing.  I never went out without my wig and it helped me feel normal. I looked very strange without eyebrows which went by the 6th week. I used and still use a waterproof eyebrow paint you apply with its own brush from Look Fabulous Forever. Wonderful product!

Paclitaxel caused hand and feet neuropathy and I took ice packs into my treatment sessions. This provided enormous relief and lessened the damage.  If you react to treatment in that way don't hesitate to buy some A4 size ice packs to use, it worked for me.

I would highly recommend you have a PICC line fitted because weekly infusions are tough on veins and I had an extravasation at week 2. I was terrified of having a PICCline but it was the best thing about my treatment.

I wish I'd known about Polybalm before my treatment started as I'm sure it would have lessened the nail damage, I'm using it now and the results are very positive.

Good luck on your journey, you won't get all the side effects but unfortunately we can't predict how our bodies will react to this treatment.  Being prepared was absolutely the right way for me. 

Thank you for your message and thank you for your tips . I start on Wednesday and am getting nervous . I am having a pic line on Monday . I just want to get going now so I can count down the sessions . Did you consider the cold cap? I have heard so many different views on it . 
many thanks for your positive advice .

Rosie