Hello!

I was diagnosed with Her2 triple positive breast cancer and started weekly chemotherapy for 12 weeks plus Phesgo injections on 20th December 2023 aged 75 followed by left mastectomy and then Herceptin and Letrozole.  I had my last Herceptin injection yesterday.

They way up your general health and then you have weekly blood tests throughout your treatment. It’s not the best experience but it soon passes.  She will need a lot of support - I live alone but my daughter has been amazing and the lovely people on this site are always around to chat.

All good wishes to your mum for her recovery Xxx

I was diagnosed with breast cancer just before Christmas and was terribly worried about chemo because of my age. I am 78 with several health conditions, One condition is COPD which can be very restrictive. After many sleepless nights I decided to put my faith in the doctors and I’m so pleased that I did. 

Thank you! I will try my best. She has some heart and lung issues, but oncologist says she is fit enough to go through with this. I just don't want her quality of life to deteriorate too much, as she is fiercely independent. I will try my best to take care of her, though I work till 3pm. Were you okay to stay at home alone for a few hours during those 12 weeks?

Also, what side effects did you have? And did they get progressively worse?

Thank you for sharing. My mum has a weak heart too. Have you started chemo? How is it affecting you, if you don't mind my asking?

  I am about to start my last group of the 12 and I can say that the few side effects I have experienced have not been that difficult. I have had some tiredness for which I have rested and slept, some nausea which you are given anti sickness pills plus some changes in your taste pattern. I have not lost my hair but it’s definitely a lot thinner. Not a great problem because they make some lovely,comfortable wigs and headscarves. I wish your mum a speedy recovery and tell her if she needs help to be sure to reach out to the wonderful staff and volunteers who work in the cancer centre.

My daughter called in each morning after taking children to school and again later in the day she arranged her work schedule to be able to take me to all my appointments,  my hair started to fall after the second or third infusion so had it cut really short which made less of a mess when falling,  I was given a voucher for a wig and advised to get it before my hair started to fall. So it could look as near as possible to my own but as it was winter I mostly wore woolly hats.

Chemo affects everyone differently and although we may have the same drug the mix and dosage are tailored to your requirements  be honest with the nurses as to how you feel and they will do their best to help.  I only wish that I had found this group while I was having my chemo as I wouldn’t have felt so alone.          

Good wishes to your mum Xxx