Hello…

Hi and welcome. This group is so supportive, always here to chat and give advice. I hope you are feeling ok after your operation? 

What type of breast cancer did you have and what chemo and how many sessions did you have? Will you need radiotherapy?

Hello Malib 

I am glad you reached out. 

You are probably a lot further down the process than a lot of people on here, so I think your input and experience will be massively useful to help others. 

I was diagnosed with grade 3 invasive ductal BC a few weeks ago and have operation planned for Thursday unless the HER2 result comes back positive and then I will have chemo first. 

How did you find the chemo? How long did you have it for and how are you healing from the mastectomy?  What type of breast cancer do you have? 

I  am not looking forward to chemo. 

Andrea 

Hi ACharge80

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

I was diagnosed with grade 2 oestrogen receptor positive and HER2 positive cancers. Due to the HER2 positive cancer, I had a course of chemo before surgery.

I had 6 cycles, each cycle was every 21 days. Going through chemo hasn’t been particularly easy. The actual administration of the drugs was straightforward, the side effects were challenging. Eating has been difficult, taste and texture have been affected and I’ve ended up eating very bland food and I have had to make myself eat. I was fortunate that I didn’t suffer particularly with nausea and for the few times I did I took an anti-nausea tablet. I did suffer with constipation for the first few days following each cycle. I ended up taking senna tablets on the evening after each cycle just to assist! I have also suffered with fatigue. 

On the whole the side effects have been challenging, I’ve tried to stay as positive as possible, so far, and it has helped me get to this point.

One of the biggest challenges has been loosing my hair, that has been a very, very emotional experience. I did cold cap and I managed to wear it throughout the whole chemo process. Keeping everything crossed now that my hair will come back!

As part of my treatment I will also have to have a targeted drug for the HER2 positive cancer. This will follow the 21 day cycle and will carry on for the rest of the year.

I am 10 days on from surgery. Physical healing is going well and my drain was removed today.

Emotionally I have dealt with things one step at a time and not think too far ahead. Each cycle was one step and it would be a countdown, knowing that one down was closer to the end. It also helped me to have my cycles pencilled on the calendar and mark it off each time. This also helped in me being able to plan to meet friends for a little walk when I knew I would be feeling a bit brighter in between each cycle. Again, I know it’s a cliche, but trying to think about the positives that will come following the end of chemo, such as being able to eat food without wanting to spit it out was something to look forward to and eventually to out for a nice meal (that’s not happened yet), has helped. Don’t get me wrong it’s not always been positivity and smiles, there have been tantrums and lots of self pity and I’m sure there will be more to come.

I really struggled coming to terms with the mastectomy. I didn’t want to loose a part of me and I was really scared of how I would look and how I would react to how I looked. I cried on the day of surgery in the anaesthesia room just before they put me under.

When I did look at myself following surgery, I took it better than I thought I would. I can’t say I’m totally comfortable with it yet but I am hoping that reconstruction surgery will happen sooner rather than later. We have to wait for the results of the samples that were taken before reconstruction can be considered.

I don’t know if any of the above help you or make you feel a little bit more positive about things.

If you would like me to expand on anything I’ve said please let me know.

I wish you all the best and am sending lots of positivity your way.

Best wishes.

Hi Sparkle498uk

I was diagnosed with Oestrogen positive and HER2 positive cancer.

I had 6 cycles of chemo, TCarboPh. I will have to carry on with a targeted drug for the HER2+ cancer on the same 21 day cycle for the rest of the year.

Until we have the results from the samples taken during surgery we don’t yet know if I’ll need radiotherapy. I’m really hoping not as I would like reconstruction surgery sooner rather than later.

I’m doing okay following surgery, relieved to have had the drain removed today.

I’m glad you’ve had the drain removed today, I hated the drains, always such a relief when they get removed. 

Hopefully you won’t have radiotherapy. 

The good thing about HER2 positive is that you are eligible for herceptin injections. Herceptin is the only drug that kills stem cells, chemo does not kill stem cells. Stem cells are what cause cancers to return in other areas of the body. 

Hi Malib 

Look at how much you have been through and you still seem really positive!! You are so brave. 

All of the details you have given about chemo will be so helpful for so many of us that haven't been through it yet. 

My BCN phoned me late yesterday to confirm that HER2 negative so the operation (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy) is proceeding this Thursday.  Today is going to be my last day at work so I can get sorted tomorrow.  

I am anxious as never had general anesthetic before but I count myself lucky it's a lumpectomy and the incision will be at the bottom...trying to see positives.

They said results will be 16th July for nodes and then we will be looking at chemo late July to early August.  

I am not looking forward to losing my hair either but I'm going to get some nice scarves and I think I will get a wig. 

What was the cold cap like and how long did you have to sit whilst the chemo is being administered? What does the cold cap feel like and does the pain ease after so long? 

Out of 21 days in between each cycles how many day did you feel well enough to do something...whether go for a walk, meet a friend etc? 

I am very anxious about chemo to be honest. 

Keep us updated....you're nearly there and are such an inspiration.  

Andrea 

Hi ACharge80

Brilliant news for you that it’s HER2 negative. Wishing you the best for your op. The anaesthetist will put you at ease, you will be fine. If you don’t already, consider trying to do some breathing exercises, they may help you feel a little calmer.

I was anxious about having chemo, it’s the unknown that makes you fearful. After my first cycle, just knowing what was involved and knowing that it wasn’t as scary as my imagination made out, made it that bit easier to deal with.

Due to the regime of drugs I was on, I wore the cold cap around 4 hours each cycle. Initially when you start to feel cold, you do wonder if you’ll be able to tolerate it. After around 10-15 mins, you do get used to it and I was determined to wear it each session. If you know your going to be wearing the cold cap for a long period, I would suggest you wear layers, even if it’s gloriously sunny outside, wear socks (you can always take them off) and take a blanket, you want to stay warm when wearing the cold cap as your body will cool down. You may feel a bit daft turning up with a bag full of stuff however, it’s about ensuring your comfort and ensuring you stay warm. Once you’ve had your first cycle, you’ll have a better idea of what will be best for you.

If you want to listen to music, podcasts etc take in-ear buds with you, you should be able to get them in your ears around the cold cap.

I felt able to meet friends over the second and third weekends following a cycle. Towards the last cycles the fatigue did take over, so I ensured I meet in places where there was plenty of seats dotted around and I learnt not to push myself. 

With the warm weather a cotton scarf will be nice and cool to wear. I’ve utilised a couple of scarves that I already had. I also bought a couple of jersey roll scarves to try, which I felt more comfortable with however as they are jersey material they are a bit warm in the warmer weather so trying to utilise scarves.

Take all offers of help, no matter how independent you are, friends and family do want to help. I do struggle letting go, but I am trying to be more accepting of help.

I’m having my targeted treatment on Thursday, I’ll be thinking about you. Stay strong and positive.

Hi ACharge80

How are you following your operation? I hope you are recovering and the op went well.

Best wishes

Hi Malib 

Thanks for checking in. You were right about the staff putting me at ease - they were brilliant. It was daunting having to walk into the theatre though and get on the operating table and then have around 10 people messing with me. They were talking about their days off and what they are doing at the weekend and they kept saying don't worry and we were laughing and joking! 

Then they said I would go dizzy and to think of something nice so I would dream about it.  I thought of the Maldives with my family, but when I woke up I had been dreaming about work!!

I was home same day and the two wounds have not caused me much pain so far - i was taking paracetamol every 4 hours to start with and now just taking them at night. I did a dog walk today and I felt things a bit doing that so I just need to be careful. The most annoying thing is I have to wear these stockings for 3 weeks and I have a broken little toe - so it's quite annoying!

How are you healing from your operation?  

The other medication you have to take every 3 weeks for the rest of the year, is this administered in the same way as chemo?

I get my results on the operation and lymph node biopsy on 16th July.  My birthday is 10th July so I have planned a party at my house on 12th so I am looking forward to that!  It's fancy dress!

I am worried about it having spread obviously but fingers crossed.  Were your lymph nodes affected at all?

Take care

Andrea

Hi Andrea

It’s good to hear that the staff were able to put you at ease, things like that just make it a little less scary.

That’s hilarious that you had been dreaming about work! At least you were thinking about something nice before you went under. 

Wow, you had to walk down to theatre, I’m not sure my legs would have carried me there. Fortunately for me I was wheeled down to theatre, given where the day ward was in comparison to the theatre, it was probably less of a risk wheeling us down!

That’s positive that you’re only taking paracetamol in the evening, you must be feeling good. Do take it easy, don’t push yourself too much! How did you break your toe? Bit of a nightmare for you having to wear the stockings for 3 weeks, you’ll be in heaven when you take them off .

Do you have a theme for your fancy dress party or just fancy dress? I hope you have a great  birthday and party.

Looks like you’ll be getting your results before me, definitely sending positive vibes that it hasn’t spread.

I have my post op appointment on 24 July so have a while to wait. My MRI scan following my last chemo session didn’t indicate that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, that it was just localised to my left breast. I am hopeful that the samples they took during the op say the same thing. Trying not to think about that for the moment as worrying will not make anything better.

Physically, I am recovering well from my op. Still find it difficult to look at myself however, I am making myself look at the wound as I need to make sure there aren’t any issues - not sure I’ll get used to how I look though.

The targeted drug I am on is called herceptin and is being administered via needle into my thigh. It takes about 5 minutes to administer, the appointment is only short, 30 mins at most, in comparison to my chemo cycles.