Hi everyone
first time posting and I am looking for some advice please.
i was diagnosed with ductal cancer in both breasts in June. I have had a double mastectomy with diet flap. I am 4 weeks post op and was told I need to start Chemo within 3 weeks.
feeling very anxious about this and all the side effects that goes with it.
Does anyone have some tips on how to cope with this?
thank you
Hi Woodsy
The main thing to know is that everyone’s experience of chemotherapy is different, so try not to worry about all the possible side effects. The list is long, but you are unlikely to suffer from all of them, or all the time. If you are on 3-weekly chemo you will probably feel a lot better in the second half of the cycle. Weekly chemo will be a bit more relentless, but perhaps never reach tye same lows. Make sure you are hydrated and keep a symptom diary so you know what to expect on subsequent cycles. For me, on EC it was some fatigue and achiness, diarrhoea, acid reflux, loss of taste and of course hair loss. On paclitaxel, some fatigue, skin itching, peripheral neuropathy. I had a portacath fitted which helped with treatment and also enabled me to exercise in the way I wanted.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I have metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in remission
I it will depend on what chemo you are having, but plan to be there for several hours, especially for the first session. Depending on how busy the unit is and the time of your appointment, you may find you have a wait before you get into the unit. Then they will take your blood pressure, temperature etc. Someone will talk you through side effects and diet etc, if they haven’t done this already. They will give you anti sickness meds which need time to take effect. They will access your port or PICC line, if you have one, or cannulate you. Pre-meds may be needed such as steroids or anti-histamines. Each treatment will be followed by a flush. As you can see that’s quite a lot!
If you are cold capping, that also adds time as it needs to be on for some time before treatment starts and some time afterwards. You will be given a bag of take home drugs and instructions on how to use them.
What to take? Something to keep you occupied but bearing in mind you will be quite distracted. Reading, listening, puzzles etc. I found it helpful to have a flask of water, although they do give you water. If you are cold capping you need a head band or something to protect your hairline and something to put on your head when you leave. Wear easy access clothes - both for where the infusion will go in, and for accessing the loo whilst trailing a drip stand.
They always put the first infusion in more slowly in case of issues so it should be a bit quicker on subsequent visits. If you are having EC don’t be alarmed that the E part (epirubicin) is bright red and comes in tubes that a nurse manually pushes into your line. It’s red when it comes out the other end too! I think all other chemo that you might face goes in via the drip stand.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after. Wishing you all the best.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I have metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, in remission
Coddfish
Thank you so much for all the helpful info. This all sounds overwhelming as I thought it would be on the first visit. I will be getting EC for the first 4 sessions and glad you told me about the colour going in & out 
I am hoping to cold cap if it’s possible and will need to get some stuff for my hair to protect my scalp.
just so much to take in.
