Chemo advice

Hi, I was told before starting chemo eat loads and dont be fussy what as you need to keep your weight on. Once youve finished you can then sort a healthy diet. 

Thank you for your reply. I was told I may get bloated and put on weight during chemo. I would be happy to lose weight and be able to get into my old dresses

I remained about same weight after 3 cycles of chemo. There have been days when i cant eat much but as soon as my appetite is back i cant stop eating.

Hello Chloe71

i have a seroma. I had it drained just over a week ago but it is filling slowly again. If it gets very tight and painful speak to your breast care nurse. Mine is now doable and they want my body to absorb this time. Don’t suffer in silence. Talk to them about your concerns. 

Chemo affects everyone differently. Some people sail through and some find it hard. Try and keep up some exercise and moisturise your skin. I had mine during lockdown and slightly different drugs. So hard for me. 

Keep going and talking. Take care. Xx

Thank you for your reply. My surgeon wants the seroma to be absorbed by my body, but I will ask if I can have it drained at my next appointment on Wednesday. I was told I would have a drain attached to me after my surgery but I didn’t. 

Would you say the surgery is worse then the chemo? 

I’m glad to hear your seroma is better and you are more comfortable. X

Chloe
Hi, good you've found this site, it will be a great source of info & support when & if you need it.

I've a broadly similar diagnosis and had similar treatment (see profile for details). To answer your queries

- I was told I had 2 seroma's, one in the lumpectomy boob and the other under armpit where mx was done. I massaged both several time a day (nothing special just a firmish rub) and the lumpectomy side one disappeared after 2 months, the other one was more stubborn, so much so had attempt to aspirate (had to fight for this as, as you've been told 'they' don't like to do this) which is quite literally a stab in the dark (as they don't know where the excess fluid actually is in the seroma). Aspriation produced no liquid and subsequent ultrasound showed that it was actually just displaced fat (nice!) so will live with that (its more annoying than anything flopping over the top of the bra at side) until DIEP later in year.

- Re EC & tiredness, I found I was quite rough the week after chemo (had it Thurs and rough the following week) but fine directly after and for weeks 2 & 3, during this time was able to socialise & exercise broadly as normal. I don't have any kids but worked about 50% of the time on average, as & when I could. I hope your work organisation can be accommodating as mine was, I was able to what I could when I could.

- Re EC & paclitaxel, can't comment I'm afraid as had to come off paclitaxel after first chemo as it did not agree with me, I just had more EC.

- Re hair loss mine started falling out after 2nd cycle, about 40% loss but given I couldn't style it without possibly losing even more decided to go grade 1/2...best decision but I'm not as attached to my hair as some. It did get cold over the winter though so if you go this way make sure you've got some decent headgear!

- I personally don't buy into the whole avoid sugar/carbs/diary re avoiding cancer, I'd always suggest a good balanced diet and don't miss out on any treats as you may well need & want these when you're not feeling your best. Give your body what it wants & needs to get through what may be a challenging time.

I hope the EC is as 'good' to you as it was to me, remember we're all different and react very differently to these bonkers drugs, you'll only know you side effects when you get them. Also your BCN and support team at hospital are there to help and should be used & abused in this respect! Don't suffer in silence.

Good luck
Sam

Just seen this post- for me surgery far more challenging than chemo, main reason is chemo side effects are much shorter term whereas recovery from surgery seems to take an age...I am very impatient.

Thank you for your reply, it makes me feel much better as surgery was awful for me, it’s been 3 weeks since my surgery and I am still recovering. X

Hi Sam

Did you wear a cold cap during your chemo? I am worried about losing my hair as I just didn’t want to scare my daughter by seeing me with no hair. She’s got exams coming up for her future school so I haven’t told her I have Breast Cancer, I just told her I had some bad cells in my body which needed to be removed before they became dangerous. 

I hope your recovery is going well. X

Hi again

Yep I did the cold cap, it was fine and not as painful as some report but obviously didn't totally work, it may have (who knows?) reduced the extent of the hair loss but I'm a kind of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained" kind of person so why not eh?

I presume you're aware that you can get wigs on the NHS?  I never looked into but am aware from this site that lots do & have.

My recovery is going super well ta, I'm really strong and as fit as an Olympian (in my mind!!).

Sam