How soon after chemo starts do you know if it is working?

hi   

breathe lovely! you can do this

I was diagnosed with TNBC and went through chemotherapy. I too had a marker placed in my tumor. 

At the start waiting on my CT results I had convinced myself they'd hand me more bad news. 

I found out I had cancer when my little boy was only 4 months old so all I could think of was how I'd not get to see him grow up.

I was checked half way through my chemotherapy and was surprised with the results. by the time I had finished chemo they struggled to find my tumor it had shrunk that much. 

I have just last week had a larger marker fitted in preparation for my operation on monday so they can find the area to operate on. 

Take one day at a time and try not let your mind take control! it's tough but you need to trust your treatment plan and know they will look after you :) 

x

Hi ther

I had 2 MRIs during my treatment, first one 6 weeks after 1st EC session. Like others my lumps shrunk to practically nothing, some have a really good response to certain chemo drugs and I got on very well with EC...impact and side effects. I knew after first MRI that it was working.  But do remember that your combination of diagnosis and treatment is individual to you and along with you don't necessarily expect yourself to respond the same as others...if you don't see an immediate impact it doesn't mean it's not working.

I would discuss your fears with your BCN who can allay your fears and also, hopefully, give you an idea of when you may see an impact?  

Good luck with the rest of your treatment.

Sam

Hi

Firstly, well done on being through your first chemo - the hardest step on the chemo journey - now you are one step closer to the end. MummaBear17 has already given you the answer as to when they'll scan you - you might also find that they do manual exams in between but if you are having remote consults then that won't happen, of course. 

I got obsessed with tumour shrinkage when I had treatment (about 4 and a half years ago) and desperately upset when my tumour didn't even shrink by 50% (I had ER positive cancer which tends to shrink less) I convinced myself the chemo hadn't worked and asked if I could do it again for a better result. But, after my surgery, it turned out that a lot of the tumour they removed was dead and everything in my lymph nodes was dead so there is every chance it worked and I have been cancer free for 4 years.

TNBC often responds remarkably well to chemo so there's every reason to hope your tumour will shrink a lot, but if it doesn't you have the surgery. That is the major player with breast cancer - the rest is mopping up and precautionary.

I can understand you being terrified - none of us expects this and it's completely normal to feel the way you do. It's hard to take your mind off it and I think most people here would recommend distraction as much as possible - your little boy is probably a great distraction already. The waiting is awful but you'll get there eventually - try to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Some days are harder than others and that's OK - you are allowed to panic, to cry to worry - we often recommend allowing yourself some worry time then packing it away in a box and getting on with life - come back to it tomorrow - it'll still be there.

I had a look at your profile and you're right - we do all live with cancer the rest of our lives - the memory of treatment fades but every ache and pain sets off the worry again so it's important to learn a way to deal with it. You might find that as your treatment goes on, you naturally worry less. It becomes normality after a while.

We are always here for you and you can come on here any time you find yourself upset or worried and we'll support you. This site kept me sane during treatment - I'm completely indebted to everyone here that helped me through. You don't ever have to apologise for being morbid, dramatic or anything else - we understand.

R

Hi Pippypop!  I had my op last week to remove lymph nodes and they have put a marker in me too by all accounts. I had my first chemo the following day and my second is on 26th Jan so we are similar times.  I am just taking it a day at a time and trying to remain positive. I don't have any children but I can totally see how this would effect how you feel about the whole situation and I know I would feel the same if I had kids. I am gstting a bone scan on the 18th jan and I know I am concerned about that too. However just take a day at a time and try and make the most of every day. I know its easier said than done not to worry and be anxious. My look out is this is what has happened and I am hopeful I will beat this!  How have you been with the chemo? I have just been feeling a little sick in the mornings and eating ryvita which seems to make it go away. I have a craving for baked beans all the time too! If you have any spare time when you think your mind is going in to anxious mode again, read a book, listen to some music. Sending lots of love! You have got this! 

Thank you so much for coming back to me + apologies for my delayed response.  I needed to hide away from all things cancer for a few days to see if that would help my mind!! 

Sounds like your treatment is going really well which is fabulous 

Yes, I imagine they will check the tumour a little further down the line, I just need to be patient.  It would be so disappointing to check to soon + find nothing had happened (although I am aware that that can also be the case) 

Well, tomorrow is CT d-day!  I am still utterly terrified + keep bursting into tears but I managed to go for a run today which helped a little!  Nothing I can do about the result, what will be will be!  Just praying with all my heart that it hasn't spread + holding on to the fact that they said they found cancer early (tumour was 2.5cm) so the likelihood of being riddled is small.  That is what I am telling myself anyway!

Best of luck with the op on Monday, I hope it all goes really well + you have a speedy recovery.  Let us know how you get on, will be thinking of you.

Pip

xxx

"Sometimes you have to let the cracks happen to let the light in" 

Hi PippyPop

I have TNBC and am at week 12 of chemotherapy aimed at shrinking the tumour before surgery. I've been on weekly paclitaxel and 3-weekly carboplatin. I had a CT scan before I started treatment and like you had visions of the cancer being all through my body which it wasn't. I found it early and it was just in the breast plus one lymph node.

My tumour is responding well to the chemo, I noticed myself that it was shrinking within 3 weeks of starting chemo. I had an ultrasound just before Christmas which was at about week 8 and this has confirmed the shrinking. As others have said, we all respond differently so just take it one day at a time. I was terrified about everything at the start, I still have some days of worry but overall have calmed down now but taking it one day at a time and looking for a small positive every day.

Best of luck 

Hi Hollythecat

Thanks for coming back to me + congratulations on your successful treatment   Great news that they caught it early!  My CT is at 12pm today so time will tell  I feel if the CT is clear, I will be able to handle the rest so much better if that makes sense? It is the not knowing + expecting the worst which is the nightmare!  

Definitely need to dog out my positive pants

All the best!

Pip x

Thanks, Yorkshire_defector

Congrats to you on your successful treatment, long may it continue!

I think I will be able to face this head-on as soon as I have the CT results which I get today at 12pm.  It's like I don't have the whole picture of what I am facing at the moment which makes everything so much more daunting 

I will speak with my oncologist today about when they will be checking whether I am responding so hopefully that will alleviate some of my fears!

All the best

Pip xxx

Thanks Bibi4

Yes, it sounds like we are at similar times on our journey indeed.

I was sick for 7 hours straight with my first EC + the anti-sickness tablets didn't stop it but other than feeling a little tired the next day.  I have had some bad headaches but otherwise absolutely fine.  No other SE + I have even managed to keep up my running but I have been warned SE can be cumulative! 

Wishing you all the luck with your bone scan on Monday - it is not knowing how big the fight is isn't it?!  I will be thinking of you + sending all my positive vibes

Big love to you ️

Pip xxx

Thank you so much ronstar  

Wow....4 years cancer free - how wonderful, congratulations!!

I am going to look into some counselling as I am naturally such a worrier so need some help compartmentalising + coping mechanisms for sure.  It's long overdue as before diagnosis I lost 6 babies to miscarriage + my mum last Christmas so overall, it has been a tough few years sadly!

I will have the whole story at 12pm today so I think that will definitely help no matter what the outcome is.  At least I will have the knowledge of what I am dealing with + can make a plan.  I have everything crossed that it hasn't spread 

This site is fantastic + I am so grateful for the support + words of wisdom already!

Wishing you all the best.

Pip xx