Starting Chemo on 22nd September

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/224449/september-october-november-2021-breast-cancer-chemo

Hi Thirds, the above link will take you to the Sept, Oct, Nov chemo chat … ladies there are going through chemo or just about to start, all helping each other along the treatment line, lots of information there..you will have your treatment every 3 weeks, so three weeks to the day of your treatment, the nurses at the chemo centre will write down your next apointment each time you go xx

Hi Thirds 

Just saw your post and I wanted to reply as i know how scary that first round is! I have completed my first 3 rounds of FEC and next week I start my 3 rounds of docetaxel.

I decided to shave off all my hair and did the Brave the Shave challenge to raise money for Macmillan but that is a personal choice. Now that my hair is pretty much gone, I just wear head coverings when I go out. I do not want a wig as it does not bother me that much. If you decide to go tjat route,  talk to your team about getting some support from the hairloss clinic.

I am not going to lie, it is a tough gig. I find that the first 24 hours are the worst. I was nauseous all the time and vomited quite a bit but it was manageable. You need to contact the 24 hour line if you have any concerns. 

Fatigue hit me the hardest on day 4 and 5. I could hardly move. The most important thing is that you listen to your body and have not expectation of what it should or should not be. Roll with it and trust the process.

It is an emotional roller coaster. We know that the stuff is highly toxic and you can feel it in your body but at the same time we also know that it does the job.  Another suggestion is to go on Omeprazole before you even start treatment. My digestive system took a real battering in the first round. Severe heartburn, burping and overall pain along my digestivectract within hours of first chemo. I got given omeprazole and it has definitely eased the discomfort.

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen as i had severe headaches with all 3 rounds but I am prone to migraines.

I also have a PICC line and trust me, it is worth it. I see many people having to sit through them struggling to find veins. I bought myself a few picc covers from PICC ME. They are brill and I never go without wearing mine. 

For now, relax and enjoy the last week before the madness start. Know that you CAN AND WILL get through it and seek support when needed.

Wishing you love and light

Wendy

Oh and yes, 3 week intervals means that you will get treatment every 3 weeks. Amazingly after aboutc10 or 11 days, you will feel completely yourself and ready for the next round!

Thank you so much for all the information Capazi.  It is so kind of you.  I have had my date changed to the 23rd as I was double booked for the ECG at the same time as the chemo.  I was a bit surprised by the complete lack of interest at the hospital and I had to sort it out for myself, which fortunately I did.  It took a large number of phone calls and time.

I will certainly get a PICC cover.  I know it is going to be tough but I must try to manage it because it improves my chances of surviving.  I know he improvement is not huge but I really don't want it to come back.  Thank you so much for your help.  All the best.

My next round is also on the 23rd. Exactly that. We do what we can. That way at least we know we gave it our best shot and hopefully we will never have to do it again.

Absolutely agree.  I am going to tick each treatment off as one nearer the end.  We are all individuals and so can only guess at how we will react.  All the best for the 23rd and you have helped to reassure me so much as I start out on this road.  Thank you.

Hi Thirds

I had the same meds as you apart from the pacltaxel, which I wasn't given.

I really wanted to respond to your comment that the improvement is not huge. When actually it might be for you.......

After I had got the pathological clearance I asked the onc what my chances of survival were [ my impression was that she was a bit uncomfortable with this question]. She ran my info through an algorithm called NHS predict. It shows the average survival, based on age at diagnosis and receptor status etc. In my case mid 60s, HER2+ and ER+, which I think is similar to you. This showed the survival rate after surgery alone for my type of BC and the added benefit of including a number of the other treatments, over and above surgery.

It showed that surgery alone gave me a 58% chance of 10 year survival. Adding in the chemo therapy, the herceptin, the Letrozole and the Zolendronic acid, all together, took this up to a 78% chance of 10 year survival. The NHS Predict model does not factor in the benefit of the chemo being neoaduvant [before the surgery], the radiotherapy [for some reason], or the Pertuzumab, as this is too new. I am also having these treatments and she said that my chances would therefore actually be better still, than the more optimistic figure.

For me, in total, this is a massive improvement, although each individual treatment only contributed a smaller extra portion of this.

I am relieved and delighted that the NHS will provide all of this care and I will put up with whatever side effects it brings in the short term, to hopefully get the best chance of a future. 

Wishing you all the best. I am glad that you have your treatment plan now.

Wallydug