Help please...

Hi RJK 

Everyone's treatment plan is tailormade for them so you shouldn't worry if yours seems different to others you've seen. Having said that, when I was treated for breast cancer last year I had EC every 3 weeks for 3 cycles followed by weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks.

x

Hi RJK

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's perfectly understandable that you want to run from the whole.  As latchbrook everyone's treatment plan is tailormade to them.  Trust in your team as they are doing the very best for you and want you to get better.

Wishing you the best of luck with your treatment.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thanks latchbrook. I'm scared that the weekly treatment and side effects will feel even more relentless than the every three weekly treatments. 

Everyone's experience is different, but I didn't have any side effects on the weekly paclitaxel and paclitaxel is considered gentler than EC anyway. With EC I just felt a bit under the weather for about 10 days and then fine for the remainder of the cycle. I did lose my during EC but it started to grow back while having paclitaxel. Hopefully, you'll have few if any side effects too.

I do agree that having to go every week for blood tests and then chemotherapy did feel a bit relentless but, after a while, it became the norm.

Hi RJK, sorry to hear of your diagnosis. As mentioned already everyone’s plan is tailor made to suit your diagnosis. People who have slightly different plans with Paclitaxel may not have lymph node involvement or their ER/PR and HER2 diagnosis are slightly different, there are so many variations so I wouldn’t worry. Your oncologist will know what will be the best for you. 
As you’ll have blood tests before each chemo cycle it may be possible to have them the same day rather than having to visit the hospital twice. It’s worth asking, I had my blood tests, saw the oncologist and had chemo all in the same day. It was a longer day but it saved trips backwards and forwards to the hospital. 

Wishing you all the best for your journey.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Thank you. That's helpful. I don't think I can go through with any of this. I feel so scared and alone and sad . The rational part of me knows the Dr says its treatable and to stop being pathetic but my self esteem and mental health is so low anyway I don't think I can cope with all of this on top. Everyone on here seems so together and brave and pragmatic and I don't feel any of those things. 

I assure you that a lot of us felt very scared and overwhelmed after diagnosis. I was a wreck, crying and thinking about my funeral!  Honestly once you start treatment you will feel better.  The waiting part is worst part I think. You can do this and by expressing your feelings on here you will get support.  Xx

Oh believe me I think it is pretty universal when you get diagnosed with breast cancer to feel overwhelmed, scared and depressed.  I was a hot mess!!  Takes a while to settle down but once your treatment plan is figured out you will feel more together.  Hugs to you and hang in there.  

Barbara

Hi RJK

I’m from the January Chemo starters group. I had 12 weekly doses of Pacitaxel and coped well. A number of my friends on here had the 12 weekly doses and all coped with it well. 

All the best with you treatment x

Trust in your care team, they will help carry you through this. We’ve all had the thoughts you are presently having, the braver more pragmatic self slowly comes once you get past the initial shock and fear and have a better understanding of your treatment plan etc. I can say hands down the waiting and the unknowns at the start of diagnosis are by far the most difficult phase. 
Good luck with your treatment x