Just joined today, hello

Hi BESWICK 

I was diagnosed with TNBC in April 2022. I had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and then radio. Happy to answer any questions, if I can, and share experiences.

What sort of alternative treatments did you have?

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Thanks for your reply. I am 70 and have Mistletoe therapy and homeopathy and was on a strict diet. I felt overall well but past couple months not so good,,,, Need help hence decision to investigate chemo. When diagnosed I wanted a masectomy but was refused….current hospital surprised was not offered. How are you? How have you found your tretament? Di you continue working?

I had already retired when I was diagnosed so didn't need to worry about whether I'd be able to carry on working while having treatment or not.

I was happy to go with the lumpectomy that I was offered as the lump and area of DCIS were very small. Unfortunately the sentinel lymph node biopsy showed micro mets in one lymph so I was offered chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy. 

I had two types of chemo. The first was a combination of epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, commonly called EC, which I had 3 times 3 weeks apart. The second was paclitaxel, which I had weekly for 12 weeks.

When on EC I felt tired and a bit washed out for about 10 days after having the infusion but then the second half of the cycle I'd feel perfectly normal again. This happened each time I had it. The only major side effect was that food tasted like cardboard for a few days each time and I lost my hair.

When on paclitaxel I just felt tired on the evening of having the infusion but fine for the rest of the week. While having this chemo my hair started to grow back.

Radiotherapy was the easiest of the three treatments for me. Except for an itchy rash, which I developed a few days before my 10 days of radiotherapy finished, I didn't have any other side effects. The rash was easily got rid of with a combination of antihistamine and hydrocortisone cream.