@Acinonyx2 Congratulations on finishing chemo! What a rush - I'm one round behind you and finish on April 5. It's actually gone surprisingly quickly, overall (though it doesn't feel that ways on the bad days!). Do you have a surgery date lined up? Have you had your follow-up scan?
My dad just got himself a bass guitar and is permanently jamming away with various YouTube tutorials. Must say I'm tempted to give it a try when we can finally see my folks again!
@Miava Welcome to the thread! I've been on a similar course to you: three rounds of FEC (every three weeks), then three rounds of docetaxel (every three weeks) - have just had the second docetaxel. I've also started herceptin and pertuzumab which I'll continue with every three weeks until the new year. Am thinking of those as my maintenance doses, a bit like people who go in to the salon every three weeks to have their roots touched up!
Everyone responds differently, but for what it's worth I'd say don't expect the worst, but be prepared to be kind to yourself, get lots of rest (while keeping up the walking and mild exercise/fresh air), and do take whatever drugs are offered to help you mitigate the side effects - you don't need to suffer in silence! I found that the anti-nausea pills kept me from feeling woozy on the FEC - I was mostly just wiped out for a few days after chemo, then felt better long before the next round. The docetaxel has given me a wider range of effects (aches, sore throat/mouth, acid reflux from the steroids, mild neuropathy in my fingertips, bit of a rash/skin breakout that resolved on its own, the runs) but for most of these there are pills or mouthwashes, etc. that can help.
I was also worried about the hair loss, but honestly once it's gone you just get on with it. Saves lots of time in the mornings!
I've got surgery still to look forward to - I'm small of boob and the lump is no longer palpable, plus I don't have the gene, so am hoping it will be a minor lumpectomy and biopsy of the nodes (2 affected, we think). Really hoping to avoid drains! Then radiation in the summer, which sounds like a breeze compared to everything else...
Hello and hugs to everyone. I'm also falling victim to the retail therapy here - blame boredom and cabin fever and Covid, as well as a sense that I've earned a little fun! Mostly picking out clothes for the summer (for myself and the kids)...but also planning for a mega trip in 2022 to celebrate my 40th and (I hope) being cancer and Covid-free. We're in Canada but husband is British: we were supposed to go back last year to see family, but obviously that hasn't happened. So, planning on a few weeks in Wales/Blighty, then hope across the Channel to Brussels where we used to live (to show our kids our old haunts), then Paris and the overnight train to Venice...finally winding up at Rovinj for a few days of sun and sea. We're calling it the Caernarvon to Croatia Tour. God knows when we'll actually be able to book any of this, but I have to dream!