Scared about the side effects of treatment

Afraser

@Caity

Paclitaxel can be very effective but can also have some side effects. Most are short term - loss of taste buds, an easily bloodied nose - and resolve very quickly once treatment stops. Peripheral neuropathy - damage to nerve endings in fingers and feet - can linger. Get advice quickly on any finger or toe tingling. Best wishes for an easy run. 

Abbydog

I hope today went well for you.

Caity

Thanks so much everyone for your support and advice 
I felt much better going into it on Wednesday thanks to this place of support. 

I actually ended up having a severe allergic reaction to the paclitaxel though and went into respiratory distress! They had to press the alarm button and I had lots of medical people rushing into the treatment area. A bit of a crazy experience! Anyway, the nurses took good care of me and after some antihistamines and Ventolin I settled down. Not what I had expected though!! Anyway, a silver lining is that the oncologist thinks due to my tumor being on the smaller side when it was removed I will just continue on with the Herceptin and tamoxifen instead as she doesn't think continuing on with the chemo is worth the risk of the allergic reaction again.
So now I'll be starting the tamoxifen next week and will see how that goes. 
Thanks again for all of your help and support xx

Abbydog

Did any of the medical people warn you of the possibility of an allergic reaction? I didn’t say anything because it didn’t happen to me and it isn’t common. I was warned though. Well you have a new plan now. All the best again. 

Caity

Yes they did say there was a chance of an allergic reaction- but still didn’t think it would happen so dramatically haha. But yes, onwards to the new plan now! Thanks so much @Abbydog x

Tri

Oh my @Caity what an experience- sounds like you’ve done an amazing job under pressure!
I didn’t have an allergic reaction but had heard it could happen and in my case the nurses explained the first dose I was given would be administered slowly over a longer period of time to see how we fared. 

Thanks so much for generously sharing an update - sending you lots of energy and congratulations on one more step forward 🌸❤️

Caity

Thanks so much @Tri hopefully onwards and upwards in a steady manner from here. I've really appreciated the support of this group and being able to read about other people's experiences. Take care xx

faith888

You are a strong woman! Your story almost the same with mine, I’m 36yo,  I was diagnosed last Nov 2024 after 4 months of giving birth. I had my lumpectomy last December and I’m going to start my radio therapy on  Monday and will be taking the oral medication. I also have 2 lovely daughters. We are strong mummas we will get through this!  big hugs

Caity

Hi @faith888, thank you for your kind msg and for sharing your story. I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through all of this- especially so soon after giving birth!! That’s so full on- but yes I feel that motherhood has instilled a strength in me I didn’t know I was capable of- you are right we are strong mumma’s! Best of luck for starting your radiotherapy on Monday- my mum had radiotherapy for her breast cancer treatment many years ago and has pulled up well from it all so I hope the same for you  big hugs to you also!! Xx

Tri

You are two amazing mums @Caity and @faith888
sending you both lots of positive energy for your treatments 🌸🌻 

arpie

So sorry to hear of your diagnosis, @faith888. xx   Feel free to copy your post & put it into an individual post so that people can respond to your individual story xx

I hope you are going ok - and all the best for your Rads starting Mon.  I found it to be the 'easiest' of all the treatments & hope you do too.  Just remember to lather up with lots of lotions after each treatment xx. Have they mentioned using Mepitel (or similar) to reduce the chance of skin damage?

Take care & all the best