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Jk48au's avatar
Jk48au
Member
13 years ago

About to start chemo &herceptin

I was diagnosed with early breast cancer in early November 2012 and the pathology report said I was HER2 positive and hormone positive. My mastectomy removed all the tumour and my surgeon said I was now cancer free. However because of these dangerous factors I am now about to begin my chemo and herceptin courses next week.... A week before Christmas. I am afraid of the unknown, and although I have read a lot about it all, I will not know how I am going to react to this treatment, until I have it. Do you get sick immediately afterwards, or sometime later? Just a bit anxious ....
chemotherapy
her2
herceptin
mastectomy

16 Replies

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  • Simone_S's avatar
    Simone_S
    Member
    13 years ago

    I hope yesterday went OK and that you have not suffered too many crazy side effects! Good luck with everything and try to enjoy your "low key" Christmas...hopefully by next Tuesday you will be feeling better!

    Simone

  • Jk48au's avatar
    Jk48au
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thank you all so much for your imput.....today is the day have slept well, with the aid of anti anxiety/sleeping tablet the doctor gave me. Will take anti nausea soon and continue for 6 days as instructed. I will also ask for more in case they are needed after those doses. As all this is going on between Christmas and new year, I will make a note on who to contact if I find it all goes pear shaped. Christmas will be a quiet morning at our sons with his young family, no heaps of food and drink for me this year I am thinking. Really appreciate all your helpful comments Regards. Jill

  • Jk48au's avatar
    Jk48au
    Member
    13 years ago
    Thank you all so much for your imput.....today is the day have slept well, with the aid of anti anxiety/sleeping tablet the doctor gave me. Will take anti nausea soon and continue for 6 days as instructed. I will also ask for more in case they are needed after those doses. As all this is going on between Christmas and new year, I will make a note on who to contact if I find it all goes pear shaped. Christmas will be a quiet morning at our sons with his young family, no heaps of food and drink for me this year I am thinking. Really appreciate all your helpful comments Regards. Jill
  • LouiseTurner's avatar
    LouiseTurner
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hey there....I had 4 x AC 3 weekly followed by 12 weekly taxol of which I'm up to session 6. With AC I felt the impact within a few hours and threw up the evening of the session. I was totally out of action for 10 days in terms of feeling really tired, metal mouth, ulcers, watery eyes...generally very delicate. Then after day 10 I was great, like magic. Except for the ongoing taste, hair etc. my dose was reduced each time which eased the side effects. Now on taxol it feels like nothing much is happening except for the original allergic reaction. Just experiencing a bit of tiredness at this point and suspect something may be going on with my fingernails. Much easier, but I actually do feel like I have chemo brain, can't string sentences together too well sometimes. No eyebrows or lashes. Like you I researched what might happen to me, but you just have to go with it and see how you fair. I was terrified especially the first time. Then when I started I just went with it. Good luck, I hope you have a nice Xmas and are not too affected, let your loved ones too look after you. Louie
  • Jk48au's avatar
    Jk48au
    Member
    13 years ago
    Hi Simone, Thank you for your quick reply, I really appreciate it. I will be having Docetaxel Cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks for four times along with the herceptin. Then continue the herceptin for another 13 times. I suppose the fear of the unknown is worse than actually experiencing it, but your message has given me more of an insight into the time frame it could be. I just hope I am not too unwell with it, but, what will be will be I suppose. Will keep you posted on my progress, thanks again Jill
  • Simone_S's avatar
    Simone_S
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi...I was diagnosed in May 2012 and I too am triple positive (HER 2, ER, PR) and commenced chemo 2 weeks after my mastectomy. Do you know what kind of chemo you are having yet? I can only tell you my story...and I feel I was very lucky when it came to the chemo rollercoaster. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (no walk in the park though LOL!) I had Taxotere, Cyclo(something) and Herceptin together every 3 weeks.

    I found that the day of chemo and the day after I felt OK...just a bit tired. Once I finshed the anti-nausea meds I would start to feel unwell (usually day 3), along with tired and achy. I never threw up though! By day 5 I was starting to feel better and was able to get out. By day 7 the feeling of being unwell was gone...just the fatigue and other side effects remained (ie. loss of taste buds, weak nails, hair loss etc).

    Some other important things to remember which helped me:

    - Take your temperature if you feel the slightest bit hot/unwell and if it is up go and seek medical attention straight away.

    - Brush your teeth after each meal/snack (i felt snacking eased the nausea) and rinse your mouth with warm salt water or alcohol free mouth wash.

    Everyone reacts differently...but I wish you the best! If you have any further queries or questions, feel free to Private Message me.