Chemo here I go!

Hi there @Eastmum . I also had 12 weeks of AC followed by 12 weekly Taxol and Herceptin. The Herceptin then continued for 11 months total. Bilateral mastectomy followed four weeks after the completion of the taxol. I'll break it into two sections, first the AC and then the Taxol. But before I do, I feel I need to stress that I have a lot of other medical shit going on, aside from the cancer. Also remember that much like pregnancy and childbirth, there's the mythical wonderwoman who conceives, blooms, then drops her dacks and out pops a baby. Then there's the other extreme of the puking, pale, wan, varicose ridden, bleeding piles, horrible heartburn, backache, headache woman on the other side of the bell curve. She either has a premature birth, or a baby who refuses to vacate the premises. Vacuum cleaners and hedge trimmers are needed to either suck, pull or hack the little bugger out. Most fall somewhere in between.Similarly with AC chemo. I had neutropenia four times. a liquid lunch with Count Dracula for anaemia, sores in the mouth, and one day constipated (15 days was my record...seriously considered using a bazooka), and the next day with me on the loo with a blanket around my shoulders and my kindle due to the squirts. I spent a total of 56 days in hospital over that 12 week period. However, I got quite philosophical about the whole thing and made sure my bag was packed with my choice of nighties, slippers and so on, otherwise I ended up with Hubbies Choice. Generally the middle week was my worst with the few days before and after being less trying. I had my head shaved so I could keep my bum length hair before it dropped a bit at a time and went down the drain. The stubble fell out big time about two weeks after the first dose. The taxol was so much easier for me...no hospital stays over that 12 weeks. Ended up with peripheral neuropathy however, but I get on with it as I am. My advice is...How do you eat an elephant...one bite at a time. How do you get through chemo. One hour one day at a time. You may well breeze through or you may get knocked about, but if this Old Chook could do it, so can you. Sending the biggest (((hug))).