Triple Negative Breast Cancer/Grade 3

Hi Sue

I did not have TNBC but had the same chemo as you are contemplating. 3 x FEC and then 3 x Docetaxel over 18 weeks. We are all different with how the body reacts to these drugs but I also believe that there are some things that seem to help most people cope. 

FEC for me was basically one week of feeling like I had the flu, and then a week where I felt ok but knew to be careful because my immune system was at its lowest, then a week of feeling completely normal. I made a point of having a little reward weekend away during this week each time. It helped myself, my family and my friends to cope and know that I was going to be ok.

I had a friend of a friend who was 3 months ahead of me with chemo and so I did a lot of things that she recommended. I also got lots of great advice on here. There are lots of medications to help with side effects as the other ladies have said. Just let your doctor know about EVERYTHING and then they usually have something to help.

I also found it helped to take charge when my hair started to fall out. My hubby shaved it while my 19 year old daughter took photos! We laughed and cried but then got out lots of cute little hats for me to try out. I had a 'fringe' that I could wear under a hat, a couple of cheap synthetic wigs which were ok if I was going out for dinner or something, but most of the time I lived in little hats as it was mostly winter when I had chemo.

I also found it helped me cope both physically and mentally to go for a walk every day that I could. Docetaxel was a bit harder because I developed an infection and this took a lot of my energy.

But I made it through, my body recovered, my hair grew back and I feel very, very well. It will be 2 years in May this year and life is great again now and I know that I have done everything I could to get rid of the Cancer. That is a reassuring feeling. Keep in touch. Deanne xxx