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FeR
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Re: Awaiting formal confirmation - terrified
Hi @mystic_marzipan I was the same as @Suki - no clip placed at biopsy. I had clips placed in a second appointment prior to neoadjuvant Be thinking of you and highly recommend you take @arpie advice and get in touch with the help line and Definitely stay off dr Google, x33Views2likes0CommentsRe: Diagnosed stage3, grade3, her2 positive
I’m very glad chemo is done! Sadly I ended up getting an infection under one of my ‘chemo nails’ and landed myself in hospital for 6 days with surgery to have the nail removed which was a real shame because I was feeling pretty good and looking forward to a week off everything before the surgery I just had😅 which is something to keep in my mind. Keep your nails short and clean and use hardner. Some people paint theirs but I wanted to be able to see if there was a problem - and even then I missed catching this one! During chemo I really focussed on one day at a time, walking, yoga and trying not to look too far ahead or read too much about anything to do with the cancer. I wfh a few hours a week and was lucky to have good flexibility to do so. Everyone’s experience is slightly different - a diary will help you so you can map out how you feel each round. Helps you to be prepared and give info to your team if you need some help. There’s lots they can do to help minimise any side effects you might get and they want you to get through with as little impact as it’s possible to have si never hesitate to ask for help with anything. Chemo isnt fun but is absolutely doable - youve got this!8Views1like0CommentsRe: Diagnosed stage3, grade3, her2 positive
Hi @J_Nelly sorry to hear of your diagnosis - it’s a hard and stressful time but you will get through it! I was diagnosed mid July with triple positive dc - same as @Suki, also 47 years old. Finished my 6 rounds of TCHP mid November and this week had my surgery. I second all @Suki’s advice. I didn’t cold cap either - have some growth starting now 5 weeks post chemo. I’m probably glad I didn’t as I didn’t want to add time to the infusions but I’m sure others who have will be able to advise you better. When it comes to exercise, walking daily (whatever you can manage) and yoga (if you don’t have a current practice gentle stretching or mindful movement) was hugely helpful. Reminding yourself to breathe is an excellent way to stay centred and helps both physically and mentally. Insight timer has free meditations. the cancer coach I saw recommended prioritising protein and I ate as well as I could but I did find it hard - protein didn’t taste great for me - plant based was a bit better than meat based. She also told me that at the end of the day eat whatever you feel like or can. It’s temporary and you can focus on your diet when the chemo bit is over. sending you positive thoughts and big hugs xx10Views1like0CommentsRe: Scared about the side effects of treatment
I second the port idea @Tri @Caity it wasn’t mentioned prior to my chemo and I have DIVA veins so cancelation has been tricky. Absolutely forgot to mention the dry eyes! Also hydralite - it replaced coffee for me as definitely needed the immodium/gastrostop. i sort of withdrew from engaging during chemo with others on this journey but now chemo is hopefully over and done with I too will be jumping into the triple positive group here. Hugs to all xx44Views0likes0CommentsRe: Scared about the side effects of treatment
Hi Caity, So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. i was diagnosed in July this year with triple positive invasive ductal carcinoma - also in one lymph. I finished my 6 rounds of chemo and targeted therapies (tchp regime) on 15 November and have surgery on 17/12. Then more targeted therapy and hormone blockers - it feels like long journey. For me chemo was tough but doable. Key things I found helpful were to force myself to walk twice a day and do some form of yoga. If you don’t have a yoga practice something like the mediations/breathwork from insight timer can be helpful and some gentle stretching will help. Walking can be around your lounge room if that’s all you have the energy for or get outside and breathe in the fresh air. Just to help you sit with yourself and breathe. It was hard sometimes but in the end made me feel better. Be sure to tell your team about any side effects as there is often things they can do to help. I had my dose of one of the drugs lowered each time to minimise the effects. They want you to get through without smashing you more than you need. I’d get Imodium and movicol since you never know which way you’ll go and some mouth spray like oral 7 to help avoid mouth problems. also cut your nails short, apply nail hardner and keep them clean. Use unscented moisturiser like QV is helpful if you get dry skin. Keep a dairy of your symptoms both so you can compare rounds and know what worked to help you and to share with your team. If you are in WA BreadtCancerCareWA have free counselling services,support and classes (like yoga for breast cancer) I think the cancer council do Australia wide counselling plus as Arpie mentions the BCNA line. I was fortunate to have a pain psych already who was happy to keep me on for counselling. I also saw a cancer coach once for some advice on holistic ways to manage some unpleasant but not urgent side effects like mild fluid retention. Most importantly you’ve got this. My mantra was I choose to be here now - and chemo does end. wishing you all the best xx4Views1like0CommentsRe: Triple positive stage 2 disgnosis
Thanks @arpie I have a wonderful yoga practice (and a wonderful pain psych whose helping me through this journey) and that has helped but its in the night when I can't sleep and my brain starts that the techniques I've always relied on don't necessarily work....my mind has always liked to chatter away but at the moment it could talk underwater ha ha. And yes I think calling the HelpLine might be really helpful for me xx51Views0likes0CommentsRe: Triple positive stage 2 disgnosis
Thanks so much @arpie, @Suki and @Tri for your responses. I have joined the Triple Positive group and am really grateful there is one specifically for us as initially I struggled a bit to find information on people having the same type of treatment as me. My second round of TCHP hit me hard with fatigue and nausea (I couldn't even begin to work out how to respond to messages in the last few days) but I didn't get bone pain this time so no opiods and very pleased about that!! Sadly my peripheral neuropathy which is the main reason for the reduction in docetaxel has got a bit worse again so I'm not sure what they'll do about that...it frightens me I'll get stuck with it and never be able to drive again. I'm also frightened that my liver and kidney blood tests were marked as high and the kidney ones for potential specialist management, they were all good before the first dose - I lie there worrying they'll get the cancer but the treatment will get me, or that they won't get the cancer and the cancer will get me or a thousand other things...I worry a lot at the moment. I'm still a little unsure how to work out how to reply directly to peoples individual comments rather than tagging everyone in...and my chemo brain is not helping....but I'll jump into the private group and connect with you all. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences - I'm so sorry you are having them but it helps to know I'm not the only one going through the same thing. Sending you all the biggest of hugs xx10Views0likes0CommentsTriple positive stage 2 disgnosis
Hi everyone, I’m Fe. Sad to be joining you all but grateful your all here. was diagnosed on 22/7/24 with triple positive stage two breast cancer and had the second of my neoadjuvent chemo and targeted therapy yesterday. Overwhelmed sad frightened and struggling with early side effects that have already resulted in 10% decrease in one of the chemo drugs for yesterdays session. Wondering if anyone else had really bad side effects from their first round of tchp protocol? sending everyone on this journey all the best.450Views0likes11Comments
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Triple Positive Breast Cancer (TPBC)
This group is for people diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer (TPBC), a subtype that is typically characterised by higher levels of ER, PR and HER2 protein . While we share personal experiences, please remember that the information in this group is not medical advice—always speak with your healthcare team for guidance.
