I know I am being vain, but I have had a head full of hair my whole life and it scares me to see myself bald. Plus, being deadly sick through it all. I have friends who went through it and they said how terrible it was for them, but they had larger tumors or far advanced stages than me and didn't have an option. I know I am going to do whatever gives me the best outcome ad I have seen best friend suffer and die from breast cancer. I just want to get some perspective from others who have gone through it. Thanks so much for your response.

When I started chemo about two and a half years ago, the hospital pharmacist gave me a large box of drugs for most of the possible side effects. Turned out I didn't need any of them. I did get chemo rash - it brings out all the sunspots in your arms etc. Looked ugly but wasn't too itchy. (It wasn't on my hands or face - probably due to my having been made to wear gloves and a hat in high school.)

Main effect was fatigue. I could have chosen the cold cap treatment to keep my hair, but it meant spending an extra hour each time and I couldn't be bothered. From what I could tell from other patients, it does seem to work. I do have peripheral neuropathy though - but at least it's not painful. Oncologists seem to be just guessing when trying to assess the risk of permanent peripheral neuropathy- not enough research as been done.