Scared and needing support

Posted by ccardenas112 @ccardenas112, Dec 3, 2023

Hi! I was just diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. It is a triple negative and I am going to be starting six months of chemo soon. I am going to have Taxel once a week for 12 weeks then another one that I think they called the red devil once every three weeks for three months. I have had people tell me all of the worst things that could happen, which is hard to digest. I am going through this kind of by myself. My husband lives in another state and will be here for the first couple of treatments but then has to go back to work. My mom can help, but it is mentally hard for her because we just lost my dad to cancer last year. Any insight about what I should expect for the first 12 weeks? Will I lose my hair at the first 12 weeks or will the hair loss come with the second 12 weeks of treatment? Thank you all and I’m sorry that we are all in the same situation 🙂 🙏🏼

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bpknitter53 | @bpknitter53 | 19 hours ago

I kept a notebook with info from all my dr appts. I had info in advance of the chemo treatments of the cocktail mix and dosage so I then researched possible side effects which helped me prep for which I might need to be prep for. I didn't worry about cold capping or any neuropathy.

bpknitter53 | @bpknitter53 | 6 hours ago

I'm not sure what exactly what helped me breeze thru all my treatment, but I viewed my diagnosis as another medical condition that had a prescribed treatment plan that I needed to follow. I tried really hard to focus on the fact that each treatment reduced the possibility of recurrence. I always focused on the advancements in treatment for my diagnosis and that it was no longer the big "C" of years past.

myzoo | @myzoo | 1 hour ago

Stage 2 triple negative here, and my hair loss started in week 2 of the pre-surgery chemo (I'll also have it post-surgery). I didn't cold cap as it's just hair and there are better things (imo) to spend that amount of money on, especially given the likelihood that I'd still lose my hair (or at best have some hair but it be super patchy). I've still been working and active, but I build in lots of downtime to rest (I have not gotten this much rest since pregnancy!).