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 | 1 day 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 | 19 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 | 15 hours 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!).

katgob | @katgob | 13 hours ago

Interesting posts. I went in thinking I may have side effects, but after my first infusion of Carboplatin/Taxol I came home feeling ok. I had my infusions Friday, so any side effect would happen over the weekend. I controlled nausea with Zofran and another pill. I did neglect to take a laxative from the start. Zofran plugs you up. I had some real issues later on. Fatigue is what i had for sure, what i could eat changed. as has been posted by others. Water to wash out that chemo is necessary. Half your body weight in ounces if possible. Surprisingly, after 12 weeks, all was fairly good. Then I had one dose of the 4 doses I was to have of Red Devil. I had BRCA 2 and Her 2+ mutations. Pancytopenia happened which is the low counts on /white, red cells and platelets. FATIGUE is real. I had thought i was just super tired. My sister in NY told me by what i said i felt, that i need to get to the doctor ASAP. I got my friend to take me and i was hospitalized after the blood test. Dangerously low blood counts. This does not happen to everyone. To me it did.

This was nearly 4 years ago, and I have some neuropathy still with my in some fingers and on the bottom of my feet. Otherwise with 2 barbie breasts, that is only what reminds me i had breast cancer.