Starting Chemo August 2025 support thread

@texassurvivor I'm near the end of my second go at chemo (started March, last taxol hopefully this week)... like you, I couldn't wait to get the show on the road. I wish you luck! Hope you get others who post here too.

@texassurvivor these threads sometimes don't have tons of people, hopefully yours does, I've been jumping in on other "month" threads. It's been such a long road - nearly 6 months chemo (16 rounds), I was hospitalized in June which set me back a few weeks, tons of weird side effects. It was a different experience from my first round 14 years ago, and not just because I'm older 😉

I'm stunned about what the radiologist said to you, sounds like you had to advocate for yourself to get answers. And I'm thankful that, at least for now, it looks like no spread. Will you be doing neoadjuvant chemo, then? And do you know what kind of chemo yet? I'd be happy to share from my own experience if you have questions...

@texassurvivor I had to look up the Keynote 522, sounds like you're getting first-class treatment! I've had some of those drugs: paclitaxel (taxol) and doxorubicin (adriamycin) — both twice in fact. In my experience, taxol has given me a deep ache in my bones, cumulative fatigue, and mild neuropathy. Adriamycin aka 'the red devil' I've always had in combination with cytoxan, but I believe the mouth sores, blah taste, and brain fog I experienced was largely attributable to it. My onc told me that with "A" the chances of saving my hair was next to none, so I skipped the cold capping. I did, however, use ice mittens and booties and I think it prevented my neuropathy from being any worse. I've been able to work throughout, though I've been fortunate in that my job lets me work from home many days - good thing since I have also been neutropenic.

There's an "in active treatment" virtual support group that might be worth checking out…. there may well be others on that call who have experience with Keynote 522. Hope you rest up after facing your first treatment today. Even if you were eager to get going, it still takes courage to show up!

Hi there! I'm starting my chemo today (8/12/2025) for my TNBC diagnosis. Starting with the dose dense AC regimen x 4 every other week.... Then will do Taxol x 12, every week.

Had a double mastectomy on July 15th, with expanders input.

Looking forward to connecting with others going thru this with me.

In preparation, getting my hair cut super short on Friday, hopefully to help make the hair loss process a little less dramatic.

@kks_rd

Question, did you get a wig to wear?

Where does one find one?

I'm still kind of in denial & happier there at the moment, but it's coming sooner than not.

My Friday hair cut was pushed to tomorrow as my hair dresser was sick....

My chemo team don't suggest the cooling cap, said it is about 40%,but also very expensive, etc... Just FYI.

I appreciate any insight.

@texassurvivor How scary!! You'd think taxotere approval would be pretty much automatic. I had a 2-week delay too (pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics) and felt similar. It's a feeling I think people from the outside looking in might not understand. When is your next chemo, then?

@texassurvivor Good luck resuming this week!

I'm hanging in there. Last chemo was 8/14 and I can see/feel my body recovering. I can't explain why but I haven't felt like "celebrating" the end of chemo yet. I'll start radiation the second week of September, so perhaps it's more of a transition to the next phase of treatment. One fun thing is my hair is growing back already! It's all peach fuzz - white at first and very soft - but some pigment is slowly showing up.

@dianeb74 how are you doing?

Here I am, day 10 since last chemo. I nosedived Friday but dragged myself out of bed and went to work. I slept all day yesterday and moved very slowly today. In addition to horrible fatigue, I had terrible ear, throat and head pain. No fever. Apparently a side effect of Taxotere. I’m wondering if anyone out there has had this? I didn’t experience anything like that 20 years ago. Wishing everyone well.

I don't have any practical experience with taxotere but definitely know the whole "dragging myself into work" thing. It's ok, up to a point.

I can also really relate to the feeling of not experiencing chemo the same way as I did before. Can't tell if it's because it's my second time around, or because I'm older, or both.

I can't say it better than the Mods did. Rest well and do what you can, when you can. 🤍

Hi there..

Just navigating this website. Saw my surgeon on Sept 18th and am now waiting for a surgery date. So many questions that I will ask my navigation nurse.. but my main question to ask my nurse is about the chemo. what questions should I ask. I am a chemo newbie. Are there different types of chemo for different types of BC? Different side effects? Different amounts?

Thank you

Hi ..

just learning the jargon.. I have ER and PR negative HER2 is negative as well. Tumor is 13 mms in size .. so I think though my research that chemo is the only way to go?
I do have a call into my nurse as there was so much information thrown at us in our initial visit ..

I am a very positive person .. and knowledge is power. Just gathering all the information in can now .. waiting for surgery date now

Thanks for your help 😃

I was diagnosed with Her2 triple negative, Stage 1, Grade 3 for the 2 tumors they found, that weren’t on my test 6 months prior. I had surgery first then A&C and now currently on Taxol, third treatment.

Since I started Taxol I have experienced constipation, dehydration The 3rd side effect only 10% of patients have… high heart rate/pulse due to the drug - as high as 131 today. The doc met with me today about my options but we decided to stay on course, even tho it may be a permanent symptom to deal with the rest of my life. It also may give me more time in the future before a possible recurrence.

My white blood cells are lower than they want, another side effect, so looking into how they want to treat that. Currently, I am getting an IV twice a week as well as before my treatment some weeks, even tho I drink all needle and eat very well. They help tremendously. 

I see one question about wigs… I got a beautiful one that looks real on Amazon for $25! Check out this one by Latin… all of there’s are so nice and have wonderful reviews. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHWSZRPM?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I hope this helps someone along the way. =)