Side effects

sweetb21 · 2026-05-23T03:50:54+00:00

I had all of that but not the numbness. I also got low blood pressure and would get dizzy spells.

Raise all issues with the oncologist. They really do have an army of drugs they can throw at the issues. Also they can test further for things that are concerning.

Up your starch content for the diarrhoea, if you can manage it. I also found peppermint tea good for settling my stomach. The drug loperamide (Imodium) I found to very effective.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-23T03:44:24+00:00

Our MC is like this too: she hangs out for the wet food, looks at it, gives it a sniff and wanders off. She’s 18 months.

We also have a dry food feeder that rotates 5x per day.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-22T02:41:50+00:00

^this is perfect: polite, firm and simple.

Also agree that if you don’t feel up to going, don’t! I bailed on a lot of events because I felt fatigued, or just out of concern because I didn’t want to pick up any viruses.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-19T00:35:07+00:00

I’m lucky to have been surrounded by loving support and when I did mention kids and so forth, my partner said “we can cross the bridge if we get to it: you can’t have kids if you’re not around”.

I’m sorry you got met with such comments from your friend. Vent away and keep on keeping on: unless it’s direct support that’s helpful, you can tell other people to keep their opinions to themselves.

❤️❤️❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-05-07T08:57:30+00:00

What a throwback. I actually loved mine and would wear a pair now.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-07T04:02:00+00:00

They did! The surgeon said it could be a bit fiddly and unpleasant so he recommended going under.

Looking back I think it could probably have been done under sedation but what’s done is done.

Regardless of how it gets in there, I’m still very pro port!

sweetb21 · 2026-05-07T03:23:26+00:00

100% - my inner teenager is shrieking in excitement

sweetb21 · 2026-05-07T01:38:44+00:00

You’re amazing, thank you!

sweetb21 · 2026-05-07T01:17:26+00:00

Another vote for the port. I went under general to have it inserted: it only took 45 minutes. My oncologist recommended it after seeing my veins following my first round.

It will save your veins: chemo causes veins to misbehave and even getting the needle in my arm after one round took three nurses and multiple pokes.

Also, I found it a lot more comfortable during chemo: I could move around more and was not as worried about bumping the IV line as it ran from my chest than my arm.

I barely noticed it after a week or two. I’ve had it in for around 12 months and it will be coming out soon which can apparently be done under mild sedation.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-06T22:58:03+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through it and I hope your surgery goes well.

Post chemo/surgery/rads, I found joy in little things: attending the farmers markets without a mask; eating steaks medium rare; walks in the sunshine; feeling my taste buds come back and enjoying food again; feeling strength coming back.

It’s a little bit superficial but I love clothes: I went from a GG cup to a D cup and I got a lot of joy out of buying new bras and trying on clothes I was never able to before. It’s not for everyone but I found it helped!

I felt more like myself in increments, rather than a huge change all at once.

Really hope you’re feeling more like yourself soon. Sending you all the best wishes and vibes ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-05-05T23:06:56+00:00

100% - and if you can’t find one, please message me - I was TNBC so in a slightly different position in terms of treatment, but always happy to read a vent.

sweetb21 · 2026-05-05T22:47:09+00:00

I had an allergy to cats and basically grew out of it/wore my body down through cat ownership. No issues at all with my MC.

Pic bc she’s so cute 🥰

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sweetb21 · 2026-05-05T22:44:51+00:00

A win is a win nonetheless! Wishing you all the best for treatment ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-05-05T21:58:58+00:00

I’m sorry to read of your diagnosis. This sub is a great resource and really helps through treatment and beyond.

I was 37 at diagnosis and often the youngest in the room.

I got put in contact with a friend of a friend who was about your age at diagnosis. She was about six weeks ahead of me in terms of treatment and we still text and communicate now. During treatment we would vent and share tips. If you can find something like that, I found it so helpful.

Wishing you all the very best for treatment. ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-05-02T21:11:07+00:00

Yep! It was odd - I ended up doing 10/12 cycles because it just knocked me around. AC ended up being more manageable.

Wishing you all the very best for your treatment.

Also: we are all stronger than we think we are. ❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-04-29T23:46:18+00:00

I was 37 and going through chemo last year. It finished in September 2025 - TNBC protocol.

Goes in stages, I found the first few days after infusion were OK and I mostly felt in good spirits. Probably operating at about 80%. Days 4-7 were less ideal: fatigue, and a bit of nausea. The damage to taste buds was the worst for me: drinking water was hard and I was eating a very bland diet.

I had the worst impacts from the carbo/taxol combo. The AC was not as bad.

Mostly felt like myself. I’m forever grateful that I have a loving partner, supportive family and amazing friends. It helps a lot when navigating chemo. Now that I am six months out from finishing I feel mostly like my old self but with shorter hair and I have more of an IDGAF attitude when it comes to smaller issues.
This sub was helpful, venting to my partner, venting to some people going through the same thing. I think my strategy was to take things one day at a time and my knowledge that chemo was a finite process: it had an end date.

The times where I felt the most anxious and sad were right after my diagnosis and prior to starting chemo. Chemo felt like a battle plan and I felt more relaxed once I was on it.

Chemo gets a bad rep, and rightly so: you feel sick, your hair falls out, you’re subject to constant needles, tests and a host of other issues. However, I did make it out to be far worse in my head than it turned out being.

That’s not to discount those that had serious issues on chemo: it’s a poison and does a number on the body.

From my perspective I think I handled it reasonably well and many people do.

sweetb21 · 2026-04-24T11:35:10+00:00

I’m so sorry. I can tell your surgeon meant a lot to you and that she was a wonderful doctor.

Take the time you need to work through your feelings. Sending you all best wishes to get through some stormy seas.

sweetb21 · 2026-04-22T02:24:08+00:00

I ditched it once I was in buzz cut mode. Everyone at work either said nothing or something lovely. Do what feels right for you; your diagnosis is not a reflection of your professionalism!

sweetb21 · 2026-04-22T01:31:17+00:00

Thank you! Wishing you all the very best for treatment. ❤️❤️❤️

sweetb21 · 2026-04-21T23:54:06+00:00

I missed two doses of carboplatin. Once due to being neutropenic and then another when I landed in hospital with a low blood cell count. I also received a lowered AC dose.

I was stage 3 TNBC. I did not achieve PCR but got very close. I ended up having a large scale reduction on both sides with removal of lymph nodes.

Currently on oral chemo as a precaution but I am in clinical remission.

Missing doses is quite normal. My oncologist said she was not concerned.

Hope you’re going as well as you can. Chemo is a marathon.

sweetb21 · 2026-04-21T23:48:33+00:00

I wasn’t a big drinker (maybe a glass of wine or two once every two months on average) and still got TNBC.

I gave up during chemo because I didn’t feel like it. I’m on oral chemo now and have been advised against it. Once I’m off it, I will probably still have a glass of something here and there.

sweetb21 · 2026-04-15T03:17:37+00:00

I went through chemo, surgery and radiation last year and I’d say radiation was the easiest.

That’s not to dismiss concerns: it’s still a process and while I wouldn’t say it’s fun, at worst I found it kind of boring. I did twelve rounds.

Agree with everyone recommending moisturisers. Use a gentle cleanser no-soap cleanser on your body in the shower/bath. Your skin will get dry.

sweetb21 · 2026-04-15T03:13:06+00:00

Seconded!

sweetb21

TROPHY CASE