Stage III Advice

Hi there,

So sorry to hear about your girlfriend's diagnosis. I was diagnosed last year at age 37 with a large tumor too, though it was invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS, so slightly different diagnosis. The treatment plan for me was 4 infusions of AC and then 4 infusions of Taxol. Is that how hers is? Please don't hesitate to ask questions. If I can help, I will. I also did radiation and had mastectomies. You can see the details of my process below.

It's going to be a long year, and it's best to focus on one step at a time. Each step is manageable, but it feels overwhelming when you think of the whole process.

Chemo wasn't too bad. I recently wrote out my experience in another thread. I'll copy that here, as I hope it will be helpful for your girlfriend:

With AC, my main symptom was fatigue. I was very rarely nauseous. The doctors gave me anti-nausea meds in my infusion and also some steroids for the few days after which made me feel pretty good. If I felt even the slightest bit of nausea, I took Zofran, but I think that was only twice or three times during the whole time I was on AC. I was also given Neulasta to help keep my white blood cell counts up. I was pretty tired during the AC treatments, and napped whenever I could, but I was able to be up and about too. The first week is tough, and then you start to feel normal. Then it's time for the next infusion.

My hair started shedding about two weeks in, and fell dramatically three weeks after my first chemo. When it first started to shed, I had my husband give me a buzz cut. That's when I started wearing the chemo beanies (I had a cute wig, but didn't wear it that often).

After my second AC infusion, I developed a fever. It was cold and flu season. My kids were sick, and I caught something from them. But bloodwork revealed my white blood cell count was also very low at the same time, so as a precaution, the doctors checked me in to the hospital. I had to have lots of tests, and was hospitalized for four days. It probably would have been more, but I was feeling better and all the tests were clear, and the doctor was sympathetic to the fact that I had a newborn plus two other kids at home, so I was out after four days. Thankfully, that was the only time my white blood cell count dropped like that and the only time I got sick and needed to be hospitalized. Due to the hospitalization, I had to delay my infusion. Then a couple weeks later, I developed a mild case of shingles, and so we delayed it again, to make sure I was strong enough for infusion #3.

The four rounds of Taxol were easier in some ways and harder in others. Taxol usually doesn't affect your immune system the way AC does. I did not have quite as much fatigue, but I was very achy in the 2-4 days after Taxol infusions. I learned to take pain meds (Aleve, Advil, or Tylenol) regularly those first few days, until the aches wore off.

Though I lost my hair in the first 2-3 weeks of chemo, I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes about 2 months in. That was a bit of a shock because suddenly I felt like I looked sick in a way I did not feel with just the hair loss. I started chemo November 2017 and completed it March 2018. I've got my brows and lashes. My hair is a little longer than pixie length, pretty wavy/curly.

Hi metsnj, So, I'm stage 3, had every treatment on the menu, doing great, going to be 3 years cancer free, Jan 20th, my birthday! Little different, I was 57,lymph node positive, my chemo was TAC, ×6 every 3 weeks. Just focus on one step at a time, try to stay nourished and hydrated, take the anti nausea meds! They work. I never threw up!😄. The treatments are all do-able, not fun , but there are meds for all the side effects. Before I started treatment I was so nervous about the unknown that for the first time in my life I took anxiety meds, Xanax, and it helped.Once treatment started, I felt better, having a plan of action! For me the 25 radiation treatments were a breeze, I went right to the gym after each one. She'll get through it! Look at me- I'm doing GREAT! Strong healthy and happy. 😚💖Best wishes to you both!

Hi metsnj123, I’m so sorry you and your girlfriend find yourselves here. There are a number of threads that are very helpful in terms of knowing what to expect. If you read through the “Weekly Taxol” and “AC treatment” threads you will get a good idea of what other people have experienced. There are also threads for each month called “Chemo Starting September (etc.)” that are great places to find people at the same stage of the process, and you can go back and read older ones to see what might be coming up.

Experiences vary so much. Some people seem to sail through chemo while others are knocked flat but it is all doable — and temporary. I find that the most important thing to remember. So far I have fallen somewhere in the middle. I have had A LOT of nausea during AC treatment despite lots of anti-nausea drugs, but bounce back after 5 or 6 days and have still worked on my weeks “off.” Lots of people say Taxol is easier and I’m hoping that’s true but find it best not to look too far ahead or it just feels too daunting!

If no one else has mentioned it, it’s also a good idea to fill out your/your girlfriend’s diagnosis and treatment information and then make it public (a separate step under settings). There are so many knowledgable people here and the more info you share the more they can help. Best of luck to you both!

So sorry to hear!

I was diagnosed in June at age 31 with stage IIIC. Mine was in the lymph nodes, but had also spread to the sternum lymph nodes. I had surgery first - a total mastectomy and started chemo in October. I am doing AC every three weeks (I have one more left) and then I'll do 12 weeks of Taxol followed by radiation and then hormonal therapy. For me, the chemo has been awful and I've missed a lot of work from being so sick. I also have 3 children under the age of 9, so that adds to the challenge! Luckily my husband has been my rock. Just being there for your girlfriend can mean the world to her!

It seems overwhelming and a lot to digest at first, but just take it one step at a time!

santabarbarian - what is the fasting mimicking? I have tried to research it, but there's not a lot available. What does it entail? What/when do you eat?

I tried fasting with my most recent treatment (AC #3) and it did not work!I fasted nearly 3 days before the treatment, but since it did not really reduce my SEs, I am hesitant to fully fast again, so I am curious about the mimicking... So as not to hijack this thread, feel free to PM me too!