What to Expect with Breast Cancer Treatment and Care?

Chemo for me was rough, I was stage 1 Her 2 position, I was supposed to get 6 treatments, I did 3 rounds of chemo and stopped because of all of the side effects. Hair started falling out the second week after 1st treatment , Radiation was much better, I experienced a little fatigue with treatment I didn’t have taste buds, stay away from grapefruit

Hello , I am a 74 yr young diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer behind my left nipple and lymph nodes. Each person is different. I am currently doing chemo, and I started shedding my hair during the first round and by the 2nd round. Chemo, for me, was challenging. In the first round, I felt mild nausea the first 2 days. The 2nd round was just as challenging, but I got through better than the first round.

Hello... Chemo is tough... The nausea, tiredness and weakness.. hair loss is frightening at first.. especially when you see it coming out in the shower from everywhere...😳😏 Just keep washing and massaging the scalp in mild shampoo and add tea tree oil or argan oil three times a week.. I took liquid B-12 every other day B-12 gummies,D3 and multi every day... You have blood draws every time before chemo so u have to make sure the blood count stays up... Also get in the habit of taking melatonin.... Chemo kept me anxious... I have sleeping issues now.. Yes get a test... I took one a year before I was diagnosed... I am not a carrier but I found the lump myself...Stay positive!!!! We are all on this journey together.. she is in good hands😉

Just add more veggies like zucchini and spinach, sweet potatoes, fruits too ... I ate a lot of oranges but it could run your blood sugar up... Try to keep fruit because you will lose your taste buds...

My diagnosis is stage 3 to with lymph nodes focus. Chemotherapy left me tired/fatigued. Please drink plenty of water. I lost my hair. I decided that once it started falling out, I had my cousin, a Barber bald me. Keep scalp warm a moisturized. I use Rosemary oil and Mistletoe oil. Yes, in my opinion your Sis should get tested. Did you? I did! Hmmm 🤔 I am eating much better now that I have an appetite. Beet juice, broccoli, kale, cabbage are excellent choices. Eat the rainbow and eat meat as a condiment is what I’ve learned!

I had a what I thought was a pimple under or near my right nipple also.

Me personally I would because even though I went in way enough time for a mammogram I still wasn’t told about my diagnosis until years after it spreaded and my trait is genetic and I’m really thinking about going to this all natural doctor out in Texas but I’ll look up some stuff to try and help

Hearing the word Chemo was super scary at first to me, even caused a panic attack due to hyperfocusing on all the research and side effects that could happen. Everyone is different, but here's a little about my experience(it's not a walk through the park and at the same time it's not as bad as I expected. Cut my hair low a few days after my first treatment to prepare my mental(also got a good therapist and relied heavily on scripture and my faith), hair started falling out some right before second treatment(sides and back first), so had it cut lower with clippers after second treatment and before third completely shaved, which was so empowering and freeing. With first treatment, some tiredness, so allow rest and stay hydrated, wbc dropped so began to experience mouth sores(prescribed magic swizzle, but consistent mouth hygiene-rinsing with salt, Baking soda and water and a soft toothbrush was very helpful), also some thrush of the mouth(was prescribed a rinse for this that was helpful), no nausea with any of the treatments, maybe due to the drug cocktail they give before treatment(steroids, benadryl and antinausea meds through IV, watch as the steroids can raise BSL), taste buds were affected throughout, watermelon was delightful and exercise as tolerated was also beneficial. Second treatment and every treatment thereafter was given Neulasta shot to stop wbc from dropping(take clariton the day before, day of and a few days after treatment to help with bone pain caused by the shot). Also purchased cold therapy socks and gloves from amazon to decrease the chances of neuropathy and joined the caringbridge.org to keep my family and friends updated on my progress. Hope this was helpful. This week, I ring the bell. Looking forward to the day your Mom does, too. Thoughts & Prayers!

Caring for a loved one through breast cancer treatment brings up so many important questions, and it's wonderful that the family is being proactive about understanding what lies ahead. Chemotherapy experiences can vary widely between individuals, but oncology teams typically provide detailed information about what to expect and how to manage side effects like hair loss and scalp care. The questions about genetic testing and nutrition are excellent ones to discuss with the medical team, especially considering the diabetes and hypertension that will need to be factored into any dietary recommendations. This community has many members who have navigated similar journeys and can offer valuable support and insights.