My name is Anj and I’m from Honolulu, Hawaii. Before being diagnosed with cancer, I was living my best life. I was healthy, active, traveling often and enjoying life as a newlywed.

 Bring us along your journey – when were you diagnosed with cancer? What was your initial reaction?

 Early detection saved my life. Due to a family history of breast cancer, I started annual mammograms in my early 30s. My routine screening in September of 2022 led to biopsies, after which I was initially diagnosed with Stage 0 Ductal Carcinoma In Situ at the age of 33. At first, I wasn’t super concerned. I figured I would have surgery and quickly move on with life. Unfortunately, the pathology from surgery showed the cancer was more invasive and aggressive than my first diagnosis, advancing it to Stage 1, ER+ HER2+. At this point I felt like my entire life was put on hold.

What was your first chemotherapy treatment like? What treatment/treatments did you or are currently undergoing?

 I headed into my first chemotherapy treatment as if I was going camping for days. I packed a cozy blanket, a giant squishmallow my nieces had given me, an iPad with shows to watch, crossword puzzles, a big cup of water and icing mittens and booties to ward off neuropathy. It was a whirlwind of a day that consisted of meeting the nurses, getting pre-meds, then chemo and my first Phesgo injection (a neoadjuvant treatment for HER2+ patients). I was so focused on getting through my first treatment that I was underprepared for the next few days, which consisted of an initial lack of sleep due to the steroids, some nausea once the pre-meds wore off and complete exhaustion.

 In total, I underwent 12 weekly rounds of Abraxane. I continue to receive HER2+ treatment (Herceptin) every three weeks. 

 Who did you turn to as your support system?

I am fortunate to have an incredible support system, including my husband, family, friends and colleagues. It wasn’t until towards the end of chemo, though, that I felt truly seen and understood after starting to share my story on Instagram and meeting fellow survivors and thrivers online.

What is something you wished you knew before starting your chemo treatment?

Before starting chemo, I wish I knew how much of a marathon 12 weekly treatments would be. Unlike other chemo regimens that are spaced three weeks apart, weekly treatments give you very little time to rest and recover. Just when I felt like I was beginning to feel better and more like myself, it was time to go back to the cancer center for my next treatment.

I also wish that I knew that in addition to side effects from chemo, you can experience side effects from the drugs used to treat the chemo side effects. For example, my anti-nausea medication helped with the nausea but then caused headaches. Figuring out what medications to take when is a bit of an art.

Have there been certain side effects that have been worse than others?

Going through cancer treatment is a bit like playing side effect bingo or roulette – with each treatment and day you never know what you might experience. The hardest side effects for me were the ones that impacted my gastrointestinal tract and gut microbiome. I had a severe reaction to the Perjeta drug in my HER2+ treatment, which caused major tummy issues for about four to five weeks. Constantly being in the bathroom and not being able to eat much was really difficult for me.

What are tips/tricks you have learned along the way to help with chemo side effects?

 The most important tip I learned was to advocate for yourself with your medical team and your caregivers. If part of your treatment or one of your medications is causing major side effects, speak up and see if adjustments can be made. You can also use a planner or notes app in your phone to keep track of your symptoms and the medications used to alleviate them, as well as to maintain a list of questions to ask your care team at your next appointment.

For those interested, I have more tips and tricks on my Instagram and Substack, including this post.

 Do you recommend any chemo friendly products?

Here are a few of my favorites:

•     Clean, unscented castile soap

•       Queasy Drops/Pops for nausea

•       Nectar drink mixes for hydration

•     Epsom salt baths

•      Beekeepers Naturals honey lozenges

• Wise Woman Herbals throat mist for sore throat

•        Prevention Oncology mouthwash for mouth sores

•       A planner such as CanPlan to track side effects, medications, and appointments

 Any advice for other chemo patients?

In addition to the physical side effects, chemo can take a mental toll, especially when treatment lasts for multiple months. Find ways to allow yourself to experience joy, even if it’s just in little pockets. Each week after treatment I would pick up something decadent to enjoy, such as a warm cookie or a pint of ice cream. I would also treat myself to items on my Amazon Wish List after reaching milestones such as the halfway mark. It became something I looked forward to and even thought about when sitting in the chemo chair!