Preparing for Chemotherapy With the Support from Fellow Survivors
- Actress Crystal Lowe, 45, says working on her latest film allowed her to briefly “forget” she was a cancer patient, but she’s now preparing to restart treatment with tamoxifen, Lupron, and upcoming chemo pills, prompting an outpouring of support from fellow survivors.
- Women who’ve taken tamoxifen, a type of chemotherapy, shared both encouragement and hard‑earned advice, underscoring how differently patients can respond to the drug and reminding Lowe of the community standing behind her as she continues her mission to normalize the realities of breast cancer treatment.
- Tamoxifen helps block estrogen‑driven cancer growth and is commonly prescribed for 5–10 years after a breast cancer diagnosis, with longer use showing added benefit in reducing the risk of recurrence and spread.
- Lowe underwent a double mastectomy (removal of the breasts) earlier this year for stage 3 breast cancer. She then underwent breast reconstruction.
- “Mastectomy has very specific indications. Some of the things that would predict a mastectomy are things like a large tumor size to breast ratio, or having cancer in more than one area of the breast, or things like a genetic mutation,” Dr. Sarah Cate, Chief of Breast Surgery, Stamford Hospital, explains to SurvivorNet.
“I had the luxury of forgetting about my cancer for these last 6 weeks. I got to fully immerse myself in my film and learn new things, which was incredible!” Lowe shared in a recent Instagram post.
Survivors Share Their Experiences With Tamoxifen
Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, which means it works to prevent estrogen from helping cancer cells to grow. It is also used to prevent breast cancer among women who are high-risk for breast cancer because of family history.
For women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, patients are typically put on the Tamoxifen pill for five to 10 years, and there is evidence that taking it for 10 years is more effective than taking it for five. In addition, it’s a treatment that, when taken alone or in combination with chemotherapy, reduces the chance of having breast cancer spread.
Many women who have walked the same path as Lowe chimed in to reassure the beloved actress that she’s not alone as she prepares for the next phase of treatment.
“I have been on Tamoxifen for two years, and I have no side effects! I hope you do well. Hugs,” wrote Instagram user Lazzy1977, offering a hopeful perspective.
Another survivor, Instagram user Tricia Kosten, shared a more complex experience — along with hard‑earned advice.
“I was on tamoxifen for 10 years. I did have many side effects, and I had friends who never had any. So everyone will handle it differently,” she wrote.
“My recommendations: have someone monitor your bone health… now I have severe osteoporosis in my spine and get shots every 6 months. But I’m grateful to be alive and still enjoying life.”
The outpouring of support mirrors the encouragement Lowe has received throughout her diagnosis — from fellow Hallmark stars, directors, and thousands of fans who’ve followed her journey since she first shared it publicly.
Lowe has repeatedly said that sharing her experience is part of her mission: to help others feel less alone, to normalize the emotional and physical realities of cancer treatment, and to show that strength and vulnerability can coexist.
Expert Resources for Breast Cancer Patients
- ‘Chemo Nails’– An Unpleasant Side Effect for Breast Cancer Patients That No One Wants to Talk About
- “Hip Hop Chemo” – Breast Cancer Survivor’s Moves to Stop the Stigma
- Breaking Down the Major Shift in Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
- Exercise and ‘Chemo Brain’: Can Physical Activity Save Breast Cancer Patients from Brain Fog During Chemotherapy?
Coping With Chemotherapy Side Effects for Breast Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy is an effective tool for oncologists to help treat cancer by stopping cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. Chemo works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, healthy cells are also impacted in the process, leading to side effects.
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” Dr. Urban said.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Urban. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy. When chemotherapy affects the rapidly dividing cells in the lining of the stomach, the resulting cellular havoc in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to side effects such as nausea and vomiting. However, doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
“Part of the chemotherapy prescription includes a set regimen of anti-nausea medications,” says Dr. Urban. “We also ensure that patients have medications at home that they can use should they develop nausea after treatment.”
Hair loss is another side effect of chemotherapy.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
It happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body. That includes cancer cells but also hair cells.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, it is possible that when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
Tips for Navigating Chemo Side Effects
When dealing with fatigue, doctors don’t have an arsenal of weapons to combat fatigue in terms of prescription medications. However, you can do several things to help minimize the hit and restore your energy.
- Exercise: While it may be counterintuitive, physical activity can help alleviate side effects, especially fatigue. “Although ovarian cancer is not common, we often draw upon the experience of patients with breast cancer and colon cancer, who have shown that physical activity can not only improve quality of life but may also have beneficial impacts on cancer outcomes,” Dr. Urban says.
- Eat well: Even though nausea may interfere with your ability to eat a healthy diet, it’s essential to ensure you’re eating appropriately, getting enough protein, and not losing weight. Not only will nourishing your body support your recovery, but it may also help you feel more energized.
- Sleep: Want to mitigate fatigue? Be sure to maintain your regular sleep-wake cycle while on treatment. Sticking to a set sleep schedule helps reduce fatigue by ensuring enough hours for your body to heal and restore itself each night. It may also help you recover more quickly by keeping energy levels high during the daytime.
Treating Neuropathy Symptoms
Doctors have several strategies for helping patients deal with this side effect. Once a patient begins experiencing the symptoms of neuropathy, they’ll be carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Before each chemotherapy infusion, the attending oncologist will assess whether the symptoms have progressed. If the symptoms worsen, they may adjust the dose or delay treatment. They may also try switching to another chemotherapy drug.
How to Get a Handle on Nausea
Most of these anti-nausea medications last for more than eight hours. One of the infusions commonly used reduces the degree of nausea for up to three days.
Complementary approaches may also be helpful. A few favorites:
- Ginger: Studies consistently show that ginger helps alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea. The powerful herb appears to have an anti-spasmodic effect on the gut. Not a fan of raw ginger? Suck on ginger candy, sip ginger ale, or make a steaming cup of ginger tea.
- Pressure bracelets: At your local pharmacy, these bracelets provide consistent pressure on a particular acupressure point on the wrist to reduce nausea.
- Deep breathing: Moving air in and out of your lungs with a few deep breaths can help relieve nausea, particularly if you pair deep breathing exercises with meditation. It can also help you relax and release stress and anxiety.
WATCH: Managing chemo side effects.
Coping with Hair Loss
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way of saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual, like a lump, does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like, so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Any change in the size or shape of the breast
- Swelling of all or part of the breast
- Skin dimpling or peeling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Redness or scaliness of the breast or nipple skin
- Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
The medical community has a broad consensus that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should now start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
The American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year for women 55 and older. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
WATCH: When you’re getting a mammogram, ask about dense breasts.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Questions For Your Doctor
- What stage is my cancer, and how does that affect my treatment plan?
- What are the recommended chemotherapy options for triple-negative breast cancer, and what side effects should I expect?
- Are there any clinical trials or emerging treatments I should consider?
- How will treatment affect my fertility, physical activity, or ability to work?
- What follow-up care and monitoring will I need?
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