Pre-chemo checks sounds like something you'd do before taking off in a plane. Although on this occasion it's "sign here that you agree to let us fill your body with toxins that have loads of horrible side effects but thankfully will kill off any cancer cells that have escaped into the wild of your body."

Sarah had blood tests and some scans, her heart, as we all know, is perfect. I didn't need a doctor to tell me that (nurse the sick bag!). Sarah was also shown round all the facilities and she said they were sate of the art both in terms of look and facilities (WiFi etc.). She'll be spending a lot of time there so comfort and distractions important obviously.

We then met with her oncologist for a final discussion before the regime starts. The Oncologist is brilliant, she treats about 300 breast cancer patients a year and although this phase is going to be horrible she really demonstrated today her commitment to minimising all and any side effects. Definitely a safe pair of hands.

The treatment is going to be two sets of four sessions firstly of Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide two weeks apart and then four weeks of Taxotere again two weeks apart. Chemo is normally every three weeks but as Sarah is young and fit and the cancer aggressive they push her harder as the treatment will have more impact. After each session there will be an injection we administer at home to increase her white blood cell count which will help her fight infection. If you plan on visiting and are ill please wait as avoiding extra "visitors" of the contagious kind is most desirable. She will start to lose her hair after 2 weeks and it will probably be all gone within 4 to 6. Once chemo stops the hair will slowly return again after 4 to 6 weeks.

Once the chemo stops there will be a 2 to 3 week break and then Sarah will start radiotherapy which will last for 4 weeks, every day for about 30 minutes. Apparently there are few side effects from this apart from feeling tired.

All in Sarah should be finished mid-March. Then we wait. From this point Sarah will be regularly monitored every three months to see if the cancer comes back. This type of triple negative is more likely to reoccur in the first three years but if she gets to five the chance of re-occurrence is very low compared to "normal" breast cancer.

Rob.