Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

katoMato

Hi Charlene,
I'm assuming the horrible first tx was due to nausea? I'm so sorry...That is huge and a major fear for me (I have a heart thing where my heart stops if I vomit.) My onc gave me Zofran by mouth (dissolves on my tongue...like a dried strawberry?) and I can honestly say it really works for me. So much so that I haven't needed the compazine (by mouth) she gave me for any breakthrough nausea.

I'm glad they got you "fine tuned" this time. It helps to know things can be tweaked to personalize tx to our bodies.

BTW, Bald is beautiful. (ok, maybe just cooler - but I liked taking the bull by the horns too. AWAY WITH IT.)

Kaye

katoMato

Lady Jean,
I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. I had pain in my chest too, but mine sounds a little different… It was almost like a "fizzing". Like the candy called "pop rocks" you put in your mouth and it fizzes when it hits moisture? It felt just like that around my heart or between my lungs for about 4 days. Little needley sharp pains. The nurse had never heard of it. It came and went for that first week, then finally went away.

We'll see what happens next time. Always an adventure, this.
Kaye

wackyjackie

good luck to you charlene...i so want to shave my hair off-be brave like kaye...but i just can't bring myself to do it.
i'm sorry you had a bad first experience. i just feel fatigue. i am overweight, and i must tell you all, i have not lost my appetite once. i guess the nauseau meds r ok for me. feel good.

hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

harley,
i'm sorry your hair is coming out. i guess a short haircut is a good idea. i think that will make it a little easier. i'm still plucking my chin hairs out!!! my wig is ready but i just can't do anything yet until it starts coming out. enjoy your visit with your sil.......hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

kaye,

you are so inspirational. i admire you for shaving your hair and it seems like you're not regretting it at all. have you felt nauseau or are you okay? i mean i know you went through enough already. i hope you are spared. keep up the positive attitude. we all need it...

hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

girls,

i went to a radiation oncologist this morning because i had axillary node dissection 2 weeks ago and one more node came back positive. she says i'm in a "gray" area with 2 out of 13 nodes positive. she can't tell me what to do but it's up to me if i want 6 weeks of radiation after my 8 chemo treatments. i am leaning toward it. i am 46 yrs old and want to be as aggressive as possible. is anyone out there having radiation after chemo or have any opinions? i'd appreciate any advice.
hugs, jackie

Harley44

Jackie,

Sorry to hear about the positive nodes.
Sorry but I don't know much about radiation. Luckily, I was spared that part of the bc experience!

Yes, those darn chin hairs!

Good Luck! Let us know how everything goes!

HARLEY

Ggma

I've just had my first chemo a week ago and still have 3 more to go. So far, so good though. No sickness at all and minimal fatigue. I do have a raging yeast infection though... I go to the dr. tomorrow to see what he has to say about it. Anyone have any suggestions????? I've been able to work every day since tx, come home and fix supper for my dh and son. We even have company staying with us until next week (adult son's gf) so I have to keep the house cleaner and more laundry etc. Not complaining at all though considering what the side effects could be. Wig is ready to wear, but no hair loss yet. I'm facing 6 weeks of rads after the 4 rounds of AC.

Sure have enjoyed reading your posts.

Harley44

Ggma,

Glad to hear that your first tx went well! I also had a pretty easy time of it the first time around, but after I went for the wbc, it was LOW, so I had to get neupogen shots, and they caused alot of problems! I had a headache, and a terrible backache!! Also, one day, and all way through into the night, I had a fever and chills!! It was SO scary! But, I am fine now, and my last b/w yesterday was FINE!!


My next tx is 8/28. I'm not looking forward to that, because of the scary second week... with low wbc, and the risk of infection...

My hair has started to fall out... I have a wig, but even still, this is very emotional to me...

We can do this!

Good Luck!
HARLEY
Good Luck!

ilovejesus

Ggma, you might want to try probiotics. It's supposed to help keep the flora and fauna and all that balanced since the chemo is killin all the good bacteria in your body. I also got a bad yeast infection during one of the chemos. I think they gave me a vaginal cream. On one of the other chemo's I got thrush really bad which they gave me Diflucan for which i have to take almost the whole week after chemo but it beats thrush! You can usually find probiotics at your local health food store or in my case a large grocery store with a health food section. The probiotics have to be refrigerated. It's about $30 for a bottle of 60 or 90 pills, can't remember, but it's well worth it.
God bless
Dorothy

Harley44

Yes, I just started taking the pro-biotics last week, since with the low wbc, I didn't want to have the antibiotics they gave me affect me, as one of the se's of antibiotics for me is diarrhea, and I had just finished with that from the chemo...

hang in there, we'll get through this!
HARLEY

WIbeaglemom

This is my first time writing. I start my chemo on Thursday 8/23. I had a lumpectomy for Stage II Ductal Carcinoma, and am ER/PR positive and HER2neu positive! Triple positive, lucky me. I am going through a roller coaster of emotions right now. I fear so much all of the side effects I am reading about with chemo and hormone therapy. I will have 4 sessions AC and 4 sessions T with Herceptin, then 6 weeks radiation, 1 year Herceptin, and 5 years Tamoxifin. I really am ready for all of this because I know it is going to help me stay healthy, but, is there anything I can do to make any side effects less horrible! It all sounds so dibilitating and terrible for your body. I can't imagine this is supposed to be a "good" thing. I tried a wig on and I thought I looked silly, so I am going to go the scarf and hat route for now. Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I am trying SO hard to keep a positive attitude. THANKS!!!!

rxt774

Hi Jackie
I just turned 41 and had a SNB with 1-4 out of 10 positive nodes. They said I'm in grey area too, one surgeon wants to take out more nodes, and another says with 10 out its almost a node dissection. I'm getting 4X AC every 2 weeks and then 4X Taxol/Herception, then 10mos herception. After Chemo I'll have 5-6 weeks of Radiation. I'm going for it. My dilemna was whether to have more node surgery or not. 10 nodes seems like enough. Good luck with your treatment. I start Chemo in September.

Harley44

Hi WIbeaglemom,

Welcome! Sorry you had to join the club. You will get a lot of good advice from these warm, wonderful women! They are very knowledgeable.

I am getting 4 txs of TC, and my 2nd will be on 8/28. As some have said here, it is very doable. Keep a positive attitude, we can do this!

Good Luck on the 23rd!
HARLEY

katoMato

Hi WIbeaglemom,
Welcome. I understand regarding the rollercoaster ride. I think the worst for me was before chemo started. The diagnosis is a wake-up call unto itself, then all the confusion and decisions – where to go what to do, then all the tests, it's SO nerve-wracking. I was NOT a happy camper. Had a few melt-downs. I didn't know if I should just give up and let go, or fight it out, and somewhere in there it occurred to me that Life is a gift. It's been given to me for now, and because it's a valuable gift, I'm going to protect it. Now that the treatment has started, and I've had a pretty easy time of it (ok. the night before they admitted me to the hospital with a white blood count of .1 wasn't so fun, but it all worked out ok.) so far, I don't have those feelings any more. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know this board is the place to be. The information here is much more than I've gotten from my National Cancer Center, and these girls understand what no doctor could ever understand (unless they were a survivor themselves). Don’t be afraid. You’re not alone.

As a matter of fact, you’ll be having your first tx on the 23rd. I’ve noticed that a few of you are having tx on the 23rd… Nash, Mom24July2007 and Cindymc50. So you’ve got built-in chemo sisters already! My second tx is tomorrow (the 22nd) so I’ll keep you posted about how that goes.
I keep a calendar on my “sister’s” tx days, and I pray for them. I have a whole boatload of people who pray for me regularly here in my town, and I think that for me it makes a big difference. So I do that for other people too. (It keeps me out of trouble.)

And besides. I love beagles.

We welcome you, sister!
Kaye

Ggma

I'm going in to the "big city" tomorrow for a check up and will try to find a health food store that I can buy some probiotics at. They can't hurt to try them. I was on an antibiotic 1 week before my treatment last week because my port was infected so this all makes sense. Thanks to all for the good advise!

For me anyway, the pre-treatment time of not knowing was much worse than the first treatment.

Good luck and welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a part of!

Debbi

WIbeaglemom ~ Kaye gave you some great advise on how to get through this stuff! I think that what helps me the most is to have a positive attitude until you've been proven wrong! I've tried to go into this all thinking that I'm NOT going to get sick and I know that there are still 3 txs left and I probably WILL get sick sometime, but so far anyway, it's working. I've been tired, but not sick. Take care of yourself and let your family and friends take care of you also and we will get through this all together!!!! This is one of the most supportive places I've ever been and I just keep coming back.

nash

Oh my gosh, Kaye, you are so sweet to put our start dates down on your calendar so you can pray specifically. I'm really touched.

Hope your 2nd tx goes smoothly and that there are no more trips to the hospital!

wackyjackie

hi hope,

i had bilateral mastectomy on 7/3/07 and then had an axillary node dissection on 8/7/07. i only had ten more nodes removed at the and. three were removed at the snb. so 2/13 were positive. i am glad to see you are going for everything, so maybe more surgery would not matter. i will say the second surgery was a piece of cake compared to the mastectomy. i am not sorry that i had it. i recovered very quickly. it might just give you piece of mind to "know" but otherwise i don't think your treatment will change.

good luck with your decision. keep us posted with your chemo updates also.

hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

kaye,

i pray for you for your next treatment tommorrow. keep the spirit!!!

hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

Ggma,

wow, i can't believe all the energy you have. and dinner every night. (i guess i should say i've been taking a little advantage of the dinner situation(LOL!) sorry about your yeast infection. after AC are you done with chemo? good luck with doctor tomm.

hugs, jackie

wackyjackie

Welcome WIbeaglemom,

sorry you have to join this club, but this is the place to be. good luck on thursday. i started AC last week and i suffered fatigue, but no nauseau. make sure you have plenty of ant-nauseau meds and the day after treatment there is a shot called neulasta that boosts your wbc. make sure you get that. according to myself and many of the chemo sisters it really helps. getting over the first treatment is big. it's scary, but once you do it you'll know what to expect. i'll pray for you.

hugs, jackie

Harley44

Kaye,

Yes, prayer works! I had my sisters, and their churches, and friends from an email prayer circle, and my friend's church, and my sister's in-laws, and their church, and their choir group, and my neighbors, all have been praying for me, and I think that is why I have done so well so far...

(Did that sound like a book I read as a child... YOU CAN'T catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!... you know, this one and that one and the other one chased me, but they can't catch me... I think I'm getting a little punchy, because I need to get to sleep!)

I'll be thinking of you, tomorrow, and praying that all goes well for you.

My next tx is Aug.28th!! You can add me to your list, if I'm not on it already!

We'll get through this!!


God Bless,
HARLEY

Harley44

Hope,


Good Luck with your chemo in September! I am having my 2nd tx on Aug.28th. I will be having 4 txs of TC, total. I'll be finishing Oct. 9th if all goes well... and I can't wait to be finished!

Keep us posted on your progress!

Hugs,
HARLEY

Ggma

Jackie, Yes, all I have to do for chemo is the AC and then on to rads and done! Hopefully for life!!!! My son's gf is visiting us from Washington state and I have to fix supper so that she believes that I am Superwoman!!! Can't let my guard down cause you never know which one might become my dil!!!

Debbi

katoMato

Debbi, your son's gf will think you're wonderful... HEY, WAITAMINUTE...I thought you WERE Superwoman!! Anyone who is cooking like you do on the chemicals you're on MUST be superwoman! I'm so disappointed to hear otherwise! Well, you're not going to dash MY hopes!!!...I will still believe.

katoMato

Jackie, Thanks so much for those kind words. There is a lot to be encouraged about these days...much better than a diagnosis 20 years ago! And I know what means to have someone reach out and offer you a hand to hold on to...

Re your nodes, I had 2 of 14 like you, two different doctors, two different surgeries. (first one missed the other node.) I'm going with radiation after the chemo is over. I'd wanted the Mamosite because it has less collateral damage, but, alas, my tumor was in the wrong place. (too close to the nipple? I can't remember.) you might check out Mamosite, (or is it Mammosite?) It seemed like state-of-the-art radiology.

And, re the nausea, no, I have had NONE from chemo. (Angels break into the Hallelluia Chorus). (fortunately, because nausea and I don't do well together - my heart stops when I vomit.) That's why they put me on Taxotere. It may cause less nausea. And they gave me ZOFRAN that disolves on my tongue, (THAT really works) plus Compazine po/prn (by mouth, as needed) that I haven't even needed - yet. We'll see what the 2nd tx hands me, but no worries so far.

We will persevere...It's what we do.
Kaye

katoMato

Hi Hope,
You said you had a SNB with 1-4 out of 10 positive nodes. Did you mean the 10 nodes were actually positive? or did you mean out of the 10 they took, 1-4 were positive?

My first (local) surgeon did a SNB with my lumpectomy and took 3 nodes for the purpose of "mapping" (seeing IF nodes were involved, and the direction they might have traveled)Of the 3, they found 1 that was active.
I pursued a 2nd opinion at a National Cancer Center about 2 hours away, and they wanted to do another lumpectomy to be SURE there were "clean margins" because a standard protocol of "inking" the margins hadn't been done, so at the same time they did an Axillary Lymph Node Dissection and took 12 additional ones nodes. The purpose was not "curative" but solely for staging purposes...Number of nodes can bump up your stage which might affect treatment. So in me, they found one more node, the summary was: 2 active of 14 nodes taken. I don't know if it would affect your treatment or not. Have you asked?

BTW, I'll be having my 3rd tx mid September...just before my 28th wedding anniversary...Tahiti for the 25th will have been better, I'm willing to bet. But I'm doing this so I make it to our 50th!


Hang in there!
Kaye

Mom42July2007

Kaye...good luck today!
I haven't posted since my first one but I've reading daily!

All...the information you give is wonderful...I'm not sure I'd still be standing through all this without all this great support and encouragement I read!

Central port put in yesterday afternoon....pretty uncomfortable and didn't get much sleep last night but I guess it will be worth it in the long run!

Off to work today to finish up a few things before C-Day tomorrow!

Best of Luck to all....my prayers are with you all!

Mom42

WIbeaglemom

Thanks, everyone, for the words of encouragement and prayers. Today I meet with my surgeon to double check to make sure my lumpectomy is healed enough for chemo tomorrow and also to schedule getting my port. That part scares me, another thing inserted in my body and it has to stay in over a year because I need Herceptin. I am just taking each day as it comes and dealing with it. Tonight I go to get my hair cut short so I get used to no hair! Not ready to actually shave it off yet. My Mom is telling me that I will be "darling" without hair. Thanks, MOM! My Mom is a 34 year breast cancer survivor, so I know we can all do it.
I know it's a club none of us wanted to join, but I thank you all for your support and I can see that you all help each other so much and it's so nice to actually talk to people going through it. My friends and family have been awesome which I am thankful for. Good luck to everyone and I will keep you all in my prayers also.

chemomom

Hi all... I was 16 days after my 1st treatment when I started really losing my hair. And just like others, I made it a family event and we shaved it off. My 4 & 2 year old kids helpd as did all my siblings. And my dad watched, although I am sure he worked hard at not crying. But i like my new look and I feel so much better for having done it myself rather than having it come out slowly. It did feel like a small victory and a rite of passage.

My Onc prescribed Neulasta for me right off the bat and I am glad she did. I guess it's a $3600 prescription, but luckily my insurance covers it. So I get mine for home and have a nurse friend of mine administer it for me-- since I would be too squeamish to do it myself. And even on the Neulasta I have weekly blood work to check my counts. Fight for these things!! For them to be available to some but not others is horrifyingly unjust!

Two more days until treatment #2 for me. Can't wait to see what this one brings along. By the way-- I have had terrible headaches off and on for almost 2 weeks. I was attributing it to my normal migraines (although more frequent), but maybe I need to see if it was the Neulasta. I saw someone post of having a sore neck & headache & that's what's happening to me. If it's the Neulasta I can live with it, but finding out a cause would sure help the misery of the headaches!! This site is soooo helpful!

Good luck to all. And especially for katomato "Party on Wayne!"