Where is everyone? And a question.

HeatherBLocklear

Where is everyone? And a question.

HeatherBLocklear

Hi all,

I keep checking to see if there are any new posts, but all my triplet sisters must be out painting the town red.

Here's the question: how sick does one get from the chemo, and how many rounds are typical? I do know cases are all different, and treatments also vary, but is there some standard or median or range?

Love to all,

Annie

wetcoast

hi annie,

 I had my 1st treatment on feb 12th of ac and faired pretty well. I took 1 ativan the night before chemo the next morning another and 1/2 hour before chemo started took 2 tablets of decamethasone 4mg. The iv took about 2 hours but I guess they do it a bit slower the first time to make sure everything is ok. Took one more tablet dex 6 hours from end of chemo. Also took 2 tablets kytril before chemo and then two more the following morning. They had perscribed maxeran and ativan alternate every 6 hours as required and only took each once as I really didn't need it. I felt like I had the flu for about 3 days mostly being kind of fuzzy or dizzy. I ate anything I wanted to but filled up pretty quickly. I did drink flat gingerale. I also made sure I took stool softners starting a couple of days prior to anti nausea  meds without them things will probably get pretty difficult. I ran for an hour the second day after chemo and have kept up with doing either running or my eliptical every other day. Saturday I went out for 3 hours and definitely do not have the endurance I had prior but still get out. I go for my second tx on Wednsday and will be doing a total of 4 cycles of ac dose dense every two weeks and then taxol dose dense every two weeks for 4 cycles. I get 3 weeks holidays and then 6 weeks of radiation.

I was early stage triple neg, high grade and felt I needed to do everything I could to make sure the little buggar is a blast from the past. Because triple negs don't respond to hormone treatments our options are chemo (which work really well )and rads. 

I was really freaked out about the chemo part as I am a whoos with needles (no port either) and felt I could be a big girl and do it. I also ended taking neupogen shots for 7 days in a row beginning the third day after chemo. My dh  loves playing doctor.  

Take care my dear hope I could ease some fears and don't forget to drink lots of water the day before and couple after.

laurel 

HeatherBLocklear

Dear Laurel,

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to give me such detailed information. I will surely follow all your advice. Did you have a port inserted some time before your first chemo, or were events programmed closely together? I am genuinely dying for treatment to start, and I do not use the word lightly (ok, a little melodrama is allowed at this stage of the game!).

I feel my T*t man is moving swiftly because I had benign findings in December, and only came back to the USA for second biopsy a week ago in response to a hugely swollen axillary node. I wish I knew what will happen next ... I guess I'll know tomorrow.

Thanks again and a great big hug to you,

Annie

wetcoast

I had two surguries dec 11 and jan 8 and then started chemo Feb 12. It felt like forever between the process of things and felt like you about wanting to have the treatments begin. I just wanted to start beating the little buggars asap. Patience is not one of my best attributes.

Best wishes for tomorrow laurel

sftfemme65

Hi Annie,

I kinda followed your story the last couple weeks or so.  I'm sorry how things ended up. 

I had a left side Mastectomy on Dec 11, I choose to only have one side done and will go back after treatment for the other breast because quite honestly I don't want it anymore...but I wanted to heal fast so I could start chemo right away.  I had 3 out of 20 positive nodes so I was like you...if they could of gave me chemo during surgery I would of agreed to it. 

I am having 4 A/C of which tomorrow will be my forth then I will have 12 weekly taxols.  I am also doing a clinical trial with Avastin.  As far as side effects, they suck but liveable.  I feel ok for about 3 days after treatment then I start feeling yucky.  I get dizzy and I have a lot of sinus pressure and feel foggy.  My white cells drop big time on 7th day but I get neulasta shot the day after chemo so it comes back up on its own.  I don't ever get sick to my stomache and I think I owe alot of that to Emend, the script is 3 pills you take one an hour before treatment and then one for two more days.  Works great. 

That about sums it up.  When do you see the doctor again?

Teresa

jeanne46

Triple negative sisters don't seem to drop into this topic as often as others. I posted the other day and so far no one has responded. Do you think it's me?? LOL



AFter diagnosis, the waiting part and the anticipation of the unknown are the most difficult. Once you have a plan, you can proceed with determination. Usual chemo infusions are either 4 or 6 cycles. Sometimes additional cycles are tacked on at the end to add another drug to finish off any errant cells. For most, chemo is doable. There are many kinds of anti-emetic drugs to help with nausea, drugs to boost your white or red blood cells, and never underestimate the curative powers of sleeping and/or anxiety aids. I found acupuncture and massage to be really helpful and tried doing visualization and deep relaxation. The latter two were much more difficult. Funny videos were easier to do. Give yourself permission to rest, to be waited on, if possible, and to just know that there is an end in sight. Good luck tomorrow. Let us know what you and your oncologist decide.



Gentle hugs,

Jeanne

ravdeb

I went dancing the same day after my first chemo treatment. It was nothing the first day and I was high on steroids!

I had all those pre-meds via IV before the chemo drip. I took dexamethasone afterwards via pill and zofran.

I was to have 4 dose dense AC followed by 4 dose dense Taxol but I got very sick after the 3rd AC and had to take a break (a hospitalization to be exact.... a VERY RARE bacterial infection in the blood..this RARELY happens!!) for a month. They then put me on 12 weekly Taxol which was a picnic after my bout with AC.

Rads was easy. 33. Just hated them but few side effects.

Good luck!

FloridaLady

I was wondering where everyone has been also.  As for me I'm feeling great and enjoying what we call these few weeks in Florida as spring.  I'm going to start a thread for us all to update.

I did chemo first dose dense ACT.  I went to work the next day after treatment.  Chemo on Thursday, work Friday, sleep Sat. and started feeling better on Sun, back to work Monday.  I took amitripline (sp) to help with getting to sleep.  All "them there" steroids made me hyper.  I took emzyines to keep stomach happy.  I never got the least bit sick mostly fatigue.  Needed a nap and to bed early.

Hopefully chemo will be gentle for you.

Living in hope

Flalady

carolynf

Annie,

I started out w/4 dose dense treatment and I agree w/ravdeb that the day of treatment I felt great.  It wasn't until day 4/5 when I wasn't so active. This may have been due to the steroids.  I also took Emend for nausea which I never got sick.  Felt sick 2x but took a compazine and magic, it was gone quickly.  I have started taxol. I get it every week for 12 weeks. So 10 more to go!! I am also in a clinical trial, avastin which I won't know if i have the a placebo or the real stuff. Thinks its the real stuff due to some of the side effects that i have read about...nothing major. running nose, watery eyes.  After my last treatment i get  a month off before doing radiation 5x a wk for 6.5 wks.  Then its hopefully softball season! Remember to hydrate before you start chemo (which I didn't know a lot of things to do) and eat prunes or take citrucel.  You do not want to get constipated.  Not a lovely subject but If someone would have told me about doing that it would have helped.  Learned after and no problem since!  Hope you fair well with the treatment...keep positive.

CookieOkie

I am on dose dense EC for 4 sessions (every other week), a month rest period, 35 radiations, another rest period then 3 weeks on one week off of Taxorene (sp) and a platinum drug to be determined.

I have had 2 sessions of EC. Not that bad, really. Actually feel great the day of and day after treatment. Treatment takes 1.5 hrs. I have Kaytril for nausea every 12 hrs and another nausea pill every 6 hours. I go for neuprogen shot (white blood cells) day after chemo for 5 days. The neuprogen gives me an awful headache so I have Darvon for it. I actually take the Darvon before I go for the shot.

I got sick 3 days after my first chemo. Threw up once and felt better.

Got sick the 3rd and 4th days after my second chemo - again, after throwing up felt ok.

My white blood cells were very low after my first  chemo so after my initial 5 days of neuprogen I was given another 4 days of neuprogen, then my white blood count was high enough for 3 people.

It is so comforting to know that I am actually doing something positive to rid my body of this awful thing. I was so hysterical before I started treatment, I was unbearable to be around and all I could do was cry. It is so empowering to know that something is being done and I have a plan.

Cookie 

anneshirley

I'm double negative (HER2 positive) and my chemo was taxol, herceptin, and carboplatin.  I only did two rounds and couldn't bear the thought of doing the last two, so quit. 

The reason I'm posting is that I believe it was partly my own fault--too proud to ask for certain drugs for side effects when they were refused first time around.  My anti-nausea drug, compazine, caused me to have the equivalent of Saint Vitus dance--it's the least expense drug, so some doctors start with that one.  I asked for a script for one of the newer drugs and was refused.  Also, I wasn't given pain meds, which I needed, and finally, I had horrible constipation and instead of using  something like Senokot/Colace, I keep eating more and more fruit (figs and prunes, mainly) which actually made it worse.  I believe now, a year later, I could have gotten through the full set of chemo without too much pain and suffering if I had been more aggressive in demanding the drugs I needed for side effects.  Please don't hesitate to ask--and insist if necessary.   Make sure you have Senokot in the house, have a script for pain  medication in case you need it.  I was told to take too high a dose of compazine which causes problems (40 mg. per day).  Ask your doctor to prescribe one of the new drugs.  Can't remember names but someone here should know.

I'm sure you'll do fine with so much good advice.  I didn't start posting on BC sites until after I had finished chemo, my biggest regret.    

sftfemme65

Carolyn,

How are those taxol treatments going?  I just finished my last A/C and will start taxol/avastin on the 10th.  I'm a little nervous. 

Teresa

Laura-Vic

We must all be getting there ... I'm scheduled for my final chemo (doxetaxol) tomorrow !!! While I know it's not over once the IV is out - as do you all understand - it is the last time I have to deal with the side effects of the poison they're shooting through the ole body !!!



In all honesty, while I would never want to go through this by choice, nor wish it on anyone .... it has not been the stuff of my nightmares. It is do'able most days although there have been my own pity party days. I take compazine for the nausea when needed ... start the stool softeners on day one ... drink more water than I would have thought humanly possible ... brush teeth frequently to lessen mouth sores ... fondly remember my nose hair when I drain the Kleenex box - ha !!! ... and ... make it to the next day.



I have 30 radiation treatments to come ... then, into the black hole that is triple negative. My oncologist said she'd take credit for my being NED and blame my surgeon is there were ever a remission - LOL. I'd forgotten my question and she said "chemo brain". I laughed ... she said I could use that excuse for the next 50 years which she hoped was when we would have our wine and cheese party !!!



Wishing us all the opportunity to get together for that wine and cheese party in 2058 !!



Laura in Victoria

leesa

Hi All,

I Had IBC in 2006 had 4 dense dose a/c's and right mastectomy, found the  2nd lump in Dec 2007, recurrant breast cancer all the same.  I am having my surgery in the next week or so, I will  also have all of my axillary lymph nodes removed.  I had a great day today!!!  I have been to three onco's and finally found one that understands us, she is doing 2 clinical trials on matastic trip neg. b/c.  I have decided she's the one for me.  I will have 4 or 6 doses (depending on lymph involement) of Carboplatin, Taxotere and Avastin. So that's my story sad but true.  Wish me luck all. Sorry to tell you of the recurrance I know that's a fear we all share. I just got my first hair cut since last chemo, I must say I look great.  Now it will all me gone in a couple of months, on a positive note I know where all the cheap wig stores are.  

Hair today gone tomorrow

I'm too sexy for my hair. 

FloridaLady

Leesa,

You sound like you got everything under control.  Hopefully chemo will be gentle to you and burn all those nasty cells out you. I hope your new oncologist is your new best friend. Mine was..is? (hopefully I will loss this friend soon.)

Wishes you the best,

Living in hope,

FlaLady