Chemo June 2010

SKD

Hey everyone,

did my first round of chemo on may 28th. I have been super fatigued but no sickness. I am on FEC X3 then something else for 3 rounds after (forget the name right now).  I wonder how much longer I will feel tired for? Its better then feeling sick I guess but I just feel so unmotivated to do anything but sleep! Can't complain though! Good luck everyone else starting, just remember... it is DO-able!!

kittycat

Expansion is probably for reconstructive surgery.  Some of us had the fun experience of tissue expander implants with our reconstruction. 

I find out tomorrow about my chemo treatments.  I was supposed to be writing down questions for my doctor visit.  But, I'm too busy reading BCO threads! 

dsa-deb

Hey everyone:  was busy yesterday/today w/dr. appts.; pet/ct scans and others that i don't care to remember.

wow!!  I can't believe i've missed so many postings you've made and especially about who actually started the chemo in the last couple of days.  It's great to read your experiences and comments to know what to expect.  I meet w/onc. friday to discuss pet/ct results at which time i'll probably be told my 'special date' with chemo.  

i've tried to remember who is on what cocktail, dx, etc.---gave it up...can't do it w/out having to re-read everyone's posting.

there's only 2-3 that i see are under the influence of AC/T drug mix, which i will have.

Holli:  i think you are AC/T, right?  your vivid description of the 1st AC treatment is exactly what i needed to read to prepare me for the 1st 24-48 hours after the drug intake.

The rest of you ladies are on top of the game by giving play-by-play's ---thank you!!!

IFor those of us that work, are any of you going to attempt working during treatment?  I want to try to do so, even tho it may have to be a reduced schedule; but, knowing what everyone is going through with each treatment is helpful for trying to 'plan' for work, even tho i know that drugs don't affect people in the same way.

congrats to everyone who got the 1st treatment this week!!  and, thanks so much for letting everyone know what you went thru.

i've read and heard that laughter is a magic ingredient for tolerating chemo----so hope everyone finds at least one thing to have a big ole' belly laugh about tomorrow!

deb    

  

janny99

I had a setback this week that was totally unforeseen!!!  I have had no problems with my port, it hasn't really bothered me at all...until this week...  My arm (port side) swelled up, on Monday, that really frightened me, and then I have had a heaviness and pain in my arm, some tingling etc etc etc.  So, my surgeon sent me for an ultra - sound and I have developed a blood clot.  I started on coumadin PO and Lovenox injections today.  I am hoping this doesn't delay my starting my chemo on Monday!!! 

Okay, with every 'negative' there is always a 'positive'!!!  The way that my 'medical team' and surgeon worked together with amazing communication and really pretty quickly was very impressive.  Everyone was kind, concerned, made me feel important as a person, not just a patient.  I had no appt for the Carotid Doppler Ultrasound or the Oncologist today, or to see my nurse navigator, and they didn't make me feel like I was imposing on their busy day (which obviously it WAS, the waiting room was full!!!) .  That was very reassuring to me, to know that they truly are there for each of their patients, and that when there is a problem (and I know there will be problems), that I can feel confident in their decisions regarding the plan of care.

algreach

Janny99--It can make a huge difference when the people helping us beat this beast into submission are kind, considerate and genuinely concerned for our wellfare. I'm glad your team was so responsive and reassuring. I would have been frightened in your shoes, but you sound wonderfully calm and composed! Here's hoping everything goes forward on schedule.

So many brave ladies on this loop. You are all inspiring. Thanks for being here.

Day 2 Tx 1: Still feeling okay, but a little 'off'. I've experienced a bit of nausea despite my Zofran, but I was given Stemetil/Compazine to take if the nausea rises, and I've been very quick to pop one if there's even a hint of stomach upset. So far, all I've had is some queasiness. Enough to wake me up in the middle of the night last night--but that could also be the steroids.

I'm drinking like crazy trying to wash everything out. I swear, I've never swallowed this much water, juice and Gatorade in my life. My coffee doesn't taste as good as usual this morning, but I don't know if that's the drugs or my imagination.

jenweg

Molli so sorry about your reaction.  Hopefully they will get it right for next time!!!  I had my first treatment yesterday and am feeling blah today.  It just seems my head is a bit foggy and a tiny bit nauseau, nothing major though.  I took my emend as soon as I woke up and I also have two other nausea medicines just in case I need them.  I also am wearing a bioband I purchased online for nauseau.  I will try anything haha.  I am now getting ready for work, hopefully will make it through the day.  Good luck to all having treatments!!!!!!

DancerMel28

hello everyone - just dropping in from the april thread. 

Just wanted to say good luck to everyone.  I've had 2 x TC so far and both cycles have followed a similar pattern though #2 hit a little harder.  Best advice I can give is to drink drink drink - even when you don't think you can drink anything else drink some more!!  If water begins to not taste good - try putting some lemon in tends to do the trick and help with sore mouth too.  Don't put up with SEs - let your Onc/chemo team know as they can usually give advice/script for how to fix it. We have enough to deal with without putting up with SEs that can be fixed easily.

If you need any further advice - check out the april and may threads also - both packed with info!

Again, good luck!

TMarina

Akitalover--  I was referring to the port-a-cath I have in my upper chest that I get my infusions through.  When the nurses flush it with saline some people can taste it. And the taste sets off my nausea. Plugging your nose or smelling something else with a pleasant odor somehow helps avoid the taste.  Not sure how that works--but it does!

Anonymous

Good luck today to RST11, Gail48, Tbyrd and Pennstarter!! Hope everything goes well and minimum se's

 Daniela

RS711

Hi everyone- I just finished my first treatment. All went smoothly. Blood test, ani-naseau drus, Adriamycn was infused manually, and Cytoxin was infused in a drip. My insurance didn't cover Emend! So they gave me a patch instead, which is supposed to be just as effective. I just feel tired and a slight funny taste in my mouth. They told me to rinse with baking soda and water, use a gentle toothpaste like sensodyne, and look for biotene mouthwash. I hope you are all hanging in there. hollicolorado, sorry to hear you had a bad experience and I hope you're feeling stronger.

Beanius

TMarina - thanks for sharing your experience. I will be going to a cancer class but I think it will be after the first tx. I got zofran and compazine. Do you think that will be enough? I read to take compazine 30 min before chemo. Is that something you did?

jenweg, algreach, MelMel - big congrats to you for knocking one off! Hurray! I hope you continue to feel well.

tbyrd - glad to hear your port was a breeze, hope you continue to do well.

Gail48 - hope your first tx goes well!! Let us know how you are.

HolliColorado - thanks for sharing bout your experience, I'm so sorry it sounds like you had a bad time of it. I so hope you get better quickly. I'll be starting TC next week.

Momand2kids - thanks for the encouraging words. It is starting to get scary as I get closer to start date. I've been thinking of it like Pac Man too, gobbling up anything bad!

akitalover - I'm starting TC either June 8 or 15 depending on how healed surgery is. Good luck to you!

All best wishes to you June gals,

Beanie

jenweg

Beanius, I got compazine and zofran along with emend, they gave me emend in my iv also.  I hear emend is a very good drug, it is very expensive thank god my insurance covers some of it!!  The zofran is expensive also.  I am still feeling okay, I would say I feel blah today haha.  But I will take blah!  I am a little nauseaus but nothing too bad, hope it stays that way too

mimi9186

Well it's official.  I get the port put in Monday June 7, and start the first FEC chemo June11. Designer Mom, we'll do it together.

Algreach, I hope you continue to do well.  Keep us posted.

Blessings, Mimi

Sherry9316

Wow - I just logged on to this thread today.  It seems so daunting and I haven't even started chemo yet.  I have my first appt with oncologist on Tuesday (8th). I'm still struggling with recovery from my second surgery.  You ladies are an inspiritation - and very informative.  Thank you.

Beanius

jenweg - thanks, I'll ask about emend.

When I picked up meds yesterday I talked with the pharmacist and she gave me a good idea for fighting nausea I wanted to share: She said to get ginger root and slice it up, then cover with hot water and let it steep, then add some sweetener (not sure what to use here), and pour it in ice trays. She said there are some anti-queasy candy like drops you can use, but you get tired of sucking on these all day. She said the ginger-cicles you can use all day and they are effective against nausea.

DesignerMom

Thanks Beanius!  I LOVE ginger root tea!  I sweeten it with honey.  It is my sure-fire cure for the flu.  I drink it while soaking in the hottest epsom salt bath I can stand.  I then go right to sleep.  The next day, absolutely cured!  A friend recommended this cure when I was coming down with the flu and I was invited to a fabulous, swank benefit at Carnegie Hall in NYC  (not to mention on the arm of a fabulous guy).  NO WAY was I missing that night.  I was right as rain the next day and it was one of the most memorable evenings of my life.  I'm going to make a batch and take them with me to chemo.  We need a good name for these chemo cocktails.  Any ideas?  Ginger Frosts?  Tropical Ice  Diamonds?  It's amazing where my mind goes when I want to not think about BC!

angelwoman1

   Well, hi every one, thought my chemo was going to start in May , but, they found something in my bronchial tube,2 little pal lops,had the  today. Oh joy! Now I due have an appointment to star possible chemo on June 10! Will know about the results of the procedure next Monday. tired of waiting,want to get started! Nice to meet everyone. Hope you have a great day, hope to friends with all of you!  Pam

mtf2518

Hugs to Everyone:  Had port installed, mugga and first AC treatment yesterday and am doing really well today (hope I just didn't jinx myself). Was a little tired last night with some slight nausea, but popped a pill and the nausea pretty much calmed down.  I am finding that if I have a little food in my stomach the nausea isn't so bad.  Had my neulasta shot this afternoon.  Opted to take it in the stomach and that also wasn't very eventful (thank, goodness).  Been drinking lots of liquids thanks to the advice of other on this site.  Am anxious to see if I have any bone pain from the shot today.  Funny, how my mind seems to look for things to happen; guess that might be from all the "waiting for result" we do during this whole process.  All in all, I feel blessed so far.

Wishing everyone a quiet night and am praying for minimal side effects for everyone!

Gail48

Good Afternoon Ladies,  Just had my first treatment and the worst part so far was finding the vein.  They told me to take compazine and zofran and  to alternate every four hours for three days for nausea.  Also, drink water and more water.  I will go for five days to get injections to up my WBC starting tomorrow.  I feel a little light headed and tired, but otherwise not bad.

Hope everyone is doing well and that your treatments when well and will go well for those that haven't started. 

 Jenweg, sorry you had an issue with your port and getting a blood clot, but sounds like they are right on top of it.  Since they had such a time with my veins they thought about a pic or a port, but decided since I only have 4 treatments that we would try to go without it, Now only three left  Wahoo!!

Healing thoughts and prayers going out to everyone.  

twinmomjackie

Wow! I'm amazed how much I've missed this week. I am feeling better about starting treatment next week with all of these stories of successful first treatments. I just received the results from my CT scan and bone scan and can't tell you all how relieved I was to hear that the cancer is contained in just the breast and nodes. I didn't even realize how tense and worried I was until the good news came.

I still have to have my MUGA tomorrow before I can be randomized into the clinical trial. I am hoping to get Avastin along with the Taxotere and AC.

Is anyone else having chemo before surgery?

Gail48

Oops.  My mind has already left me, it was Janny99 with the port and blood clot issue.  Sorry for the mix up.  

kittycat

It's official - I start chemo next Wednesday, June 9th.  Add me to the list of dose dense AC/T. 

Thanks for all the updates.  It'll be interesting to go through this and see how everyone does - WELL I HOPE!!!

I was supposed to get my echocardiogram today.  The tech had an issue with it because of my breast implants.  That seems so odd because I had an echo years ago when I had breast augmentation and there wasn't an issue.  So now I have to get a nuclear test on Tuesday instead.   

MelMel10

Hi All,

By the time I read through all the new posts, I can't keep everyone's straight, must be chemo brain already, lol. Forgive me for not addressing you guys specifically...

For those of you who are trying to work through this: Today was day 3 of my first treatment and I was able to work all day. Got up at 4am, ate breakfast with my husband at 5am, was at work by 7am and left work at 5:30pm (probably the steroids, huh?). I had my neulasta shot yesterday and can feel some aches and pains, but by no means are they unbearable. I have eaten normal meals all day, and am hoping and praying that I continue to feel this good over the next several days. My throat is feeling a little "weird" so doctor called in the magic mouthwash for me, but I didn't have to use it today.

For those who have a problem with the saline taste, a friend of mine said that Red Hots, Hot Tamales and Altoids will help cover it. It did not bother me, but then again I haven't built up an aversion to it yet.

Will continue to let you all know how things progress. Reading all of your posts has been so helpful, I am also one that feels the more I know the better able I am to handle it. Thanks to all of you for sharing. I am praying for all of you and sending well wishes your way.

tbyrd

janny99 I'm so sorry about the blood clot!  Very scary!  I'm glad you reported it right away and everyone jumped on it. 

I had my first TCH today and it was very easy although it took a long time.  About 3 hours and 45 minutes and that was after waiting to get in for an hour.  I found out the reason I'm not getting the herceptin every week.  I'm enrolled in the Avastin study although I got randomized out of getting it but I still have to go by their protocol and they do the herceptin all at the same time as the TC.

I have to say I'm very lucky with my oncologist and her staff.  They're the best.  She even gave me her cell phone number and said to call her in the middle of the night if I have something bad going on, especially fever.  And the study nurse made up a notebook with all my reports and instructions organized with tabs and all and brought it to us while we were in the chemo room.  I just love them all.

On top of all the calcuim and vitamin D they have me on they also told me to take B-6 and B-12 I guess to help with my energy level.  I have to have a calendar to remember when to take what and last night I finally broke down and put my pills in one of those weekly organizers with a little box for what to take in the morning, noon and night.  I keep forgetting whether I've taken my doses so I guess this will have to be the way I live from now on.

Also, about the nail problem.  A friend of mine has been a nail tech forever and she said I will probably end up with problems and when I do that I should go to her and she'll help me deal with it.  She's very experienced with helping people on chemo with that.

Best wishes and little side effects to everyone!

Terry

TMarina

beanius- I always got Decadron (dexamethasone) too, in my infusion, then to take at home for a few days.  My onc added Ativan after a few treatments, and eventually Emend.  The Emend worked the best for me, but from what my doc said, and what I've read, it is for "delayed nausea".  Meaning nausea that sets in a few days after treatment.  My doc told me to try those over the counter patches you wear behind your ear for motion sickness, but I never did.  I did try the ginger pills, but they didn't work for me.  Worth a try tho.

I think the oncs. have a standard treatment they start you out on, then they try different meds if the first ones don't work. The key is to take something at the first sign of nausea--don't wait to see how bad it gets.  And keep saltines or something similar on hand--I love those oyster crackers!  You don't want your stomach to get empty.

Question--what does "dose dense" mean? 

jenweg

Thanks for the suggestion beanius, I will try the ginger root too.  My first treatment was Wednesday, I worked full day yesterday but came home and drifted on and off to sleep on the couch.  Up today to try another day of work.  I feel okay, a little bit nauseaus but nothing too bad.  Hopefully it stays that way.  Good luck to all starting their treatments!!

algreach

I have some minced ginger sweets I got a local store--I tried eating one yesterday but it was pretty spicy. My stomach didn't seem to mind it, tho. I'm trying to drink a lot of fluids, but with my coffee now tasting distinctly off and water boring me to tears, I'm switching around to almost every liquid i can think of--milk, water, gingerale, fruit juice, and even freezie pops.I'll have to try the ginger root tea.

Still a vague sense of queasiness, but that's it so far. I haven't had to take anything extra for nausea (other than the Zofran) for the last 24 hours. I get home care, so a nurse came by yesterday to change my PICC dressing and check on me. My family all called in, and my brother-in-law made us dinner. I'm feeling very loved. :-)

Hope all of you starting treatment next week have an awesome pre-TX weekend.

Wishing minimal SE's to all of us who've got that first treatment out of the way.

PennStater

Had my first A/C treatment yesterday, they pre-meded me with Aloxi and Decadron, and had me take Emend also.  Was at the office about 3 hours total.  Sucked on some pop-sicles while the adriamycin was going in.  Some people think this helps prevent mouth sores, my doc doesn't think it makes much difference but said it wouldn't hurt so try it if I want.  So far, so good; was a little more tired than usual last night, but no nausea/vomiting.  Am getting my Neulasta and going wig shopping this afternoon.  Best of luck to those with upcoming treatments; just do as your nurses/docs tell you, report any side effects promptly and keep drinking water!

One thing that came highly recommended to me is the look good/feel better program, it's available through the American Cancer Society in most areas and teaches skin care, makeup and wig tips for cancer patients. I'm cosmetically-challenged so I'm definitely going to take advantage of this!   

PennStater

TMarina - my doc explained that dose dense means they give the treatments more often (every 2-3 weeks).  They are able to do this by using Neulasta to bring your white cell count back up faster.  If they had to wait for your white count to recover naturally they would have to spread the treatments out much further. 

TMarina

Thanks!  Sounds like what I'll be having, I'll be getting the Neulasta the day after treament like you.  Let us know if you get any bone pain.  My spine hurt like crazy when I had to have neupogen shots last year, and Neulasta is supposed to be worse.  It seemed to hurt worse when my counts were the lowest--more activity in the bone marrow.