August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Madismommy719

Hi Grimbol, welcome. Glad you found us, we're all going to get through this together!!!

summergirl1

Hi everyone ,

hope all is well just wanted to share a link  of a song which is very appropriate for us all and what we are all going through , if you cant pull up the link its (the Climb,by Miley cyrus)  keeps me going when Im having neg thoughts.      ( http://youtu.be/tMjj1sBQ6PQ) 

Good luck to all today, !!!! 

Vivie

Hello everyone

 I'm Vivie from Greece , found out the lump on 22nd May , started the long run of doctor appts , and a month later I was dx'd with DCIS , Stage II , had a left MX done..put in an expander..which drives me crazy bc I keep having these cold flushes every time I drink water! I was glad to see I wasn't the only one bc my BS basically said I'm nut crazy....It's a month and a half since my sx , and I start my chemo on the 14th.Can you fit a 28 yr old Greek among your Aug group?

 I didn't get a port or anything , going to have tx every 3 weeks , don't even know what my meds will be , I will find out on the chemo day I guess.What's a Neulasta shot ?

 I've been trying to hold up , and the hair loss thing doesn't bother me - yet - as I've been trying to make it through everything , but it really bothers my mother and her two sisters , and been on my case to get a wig.Umm, NO.Insurance will reimburse me 200$ , but they're up to 600$ here.As I'm a college student , I don't have this kind of money , and went private for my sx , as the long wait lines in publichospitals are AWFUL.Wanted it off myself ASAP

The weird thing is that I can sleep on my stomach - side with the left TE put in - I see that most of you can't what really bothers me is the TE port when I sleep on my left side , it really bothers me , lol.

 I don't know about SE's...I already have a minor reflux and am deaf already , which was what my onco warned me about , plus being tired , and hair loss , oh , and balance.I never  had great balance anyway..way too many hello floor moments! I do have a Cochlear Implant to hear , and now I have an Boob Implant.both are on left side....

 I'm anxious/worried/scared abt the 14th , and I just want to run away! Guess I'll have to suck it up , try to be positive..

michelleo13

Welcome Vivie!

Sorry you have to join us but we'll get through this together.

A Neulasta shot is a shot given the day after chemo to boost white blood cells.

vtellen

Morning after first chemo:

I feel absolutely fine, though I was up a lot last night because of all of the water I've been drinking!

When I got to the office they  took my vital signs. My blood pressure was through the roof. A  bit nervous? YEA! Then, head chemo nurse came in, any last minute questions time, and she leads me down to the room. Lots of older people in there. Actually I shouldn't say lots, as there are 5-6 chairs. However, there was also a woman in there that I knew- she was on her 3rd dose of my same stuff-TCX4. I am assuming that they don't pay this woman to come in and settle down the very nervous patients-  She had no SEs, hasn't missed a meal, no problem taking care of her kids, RUNS 5 MILES a day?!, Was walking herself home after her  dose yesterday.

And the good part is she readily admitted to being a negative thinker, cup's 1/2 empty, terrified of the chemo,etc! a kindred spirit! She was perky and smiling and chatty!  sooo encouraging.

The procedure is nothing- the IV was such a tiny prick, I was surprised that it was in already.

First, the saline for alittle while, then Zantac, then prilosec(?) or something like that for the stomach. Then benedryl. At this point, she had brought out my Taxotere and Cytoxan bags. They were set down on my chair rest. Hmnn. I eyed them. Then awhile later, I started to think I felt queasy and nervous, going to have to barf scene coming on. Nurse promptly gave me a atavin to melt under my tongue and turned my saline drip back on. So, either that or the new steroid drip that she had hooked up as well, really perked me back up. No worries, now.

Next, she hooked up the cytoxan. I felt nothing at all. Completely fine.

Then came the Taxotere. Something like 1% of the population can get a reaction to this stuff, so the oxygen tank is brought over, and she hangs out in the room w/ you for the first 15 mins. Because of this reaction, she starts the drip veeerrry slowly. I worked at staying relaxed and not overreacting to every body twinge. Other patients came in and got their little weekly doses. Everyone had high praise for the clinic ( more reassurance) One guy had quite a beer belly on him, he kept asking for some vodka, or if not vodka, then beer in his drip. The nurses didn't laugh their heads off at this, I bet they hear it weekly from him. My fiance spent the 15 mins answering the nurses questions about her cat issues ( he's a vet ) So, after a good 15 mins she declared me nonreactive and turned up the drip.

When the taxotere was empty it was time to go! So, we got there at 1:20, out by 5:00 or a little before.

So, it is easy! I did not feel anything burning down my veins!

Came home, had dinner (Tarragon chicken on pasta w/ fresh wax beans and salad)

Took a 20 minute walk w/ Scott and the dogs. Then to bed!

Is anyone still reading this monologue?

Most importantly, I still feel like ME. Even better because I have some help on board to kill the evil invaders!          Thanks for listening to my ramble, Ellen

Vivie

Michelle , thanks for the welcome! I'm just so nervous with the chemo , and wondering what I'll have to face..I go in a few days for a blood test before I start the chemo , in a week.oof.

  Been looking for scarves and the likes..Gee , there is so much I don't know that I don't even know where to start! 

summergirl1

Welcome Vivie  I like you am very scared of the whole process and I live in Ireland and I find although the Drs and Nurses are lovely they are not very informative I still dont even know what stage I am had to ask them what kind of cancer I had etc I am starting on the 18th so we will be close on our tx I also had a right mx with TE and I find it uncomfortable but not painful I just starting sleeping on my stomach again last night it was great , I also didnt know what the nuelasta shot was but I do now , we will get through this and it is great to have a site like this to help each other .

VTEllen thanks for sharing your story doesnt sound as scary as I though Thxs and good luck 

Madismommy719

Welcome Vivie!!! Glad you found us!! and know that you are definitely not alone in being scared and anxious!!!



Ellen, thanks for sharing all that. I think I can handle that?? I'm getting both those drugs for sure and possibly the "red devil". I hope you have a great day today and NO s/e!!!!

Kasi

Congrats edoyrest and vtellen! Hope you're feeling good today. I'm scheduled for my first round of A/C today at 12:30...

summergirl1

Good Luck Kasi let us know how you get on ,

Kasi

Thank you so much, summergirl! 

Madismommy719

Good luck Kasi! You can do this!

Chrys23

VtEllen - thanks for sharing your experience.  I am SO SENSITIVE to meds; I'm allergic to latex, IV Contrast Dye, Adhesive Tape -- you name it! I was pre-medicated once for IV Contrast for a CT Scan and my tongue STILL swelled. The nurses were in shock. I was like "told you so....doesn't matter, I'm sensitive!".

I hope you are feeling ok today and no SE's come creeping at your door.

Kasi: Best wishes for you today!

Vieve: Welcome!

michelleo13

Ellen, thanks for the update. Glad things went well for you yesterday.

Good luck today Kasi. I'll be rooting for you. I start Monday.

I just got back from the hospital. Had the injection for my bone scan which is scheduled for 12:30 ET.

Chava

I haven't posted in a while. I forgot to have emails update about me abut this. My chemo is pushed off until next week A/C x4. Tx12. For ladies with the same treatment plan I found it helpful to read the board June 2011 ac t as these women are a couple months ahead of us for some tips. I was suppose to start last week but due to a surgery redo that I need to heal from it isn't until next week. A few comments but I didn't write down the names of who it goes to. About the $3000 wig.....that is definitely pricey. I am a Torah observant Jewish woman and cover my hair all the time with a wig or scarfs and I paid $1100 for my human hair beautiful wig. Check out milano wigs on line and see if they have someone near you that sells them. I was hoping my insurance would pay for a new one for me but no such luck even though indo haven script for a cranial prosethesis!! Also there is another website/blog to let people know how we are doing and they can sign up to help with meals, rides etc. Www.my lifeline.org. I use it and it has been very helpful.

Kayak2

Kasi,  had my second (uneventful) AC treatment on Tuesday.  I was as scared as anyone could be - afraid of needles, side effects, etc. BUT the treatments are very benign.  The first 3 meds aren't even the chemo - just anti-nausea stuff and a steroid.  Then, the A is given via IV push, meaning that the nurse has 2 syringes filled with the A and she slowly pushes the medication into the IV line over about 10 - 15 minutes, which you don't feel.  You just pee red for the rest of the day!  Then the C is given via IV drip over half an hour.  Again, you feel nothing.

If you will be getting Neulasta to boost your white count, you go in the next day for this shot.  They suggest that you take claritin and tylenol for the next 5 days to avoid bone pain (esp in your sternum) but last time I waited to see what the side effect was.  I wouldn't even call it pain - just a strange discomfort, so I then did take the claritin/tylenol maybe once or twice.

Being on a Tuesday chemo schedule, I found Thursday and Friday the days when the side effects kick in: mild-ish queeziness and big time fatigue last time.  Today, I have the mild queeziness but don't feel too fatigued yet.  Tried to avoid extra meds for nausea so have been using ginger tea, crystalized ginger, ginger ale, ginger chews (candy) and sea-band wrist bands that poke your acupressure points.  This all works to a degree and let me cut back on meds, though I finally gave in and took a zofran.  So:  bottom line, AC isn't too bad after all!  Good luck with your treatment!

Chemo # 2 is when IT happens.  I wasn't even out the door of the infusion center when I had a fistfull of hair in my hand.  Boo hoo. 

Kayak2

Vivie (and everyone else) - regarding scarves, if you go to the following website: www.franceluxe.com and click on "good wishes", they will send anyone on chemo a free scarf.  I ordered one last week, but haven't received it yet.

Other websites for this kind of thing are:  www.TLCdirect.org and go to products for hair loss. 

Also try https://chemobeanies.com

Wigs shouldn't cost thousands of dollars.  Many people have really nice ones between $100 - $200 (even for much less) and they don't look like a wig at all!  At the store that I went to, they suggested synthetic wigs over natural hair, because synthetic are easier to care for and they look just like real hair 

Good luck. 

edoyrest

Hi All,

Yesterday wasn't as bad as I had made it out in my mind to be.  Of course, I would've rather gone to the beach, but the time went by fairly quickly even though I was there for 5 hrs.  Had my 2 best buddies there, my "A" list BFF, and my husband, they were entertaining.  No SEs during treatment, yeah!  Just crashed when I got home in bed.  Got a slight headache and some chest/face flushing this morning, but took advil per dr and flushing will go away by tonite.  Drinking the water!  So I'm not feeling bad at all!  Browsing the internet for short hairstyles, decided to get it cut on Sat. when I go to have my wig styled in NYC.  There's lots of cute short hairstyles to be found on the internet.  My hair has been long all my adult life, havent' had short hair since I was 5 and my made me get a "pixie".  Well, if I have to get used to the idea I want to do it on my terms! 

46MD

kayak2 thanks for the update on AC. I start on the 11th. Got my port put in yesterday, still a little tender. Keeping fingers crossed I am as lucky as you with SE's! Good luck to everyone else who is starting soon.

musicalmom

Congrats to all who made it through. You are giving the rest of us hope. I survived the breast MRI barely. I hate that test. It is so painful particularly to my rib cage. Anyway Friday they will tell me if I can go ahead with the partial radiation.



I don't know if any of you are interested but I wanted to make a list for myself perhaps without going back through all the messages to write down what, when and for how long everyone is getting their chemo. So if you might be game here goes



musicalmom (Sharon) 8-24, TCH, 6x every 3 weeks



Almost the end of another week. Happy Thursday. I get a free massage today : )

Chrys23

Chrys23 (Crystal)

August 10th

TC, 4x - every 3 weeks

edoyrest

edoyrest

Eileen - TC 4X every 3 wks started 8/3/11

edoyrest

musicalmom- I had an MRI biopsy in May, that was a difficult test to endure, hated it too!   It's behind you - yeah!  Congrats on getting a massage.  My hospital offers complementary shiatsu massage - can't wait to try it!

aimska

Amelia - I completely understand.. I've never worn a wig in my life either.  I had my first TCH on July 21, on Monday Aug 1st, I could tell it was coming out a bit more than usual.  I have very long hair so it lose (or it seems that I lose) alot to begin with.  Tuesday (aug 2nd) same.. some hair falling out, more than usual.. but nothing too alarming.  Wednesday (aug 3rd) alot of hair starts coming out in the shower, its coming out pretty heavily.  I managed to get ready and go to work, everyone says it looks fine.  Today, it is really coming out heavy, non stop shedding .. all over the place this morning, my garbage can is full of hair.. everyone still says it looks fine.  To me it looks thin, I think tomorrow morning, it will be shaved and I will have to wear the wig.  I can't deal with this anymore.  *sigh*  goodbye hair..  I'll miss you.      ok - so about the SE's .. nothing major, day 2 and day 3 after the chemo infusion, there was extreme fatigue, no appetite, hot & sweaty, constipation, and a general spacey feeling, and some night sweats, and dry mouth.  That's about all I experienced.  No SE's from the neulesta shot.

vtellen

vtEllen (Ellen) 8/3/11 TCX4 every 3 weeks

Kayak2

AC x 4 every 2 weeks (dose dense), then taxol weekly x 12.  Carol

vtellen

Chrys23 - I am sensitive to meds also. Lots of allergies. Latex tape, penecillian, sulfa, cipro,etc. So, I was pretty wary of the taxotere reaction, which i guess can happen on the 2nd dose also ( even if it didn't on the first) The only "moment I had was about a 1/2 hr in, I got this insane desire to rip my IV out! Actually, it was itching like mad where the tube was taped to my forearm. I managed to compose myself, and distract myself elsewhere. Didn't bother me at all after that!

Chrys23

vtEllen: Ooh -- you're sensitive too; good -- I don't feel alone. I'm glad you are ok. Keep me posted on the 2nd infusion to see if you still do good. That's probably the one thing I'm scared about because of my allergy issues.

Madismommy719

I don't have a definite date yet (somewhere around the 22nd)....but should be TAC x 6 every 3 weeks.

Vivie

Vivie - treatment for 6-8 weeks , start date Aug 14th