August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Kasi

Kayak2 I feel like a freak, I am already feeling SEs and it's only been a few hours after I finished my very first AC. I feel like I have the flu: headache, nausea. Taking the meds but what the heck? I didn't think I would be feeling so crappy so soon :-(

Madismommy719

Kasi... I hope you start to feel better!!!

musicalmom

Aimska-

I am interested in tracking you because you seem to be the only one who is HER2+ and having TCH. Thanks for the SE info. I start mine on the 24th. Sorry about your hair. It must be hard when it is so long. Did you just get your 2nd round? Are you doing it every 3 weeks?

Madismommy719

Wig shopping went better than expected....I found one I really liked and ordered it. It'll be sitting there waiting for me when I am about 12-15 days into treatment. Than they will style it however I want and shave/buzz cut me if I want.... They were really nice!! I'd still much rather keep my own hair but the wig is atleast cute. And I ordered a matching halo too.... And found out my insurance should pay for it all.

Ybrooker1

Kasi....sorry about your SEs....drink plenty of fluids. Green tea really helped me (I'm on ACx4). Lord, please take away the awfulness Kasi is feeling, protect her, and cover her as she bravely faces the journey ahead....In Jesus name, Amen!

vtellen

Oh Kasi, sorry about your SEs! I was doing fine all day until this afternoon. Then my stomach got all noisy and queasy. Since I am deprived of zofran, all I could do is pop a whole ativan and compazine. It sort of worked, but for awhile there, things were looking pretty dicey! Hope you can work through your stuff UMM WHAT IS W/ THIS FONT-SORRY! i PUSHED SOMETHING WRONG! EGADS

michelleo13

Michelle - Starting Aug 8 - 4 x A/C dose dense, then 4 x Taxol dose dense

Had a bone scan today. Then, I had my hair cut short. I actually kind of like it. Too bad I won't get to enjoy it for long.

Tomorrow I go wig shopping.

Kasi, hope you feel better.

Kayak2

Kasi - sorry you aren't feeling well.  Important to drink a lot this day and tomorrow!  Have been feeling a bit queezy myself today, but trying to work through it with the wrist bands and ginger ale, ginger tea, etc.  Also, have the good fortune of having my niece come this afternoon, who gave me Reiki.  It really helped.  If you have the opportunity, I recommend it highly. 

Chrys23

Kasi -- I hope you feel better! You are NOT a freak.  From what I've heard; everyone's experience is different and everyone's body reacts differently.  To be honest, considering what the stuff is made of, I guess we should be thankful that we're not getting the chemo of "old". -- I hear back in the day, chemo treatments really made people so very, very ill that they could barely get out of bed and that vomiting was standard issue.

Rest and take it easy....

Hugs,

Chrys

Chrys23

vtEllen - I hope you are feeling better as well!

edoyrest

Ellen,

Sorry to hear of your SEs!  I too am having GI issues tonite, or should I say this morning?  Not sure what it is.  Keep drinking the water and may they pass quickly!  Prayers and hugs,

Eileen

Chava

Chrys23--I don't think the chemo has changed much since the old days they just give us a lot more stuff to help with the side effects so hopefully we don't feel so bad during the process. And the other good news is that we don't have to have it as long--it used to be for BC patients chemo was a year and studies showed that less time was as just as effective. We should all be SE free all through out this process.

Doodlebug12

Hi ladies, I am about to embark on this miserable journey and would like to join your group. I am starting dd A/C x 4 then Dd T x 4 Am dreading it all tbh and would appreciate some support

edoyrest

Hey Doodlebug12,

Welcome, sorry it's these circumstances but you'll find great women and all kinds of advice h and support here to help get you through this!  I found the waiting and anticipation of surgery, testing and therapy to be the worst so far.  I guess that's everything though!  Had my 1st of 4 chemo treatments this week and I'm doing good.  Some nausea and constipation but my dr gave me meds for these side effects.  I'm blessed with good friends who are helping me too.  Keep us posted on how you're doing.

michelleo13

Welcome to our club Doodlebug12. You and I are on the same regimen. I start Monday. You'll find lots of support and advice in this fabulous group of ladies!

MaryjRN

llstreett...I am on the same schedule, it appears.  I started 8/1.  3 more a/c (every other week) and then my 12 weeks of Taxol. 

My nails have been horrible since my 2 surgeries.(I am blaming it on the anesthesia)  They haven't changed yet with the chemo, but then again, I am on day 5. I am expecting my package from headcovers.com.  I purchased a wig several weeks ago, and will use it for dd27 wedding in October.  Otherwise it is a covering for me.

Also, don't be alarmed when the infusion nurse has an isolation gown on to give you your chemo.  Standard care.  And the neulasta injection is over in 5 seconds.  Mine was given in my upper/outer arm.  Tons of fluids really do help!

Kayak2...your infusion treatment sounded just like mine.  I was also told to take claritin to help with the bone pain; besides otc Tylenol ES. I am due back for round 2 on 8/15 and I will go alone this time.  My hair issues are the things bothering me right now!

Kasi...you need to call the MO and get an order for a different anti nausea pill.  It is common to start at the bottom of the list, and then they go upwards.  They will just order another one. 

Ellen...I enjoy reading about your chemo day.  Glad it went well.

vtellen

Yes, I finially got my Zofran. Had some nausea last evening and the compazine and ativan helped. But as I use the ativan to sleep at night, I would rather like to avoid it otherwise. Kasi, do you have zofran?

Chrys23

Re: Zofran -- I already have all my pre-meds filled for chemo next week. However, on Wednesday, I woke up with bad case of food poisioning. The room was spinning, waves of nausea and stomach cramping.

I HAD to pop a Zofran, just so I could get out of bed and VOILA -- after 45mins or so, no more issues.   

I've had Zofran before -- that stuff is a miracle!

Leighsa

Hello ladies! Was away for a couple of days with my 3 youngest-trying to cram in as much fun as we can!

Eileen, Ellen, Kasi and Mary- congrats on getting through round 1. Reading your posts is very helpful. Thank you taking the time to post so quickly after. I hope that the SE are manageable with your meeds- Zofran is a wonderful drug! Stool softeners (colace 100mg 2-3x's /day), fresh fruit and lots of fluids should help with the constipation issues. Being backed up will only make the nausea worse. It's such a terrible cycle-take this med for this and this one for the side effects of that one, etc...!



Have a great weekend-do something fun!



(((Hugs)))

sandy115

Hey Everyone going through 1st treatment I started mine Jul 25 11 days into 1st chemo

drink lots of fluids ginger ale did help me and took senokot for constiption.

Hope everyone has free S/E weekend.

Doodlebug12

Thank you ladies for welcoming me in. I am starting treatment on Tuesday and am dreading it in one breath but can't wait to get started in another. This whole process has been going on now since April 21st and feels like it's being going on for years..I had original lumpectomy and SND on may 27th waited for results of that and was told that lymph nodes were clear. Then got a call to go back in for re-excision to get clear margins and was also told that in fact the cancer was in the lymph nodes - had that operation on 24th June and have been waiting for an infection in original wound site to clear. I have opted not to have AND as I have read on various sites that there is no real advantage that the chemo/rads will take care of whatever is there. Fingers crossed I made the right decision!!



I hope that any of you that have already started are coping well with side effects and will keep you in my thoughts



M

Madismommy719

Welcome doodlebug....glad you found our group!!!



Hope everyone is feeling well!!! YAY to the ladies that made it through treatment #1 this week!!! I hope s/e stay away....



I need to sit down and read through this thread before my start date and make a list of things to make sure I have on hand, popsicles, ginger ale, etc....



I'm going for my chemo training this coming Wednesday so I'll be asking about Zofran and where that falls on the list of drugs....I was SO sick when I was pregnant with morning sickness that I'm terrified my chemo might do the same thing to me. I was so ill through the whole pregnancy that I only have one biological child....I couldn't put myself through the whole process again! atleast I got to keep my hair during that though?

Madismommy719

Doodle....you and I are almost identical diagnosis!!! I had the AND because the doctors wanted to rule out needing radiation or not.... Other than that our stats are the same. What is your chemo cocktail? I'm doing either TAC x6 or TC x6, depends on what group I'm put in for the clinical trial.

Doodlebug12

Hi madismommy, my cocktail apparently will be A/C dd x 4 then T dd x 4 with each cycle 2 weeks apart and neulasta shots day after each treatment. Then move onto 35 x rads - roll on February 2012!! I was nervous to go with the AND - BS has told me that I can have it at a later date if they think necessary. When do you start the chemo? Need to get some things in also to help with S/E It has been good reading through these boards getting tips ie: Ginger ale etc., Has anybody any other nice tips to help us newbies?

Madismommy719

I am hoping to start the week beginning 8/22....I take my stepson to college on the 16/17th and need to get past that first. We will be traveling and stay overnight so I don't want to start chemo that week and not know what might happen to me s/e wise and be 200 miles away.... SO, I'm waiting til the following week, I should have the official start date this next week coming up, I go for chemo training and the heart scan on Wednesday. I'm getting taxotere as my "T" instead of taxol. And not dose dense so it'll be every 3 weeks for 18 weeks total. NOT looking forward to losing my hair at all.... And the s/e are very intimidating but these boards REALLY help me. I'm not quite as terrified after seeing other people making it through....just 1/2 terrified now. LOL.



I would think if you are getting rads for sure than no need for the AND?? Why take the risk if you'll already be doing the radiation? That was really my only reason (to my knowledge) why the doctors pushed the AND on me?? My recovery from it has not been fun. My range of motion still stinks and I had it done July 13th. Luckily all the additional lymph nodes came back clean so that made it worth it I suppose??? So far no signs of lymphedema....



I agree, I cannot wait til 2012!!!!!!

vtellen

I would recommend to you guys who will be starting to take the antinausea meds right off the bat. Don't wait until it hits you. I didn't get sick, but quite close. ( Did I mention the pigging out on the homemade cc cookies beforehand?) I would do zofran for the first 3 days or so, then see, Also, Eileen was smart to take an ativan heading in for the first dose. I assumed they would be offering it up, so suffered along until I was really needing it! And I have done something w/ my font, again! Honestly, I can't operate this computer! Ha! 

Amelie_Rose

Doodlebug and Maryj, welcome!  

Ladies, sorry I haven't written these past couple of days.  Everything caught up with me on Wednesday night and I've been feeling really, really tired since then.  Slept most of the day yesterday and today.  Lots of bone pain from the Neulasta.  A bit nauseous on and off as well; took Compazine since I don't have the Zofran.  Will have to ask for that next time.  I am also experiencing some taste changes that are making it hard to keep up with the fluid intake, but I am trying.  Feeling a bit better now, so I am hoping things will improve over the weekend.

Hoping all you ladies who also started this week have minimum SE's! 

Amelie 

Madismommy719

LOL at VtEllen and the mysterious changing fonts.... I'm following your advice on the nausea medicine...I'd rather take too much of it than stick my head in the toilet for one minute....



Hi Amelie....good to see you, sorry you've had some side effects the last couple days....hope they subside soon for you!!!



Ok, so all the ladies who've been feeling the nausea, what would you compare it to.....an upset tummy, a flu bug, a really bad hang over feeling, after riding a rollercoaster. Has it ever felt anything more than nausea, where you really thought you were on the verge of tossing your cookies??? Can you tell I'm totally paranoid about this....I think mainly because it hurts horribly for me to sneeze and cough and even to laugh sometimes from my BMX, AND and my TE fills....if I get sick, oh my goodness...... I'm terrified of it.

Madismommy719

I forgot to share this info I learned about wigs yesterday, incase anyones ordering online and not sure what they want. I had NO clue what the different ones meant.... And so in my consult I had, I learned that "lace front" means it looks most like hair coming out of your scalp naturally.... Especially if you don't have bangs like me you would want a lace front wig. And than the Monofilament is the most "natural" feel on the scalp and allows the part to fall naturally on the wig for easiest styling. I tried on real hair and synthetic hair and went with the synthetic. There really was not a big difference in person I though, except the real hair was a little softer to the touch but hotter on my head..... And the synthetic wigs are easier to take care of....kind of a shake and go!!! Much more my thing. I tried on several of the brands that headcovers.com offers and the prices are pretty reasonable. I might order a "fun" one online with some scarves.... Maybe be a redhead sometimes? I've always wanted to be a redhead......oh, and I ordered a matching colored "halo" to wear under hats.... It looks ridiculous without a hat but was really cute (and looked totally real) with one.



Anyways, just wanted to share because I honestly had no clue until yesterday.....and didnt even know where to start.

Doodlebug12

Thank you for the fab information on buying a wig. My husband and middle daughter are totally against me getting one, preferring the scarf look. My eldest daughter wants me to get a wig that is identical to the hair I have at moment (issues going there, she is in total denial) my 8yr old son is insisting that I get a wig because - in his words, being without hair is sooo embarrassing. As a result I am secretly on-line browsing for a wig that "I" might like and had no idea what different terms meant - so thank you madismommy for that. I would be very low on the old self esteem and feel that losing my hair is just going to turn me into an even uglier specimen. Hence the fear of all that is to come. I have visions of turning into a decrepit old woman over night and never being able to regain a tad of self-confidence again.



Question for you other lovely ladies that have already started treatment.... Do you all still have the energy to go out places - I ask because eldest daughter is under the impression that I am only going to be allowed to the hospital to receive treatment and then must stay indoors until it is time for next treatment.... Think I might have a bit of a problem on my hands with this 22yr old darling girl that is becoming to think that she is actually the "mommy" in our relationship....



Hope everyone is feeling well... I am counting days now (3) to go xx m