October 2011 Chemo group

Surreygirl

Welcome to all that have joined!  Well I am almost ready for tomorrow.  I just have another 4 bottles of water to finish.  I swear if I tip my head back and someone squeezes me, I am going to turn into a water feature.  Well I shouldn't complain water is supposed to help.  Good luck Marty and Carla, we are strong and we will win this!

martygra

Good luck to you too.  I have no doubt we will win,  I just hope we can make it through the treatment without to much distress.  Have a good night,  I am afraid to go to sleep but that is the only time my mind gets a break but the sooner I go to sleep the sooner it is tomorrow.

sue_from_wi

Welcome, Susan. By my count, we have 13 in our group now.

Just a quick update for those of you starting tomorrow: Chemo #1 is history for me and went well overall. During the treatment itself, I felt perfectly fine, though VERY sleepy from the Benadryl and of course you can't get any sleep when your vitals are being checked every half hour.

I'm about 6 hours post treatment now and have minor naseau and a strong buzz for the steroid dose. I had mild tingling in my legs for a very short time. 

I have drunk and drunk and drunk water today and am now sipping Yogi brand Ginger tea which I have loved for years and which seems to be helping with the nausea.

I am so happy to have this first treatment behind me. I know some SE's could raise their ugly little heads tomorrow, but I'm going with: so far, so good.

Thanks, Michelle for all the information.

Surreygirl

I am glad things went well Sue.  I am hoping for a SE free day for you tomorrow

stjude10

martygra, unfortunately, I'm not coming at this from the same place as others probably are. Last Feb. my daughter was dx w/leukemia. That truly was the worst thing that could've happened to my family. I watched her go thru 10X as many tx as I will. I had kept telling her that I would take it for her if I could...tada!  If I hadn't witnessed what I did, I would be as scared as you. It's the unknown that freaks people out, and I'm the same way. I can tell you that we will get thru this. Together. Nobody will understand our hopes, fears, rants, vents, humor, etc. like each other. I'm glad to have each and every one of you to turn to as we start this phase of our journey. Together.

Hugs to all

stjude10

Sorry Sue, forgot to congratulate you on your 1st tx down. In the books. Yay! So happy the se are not too bad. Here's hoping tomorrow is a great day for you!

sherrybaby

I too SHOULD start chemo in October. My oncologist decided to change clinics before everything got scheduled and since I really clicked with him I am going to follow him to the new one. Of course this means that I will pretty much have to fill out new paperwork and everything, but hopefully it will not delay the start very much. Before he moved he did tell me that I will have AC 4x and Taxotere 4x. Even though I hate that we are taking this journey it is good to have friends to go through it with.

Normandy18

Sue:

Thank you so much for keeping us posted--it does help to know what to expect.

Normandy18

Surreygirl, Marty and Karla:

Good luck to you--you are strong and can get trough this!

martygra

Thanks, I plan on getting through it, not alot of choice.  How are you doing Normandy? 

madpeacock

Thinking positive thoughts for everyone starting chemo (and those already started)! Hope you have a restful weekend. Fall is finally coming to Georgia and it is supposed to actually be COOL this weekend! I have NO appointments next week - that's a shocker - but on 10/10 will get all of my new test results for the BRCA and Her2 re-do and maybe THEN I can move forward....

Since I have no appts I had declared next week a BC-free discussion week. Then my daughter decided she wanted to go the football game tonight and guess what - they're having a pink-out (everyone wears pink to support "awareness"). Really? Gee. Thanks. I'm pretty aware already...

stjude10

madpeacock, get ready. from what I've heard, now that we're a part of the club we will notice that pink has thrown up all over everything in oct. enjoy a week free of appts. that won't happen often!

sherrybaby, that will be my course of tx also. sounds like many of us here will have that as well.

here's hoping everyone has a nice weekend. here in IL it's getting pretty chili. definitely feels like fall. I'm ready for hot dogs and marshmellows around a fire!

Carla9112

Hi everyone - just got home a while ago from treatment.  I'm doing good - I have a headache but I think that's from my insufficient caffeine fix and the steroids.  For all of those who haven't started chemo yet I can honestly tell you that the treatment itself is painless.  I learned that the "red devil" is a quick little devil.  Went to the ladies room and pee was pink already.  I guess that color is appropriate now that I think about it!!  It was nice to talk to others at the center that have been doing treatments for a while.  Got home and started feeling just "woozy" - not quite myself.  I went ahead and took anti-nausea and feel better now.  I guess that's to be expected with all of the stuff that went into my body today.  Hope the rest of you that started today are doing good.  Let us know.  I'm praying that none of us get sick from the treatment.  I can deal with fatigue but not throwing up - yuck - I hate it. 

sue_from_wi

Carla - so glad to hear you are tolerating your first treatment well. I'm not over 24 hours post Tx #1 and feeling well, too, even with the dental work this morning to replace a crown. Funny how things can kind of pile up like that. I agree with you about the nausea - it's really hard to deal with. I've been wearing the SeaBands they gave me at the last surgery - don't know if they help but I figure they can't hurt.

Best wishes to all the other newbies.

stjude10

Carla, so happy to hear you got that first one out of the way, and you're doing well.

Sue, relieved you're still doing well from you're first tx.

Surreygirl

So just got home about an hour ago and I feel fine.  Carla my chemo nurse told me that if they push the second chemo at 45 min most people don't get the headache.  I started to get sinus pressure at the very end and she said they would push it to 60 min so it won't happen again.

 So we wait the nurse told me the nausea should set in about 5:30 our time.  We will see.

sue_from_wi

Sherrybaby - welcome! You are our 14th member. Let us know when your dates get set so we can think of you and pray for you then.

Surreygirl - glad it's going well for you so far. I hope they gave you something good to stay on top of the nausea. Thanks for your good wishes for me - it's been a day largely free of SEs.

Normandy18 - my son and his teacher and her son and I spent several days in Honfleur last summer. We totally fell in love with France but feel we got the merest taste of it in the 10 days we were there. My dad was one of the Army Rangers that landed on D-Day, so we visited those sites and tried to understand what it was like for him. He was so very young then.

Where in Normandy do you live?

WIMusicMaker

Hi everyone, unfortunately I am another member or your group! I start T/C X4 on October 4. Finding out I need chemo was harder for me than my diagnosis of breast cancer. I am discovering that the anticipation of every procedure is much more difficult than going through each procedure. I hope that is the case for chemo too! I had my chemo class today and it helped calm, but did not totally diminish, my fears. I looked at some hats today and I am just not ready to buy any yet. I am determined that I will do fine. I will continue to exercise as much as possible and my doctor and nurses will help me with everything else. Good luck to everyone and I will pray we all have minimal SE. 

susanwmcg

Sue, Surreygirl, Marty and Carla,

So happy for all of you that you have #1 behind you! Hope the side effects are minimal. I am getting a port on Monday morning. My veins have never been good but my MO thought I didn't need one for TCx4. I went to get my blood drawn yesterday for the BRAC and the phlebotomus had a tough time finding a good vein. I asked her for her opinion and she said "GET A PORT!" So I am taking her word for it over the MO. My first chemo will be on Thursday, Oct.6th. I made the Wal-Mart run tonight for all the supplies....but I'm going back for the Biotene gum someone wrote about on the Sept chemo thread.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for sharing,

Susan

auntienance

Hello MusicMaker -- I start my chemo on October 3, so I'm anticipating right along with you.  I couldn't agree more about how hard the chemo decision is.  I think it's might be because, for me, the time from my dx, surgery and completion of radiation was relatively short -- just seven weeks or so.  I didn't have as much time to stew about things, once I got past the anguish of waiting on test results.  After my radiation, I thought I was done.  Made an appt. with the MO to start hormone therapy and then BAM, "not so fast missy, there's another little test we want  to do called Oncotype  . . ."  Now entering the next chapter.  Anyway, I think once I get going I'll be better.  My big concern right now is how the steroids are going to impact my blood sugar.  Being diabetic, it means more adjustment for me, and I just got to a place where they haven't been bouncing around all over the place, SIGH . . .  It's so hard to make the simplest plans right now, not having any idea how I'm going to feel at any given time.  I'm so looking forward to my stomach not being tied up in knots!  Good luck to you and to all those here who have gone before us.  Have a great weekend all!

martygra

I had my first AC infusion yesterday,  they had me down for 41/2 was relieved to only be there 21/2.  So far I have been ok, kind of a little problem thinking and maybe a little aware of my heart but other then that nothing.  I have not felt any nausea either so far.  They did have anti nausea in my iv so I do not know how long that lasts but I too took one of the first ones a few hours after I got home and 1 of the lorzepan(spelling)before I went to bed.  I got about 7 hours of sleep.  I was having foot cramps which I have had before this in my right foot,  I was having those in both feet last night so do not know if it related to the chemo.  This morning I go for the Nuelesta shot and will have to take a steroid pill for 3 days.  So hard to keep track of all these pills and appts. I told the nurse that I had read that those Nuelesta shots caused alot of bone pain and that I had heard clartin helped with that.  She says yes she had heard that to so she said go ahead and try taking one it couldn't hurt.  I am going to my wig fitting on Thursday,  the hair issue is going to be quite hard on me, hopefully I will not cry for to long.  Hope we all continue on with minimal sides but I for one am not letting my guard down!  Take care

stjude10

Welcome WIMusicMaker to our group. Nobody wants to be a member, but we make the most of what we've got. Certainly wishing you and everyone minimal se.

Martygra, I'm so glad you got that first treatment out of the way. And at about half the time. Yay! Hope you have a restful weekend w/out se.

martygra

surreygirl,  My treatment ended at 1:30 yesterday and I have had no nausea or headache.  I have taken a couple of the anti nausea pills they sent me home with just as a precautionary measure don't want to give it a chance.  I am kind of worried about the Nuelesta shot this morning as I hear alot of ladies have bad bone pain.  I have to start steroid pills for 3 days also this morning.  I will be all wired up on those but won't be able to move because of the bone pain!  Hah, hopefully that won't be the case,  I hope to get some housework done today.  Have a good weekend everyone.

barbyjean

Hi, everyone, another new member!!   I have been reading many postings for a few weeks and they have been so helpful.  I am scheduled for my first TC chemo on October 5, having a port put in on Oct. 4.  Yes, I am scared like the rest of you and am looking forward to having some company and support as we go thru this together.  I also deal with severe chronic pain in my back and hips, and have had this for 10 years!!  When that started, it really turned my life upside down and I just had to learn to live my best life with whatever each day brings.  My life was already pretty difficult, and now with this diagnosis and treatments, I feel overwhelmed most of the time. Like I'm drowning lots of days.  Dealing with cancer is a full time job all by itself!  But, I am getting through it one step at a time just like you are.  Thanks for being here!

Surreygirl

Marty make sure you take Claratin 2 hours before the shot and for 2 days after it takes away the bone pain of Neulasta.  I did finally get sick last night after taking my decadron but am back on track this morning.  I feel like I have a hangover that I didn't get to have the fun first

 Welcome Barb!

martygra

Hi Surreygirl,  I did take a claritin about an hour before my shot at 9:30.  I was wondering if I was suppose to take more so will with your info will take 1 today and tomorrow.  No pain so far.  I was a little worried because I read other places on the internet that said it had to be Claritin-D.  I went to the drug store and could not find Claritin-D on the shelf just the regular Claritin.  I asked the pharmacist and she said you had to have a perscription in Oregon to get the D.  So all I have is the regular Claritin, so far no pain but I don't know how long that takes to set in.  Sorry you got sick,  I don;t know what decadron is but so far I have not gotten sick (knock on wood) from anything,  I am hungry and food still tastes like food,  am I normal?  I don't want to start feeling to confident because I know the tables could turn at any time but so far I am good.

Carla9112

Hi everyone - welcome Barbyjean and WIMusicmaker - sorry you had to join this group but we'll all be here for you.  It is so nice to be able to talk to others that know exactly how you feel. I'm so grateful for this board.

As for SE's, I would like to say that my headache after the treatment went away.  It didn't.  It turned into once of the worst headaches I have ever had in my life.  Along with the headache I was fighting the nausea.  On top of that my arm (the right - same as port) started feeling weird - heavy-like and kind of numb.  I got scared and called my oncologist.   

The dr. said that the anti-nausea Zofran can often give people headaches.  She said take another pain pill, my Ambien and if the problem with the arm got worse to go to the emergency room.  I'm happy to report that after about another hour I went to sleep and woke up this morning feeling pretty good but weak.  The headache is gone and arm is fine.  Thank God!!

Surreygirl - I read your post - does that mean that they put the chemo drip in too fast?  I will ask them about this when I go back for my SE appt. this week.  I DO NOT want to have a headache like that again - it was brutual.

Another note - I'm divorced and think I can handle anything.  My family lives 4 hours away so I didn't want them to come over and probably just end up watching me sleep.  I was regretting that decision big time last night as I was sitting here sick as a dog and scared to deah.  Big mistake on my part.  My sisters and mom said that they are coming next treatment - just in case.  I guess I have to learn that I can't control everything about this stupid cancer and will sometimes need help.  Boy that's tough though when you're so independent and stubborn.  I shouldn't have tried to do this treatment by myself.

So, I hope all of the bad stuff is behind now.  Feeling pretty good today.

On the bright side - one day - five to go.  I say we all visit Normandy in France when we're all healthy again - doesn't that sound like a great time! 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

barbyjean

Hi Carla, like you, I am divorced and independent and my family lives 4 hrs. away.  But  I have a great support system of friends here, I am so lucky.  Those who have gone through cancer told me to not try to get through it by myself, take someone with me every time.  So that's what I've been doing, and it's really nice to be taken care of for a change.  It's hard to ask for help but we deserve to be treated as special as we really are!!  My friends and family want to help how ever they can, even my ex has been great!!!!!  So let them. 

 About the headaches - it happened to someone I know, and it was the nausea medication, so she had to try a different one, and no more headaches.

 Take care! 

Maya847

Hi all, so glad to hear people who had their first treatment tolerated it well.  Getting a bit nervous to start Tues the 4th.  (TAC)   The unknown sucks and I am sure once I get this one under my belt I will do well.  People keep talking about a "chemo class" they went to.  What is it and what did they tell you?  Also can anyone give me a list of things I should pick up before Tues?  I see a few posts have some ideas but if anyone had a complete list I would love to get it.  Going shopping tomorrow! 

wildrumara

Started my neo-adjuvant chemotherapy yesterday, T/C x 6, q. 3 weeks.  Feeling pretty good today.  A little loopy, a little flushed, a little fatigued.  Haven't had any nausea, little appetite, but did get some food in me today, including a McDonald's Sundae that I shared with my husband.   My hubby gave me my Neulasta shot this afternoon. Walked the dog around the block, went to Target this evening.  Ready to take an Ativan and hit the sack.  So far so good.  Waiting for the SEs to kick in......thinking positive!!!!