Has anyone started a Dec 2011 group?

darlam

Laura--so sorry for your complications and delays. Hoping you are soon healed and ready to move forward.

Can now officially attest that, yes, the steroids give me insomnia. And make me HUNGRY! Then, again, maybe I should stop watching Cake Boss!!!

Mardibra

Good morning ladies. Today is my first chemo day and I'm writing you from the chair! Arrived at 8:00 had some blood work and a quick visit with my MO and now I'm sitting here getting an hours worth of saline. Actual AC starts in an hour.

tammie

Good luck to all of you ladies that are starting today!! I hope all goes well...Im of for my nuelasta shot today hopin it works quick as im feelin like crap!! Big hugs and hope alls well..Tammie

rachelvk

Good luck, Mardibra. The first step in this next part of this long crazy trip....!

sunflower71

Hi Ladies,

I just wanted to pop in and lend you all some support.  I started chemo last December on the 3rd, I finished my last round of Herceptin last week. I remember last year I felt that the year ahead of me would never end, yet here I am, on the other side.  I feel great.  I have longed to say those 3 words for a very long time.   

You will read over and over from other survivors that chemo is tough but doable. It is. I was able to work fulltime throughout treatment.  Chemo has a cumulative effect, so by the end I was tired and started to cutback my hours.  By the 3rd round, all of you will be experts in dealing with side effects.  I can't stress enough about drinking fluids.  Dehydration kicked my ass at one point.  I found the more I drank after treatment the better I felt.  I drank watered down orange Gatorade for 18 weeks (I absolutely hate the sight of it now).  You will have to experiment to find what works for you.  

Losing my hair sucked, I won't lie.  It started to fall out on Day 16 after the 1st round.  It was gone by Christmas.  Once it started to fall out it was a relief.  I knew it was coming and was scared up to that point, but after it was over I was able to deal.  So will all of you.  I now have a full head of hair, and it seems to be growing more everyday.  I bought  a beautiful wig that I rarely wore during chemo.  It bothered my head.  I rocked scarves quite well with fabulous earrings!  I highly reccomend two things to making yourself feel better in prep for the bald days.  Go out and buy yourself gorgeous earrings, somehow putting those on made me feel pretty.  Next, signup for one of those Look Good Feel Better classes.  They will show you how to put on makeup (and you get freebies).  I had to completely change how I did mine.  i am now an expert on putting on false eyelashes.

I wish you all the best, I know how scared you are.  Another sister on here has a quote in her signature that I love, "You don't have to be brave, you just have to show up."   You will get through this.  When it is over, you will be stronger then ever before, because you are a SURVIVOR.  Much love to you all.

Jennifer

P.S.  If anyone is interested in a free wig PM me.  It is a short, strawberry blond bob.  I can PM you a pic of it.  

markat

Hi everyone, I was wondering if I could join in?  I am starting TCH on December 5th.  I was diagnosed on 11/9/11 after finding a lump over the summer.  I had a diagnostic mammogram followed by biopsy, mri, and pet scan.  My breast surgeon and oncologist have decided that I should have neo adjuvant therapy and then I will decide which surgery I want to have.

 I am 30 years old and a mother of two little girls ages 6 and 7.  This has been a shocking and surreal month.  I had my port placed yesterday and am still in a lot of pain.  I have decided to stay home during treatment and not work...I was going to try and find a part time job for Christmas money before all this started.

I have been looking around the boards and gathering all the tips and guidance I can find.  Hopefully this post is cooherent, I'm a little loopy from the pain meds from the port, lol.  Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself, thanks!

stephanie33

Markat

Sorry u are joining us but welcome. I was 29 my first time around. Has your dr talked to you about the genetic testing? It is a tough road with little kids. My first diagnosis my boys were 3 and 5 now 6 and 8 and there main concern about the "yucky" medicine is that mommy will be bald again. I wish you the best of luck and if u need to talk to another "young" woman with little kids feel free to pm me.

Kelloggs

Hello all...another joiner here.  I was diagnosed 10/18/11, had a lumpectomy on 10/25/11, re-excision for clear margins and a port placement on 11/18/11.  I see my MO today for the second time.  During scans my CT showed nodules in my lungs so I also get to have a PET scan tonight.  I already know my chemo will be TCH X6 and Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year.  I am scared to death!  The boards have been wonderful to ease my mind somewhat, but I am still terrified.  I almost feel like I just want to get this started so I know what I will be dealing with and so that I can look forward to the end.  Thanks to all of you for the wonderful support you gave without even knowing it!

seacretgardn

Darlam thank you. Hoping now to begin Dec. 8. Hoping the sleepless effects of the steroids don't last too long for you.



Mardibra amazing! Sending your message while at treatment. Hoping so that the rest of your day went smoothly.



Jennifer thank you for your encouragement and all the wonderful advice.



Tammie hope the shot does it's job and you feel well.



This journey would be so much more lonely and difficult without all of you.





Hugs to all.

Mardibra

Sunflower - thank you so much for your post. Helps to remind us that there will be an end and in the mean time it's doable!

Markat - welcome aboard.



Had my first AC infusion today. Honestly, not bad at all. I had myself all worked up and nervous before hand but it was easy. If your interested in the step by step here it is Arrived at 8:00 AM and had my bp, height and weight logged and then made my way to the infusion room. Nurse prepped me port by spraying some numbing stuff on the area then put the needle "thing" in and she drew a bunch of blood Didn't feel a thing. Then met with my MO who again went over the plan and what I can expect for SE's. Then back to the infusion room where they hooked me up to some fluids (I guess hydration is pretty important) and gave me one Emend for nausea and three steroid pills I can't remember the name of. Once half the bag of fluids was gone, they then started slowly injecting 3 very large syringes of either A or C...can't remember. Whichever the red one is. That took about ten minutes. Then I received a steroid which lasted about 30 minutes and then finally the other chemo...again either A or C. That lasted about an hour and then I left by 11:45. Other than a horrible taste in my mouth - sort of like sucking on dirt pennies - and a bit of a "fuzzy head", I feel fine. Nausea meds are next to me at all times!



Hope this is helpful.

rachelvk

Thanks for the blow-by-blow, Mardibra. Glad that so far the effects are minimal. I hope you sleep well tonight.

Markat - Welcome. And I'm with you on the port placement pain. I guess I didn't get the memo and was pretty surprised when I came home yesterday afternoon and was having some serious pain. I am sorry you have to join us, and I hope there is some way you can enjoy the holiday season even with this new reality.

Sunflower - Thanks for your encouragement - and your frankness. Reality is just starting to sink in for me, having gotten my port and realized just how toxic this whole chemo process is. But like my surgery, I'm hoping that if I go in with my eyes wide open and ready for anything, the actual results will be less than I feared.

Kelloggs - Welcome. I hope the PET results come out better than you fear. I had my CT and bone scans today, and it was only while I was lying in the donut for the first one that I realized, this is when I find out if really anything else is going on. That's terrified me the whole time. I'm glad you found the boards. They've been so great for me, and we'll all make it through this process.

rachelvk

ps - I'm a bit bummed. It never dawned on me that the port might interfere with my violin playing, which I was finally cleared to return to this week. I called to ask about it today, and they said to give the port a few days to settle in, and then try my violin next week. If it bothers me (the violin rest would sit just about where they put the port), I can't play as long as I have the port ... I was really hoping that, if the SEs weren't so bad, I might be able to perform a few times with my orchestra and a performance of Pirates of Penzance. I'll cross my fingers. It's just a hobby - but it would really help me feel like normal sometimes.

Mardibra

Rachel - I didn't experience a lot of pain with my port but it was uncomfortable. Took almost exactly one week before I didnt even notice it was there. So, I'm hopeful you will be back to the violin soon!

seacretgardn

Mardibra your post is amazingly helpful. It has greatly relieved some of the "fear of the unknown" that takes over when the reality hits.



I hope you sleep well.



Laura

tammie

Glad your tx went well Mar we are on the same chemo regimen..The dirty pennies r nooo fun still battlin it...Do try to rest a little extra as i felt fine so stayed up n goin n wonder if rested maybe white count wouldnt have dropped so low...Had my nuelasta shot today and its got my mets or somthin achy tonight,,hopin tomorro i feel more like me.. You got the right idea on the anti nausea meds my nurse told me even if fine take them the first night before bed to stay ahead of it..

Welcome to the new ladies we have quite the group formin here!! How many are doin what treatments would be nice to get an idea of whos on what and when..Perhaps its my chemo brain flairin but ive lost track lol..Big hugs and thank you all for being here for mee ..Tammie

ginasamb

hi!  first tc infusion was black friday. was doing well but now ive got a bad itchy blistering chemo burn up my arm at the infusion site.  my back aches and my head wont stop pounding, ibuprophen takes the egde off, but i am lying on the back with a heating pad.  im so achey that i dont feel like using caps or spelling my contractions right.  need to vent.  i dont know what to do with the burn.  cover it or leave it open?  dr said hydrocortizone and leave it open, but my gut says neosporin covered with a sterile pad.  i am confused. help!

Mardibra

Nuelasta for me tomorrow at 2:00 and meeting with the nutritionist at 2:15. Radiologist appt on Monday. Oh ya, met with the plastic surgeon yesterday. All these freaking appts are making me crazy. My new normal I guess. As far as PS goes, I've opted for DIEP. Quite a long and involved process but I'm comfortable with it and I'm lucky to have a PS who is very experienced with a 100% success rate.



I feel pretty wired. Not sure sleep will come to me tonight. Working from home tomorrow so I will try and squeeze a nap in.



Sending happy thoughts to all!,

markat

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Stephanie I tested negative on both BRCA, which was comforting as a mother.



Rachel the pain is easing up from the port tonight. I hope yours is too. If not, maybe call your surgeon. Now I seem to be having an allergic reaction to the tape though. Ugh!



Mardi I hope you get some rest tonight.



Gina I hope you feel better. I have no experience yet with that type of burn, but I thought that generally burns should be left uncovered.



I wish you all the best!

tammie

Gina what your describing sounds like taxol hell the aches and burning rashes were hell they use to come on a couple days after tx..Definately do not cover it u wanna dry it up..watch for other rashy type burns too try to keep them clean n dry also benadryl will actually help ease side effects some i use to take it at night to help shut things down enough to sleep..Sending you big hugs..Tammie

Mar we should get frequent flyer discounts with all these drs i feel like i live in the drs office as well..Glad you decided on a surgery plan your comfortable with

Markat i did the same thing with tape after my surgeries it makes for hell hope it clears up n glad your ports feeling better today and rach hope yours is on the mend too..Big hugs n love to all of you..Tammie

kimdy

Saw my oncologist for the first time today. Will see him again and my surgeon on Monday. Will talk to the surgeon about a port...and probably start chemo the following week. Will be treated with carboplatin & taxotere (a replacement for some other "t" chemo drug that is on back order - can't remember what she said it was.). Scared about chemo, but ready to get on the road if I need to.

kimdy

Saw my oncologist for the first time today. Will see him and my surgeon again on Monday. Post-op follow up with surgeon and to talk to surgeon about a port. Hopefully will get port next week and start chemo the following week. Scared for chemo, but anxious to start and get it over with if it is needed. I will be treated with caraboplatin and taxotere (a replacement for some other "t" chemo drug that is on back order?) Any body had any experience with these drugs?



New to these boards, but will be praying and following you ladies:)

evyl78

Hi all My name is Evay and I am hope to joi your group!  This is my second go around with chemo!  I was dx in 07 did ac+th,rads and unilateral mx my story back then was very complicated due to other factors!  Well fastfoward ti present I found a lump on my mx scar line,,,,,,after some time onc said lets just cut it out...well we did and turns out it was a local recurrence.  I will start chemo tomorrow 12/2 I will be doing TC (Taxol & Carboplatin) I was suppose to do herceptin as I am her2+++ but my e/f is still down from chemo before!  Will meet n cardiologist to see about coreg.  Luckly my oldest who is 9 is a big help and my lil guy is 4!  Life has been hard on them the last 4 years and this is just another bumb. Any tips on Carbo & Taxol... I did tax  before and the tingling of hands and feet are stil around almot 4yrs later.

 Much love

~Evy~

bevoangel

Im started my chemo today. Taxol. X 12 wks then fac x 3 months. I'm looking forward to keeping up with this board. I'm a 35y/o mom of 3. Keep up the fight brave ladies.

susangermany

Thank you, Tammy, for your advice about not overdone exercise. 9 days after the first TAC chemo, I feel better and better. Had my first blood control on 7th day and got call from doctor yesterday and told me the white blood cell was very low. They'd like to test again. The second test result has a big jump from 1.75/nl to 6.92/nl, which is even higher than my white blood cell level before chemo. I couldn't understand, only one day how it can change this rapidly and dramatically. I had Neulasta shot 24h after chemo. I wonder if the Neulasta takes effect only after 5 days? Well, the bone and joint pain also disappeared after 5 days. I think exercise helps. 

I had my port installed on Nov. 18th. Now I can move my arm freely, but still feels a little uncomfortable. The cut is recovering well, but feels still a little pain or itch from time to time. I guess it takes time.

I have been feeling hungry all the time. But I tried not eat too much at once.

After 9 days of the first chemo, I feel more hopeful and less scared and I believe everyone here can get it done and well done.

Thank you everyone for the company in this difficult time! 

Gator65

Had my first treatment of AC yesterday as well. It was not nearly as bad as I thought. Pretty much the same story as Mardibra, except they had me take emend 30 min before treatment and then I got Ativan by IV, The A came in syringes and then the C was by IV bag, I had the funky taste in my mouth as well and felt a little queazy on the ride home. 

It was kinda nice  that the were 4 newbies in there yesterday. There was one lady who pretty much had the exact same dx as me down to being triple negative. We even have 2 of the same docs! Small world, huh? I hope that I will see her again to tell her about our litttle group here.

I got home and pretty much slept 12 hours off and on. I feel queazy but not too bad. Just took another Zolfran and I have Emend as well. I have decided to work at home today because I don't want to drive until I kow how all these meds will afffect me. Go back to my MO's office today for the Nueslasta shot at 4:15. I will taking the Claritan cocktail beforehand. LOL!

My next tx is scheduled for 12/15. Yippee!

As a side note, I got my wig yesterday. At first I did not like it, but as she cut it to my particular hairstyle  I began to like it. The funny part is that when she cut the bangs, both me and my BFF Lisa said, "Maybe we should have the bangs a little shorter so we have to come back in a few weeks because of how fast your hair grows."  Then we both realized that it is a wig, the hair is never gonna!  I swear sometimes it is like "Dumb and Dumber go to the "insert whatever medical office that we are at". LOL

Have a great day everyone! 

markat

Gator that is too funny about your bangs!

I am going wig shopping today.  Can anyone recommend a certain brand that they liked the best?  My insurance will cover up to $175 so I doubt I will be able to get a fancy human hair one.

To all the ladies starting today...good luck and hugs to you.  And to those that started this week...big hugs to you too.  I start TCH x6 on Monday.

kenyohunt1

Hi ladies I am due to start chemo this months well. Was 3 yrs 6 most 2wks and 4 days from my 5 yr mark on my original dx when I found out I had a recurrence. Glad there is this site all of the things I am learning are so helpful. I am due to get the results of my PET/CT scan on Monday, although If my report is in today I am going to go to medical records and get a copy. I know this is probably weird but I don't want to find out the news for the first time at the appt. I some what of a control freak when it comes to my emotions and don't like to show them in front of people. Stupid I know, but its who I am.

sorry to meet all of you this way, but so glad to have a new set of friends that understand.

rachelvk

Markat - I haven't gotten a wig yet, but I liked a few of the wigs in the TLC catalog put out by the American cancer Society - and they're incredibly reasonable. You can go to tlcdirect.org. They also have hats, scarves, turbans, you name it. I also plan to go to the local Breast Cancer Resource Center, which has a wig bank. You might check around and see if any local support groups can refer you to one.

Mardibra

My heart breaks for all you Moms!! Your kids should not have to see their moms go through cancer.



Just took my second Emend. Although I don't feel queasy, I don't feel "right". No appetite and no ability to handle coffee. No coffee? Wtf! I love coffee!



So should I take the Claritin before nuelasta or after or both?



Picking up my wig tomorrow. I had it custom made...real hair...real expensive! It better be comfortable.



Have a happy day ladies.

Gator65

Mardibra,

I just took the claritan. I am getting the shot this afternoon.

I also feel very queazy. I have had a Zolfran and an Emend. I feel like puking as we speak.  gatorade is my best friend right now.