Starting Chemo October 2012

alcb70

Jennie- I think it depends on your physician and the cancer center/hospital/infusion center that you go to.  In my case (I'm in Knoxville, TN), I do not take anything prior to my chemo at home (with the exception of the EMLA cream that I put on my port to numb it).  They do my steroids, benadryl and anti-nausea medication all by IV (into my port) just prior to chemo.  They do it and wait about 20 minutes to take effect.  I do take Claritin daily (some do the day before and 7 days after) for my Neulasta injection.  I also have Zofran and Phenergan tablets for nausea.  Some MO's have patients take the anti-nausea meds on a schedule for ~48 hrs after chemo to prevent nausea. I have the option to do that or take it at the first twinge of nausea.  That can be tricky though because it can ramp up quickly and the meds wouldn't have time to catch it.

Well, I am day 17...and not a single hair on my head has fallen out! I could have had my hair another week! grrrr! I have noticed that I've only had to shave under my arms every 3 days or so (usually I do it daily), and same with my legs. (not super hairy normally-just can't stand stubble)  What has slowly grown in is softer and more sparse. I have a feeling today was my last day to have to do it.  May be TMI...but the same for the um....bikini area. Noticing my head is really itchy today..but I think I'm paranoid at this point.

I've been wearing my wig a bit more. I added a headband today and it seemed to feel and look more natural, and it made me feel more confident b/c it didn't feel like it was going to shift or fall off.

For those starting chemo next week...enjoy the weekend! I hope that your anxiety is lessened by the posts here. I think we all have been SO anxious that first time, and walked out thinking it was a breeze.  I hope for zero effects for everyone! I go for round 2 on Wed. or Thurs.. I went on a beautiful hike today and just soaked in the sunshine, fresh air and time with my family. Aside from my down days, I really do appreciate things much more. Kind of like that Tim McGraw song, "Live Like You Were Dying". Not that I wish cancer on anyone, but we take so much for granted, and something like this reminds you what's important. (Even down to hair! LOL I will NEVER complain about having to blow-dry and style it again!!) 

Get some sleep my friends and I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

~Andrea

BethBV

Jennie - I have my first chemo (same combo as yours) on Thursday.  My MO faxed in a precription for something that begins with a "D" . . . I think it is supposed to help with the allergic reaction and swelling.  I'm supposed to take 2 pills the day before each treatment and 2 pills the day after.  Other than that I haven't been told anything yet.  I have my chemo teaching session on Monday afternoon so I may hear more then.

I'm doing CT every three weeks for 4 to 6 rounds.  Is that the protocol for the other CT gals?

marianelizabeth

Jennie, I got prescriptions for several drugs and am supposed to take them with me Monday and they will tell me which ones to take before and which after. The D one above I believe is Dexamethasone which I do have, also I have Zofran, Stemetil and a really expensive one, Amend of something like that; $35 a pill. The chemo nurse at chemo teach on Thurday said it is the cadillac of anti nausea (I think that is what it is for). But it is possible that where you live, they provide them all there like alcb said.

DebbieNinja

I am another October chemo girl.  I officially started on 10/4.  I was supposed to start the previous week, but due to swelling around my port, I was delayed for a week.

I was extremely nervous about my first round, but I had 2 wonderful oncology nurses taking care of me and did OK.  I have not bounced back as I was hoping.  Today has been the first day since chemo that I have not dealt with near nonstop nausea.  I have had occasioal vomiting, but the nausea has been horrible.  I also had significant bone pain after receiving the Newlasta injection.  I am finally getting my strength back and starting to feel better today.  

I am normally on the go constantly with work, a husband, 2 teenagers, and a spoiled dog.  So feeling like this is not what I am used to.  

Any suggestions for heelp with the nausea?

ridergirl

Mariane is the really expensive one yellow and shaped like a football? I cant remember what it was called but that was the strong anti-nausea drug they gave me to take before and for two days after. I also have stemetil and something similar in iv form that the home care nurse could give me if i couldnt keep the pills down. It never got nearly that bad tho felt a little icky stomach wise.for a few days and still not much appetite. Had one episode with big D but got some pepto and that fixed me up. I also get the dexamethasone but that i get by iv right before my chemo.



Debbie the only advice i can pass on is to take all your anti-nausea meds as prescribed even if you dont feel like you need it. Its easier to keep it from happening than to stop it once it starts.

That and stay really well hydrated - my chemo teach reccomended at least 2L of water or non-caffeinated drinks the day before and for 3 days after your treatment. My nurse also gave me an extra iv bag of saline after treatment she said lots of people find it helps. Whatever we can do to flush the chemicals out.

Hope it goes well for you.

301724

I was given prescriptions during my 'intro to chemo' appointment an hour or so before the infusion. I filled them at the hospital pharmacy and had them ready to take home with me.

alcb70

Debbie- I agree with ridergirl...lots of non-caffinated fluids, and take your nausea meds before the nausea starts. Also nibble as best you can, as often as you can, on bland foods.  On the Neulasta issue...I felt crappy too. Has your MO suggested Claritin? You may have read in older posts here that some MO's have suggested it to help with the bone pain.  Ask your physician if it may be appropriate for you....it may be worth a shot. I sure hope you feel better! Being nauseated is the worst!   ~ Andrea

Leigh22

Wow, this thread has gotten so big since I first stopped by before my chemo!  I was supposed to get surgery Oct. 11, and had posted on the Oct. Surgery thread, but after I saw my Oncologist, she wanted me to start chemo first on October 10.  So it's been 4 days out of chemo and I am feeling better than expected and that's a huge relief.  The advice from my Dr. and nurses to take the anti-nausea pills (they gave me something that starts with Doxe... and a steriod (because I get motion sickness) the moring after the chemo, even if I feel fine was great advice, I think.  I haven't had any nausea at all and am thankful for that.  The advice from my Dr. to take Motrin 1 hour before getting my neulasta shot the next day after chemo was very good... about 4.5 hours after I had taken 800 mg. of Motrin, I felt the bone pain in my right hip area and it was a bit intense for about a minute or two as I ordered my husband to "find the Motrin right now!" lol  I didnt' have to take any more Motrin after that. 

The chemo day itself went better than I would have ever expected.  I got a port and was told to slather the numbing cream on it one hour before my chemo, and they told me to cut a square of plastic wrap and place on top of it so it wouldn't come off... great idea.  I didn't feel a thing as they put in the needle... phew.  The chemo went slow the first day and I was there from 9:45 (15-20 minute mtg. with Onc.) and then chemo started at 10:30 and ran until around 5-5:30 pm...  It won't be that long the 2nd time, just had to run it slow to make sure no side effects, plus the Herceptin lasts 1.5 hours the first time, but then only an hour subsequent times.

It helped to see the other ladies in the chemo room just relaxing and reading or whatever and we would talk so that made me at ease pretty early on.  Once the actual chemo got started and I could tell that I was going to be fine, I was pretty relaxed the rest of the time.  My Mom was there and a few other relatives stopped by so the support helped.  I read on my iPad, texted on my phone and watched tv. 

Then they gave me the Benedryl and tylenol before my Herceptin dose and it put me out!  I was looped I think, which was probably a good thing as I was a bit nervous about Herceptin for some reason.  It went fine but I was really out of it... I think I may have even been slurring my words to the nurses.  They told me they were going to see if the Dr. could lower my Benedryl dosage the next time! LOL  I didn't mind at all, it made it all go by so fast!

I've been exercising since day two, walking and yoga and slow stretching... expecially helpful after the port surgery that I had about 1 week before chemo. 

Also the nurses told me to eat more "starchy" foods or easy to digest like rice, bananas, chicken, mac n cheese, applesauce, etc. just the first few days to make sure I don't get any nausea along with the meds.  I'm ready to get back to eating some more veggies and fruits now.  Tonight was our wedding anniversary and I wanted Mexican and that's what we did... nothing fancy but that was just the best meal I've had in a while.  I was worried how my tummy would react but I took a heartburn pill right before.  No problems at all... and I ate the chips and salsa.  So happy for just that little meal!

The one question I have is that will the chemo be like this every time if I take my meds like I have been doing or does it progressively get worse or harder after each subsequent chemo session?  Just curious. 

Sorry for such a long post... I hope we can all help each other get through this next year.  It's helped me so much reading through the posts,... I still have a lot more to read through though! 

alcb70

Leigh- I can't answer as to the cummulative effect just yet, but can let you know later this week how my 2nd round goes.  We're on the same regimen, and although everyone is different...I may be able to at least let you know how it compares to round 1. Happy Anniversary! Glad you could have mexican food! I had mouth sores so bad and my stomach wasn't too happy....but I was craving it! Finally ate some last weekend, but I am finding I'm really sensitive to salt now. Odd!!

Leigh22

alcb70- Hi there!  We are on the same regimen.  Yes, I get my 2nd round on Halloween.  I'll be looking forward to hearing how your round 2 goes...  I'm so sorry you are having trouble with mouth sores.  I have been worried about sores.  I can get canker sores easily and also have trouble with cold sores in the past.  I've been using the Biotene mouth rinse, like 5 times per day and just swish it around for about 30 seconds... that has really seemed to ease my dry mouth.  I also bought the biotene toothpaste and noticed a huge difference in using that instead of my old toothpaste.  I bought a Biotene spray and the gum....  I think I bought them out!  I am drinking so much water too because I'm always so thirsty.  That's funny about the salt.  I had some blueberries in my cereal as usual and they tasted so funny, I had to push them to the side... sad because I love my fruit.  I've also been using almond milk to help with any tummy issues instead of real milk.  I did have diarrhea around midnight the first night of chemo and then again about 3 times the next moring so I took Immodium and that helped, but now I haven't really been having a bm in 2 days...  you can go in two different directions so quickly!  They also told me, and probably you too, to rinse with salt water for the sores, but since you are sensitive to salt, that probably would not be good.  But mostly I think the biotene is working really well.  Good luck!  You are from Tennessee... my Dad's family is from Allred, TN and Highpoint, NC.  Hope you get feeling better!  {{HUGS}}

Mumtothree

Leigh, I asked my oncologist the same question and he said that any symptoms should be no worse on subsequent cycles. I saw him on day 7 after the first treatment, and he also said that as I'd only had relatively minor nausea along with fatigue up to then, he didn't expect me to have anything else before the next treatment. So far (I'm now day 12) he's been right! Ali.

Leigh22

Ali - Thank you so much... that makes me feel so much better.  This was a bit scary going in but now I'm relieved it wasn't as bad as I expected.  This is just day 4 for me and I'm feeling a bit tired this morning since I've stopped taking the 3-day regimin of steroids after the chemo.  I was bouncing off the walls and wanting to clean the whole house, but not anymore!  LOL  Sounds like you are doing good.

I had my hair cut Oct. 9, the day before the chemo.  I had about 22 inches cut off and it's very thick so I really wanted to make the big change before I started losing any hair.  My son misses my hair but I kind of love this new, sassy do.  I have a couple of wigs I bought along with some head covers.  I'm actually checking into a place that will make a wig on a cap using your own hair... that would make my son happy! 

Oh and I see you are a mom to three, too.  I have 3 boys and a granddaughter who just turned two. 

Lou4of7

Ridergirl..the yellow football pill is Zofran. I rec'd a prescrition for Zofran 8 mgms twice a day X 3 days ...& I needed them.In between was taking Stemetil 10 mgms every 4 hrs as needed. I had the same experience ..rec'd Decadron I.V just prior to my first chemo & also took my Zofran pill before...make sure to take the Zofran every 12 hrs...because it may be difficult to control the nausea. My chemo I.V. ended @ 11:00 a.m. started to feel a little nausea around 3:00 p.m. Now I know to also take the Stemetil before SE get worse. Experienced nausea, fatigue, & headaches for 4 to 5 days. Now it is 12 days post 1st chemo & I am feeling like myself.(The headaches lasted about 8days.)Also the issue of constipation was a difficult one...took Colace 2 caps twice per day plus Senekot tabs. Next time I will start a little earlier with the Colace & Senekot.

I found that 1/2 cup of coffee in a.m. (even if I did not have a desire for it) helped with the headaches..tried this only @ day 7 approx. Still have no desire to drink wine...taste buds different...can taste the salt in everything now, & some of the foods are sweeter than before..Appetite has returned!  

Does anyone know if the side effects last longer with each chemo treatment? I am receiving the AC for 4 cycles every 21 days...then Taxotere for 4 cycles every 21 days. This will take me to March 2013! Then surgery...I've read somewhere that the chemo SE are cumulative....My 2nd chemo is Oct. 23rd.

At day 12...still have all my hair...scalp feels a little itchy @ times. Purchased my wig & head scarves...ready!

Good luck to all this week! Still some sunshine in the forecast for us in the north...but raining today..

Lou

MsTori

Hi all! I'm new to this thread. I've had my bmx, ALND, and just had my first chemo treatment this past Friday, 12th. The first day I slept a lot. Second day I just went out to CVS and grocery store and ended up wiped out! Slept all day and night except when DM woke me for dinner. Today I am resting. Had my injection of Nuelastra yesterday. My last 1/2 tab decadron today. I really am used to being active, so this is new for me to be so exhausted. My treatment is TCH X6 then finish out Hercepton for the year and start tamoxifen.

MrsCich

Hello beautiful ladies. I'm 16 days out from my first TC infusion and hardly had any side effects. My next infusion is this coming Friday, the 19th. I have another surgery Wednesday to remove parts of my nipples that didn't heal.

ridergirl

Lou the first part of our chemo protocol is the same i too will have AC x 4 every 21 days but as far as i know at this point thats all. We r just off by one day my second treatment is oct 24. Then i am moving at month end so new drs and i guess possibly new opinions on treatment. Not sure if that is good or bad? Where in Ont are you if you dont mind saying? I am north of Barrie.

karen3231950

DebbieNinja

 For nausea, I use Coca-Cola (dilute with water) ginger chews (bought at Whole Foods)and crystalized ginger (bought at Marshall's) and small amounts of pita bread.  I started chemo on 10/2.  Good luck to you.

karen3231950

Leigh22

I have had luck with plain yogurt and canned peaches mixed together for mouth sores. Good luck to you.

fight4two

Hi all,

I am now 12 days out and my hair is still holding on strong.  I have dragged my feet in cutting my hair.  I think I have finally accepted the inevitable, but because I have not yet done the surgery, the loss of my hair will be the first outwardly physical sign that I have this battle to fight.  In fact, aside from my husband, no one else yet knows of my diagnosis.  I have not told my family or friends.  Mostly I have not told them because I want them to enjoy the birth of my son, who is now a happy and healthy 5 weeks old.  We were all happily anticipating the birth of this child, and I just couldn't bring myself to bring sadness to my family during this amazing and joyful time -- a time that was supposed to be reserved for celebration.

My second infusion is scheduled for this tuesday.  I am excited because it will mean another session under my belt, but also nervous. Although I felt lucky that my SE's were not that difficult to handle, I did have some strange feelings in my chest during the administration of the Cytoxan that hasn't really gone away. It wouldn't feel like a big deal, but its not one of the expected SEs that they prepared me for.  I have been advised to tell my oncologist, but I just worry that it will either delay my second treatment (while they are checking it out), or that it is actually a serious problem I should be worried about.  Taking those neupogen shots was a pain (altho they didn't cause any pain besides the injection, until the 7th one, which caused the worst back and hip pain I have ever felt!!) If my treatment is delayed, I will almost feel like I wasted my money and put myself through the shots for nothing! Sigh.

Thanks for being my support!  Sending strength to those going to their first session this week. Be brave and drink your water!  And to those of us going for our second session -- yay-- another one down and one less left to do. 

MrsCich

Fight4two, are you on only Cytoxan? I'm on Taxotere and Cytoxan and I started losing my hair at day 10 but a little more every day up to day 14 (im at day 16 now) when I had it buzzed. I have stubble still of course but my pubic hair is starting to come out too, along with me under arm hair.



Good luck with your next infusion. Do you go every week?

fight4two

MrsCich, I'm on Adriamycin and Cytoxan right now.  I'm doing dose dense, so I go in every two weeks.  Next up will be the Taxotere.

Gulp! Sounds like it could be any day for my hair then.  Hard to cut it when its doing so well, but then I don't think I could handle it coming out in clumps in my hands.

Good luck on your surgery and infusion this week! 

momto5children

Tomorrow is my first chemo, kinda nervous, but ready.  Just took my 20mg decadron and feel a little buzz going on, have to take another 20mg in the morning.  I'm hoping I sleep tonight.  Went and stocked up on my SE meds and color coded them according to symptoms, by hubby just laughs at me.  I even bought the claritin for the Neulasta on Tuesday, anyone know why Claritin works for the SE??  Hoping my journey the next 4 months is smooth and I don't have too many SE keeping me from working or enjoying life.  Have a great week ladies and remember to stay positive!!

Poke

Just checking in, port surgery tomorrow at 8:30. Lots of love to you all.



xoxo

marianelizabeth

momto5, tomorrow is our big day and I hope for both of us that we have minimal or no S/E. I don't have any meds tonight and also have to be NPO as I have a PET scan first. My MO asked that I hold off on the Claritin this cycle so that I can use it as a base to see how it the Neupogen affects me then try it next cycle. I agreed it was a good idea.

Poke, good luck with the port. Mine was tender until today and feels much better so am hoping the first access tomorrow will be painless. I did buy the EMLA cream today.

Jalessi92

Poke, good luck tomorrow with your port surgery! I'll be thinking about you!



I've got chemo round #2 in the morning. Felt like normal this weekend but now I have a constantly running left nostril....no stuffiness or other cold symptoms. I even had pizza for dinner last night -- something that I couldn't imagine eating last week!



No hair loss yet but I am feeling the scalp tingling. I'll probably lose some hair this week.



Have a great week!

Leigh22

Poke - Good luck with the port surgery.  Mine went well, just a little soreness or stiffness in my neck and shoulder but that only lasted a few days.  )

Poke

Thanks guys. Nervous, can't sleep anymore. Good luck to the ladies with their first infusions today. Mine is Wednesday so I am nervous for that also. Jalessi I can't believe you're eating pizza! That gives me hope for a semi-normal diet through this ... Have you been expanding? I have only had one expansion, so I'm at 150.



I bought a lightweight knitted beret-ish hat at Target yesterday. It's the first thing I have tried to put on my head. It looked ridiculous.



I know this sounds snotty but does anyone have a private room for chemo? I toured the facility during class and there is just a big room with zero privacy ... There was one lady in there getting treatment all humped over in her chair like she had been there for weeks - so disheartening. I don't know where or why I assumed there would be a different type of environment for this. Not even a curtain? And if the place fills up my friends may have to leave? Awesome.



All of you are so brave, I hope I can be just as brave this week.

MsTori

momto5- Your on the same chemo meds as me. Are you icing your nails. I just had my first chemo this past Friday. It will save your nails. 15 minutes prior to, during and 15 minutes after the taxotere treatment infusion only.



Poke- had my port put in last Thursday. Today, just a little sore. Not to bad. Praying for you today. Also, what are your chemo meds? Your triple + like I am. There is a fantastic triple + board. The ladies are great and really helpful. You should check it out.



Today is day 3 after my first chemo and starting to feel a little better. My hips and thighs don't ache as much. Actually sitting up having coffee! Yeah!

MsTori

Poke- I have zero privacy. They allowed either my mom or my friend in to help me ice my nails and talk to me. But only if its not crowded and I was also at the end of the room near the door. PM me for info on icing. If your on taxotere. Hang in there. You are going to do fine. Your in my prayers.

marianelizabeth

Our center has 3 patients in each room and 2 visitors allowed per person. I have only seen it on a video so realty today.