Starting chemo November 2012

Dakota212

Thankful-

I couldn't agree more. It wasn't a hard decision about the BMX, but the hair. So hard. I am with u !! 😍We can get thru this too

Eleni

According to the docs I need to have blood work once on day 10 after the the 1st chemo and then every Friday before the chemo. I eat spinach, beetroot, lentls, whatever it's necessary to keep the iron levels good.

Teeth: what do you ladies do about your teeth? They say that chemo costs one tooth. The previous time I took care that it won't happen. This time I asked again my dentist and he gave me a medical toothpaste with extra fluoride which I use once a week. The taste in the mouth is getting ugly. It's going to get even worse and for months everything is going to taste awful, even chocolate. I remember how happy I was when I realised that the taste came back again.

Wine: the nurse said 1 glass is ok. I tried it on day 5 after the first chemo and became dizzy and almost fainted. I stay away from booze until this Saturday, I go to a party. I think I'll try again in week 3. Anyhoo, if you do drink, try to be in a safe environment with people around and monitor your reaction to it.

Hair: very thin but still around. I hope it stays till next week Tuesday, I go out for diner with colleagues. I'd like not to have to deal with hats and scarves by then. The previous time I cut my hair really short in anticipation of the falling. This time, I just keep it as it is. When it is time I'll shave it off. I've bought a cute short Raquel Welch wig. I tried it on and my kids hated but it makes me happy, so they'd better get used to it :-)

Work: I don't go to work but I feel fit enough, so I'm fixing the house and meeting friends on my good days. How many of us are still working during chemo?

txjunebug

Eleni - I'm working thru treatment.  So far just missed the day I had my first chemo treatment last week.  Will be exploring options to work from home for some days when I have less energy or as I've said before I will go home if any coworker comes to work sick.  I've been blunt and told them your cold could put me in the hospital.  Some of them wouldn't get the point unless it was drastic.

I have 12 weeks of short term disability but it sucks!  You have to be out for a week before it kicks in so basically if I want to get paid I need to be at work. 

5Luvbugs - doctor called me in an antibiotic so DH is picking it up for me.  Hope you get to feeling better!!!

Eleni

Junebug, you really have to take care of yourself, even if that means being blant. I've stopped with the handshakes, I told them they're all dangerous for me. But I still go out and be among people whenever I can. Spending the whole time in a bubble, it's not an option.

5LuvBugs

Eleni: Teeth - I now use Biotene Oral Balance toothpaste and put a dab of baking soda on it - my teeth are looking whiter also...Once I forgot and used my regular toothpaste and my poor mouth was on fire.  make sure it's the oral balance and not the dry mouth one.  Dental floss, asked the doc and he said use the woven kind I just bought Reach Gum Care soft woven floss..

Wine, I will have a glass tomorrow

Germs:  I keep myself protected (constantly using germicide,etc) but I go out where there aren't large crowds - can't stay home all the time although I'm getting settled in..

Hair, when it's time you wear that cute wig - everyone will adjust.  I have mine on now, it's that or have hair, hair everywhere! Guess I'll have it buzzed if it keeps falling out like this otherwise I'll play it by ear...

I am so glad we are all here for eachother - who else could we talk to like this

5LuvBugs

Michelle I just want to thank you for starting this forum, I'm sure everyone here feels the same way.  Three cheers for Michelle - our leader.

When we are finished these chemo treatments I have to join the Radiation Before during after - will any else be joining me?

keetmom

Port is in...blows me away it is done awake but I am home already and feeling good...they also had to pull some fluid off my expanders/ what ever....I had a pop can full on one side and about a half on the other...look much flatter now...but feel SO SO SO much better!

txjunebug

Keetmom - glad to hear it went well!!!

Three cheers for Michelle for starting this thread and a big hug too!!

5Luvbugs - I'll be having 5 weeks of radiation after chemo so I'll follow you over to the other board too!!!   You're stuck with me for now!!

My scalp is already tingling today and it's only day 6.   Look at me being the overachiever on the hair thing!!!  

Eleni

Hey Junebug, you might also be the overachiever on getting your hair back in spring/summer :-))

5LuvBugs

Keetmom, I am so glad that all went well with the port and the expanders...Now you can relax a bit. 

Junebug I am really happy to hear that I will have company on the Rads board-not happy that we need it, just happy to have a friend.  Give that hair thing another 9-10 days and it will be flying out like mine... it's a mess!!!

txjunebug

Thanks Eleni -- I hadn't thought of it that way!!!  I should have hair before it gets too hot in the summer which in Texas starts around March!! 

michellej1980

Aw thanks guys. I think Traii said someone started a Nov chemo topic soon after I did so I might go find it and bring those peeps over here.



Day 14 and not even head tingling. I had a dream last night that I was having chemo and the nurse had let my scalp cooling machine switch off for an hour while I was asleep. I woke up (in my dream) to a warm cap and started shouting "I'm going to lose all my hair now because of you!!" I was furious because she didn't care and was telling me to get another nurse to sort it out because she was on a break. LOL.



Anyone else have moments when they become obsessed with looking at recurrence stats and prognosis? Every now and again I get consumed by my cancer pathology and worrying about various features of it. I start Googling and get really demoralised by it all. I know there is no point as there is no rhyme or reason to this disease so the stats mean nothing to me as an individual. I just keep worrying myself. Argh!

txjunebug

Michelle - My BS told me to stay off the internet except for this website and the American Cancer Society.  Too many ways you can get yourself mixed up and worked up she said. 

I too have viewed some of the other boards and stats and it just scares the daylights out of me so I'm sticking to this one.   Call me chicken.... 

michellej1980

I've been told the same but I told them I couldn't promise anything!

maryah930

Power port in, came up to the chemo ward, taking me an hour and a half early. Great nurse, warm blanket. Could be the drugs from port placement, but calm and ready to go!

5LuvBugs

God Bless Maryah..you should be about finished now...(2 hours right) ..1 down;; yeah..don't forget to drink lots of water.....

Eleni

Michelle, in October I was a basket case. I was checking internet for all the worst case scenarios, it was before I had decided to do the chemo. The doc also told me to avoid checking sites but I just couldn't help myself. Stories, statistics, information were continuously in my head and I had panic attacks. Until I said: yes, I'm going to do the chemo. After that, peace came over and I stopped reading doom scenarios.

I changed the strategy and start reading this forum for how to get through chemo, what food to eat to avoid cancer and taking one step at the time.

I hope you soon find the peace to concentrate on you for the time being. Trust your medical team that they know what they're doing. Recurrence or not is a lottery, unfortunately.

Thankful4mylife

Soooo.....out of curiosity, everyone....how was your cancer discovered?? I've been a mammography tech for 11 years (and now here I am, the patient) so I've always been curious as to how people found their cancer. Self exam? Mammo? Ultrasound? MRI?

I found mine, completely by accident. I had brushed my arm across my chest and a lump was sticking out. After all my years of doing mammo, I just knew it was "bad". My heart sank. I was able to have a mammo and ultrasound the next day. Mammo was NORMAL...ultrasound was "probably benign, short interval follow up recommended". Yep...I had the sneaky kind, the one that hides on mammo and fools even the most talented and skilled radiologist into thinking it's "probably" benign. My gut still said there was nothing normal about the lump. My PCP ordered an MRI which showed 3 solid nodules in the left breast. I had my biopsy the following week...and the rest is history. I thank God every day for the career path I chose. Had I not been in this field, I would've just walked away thinking I was "fine". Doesn't seem quite fair that after alllll these years in this field, I'm among the 10% of people whose cancer isn't seen on imaging!!!



And I agree with the rest....thank you, Michelle for starting this thread. My chemo nurses are awesome.....but....there's nothing like the support of people who are going thru it.



One more lil tid bit.....both my mother AND father had breast cancer.....and I'm BRCA NEGATIVE!

adagio

Traii - I am getting AC/T dose dense which means I have them every two weeks. I do not have a port, so I was worried about that, but no problems there. Unfortunately my first night was awful - threw up 10times and had to call the nurse and my oncologist. Hoping for a better night tonight!

Dakota - hope #2 goes well for you and that you have a decent night. It will be interesting to compare the different side effects. I sure hope my 2nd round is easier in that regard.

MeganB - regarding low white cells - I just heard about a study done in Israel on 100 women on chemotherapy. Half took 2ounces of wheatgrass juice daily and the other half didn't. The half that did had significantly higher blood levels during chemo - now to find some wheatgrass juice!

txjunebug - in theory the water drinking is a good idea. I drank gallons, but because I had vomiting it backfired on me because there was such a voluminous amount of throw up for my poor husband to clean up because it came on so suddenly that I didn't make it to the bathroom on time and it was projectile - not a pretty picture in the middle of the night. I don't believe this guy has ever cleaned up throw up before!! I had to show him how in spite of my state - but he did it all willingly so that was a plus. Grateful for a loving husband.

keetmom

Thankful....half of mine was on a mamogram....the other half found in my opposite breast by accident because I did a bilateral masectomy...

Anonymous

Thankful I've been taking care of everyone. I have a 24 year old son who has been Type I diabetic since age 6, taking 4 insulin injections daily, plus he has migraines, enlarged liver and is HIV positive. Shortly after that diagnosis in March 2009 my beloved Aunt June fell in her home and suffered a severe head injury, so after surgery and rehab she came to live with us. I did everything for her including changing diapers. She was with me for over 3 years until she passed away in late June.



After 12 years of sobriety, 5 years ago my husband literally jumped off the wagon.



So after years of taking care of everyone else, I forgot to take care of me.



Two weeks after my Aunt June (affectionately called A.J.) died, I noticed some tenderness in my left nipple, similar to the tenderness I sometimes had back in the day when I still had periods. It didn't last but an hour or 2, but it was enough to remind me that I was late getting a mammogram. I figured a year and half or 2 years late, but it was 4 years. I was so upset with myself and even embarrassed. I had always gotten them yearly since turning 40.



Two weeks later I got the mammo. The left one hurt like the devil. I just kind of knew. A few days later I had another mammo and ultra sound. While I was still on the table the radiologist came in to say, he was 70% sure there was a cancer. A week later another US and a biopsy. Two days later the surgeons office called with the dreaded news.



So, here I am, 4 weeks out from mastectomy, last drain out yesterday, scans today to rule out mets. I see the onc on Monday to discuss scans, port placement, and start date for chemo.



Thank you all for sharing your journey with me. I'm not sure ill get started by the end of next week which is the end of November, but I feel like you're my new besties.



Blessings

Paula

michellej1980

Mine was found on annual MRI. I was being monitored because of my previous chest radiation. I believe there was something suspicious on my previous MRI but it was never followed up. I am trying not to wonder how it may have affected my treatment/prognosis had it been checked earlier. Tumour didn't show on subsequent mammo or U/S so that was promising but thankfully, because of my history, the docs still decided a biopsy would be advisable. I was shocked at the final size - 4.5cm - and it's that and my 'extensive vascular invasion' that I am unable to stop worrying about...



I think my throat is feeling scratchy and thinking about it, I have been more tired today in a fluey way. I hope I've not caught anything...:-/

keetmom

Hugs Soteria...I too am a caregiver...Have a cognitively disabled 13 year old, and my 10 year old has the same genetic disorder as me and in her 10 years has had 26 surgeries...most of which was in the past 5, she has had a leg amputated...spent most of the last 5 years in chemo...recently spinal fusion for scholiosis...it is east to forget about ourselves when we are busy taking care of others...

Anonymous

Keetmom thanks for the hugs. My, you've really been through it too! Prayers for your babies!



Michelle I can't imagine how difficult this has all been for you.



Thanks to you both for sharing.



Blessings

Paula

marianelizabeth

Adagio, I know we discussed the antinausea drugs and your MO did not prescribe Emend - when you see her next ask or even tell her that others in same cancer agency get it in addition to the rest we discussed. And for same chemo. I am so sorry that after feeling OK last night that happened. Also Ativan is prescrbied both for antinausea and insomnia so you might want to get that on hand too.

I found my own lump after a normal screening mammogram 5 months earlier. I just happened to put my cold left hand in my armpit after I woke up one day. 

marianelizabeth

Adagio forgot to ask what MO and nurse told you to do in the middle of the night?

Anonymous

Marianeliza I'm also glad to know about the Ativan. I haven't started treatment yet, but I worry a lot about insomnia. I'll ask my onc.



Your dx is so similar to mine and we were diagnosed on the same day.



Blessings

Paula

Traii

Michelle mine started like yours too previous chest radiation but it cured us and we'll be fine again.

As for statistics dont reasearch i did and broke down...we are young we' ll beat this bitch again!!



Hairs thinner i wish u well with cooling caps...i didy nails in the gloves yesterday..hands are dry and peeling bloody taxotere....needless to say fluffy tongue feeling.

But 2 nd day today post chemo and went christmas shopping a little buggered but havin a lie down while my son naps!! Ahhhh

adagio

marian - I did phone the MO and she prescribed another drug for me and stemitil suppositories instead of tablets which will be beneficial. She was very helpful I took the med at 9am this morning and have felt no nausea since. She wanted me to come for IV fluids, and iv drugs, but I said I would like to wait and see what happens - we will see how tonight goes!! I have drunk 3 mugs of lemon ginger tea (not all at the same time) with a big spoonful of honey it it and they have stayed down. I didn't feel at all hungry all day, but just ate half a veggies sandwich, small bowl of soup and very small amount of salad. Keeping my fingers crossed. I forgot to ask about the Ativan - next time. I took a 2hour nap this afternoon, got up and had a shower, and now I came back from walking a couple of blocks. Got to get the legs moving. How long did your nausea last?

Thankful4mylife

Big hugs to keetmom and soteria for all you must endure on a daily basis with your "babies".



My kids have been coughing all week and now I'm feeling a sore throat coming on...ugh!



Hope everyone is feeling good tonight.