Starting chemo November 2012
Comments
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Ltmguy-I am doing TC#2 on Monday.
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I'm doing TC#2 in just over a week. It seems to be coming up fast. I hope this week is good - we should all get at LEAST one good week each time. My #3 is boxing day - I fly out on christmas day after supper... so will join those of you in the group celebrating xmas with some chemo cheer. Do you think they decorate the chemo rooms?
I also have kids -3, 5 and 10. We are doing lots of hand washing, and the MO told me to have them shower when they get home from school and change into fresh clothes. They are usually pretty dirty, and where we live it is the currently the height of flu season so I am being careful as I haven't had a flu shot. My 5 & 10 year olds have coughs, and 3 year seems to never NOT have a runny nose, so no mouth kisses these days. I also wore a mask during the two or three really low immunity day so I could sit beside them or cuddle them and not worry. It seems to have worked. I tried the saline in my nose twice a day on the low days also. I have to admit, it is only round 1 and I am a bit sick of all the health precautions already.
For those of you with younger kids - how much have you told them? I ask because I have told my kids, but my best friend didn't tell her kids anything (she had two under 5). She elected to leave and go to her parents house for the duration of her chemo to protect them from seeing her be sick, and also to give herself the space to rest and recover. My younger two don't get it, but the 10 year old does. She seems to be quite ok with it all.
For those who had a choice, how did you decide whether to go lumpectomy or masectomy? I was given a choice and really struggled with it. Then I just did what the surgeon suggested...
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Hi Ladies,
I had my 2nd chemo treatment on Wednesday 14th.. I was much more prepared for it.
I can't say I feel any different from the 1st treatment to be honest. Same blah taste in mouth, same furry feeling of the tongue 2 days later, sore nails 2 days later, no nausea, headaches yes headaches but managable..... Joint pain from Neulasta shot day after but nothing too severe, have not had any other meds fpr it as they too are managable. Fatique is still there but I don't have time to feel tired as I have an active; almost 3 year old. lol.
Michelle, I'm having trouble with dexamethasone...I mean it's like the day before and 2 days after I feel ok'ish and no sleep then by the Friday when I don't take the steriods I'm feeling flat and sookyish....lol....its definetely the drugs..... I know that my onc said I needed to take them because it reduces fluid retention...is there any other 'plus' as to why we should take them , just curious ??
Take care ladies
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Our nine year old daughter knows everything. Unfortunatly my mom passed from this terrible disease six years ago, and although she was little at the time she remembers the end. We wanted to be open and honest with her. However my jack hole of a neighbor has asked about prognosis in front of her, which we did not discuss. I just told her that mama is not going anywhere, and if someone tells me otherwise I will let her know. She has been satisfied with that.
I chose a mastecomy, well becuase I have the overwhelming need to do things different than my mom. I chose bilateral because I wanted a matching set of whatever I was going to have
I am not a BRCA carrier, so we are not sure why I have breast cancer, possibly pregnancy induced my MO feels. We have an appointment with a geneticist next month. My cancer is also Her2nue negative while my moms was positive. She was diagnosed in Nov. 02 and passed in March 07. Hers was very aggresive and she had bone mets by 05. I feel like I am rambling, but sometimes I have to try to make sense of all this in my head. Sometimes I am kind of sad I delayed reconstruction, but my surgeon left me with ample skin for reconstruction. I just need to decide what new ones I want. Really leaning towards micro fat grafting but that may change.
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politicomama, I love the way you explained things to your daughter -- "if someone tells me otherwise I will let her know." I may borrow that phrase.
MeganB - I chose bmx because I felt that it would reduce the risk of having a recurrence, bilateral for the same reason as politicomama. Also, ILC can be harder to detect; I was very fortunate that the radiologist who reviewed my mammogram saw suspicious calcifications because there was nothing at all that could be felt with a physical exam. I had just been to my obgyn the same day as I had the mammo. Also, ILC has a tendency to appear in the other breast. Another factor was that with a lumpectomy, radiation would have been a definite for me.
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I have my first dose on Thursday. TCH. Chemoteach is an hour right before TX. I had the port put in on Tuesday with a few complications. I am still really sore where the port lays on top of my implant and also where the tubing goes into my jugular.
I feel a little late to the party for the November thread.
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Welcome Bren58 and good luck with your first treatment!
Politicalmama - smack that neighbor!!! But I do love the answer you gave your daughter!!!
Stupid question time - are we allowed to eat fresh fruit & veggies as long as we prepare them at home?? I am craving an orange something awful!!!!! Missing salads etc.
Day 10 after 1st treatment and I feel like myself again. Called an old friend that I haven't talked to in years chatted forever. Meeting my newly diagnosed friend this evening for coffee (decaf for me).
Hope everyone else is having a good SE free day!!!!
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They didn't tell me to avoid any specific foods. I eat salads, fruit, vegetables. As long as your stomach can take it why not? I do avoid raw food, oysters and such.
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Periods: I just got my period! The previous time on chemo, it was gone for 8 months. I really didn't expect to get it this month, but apparently the FEC wasn't strong enough to stop it yet. Anyone else? I had made plans for my "good week" and now I'd have to deal with it :-)
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I'm starting my chemo tomorrow, just got the OncoDX results (score of 25) day before yesterday and made the decision. Yes I'm terrified.
Don't know if there is anything else I should be doing to prepare for this. I bought everything I thought I would need from the shopping list I found posted here. I've told all of my loved ones. But I've also been brushing my long blond hair every hour or so, and taking pictures of it so I won't forget how pretty it was. Yup I'm scared. Until today, I don't think that I really accepted that this tiny little pea shaped thing could kill me.
I've done all of the research, but I still don't know what to expect. You girls are helping me.
Thank you
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I was really under the impression that at my age (49) the chemo would put me into immediate menopause. Nope, I got a period 2 weeks after dose #1. Sheeeesshhh.... That was, hmm, about 3 1/2 weeks ago so I guess I'll find out soon whether it will happen this month too.
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Evening ladies.....a very late one at that ! Hope we are all doing good :0) have appt on tuesday so hopefully l will then know when my 1st hit of the chemo will be - bit anxious but thats to be expected especially when you have a needle phobia......l am a dental nurse by trade.....go figure ?!!! Much to tha amusement of family & friends.....;0) with all of us on here rooting each other on , sure we will all be kicking arse ! So chin up ladies - stay strong & keep smiling because that will piss off the 'C' word & here's hoping it will soon piss of for good - should have known better then to mess with us.....! :0) enjoy the remainder of the evening & lets go kick arse....! Lots of love to you all xxxx
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Welcome Bren58. I am exactly 3 weeks behng you, TCH #2 on Thursday. You can do it.
Good luck Destiny979!
TxJunebug & Eleni my doc was less specific said any food is better than no food (except sushi duh), but research suggests avoiding salads since lettuce is too hard to clean, cooked veggies are healthiest plus lean proteins, and peel all fruits - thick-skinned fruits are best- to avoid bacteria. I can't do citrus due to stomach side effects, but as long as you peel them ..if you buy juice elsewhere be sure it's pasteurized. Anti-Cancer is a great book on keeping your 'terrain' toxic to cancer, with food tips as well.
If anyone is up for a sentimental laugh, my friend who took care of me (another writer)in round one started a blog...www.sickofpink.tumblr.com
And yes 5luvbugs I was gone a day because I actuallly slept past 4 am for a change! I am turning down freelance work that involves too much thinking though, chemo brain is a reality....
Sweet dreams ladies!
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I start on Tuesday morning. The plan is for ACT but I want to talk with onc one more time before the "juice" goes in. I'm scared of all the SE's but have a whole stash of OTC meds in my purse. I am getting the chemo cut the day after with a wig fitting.
Re: foods - is anyone doing juicing during chemo (fresh fruits and vegetables)? I buy organic but don't know about bacteria.
Good luck other first time gals.
Hugs,
Wendy
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Wendy, I just picked up a great cook book by Kris Carr. She's got tons of great sounding recipies and quite a few are for juicing. It also has a list foods with the most pesticides and with the least... I picked up a few things that will be easy on the stomach just in case I'm not feeling so hot.. Just going to play it day to day.
Seems like everyone is doing ok today, hopefully we will all have more good days than bad ones.
Politicomama- txjunebug is right, you're neighbor could use a slap for asking such a thing.
May we all get through this week with as minimal SE as possible.
Let's kick cancer in the ass.
Hugs to all of you
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Marly - I, like most, was scared of my first chemo, too. With the steroids and other drugs, it was actually quite easy. No nausea at all. Nurse mentioned drinking lots of water and said it was a key to keeping nausea away. It worked for me hopefully it will work for you too. Remember all of us are here for you. Vent, cry, laugh, celebrate or just to say Hey I made it thru day 1 and it was good.
Sickofpink - thanks for the info on the fresh fruit thing. I'm going to try an orange tomorrow. Miss the salads but will stick with cooking my veggies for now.
Hope you all have a great night!
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Traii - I hated the dexamethasome too. Can they reduce your dose if it is bothering you? My clinic said they could, and I ended up not having to take it the third day.
Politicomama - your neighbour sounds like a complete idiot. I am also not a fan of the people who whisper questions at me in front of my ten year old daughter. If I have told her it is going to be ok, the way others treat it should back this up. Like you did, I will tell her to come to me if anyone tells her anything about BC that contradicts what we have told her. That's a good idea, as who knows what people might be dumb enough to say.
Bren58 -its never too late to join this party! It will be going for months....:) Welcome!
On fresh fruits and veggies - where I live, fruits and veggies have to be soaked in a bleach solution for a 1/2 hour and then peeled. If anyone is worried, that can kill off anything on salad that would buy in a grocery store. It isn't that good for you, but probably better than not eating fresh foods at all. I am avoiding raw fruit and veggies til the end of chemo given how dirty produce is here. The last thing I need is a stomach bacteria or the runs, so V8 and frozen fresh fruits and veggies are my friends. I miss salad....
Anyone else experiencing insomnia? How can I be so tired at the end of the day, and then lie in bed staring at the ceiling...
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Wendymartha - I was thinking of juicing, but have decided to try smoothies instead after speaking to a dietitian at a breast cancer specific nutrition class offered by our cancer agency here in Vancouver. I was thinking of juicing because since the diagnosis and surgery I had somewhat lost my desire to be in the kitchen and wasn't eating as well as I used to... I thought I could at least get more veggies into me if I juiced. But the dietitian mentioned that fibre and phytochemicals are lost when you juice so it's best not to go this route if you can eat the whole food item. I've since tried a couple of smoothie recipes that incorporate both greens and fruit and have found them to be surprisingly yummy (even my 6-yr old daughter likes them). Better yet, it's way more convenient to make a smoothie than deal with juicing in terms of clean-up. I've also made every effort to get back on track with proper nutrition as to not develop nasty habits that will be hard to break once active treatment is done. So far, so good. I'm closer to my usual low-fat, plant-based diet now since putting on my big girl pants and getting back in the kitchen.
Best of luck whatever you choose. I'm blessed with a bounty of great produce grown locally to incorporate into my diet so I'm hoping my appetite for fruits and veggies remains once I start chemo.
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To prevent mouth sores, I rinse with baking soda after eating, then I swish a mixture of glutamine in water and swallow it. Apparently glutamine is effective in children receiving chemo to prevent stomach issues and mouth ulcers. So far I have had no issues.
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Megan...im going to ask re steriod...thanks for that
Yes tired by the time I put little one to bed then i sit down feet up and wide awake..go to bed then lay there a bit more while hubby snores and my son in dream land.....lol -
Welcome to the new girls - your in the right place, we share lots of information, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry-we have humor, venting, shoulders to cry on - you name it we are here....
Diet/Exercise - Have any of you exercised since your surgery? First it was the sore boob and arm pit, then it was the port, it's been months and now I feel flabby everywhere, wait- I am
! I'm eating more protein. Hair - lost most of it in 6 days ! I should have just shaved it. Fresh Fruit/Veggies I miss salads also but I use a commercial Fruit & Veggie wash on leafy greens and I peel the skins off apples,oranges, etc. but I find it's easier and safer to use frozen veggies. Juicing - I juice sometimes but I'd rather eat the whole fruit, as sickofpink or someone said, it's more nutritious. Germs I am so sick of being a germophobic - I am becoming a recluse for fear of germs and I'm tired of using hand sanitzer and clorox wipes but I will..and I miss my grandchildren- you know, the ones who come home from school with germs you could almost see dancing in front of you!!! Steroids - being on steroids is great if you want to do things run marathons, climb mountains and move furniture (yesterday I almost pulled my port out moving furniture) for you younger girls, awake all night is kind of like menopause and I haven't slept good in years!!!
Well it's 6:00am, chat later girls
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Good Morning Girls...I have a physical therapy appt today for measurements. I'm assuming that's for a compression sleeve in case I would need it. I imagine they will give me some exercises to get back range of motion in my left arm. No problems so far.
After that, I go upstairs to see the onc, go over scan results, and set date for chemo start.
Are any of you going to be taking taxol? Or is that for older gals like me?
I was wondering if they give steroids with taxol. I dread the thought of insomnia. I have taken an OTC for sleep for many years. But, with other meds, they dont always work.
Wishing you all a no SE day.
Blessings
Paula -
5Luvbugs-I'm with you on feeling "flabby." I had started working on my walking after my bmx, then when I had the second repair surgery, my PS told me to take it very easy - no exercise at all - to make sure I healed with no further problems. So that's been frustrating. I see the PS this evening and I hope he says I can start exercising and releases me for chemo.
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Didn't sleep much last night and now I'm in a poor pitiful me mood. Hoping my boss (whose back from vacation) will leave me alone today.
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I'm off to chemo #2 today. For some strange reason, the steroids don't affect me-sleep like a baby on them. Have a good day, ladies!
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I feel like shit today - nothing treatment related, just this damn cold. I'm so congested and snotty and generally feel crap.
Went to see my onc today to catch up on how I've been since chemo. Has bloods taken o check I'm okay for chemo on Friday. She reckons I will be because I'm so determined to not have any delays. I didn't realise she knew me so well already!
She asked about muscle and joint pains from Taxotere and I said I never had any. She said as I get further into treatment I might start feeling it. :-(
I told her my worst side effect was the depression from the steroids but she insisted I had to have them and at the same dose. She said everyone reacts to Taxotere and if I don't have the dexamethasone, the Taxotere will send me into full anaphylactic shock. Someone told me of a woman who told her docs she was taking the steroids but didn't and had no reaction so I don't know what to believe. Anyway, she suggested that it could be the abrupt stopping of the dexamethasone after the three days that is the problem so recommended tapering them off. So three days of 16mg, then another three days taking 8mg, 4mg and then 2mg. It's risky as my instinct is to get off them as soon as possible but it was a couple of days after stopping them last time that I began to feel depressed. It's worth a try I guess. I'll let you know how I feel this time next week!
Oh and I reckon the nurses have jinxed me. They commented on how I still have all my hair after using the cold cap but I ran my fingers through it on the way to the car and had about 4 strands wrapped around my fingers. Better get the bi-weekly wash out the way while it's still holding on... -
TYLM - hope round 2 goes well. Let us know how it goes.
Michelle - sorry you've got a cold. Getting sick just sucks!!! Hope it's over by Friday. Good thing to know about the muscle pain. Not that I'm looking forward to it just helps to understand why it is happening.
I'm at work but don't want to be. Much rather be home on the couch with the dogs.
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marian - hopefully I am like you and my S/Es don't intensify with each treatment - it is interesting how we are all so different, isn't it? My thoughts are with you for your 4th treatment tomorrow - how are you feeling about it? You will be halfway through - yeah!!!
Just got back from a nice long walk in the cold but sunny morning - now off to acupuncture at Inspire Health. I will take #5 neupogen shot today, then a week off from giving shots. Hopefully the blood counts will be good. You haven't had an issue with your white cells dropping - have you?
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Well, I am not sure if I should join November or December. I have my first chemo session tomorrow and of course, I am nervous. Hoping the side effects are kind to me. I have 2 boys, age 5 and 8 and we home school.
I read all the posts and will get my chemo bag ready tonight. I have the teaching session, all kinds of other appointments so it will be a long day. Hoping to get the Christmas tree up tonight and enjoy the evening. I am grateful to find this board for support. -
FL Mom - Join anyone you choose! As you know by know, we jump around from board to board and you'll be welcome anywhere.
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