Starting chemo November 2012
Comments
-
TLYM - Just want you to be careful if you plan to go to the gym when you start chemo = you sure don't want to get an infection and we all know gyms are pretty germy places. Maybe you could use a yoga cd at home just to be safe. My cancer center offers some Reiki and other services in a much more sterile environment, maybe yours will also.
- Welcome Skimommi - I think you will be just fine, the hardest part is getting everything organized on your schedule and mostly in your head, once you begin you will relax a lot more and go buy a nice juicy steak for the night of your first chemo treatment...I had mine yesterday, today I get the Neulesta shot and next week my white count will be very low, so plan to eat up some protein...
- Good Luck to you and all the girls here.. We can do this together... Smile, be happy..
-
As I read through these posts I remembered back a few months when my fears, worries, and obsessions were exactly the same as what I am reading. I was terrified of losing my hair, being too sick from chemo to function, and traumatized by the unknown. There were people that came through for me and told me their experience. Everyone is different, but there are many similarities.
I discover the lump on 05.10.12, saw the doctor on 05.14.12, had the mammies grammed and an ultrasound on 05.15, biopsy on 05.17 and was told I have IDC on 05.18 (which happened to be the four year anniversary of my mom's death from lung cancer). I had a Bilateral Mastectomy with Tissue Expander placement on 06.15.12. The TE's were expanded over the next two months. I had a portacath placed on 07.09 and I began chemo on 08.14. The tumor was 2.5 cm. Positive Sentinel Node disection. Grade III. Triple positive. Agressive cancer...Agressive treatment is what the oncologist said. I am so so glad I have the port. Particularly because I have Herceptin treatments for a year. I watch mostly women come in every week and have to be poked two or three or four times to get an IV started because their veins are so blown from the bag after bag of crap. The port turns out to be easy. The access it which has always been painless for me. The area gets calloused. Then there is a connector that they use to plug in each bag.
Treatment is TCH every 21 days and Herceptin every 7 days for the first 18 weeks, then Herceptin every 21 days for the following 33 weeks. 33 daily external radiation beginning 12.18.12. Five years of Tamoxifen. That semed daunting. Truth is today I had my fifth TCH.
The first treatment week was the worst. I didn't know what to expect. I thought they would hook up a bag, drip it in, and I would go home. It turns out they started me with 30 minutes of Saline, 30 minutes of Benadryl, 30 minutes of Famotadine, 30 minutes of Steroids, then 1 hour of Taxotere, 1 hour of Carboplatin, and 90 minutes of Herceptin. ARG...that took forever. I developed a metal taste in my mouth the day after TCH and food did not taste very good. The anti nausea's worked for the most part, but the food tasted so so bad. I slept most of the first four days after. I did not eat and lost six pounds in two days. I realized I was weak because I wasn't eating or drinking. On day five I forced myself to eat bits and pieces. 1/2 of a banana or piece of toast, a yogurt or some nuts. Just anything. I use only plastic utensils and do not cook in metal pans. The metal taste for me last from day after big chemo until day 16...then I get five days where the food tastes good...and I eat! I felt better after my second treatment, which also took much less time as they go slow the first treatment to watch for negative reactions. It only took four and a half hours the second treatment. I ate better and slept less. I have felt better and better. I am more fatigued, but I am less nauseas and just feel generally better. I have the Neulasta shot the day after TCH. That shot nearly killed me the first two times. As soon as I had the shot and then stopped the steroids I got incredibly bad long bone pain. When I had the shot in the shoulder the pain was in my neck and back, when I had the shot in the stomach the pain was from my hips to my feet. After allowing the shot to leave me suffering for days I called the triage nurse and explained I had been taking Oxycodone and ibuprofen and nothing was touching the pain. She told me to take 3 Aleve (Naproxen) immediately and then 2 every 12 hours. She said the next time begin the night before the Neulasta shot and take them for 7-10 days after the Neulasta shot, as it is a 10 day time release. That solved that problem...don't even need the Oxycodone! I also started acupuncture which is supposed to increase your immune system. I go twice and week and it keeps the nausea completely at bay now.
The steroids have a bad effect on me. I get roid rage. I feel like beating people up and taking their food! lol. My oncologist has lowered my dose considerably. There was a time when he asked if he should put me on Haldol (for those of you that don't know that is the drug they give to subdue people in mental hospitals...UH NO THANK YOU).
I did lose my hair. I had cut it shorter and it was coming out by the handful 2 days before my second big chemo. I had purchased an expensive wig and a bang piece and several hats. I had never heard of the cold caps. I shaved my head 19 days after my second big chemo. I have worn the wig twice. I feel like it needs tape to stay in place and the wig tape tears my skin off. The wig squeezes my head. I look dumb in scarves as I have a very short forehead...and I opted from the day of shaving to rock the bald and wear cute earrings! The loss of the hair on my head was not as bad as I thought...Truly it is the nose hair I miss...things can roam freely in and out of my nose with nothing to slow them down..and Taxotere makes your nose run! Nose hair is the unsung hero of the face..I will be grateful for its return.
I know someone is worried about nails. I have worn acrylic nails for 13 straight years. I had them professionally removed before I started chemo. I went to the beauty supply and purchased an LED light for $50 and some LED cure Gel top coat. I trimmed my nails very short, painted them with two coats of regular polish and then baked on the gel coat with the LED light. The polish last three weeks and I have had one nail that has split a little...but I used the gel top coat and baked baby back in place. It has been easy as all get out and I get tons of compliments.
The long and short of this story is that it is much scarier to think about than it really is. I am 47, I have seven kids between 15 and 22. I have a full time job as a Child Protective Service Investigator that I managed to continue to work until October 29th...(Now I'm on leave)...I have continued to live my life....A little slower right now, but living. I even walked the 5K race for the cure five days after big chemo...I was last to cross the finish line at number 3704...but I did it.
Yesterday I developed lymphadema in my legs and am forced to wear these really sexy compression stocking on both legs! I put them on and laughed hysterically. The oncologist prescribed them for at least a year and told me I could possibly need to wear them forever. At this point, excuse the language, but who gives a fuck? I just wanna wake up on the right side of the dirt for the next 50 years. Get this cancer gone. Give me some 20 year old stripper boobs. And lets get my food back to tasting like food. I would also like a little head hair and ALL of the nose hair, but Cancer can keep the leg hair...they are so silky smooth.
You can do this ladies. Keep the humor. Laugh often and loud. Go to the local department store and try on silly hats and take cell phone pictures...that is always a hoot. I have pictures of myself in a 100 different hats, scarves, and head bands, I pose and wave a laugh with my friends until tears stream down my face...it is very cathartic.
Cancer sucks, but kicking it's ass feels phenomenal! Go Get it Girls. This Cancer doesn't know who it is messing with! ((Hugs))
-
Ckolender-
That was AWESOME!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! I start tomorrow and ready to get on with it!!! OMG I love u and I don't even know u!!! Lol -
ckolendar I love you too!!! You made my day and soon I will be off to get my 1st Neulesta shot - better get some Aleve too... Hope to see you back here soon, we need a good perk and your are it !
-
Tricia -
Good luck with the shot!! Hope u feel ok after. Let us know how u do!! -
Welcome skimommi!
-
good morning Ladies... Well yesterday was an election night mare. Bad planning for the port placement. I was scheduled for 630 AM and my doc went to vote and had not shown up By 930 in which I was already 30 min late for my TE appt. they finally came an got me a 1020. The room was ot ready and it took them 2 hours before I was done. I was 30 Min late for mt Appt with my Onc doc now and 5 hours late for TE fill. So I was not a happy camper. I saw my 2 doc's(now it was 4pm) and told the infusion clinic that I would be willing to come back the next day due to the length of the infusion(we live 5 hours from my treatment place so we travel) so I am sitting here typing as I am having my first treatment. we have had to waer it down as I have had some numbing issues. I am glad to be sitting here. Working on a event for a NON profit. Life is great.
-
Ltmguy -
That stinks about yesterday, but at least it's in the past. Leave it there
. Good luck today, fingers crossed for nooooo SE's 😃😃😃 -
Hi everyone, I start AC-T next Thursday the 15th. 2 days shy of a month out from my bmx. I'm nervous and optimistic all wound into one. I have a 14 month old boy and a 9 year old daughter. I fear the germs! I love the idea of keeping hand sanitizer every where.
-
Politico mamma-
We are very similar. I start tomorrow same thing -
Tricia - glad to hear you're doing well after the first treatment. It gives me hope.
Ckolendar - thank you for sharing your wisdom and advice for us new girls.
Got my port installed this morning. Not bad at all. Feel a little discomfort at the incision site but that's it. Was home in 4 hours from the time we arrived at the hospital.
Hope everyone is having a great day!
-
Txjunebug-
Hope ur feeling better! -
Greetings from the Oct 2012 group. Just had my second infusion today ... wanted to say good luck to you all and feel free to pop over if you have questions about getting started.
xoxo
-
Junebug, I feel your pain. I have a very nice boss who survived breast cancer and understands what I'm dealing with. Then I have a second boss who is very sweet in her own way, but distinctively self-centered. She is understanding and empathetic as long as you don't inconvenience her. I suspect chemo will be an incovenience, especially since she has to cover my meetings when I'm out and make sure she knows what she's talking about. I try to fill her in, but she panics and gets mad at me.
I agree, our objective isn't just to survive chemo, but to thrive after this! So let's both you and I keep telling ourselves that we are our own focus. Because if we aren't then who will be?
Ok November team, I take my very first steroid tomorrow. I'm one of those people who doesn't take an aspirin unless my head fell off, so I'm worrying. Hopefully I won't go into roid rage at work.
-
I'm sneaking in over here from the Cancer Sisters 2012 page. I just had my first chemo yesterday. I'll be doing 6 rounds of TC, every 3 weeks for 18 weeks. I got a Neulasta shot today, and I was also told to take Claritin ahead of time. I'm hoping it helps, but my jaw ached about an hour after. It's finally settling down, so hopefully I'll be able to eat my dinner.
What are cold caps? I don't think I've heard of those. I'm pretty much resolved to losing my hair. In fact, when my stylist shaves it off for me, I plan to take in some eyeball temporary tattoos and have her put them on the back of my head so when my girlies get home from school I can show them that Mommy really DOES have eyes on the back of her head!
My one question is... do the symptoms get worse as the chemo goes on, or can you pretty much judge your reaction by the first dose? So far I've had very little stomach trouble, and it would be nice to know what to expect as I go on.
Thanks, BC sisters!
-
Amethystbutterfly I just love the "Mommy really DOES have eyes on the back of her head" sounds like you had a good laugh thinking that one up.
ltmguy - I'm sure glad your election day nightmare is over - sounds like it really was a nightmare. I can't believe you have to travel 5 hours for treatment - I am lucky to only have 25 minutes...and if I get energy, there's shopping malls and restaurants everywhere around but I'm laying low because I don't want any infections....
Dakota and anyone else who wants to know. I had my first Neulesta shot this afternoon and I feel fine. Came home made a big pot of veggie, beef & barley soup - got exhausted, took a tylenol and a 2 hour nap until the phone rang with one of those annoying sales calls, woke up and ate my yummie soup. Lucky it's quiet here (but I miss the sight and sounds of my 5 little lovebugs - grandchildren - I think they can come for a visit tomorrow as long as they don't bring any school GERMS), So far no problem with the chemo or Neulesta..Hope everyone is doing well. Good luck to all who begin treatment tomorrow or Friday..Keep us posted
-
txjunebug Glad you had no problem with port insertions. I am finally feeling better after a rough 10 days but I was allergic to the penicillin IV they gave me when I had the port placed. I should have remembered that I was allergic...but I'm good now and the chemo went in very smoothly with no problem whatsoever...
-
I swear I have chemo brain already. I went to an annual haematology appointment today - except I wasn't due until Nov 21st! Doh! My doc saw me anyway and just chatted to me about my recent breast cancer adventures. It's usually a very quick visit anyway as I'm 12 years out from bone marrow transplant and doing very well in that respect. I love my haematologist. She treats me like a person and wants to know how I'M doing, and not just the disease she treated. I so wish she was an oncologist so she could continue to look after me.
-
Pbrain - had update with boss on projects/objectives. She went thru half of them as though I didn't have cancer and wasn't starting chemo next week. I sat there a little shocked. Finally flat out told her that I wasn't sure if I could get any of them finished and that I felt I would be doing good just to do my monthly tasks (I'm an accountant). I told her that she shouldn't plan on me being a 100% for the next 4 to 6 months. Basically decided that she is clueless and really needs to do something besides work 16 hour days. Bright side is our HR Director will fight for me to telecommute if the SE are hard on me or I get too tired and need to take breaks during the day.
AmethystButterfly - if you find out the answer to the SE question, please let me know. That's something DH and I are wondering about, too.
-
Junebug, does your company have a family medical leave provider? I work for Roche (the maker of Herceptin) and I've done the application for intermittent medical leave, so my one boss can't actually do anything to me by law. And I know she wouldn't, she is a good egg in her own way, but she is like your boss. She acts like this isn't happening because she counts on me to work independently and only come to her when she "needs to know". I love my job but I have to concentrate on me, so now everytime I call in sick after a treatment (and I hear there may be many times during the last 3 weeks or radiation because you get exhausted) I have to call the medical leave people at Liberty Mutual and tell them
Like I said, let's just keep focusing on us. We are in a big fight and in a year, we'll be out of of this tunnel (sooner for you because you aren't HER2+ like me) and we'll be on our way!
-
Yes we do and I filed my FMLA claim this week. Just don't think my boss has ever had anyone close to her go thru this sort of thing. She is hard to figure out because just last Friday she was telling me to not worry about work and concentrate on myself then on Monday BAM!! more projects. Her method of dealing with her own health issues is to ignore them. If necessary I will use my short term disability benefits. I really like the people I work with and it's usually like a big family.
You are very correct. We are focusing on us and fighting like warriors! As I told my sister - I'm just too dang stubborn to let this get the better of me!!
-
Tee heee, and I agree. We are digging in. But holy Mother of Pearl, you sound like you have my boss! Except she's gone through all sorts of health things and hasn't been in for months at a time. I do fine without her, actually almost prefer it because I work independently and get things done. And I adore her in so many ways. But she comes down hard on me if I get sick. Last summer my father passed away suddenly (believe it or not) of advanced cancer. At first she was telling me to take time, come in when I felt ready, etc. Then suddenly she was like "now how am I going to handle it if you are in Philadelphia for 3 days?" I didn't know what to say.
I think a lot of that comes from their own insecurity. My boss doesn't understand my projects. She doesn't want me gone because I can answer questions that she can't.
Arghhh! Let's get selfish. We have FMLA. That doesn't mean don't work when you are feeling good. It just means if you are feeling like crap, so be it.
-
Tricia-
Thanks for the update. I am supposed to get mine delivered tomorrow. Guess I will learn how to inject myself!!! -
Michelle - Best of luck tomorrow. Fingers crossed that the leak at your incision isn't infected.
-
Thanks Sneaky. It's seems fine at the moment but it's just another vulnerable place for infection now during chemo. Going to have to be VERY careful.
It's nearly 3am and I'm still up Googling cancer shit. I need to rest! -
Good luck Dakota. You'll be a few hours ahead of me but I'll be thinking of you! Oh and I think you'll get your Neulasta the day after chemo...
-
Michelle -
Good luck to u too!!! The shots arrive tomorrow i will give it to myself on Friday. -
Oh, you too, Dakota. For some reason I thought you started up on Friday. Best of luck!
-
Michelle and Dakota-Good luck tomorrow!
I had a busy day. Aches from neupogen so I decided to get out and take a walk this morning. For some weird reason, I'm also getting chills, but thankfully no fever. Went for acupuncture this afternoon and feel so much better tonight, but now my taste buds are going. Well, at least I'll lose a few pounds without having to diet!
-
Starting chemo the week of the 19th. Yeah for me and happy thanksgiving!!! LOL
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team