Starting Chemo February 2013

Feralpeg

Hello.   This is my second experience with breast cancer.   My first experience was at age 31.   I had a mastectomy, but no other treatment.    It has been 29 years since my mastectomy.    I found out about a month ago that the cancer had returned to the same breast where I had the mastectomy.

Two weeks ago, I had a chest resection.    The margins were not clear and two lymph nodes were positive.   I will be having both chemo and radiation.    I am 60 years old and in fairly good health otherwise.   My PET scan is scheduled for tomorrow.    I will find out on Feb 4 when I will begin chemo.  

I am very glad I found this forum as I have no idea what to expect...just horror stories I've heard.   Sorry to know that you are all going through this, but glad that I am not alone.  

Rdrunner

ywheels I am having the same as you starting on Tuesday the 5th. Im so happy hearing about people being able to run still while doing this treatment.

slv58

Hi Melissa119, last night was really the first time I've felt nauseated since my first chemo last wed. Took my medication, but felt "off" all day. To be honest, I've been feeling much better than I thought. I am scheduled to have 6 treatments 3 weeks apart. Then surgery, but I haven't decided which. My surgeon seems to be pushing lumpectomy, but it seems a lot of women who have a lumpectomy end up needing mastectomies. Any knowledge anyone has is welcomed! I hope everyone is doing well, try not to work yourself up before chemo, everyone really is unique and will experience differently. I use guided imagery tapes to relax (Bernie Siegel) and find it helps, that and deep breathing.

IamNancy

I am suppose to start Feb 13th... 4 treatments 3 weeks apart.. I know as it gets closer I will be more apprehensive..it helps reading all these posts.

Gaamp12

I am trying to make up my mind if I should do chemo.  My onc says that I will be fine with Anastrozole.  I am so scared.  I took tamoxifen for 5 years and the cancer showed exactly 5 years after I stopped.  Yes, i know that I will have to make this decision.  The thought of doing chemo is appealing with the thought of killing all those cancer cells where ever they may be, feels right.  The thought of putting my body through chemo and its side effects just freezes me.  Any thoughts.  Thank you!  I have been playing with this for 2 weeks now.

lmcclure4477

slv58: I would opt for a bilateral masectomy since you are Triple Negative. I am triple negative and both my breast surgeon and oncologist recommended it and I agreed with them. Since our cancer isn't hormone related, they don't know what caused the cancer so they want to make sure to get all of it in case it is hidden anywhere.

IamNancy

Gaamp12- the thought of killing all those cancer cells, wherever they may be hiding, far out weighs the negative thoughts about chemo for me.. I do not want to look back and think I didn't do everything I could to fight the cancer cells. I know its a tough decision and one that only you can make - I am sure you will pick the right choice for you.

ywheels22

Rrunnder: Me too. I am two weeks post op from double mastectomy/reconstruction (6.5 hour surgery) and still very sore, stiff and tired. I think it will be a bit before I can do any sort of working out and running as the healing from this surgery is slow. I hope that when I heal the chemo won't keep me from doing all that I want to get back to doing (riding my horse, doing 5k's, working out with my personal trainer, spin classes and hot yoga classes.)

My chemo starts Feb. 6. Good luck.

DiZZyMom

Good morning girls. I am starting TCH this morning and wanted to share something with you the ladies in the Triple Positive group shared with me. If your chemo regimen includes Taxol ( Taxotere), you want to ice your fingertips and toes during that portion of the TX. Apparently Taxol is very hard on the nails and will cause them to peel and actually come off. Makes sense if it makes your hair fall out. I guess this is similar to using the cold caps to preserve your hair. They also recommend eating ice chips or popsicles during that portion to avoid mouth sores. I just found this out and probably won't get it together enough to lug in a bunch of insulated bags to the infusion room for my nails, but am definitely going to do the ice chips.....I hate any kind of mouth sore! I'll ask the chemo nurses about it too.

I just wanted to let you all know in case any of you are starting this regimen soon. Wish me luck and have a great day!

-Susan 

McKatherine

Tangles - thinking of you today! Hope it all goes well.

My port was sore for the first four days - but every day it bothered me a little less and I could raise my arm a little more. I don't even notice mine now (8 days out) unless I'm doing repeated motions with my arm on that side.



I picked up my meds yesterday, and I'm planning on cutting my hair tomorrow to send it off to have a hair halo made. . I wanted to have my real hair for my first chemo, but really want to have my hair halo back as quickly as possible.



Anyone else do this?

Rdrunner

ywheels, its hard not being able to do the stuff you love.. but you will and when you can you will enjoy it even more My worry with chemo and working out/running is how to judge when to take it easy, Im a  tend to push the body person 

Hildy910

McKatherine, I did the hair halo thing and was really glad I did. It even fooled my chemo nurse when I went in wearing it--she immediately got the website to share with some other patients.

Regarding Taxol: I didn't ice, but I did take Vitamin B, and as I recall, people in the Taxol thread recommended l-incarnadine, or something like that. I also slept in cotton gloves with moisturizer, which helped. I had the worst problems with nails during Cytoxan, as a matter of fact, but Taxol didn't help. Nothing lifted the entire way, but a few were about 50% lifted, and they did turn black.  Big toes were the worst. 

Good luck to everybody! 

Laura5133388

 Just dropping by to make sure you have heard about cold cap therapy. I used cold caps and kept my hair. Here is a link to the cold cap thread http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/735873?page=1 

Good luck to all the new girls!

tangles

First Chemo went well. Five more to go! Long day was almost there 8 hours today. Even though the port was sore it was sure easy to use. I didnt even have numbing cream and it hurt way less then a IV. Very tired tonight!! Hoping all goes well in the future. Next chemo session I will be taking my own warm blaket and pillow. Theirs were to scratchy.

So where is the best web sit to order a hair hallo? I cut my hair off, but didnt save it, can I still order one? 

kkmom

Hi Everbody,

I am in - Chemo for February 2013.  I start Wednesday, February 6 th and I am ready.  Scared, anxious, but ready.  I am so glad I found this forum.   I have an appointment on Tuesday for a wig consultation.  Are any of you cutting your hair in advance?  I didn't want to wake up and find hair on my pillow.

Best of luck to all of you and you all will be in my prayers

Pam

DiZZyMom

Hi kkmom. My hair was down the middle of my back and I cut it off and donated it to Locks of Love. Some of the other girls on here have or are going to mail theirs in to have "hair halo" made with their own hair. I think these are caps you wear under a hat made with your own hair.

Had my first chemo today and right now only feel very tired. I took about an hour nap and am still tired! I'm taking anti-nausea meds to hopefully prevent any nausea. That is the side effect that I am hoping to avoid the most!

slv58

Glad to hear tangles and dizzy mom your first chemo went well. Just make sure you take your anti nausea pills the second you feel off. I am now 9 days post my first chemo and have not been sick, I actually feel really good. A bit tired, but I haven't been sleeping great since all this began. I did have a friend shave my hair on sat. I kinda like it! Very quick to get ready in the morning and no more bed head!! Oh, it was also recommended to drink lots of water, which I have been doing.

We can get through this together - strength in numbers and a positive attitude. Chemo is our friend and we deserve to use whatever is available to heal ourselves:)

McKatherine

I'm getting my halo made at

http://www.hatswithhair.com/

They have halos made with hybrid hair, too. I think there are several companies that make them, this is just the one I found that could use your hair to make it.

tangles

Well last night I did get the dreaded insomnia. Was up half the night. OH well I can nap today. I am wearing the anti nausea bracelet's and taking the meds and so far so good. I did look at the hats with hair halo site, but they seem pretty pricey. I think the cancer site sold halo pieces much cheaper so I am may look into one of those. Who knows how I Will feel maybe I will just not really care when the time comes, which will be SOON!

DiZZyMom

Hey Tangles, are you feeling bloated at all? My jeans are feeling so snug today and I have not been eating much at all. I'm thinking it's from the steroids. I hope it's temporary. We have enough to deal with, I don't want to feel fat too!

tangles

My doc gave me some drug to take the day before the day of and day after Chemo. I would have to look at it to see what it was but I think it was suppose to help with this. I have been in sweats all am so not sure about the bloating. I was told drink LOTS of water so I have been chugging it since Thursday. Made it hard during CHemo getting up every 15 min to pee though. I am chugging it today and will tomorrow too, then maybe lay off a bit on Monday. Im still taking some pain meds as my chest is really still very painful so I think the water might be helping with the bowel stuff too. Thinking about getting more hair chopped today. Gosh I just dont want to but I know I need too:-( Not ready to shave yet though!!!!!

DiZZyMom

I've been drinking tons of water too. I got so sick of wearing sweats after surgery. I guess I'll have to pull them out again! Hope you continue to feel pretty good. So far, I'm feeling better than I thought I would, so I'm happy about that!

jayjayc

hi



i'm doing weekly TH and was told drink LOTS of water so i did....... but i forgot that what goes in must come out ...... my first treatment was so funny.... i wore jeans (bad idea) and ended up in the bathroom several times...... iv in the hand, pole with crazy wheels and tght hard to unbutton jeans........ BAD COMBINATION.......

DiZZyMom

Yep, I think yoga pants or leggings are in order for next time!

bcfree2013

I had my port put in on Friday. It was done very quickly and I didn't feel anything. However, it still feels sore today. I took one tylenol yesterday night and one today to ease the pain.

Btw, you need to have someone pick you up after the surgery. I thought I could take a taxi to go home by myself, but it was not allowed.

slv58

Yep, I second the track pants! Ran into the same problem with the IV pole and trying to do up zipper! Sorry, I forgot to warn about that.

Gaamp12

IamNancy-I made up my mind to go ahead and do Chemo.  It will be cytoxan and doxcetaxel. Will be talking to the onc on Monday.  What treatment are you doing?  Your bc seems similar to mine. 

IamNancy

Gaamp12 - yes, it looks like we are having the same chemo treatment - and our bc looks so similiar -even our dx dates.. I will start chemo Feb 13th.. still have to have another surgery this week because the surgeon didn't get a clear margin first lumpectomy - I am expecting this to be an easier surgery

My chemo will be taxotere and cytoxan = same as yours. 4 treatments 3 weeks apart.. hoping for the best.

LisaMM

Hello ladies, I too, will be joining you all in this journey.  I will be starting my chemo this coming Wednesday, Feb. 6th.  I really believed I was going to get through this ordeal without it, but my oncotyping put me into an intermediate risk group.  My motto is get it done now so I can move on and hopefully not have to deal with it again down the road.  I'll be getting TC 6 treatments.  The closer my first treatment gets, the more anxious I am getting about it.  I think that once I am there with the IV in my arm, I'll be better.  Right now, fear of the unkown is setting in!  I was diagnosed in October, after finding a lump only 3 weeks after a "normal" mammogram.  I am married & have 3 very busy kids- a 15 yr old son, a 12 yr old daughter, & a 9 yr old daughter.  I'm hoping that the fact that they are so busy will keep me needing to keep going too!I work full time, I'm an RN, and work shifts.  I am a little concerned about that when I think about issues with fatigue.   I am finding these panels so very helpful already with all of the tips, suggestions, and just knowing there are others out there that know EXACTLY what I'm feeling abd going through.  Most of the time I feel positive, but I do have my moments.  I will be keeping close tabs on this thread as we get through this together, never lose your hope!

Melrosemelrose

Hello Ladies on the Cytoxan/Taxotere regimen- Just thought I would give you some words of encouragement and support.  I had 6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere which started April 2012 and finished August 2012.  I also received Herceptin with my regimen because I'm participating in the B-47 Herceptin clinical trial.  I did not initially receive the Neulasta shots after my first round of chemo since my onco wanted to wait until I needed to receive the shot.  After my second round, I developed a high spikey fever/chills which meant I had an infection of unknown origin and was treated with antibotics.  After the 3rd round of chemo, I started receiving the Neulasta shot the day after each of the remaining chemo rounds.  I also took regular 24 hour Claritin the morning that I received the Neulasta shot and continued to taking the Claritin for 8 more days to help with the bone pain.  Fortunately, the Neulasta worked for me.  There is an on-going clinical trial about the effectiveness of the Claritin to prevent the bone pain from the Neulasta shot/Neupogen shots.  Here is the link to the clinical trial to show your oncos if you are interested in taking the Claritin: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01311336?term=claritin&rank=3

Also I don't know if you have read about icing your nails from earlier chemo threads.  I iced my fingernails and toes during the Taxotere infusion during each round of chemo.  I also painted my fingernails with clear nail polish to help protect the nails.  Both of these things were suggested to me by my oncologist.  I also learned not to use my fingernails as tools and wear rubber gloves when I wash dishes or do housecleaning.   If you can't find any info about icing, let me know.  I'm happy to post some general instructions.

Please be aware that your first round of chemo may last longer than the others.  During the first one, things may take a little more time and having a little patience will go a long way.  If you are feeling a little anxious, it is understandable.  My onco prescribed some Ativan to be given with my pre chemo IV drugs which I agreed to take to help keep me calm.  If you feel like you need something to help keep you calm and the anxiety level down, do so and ask your onco. 

If you have any questions or need some help, please post here and/or private message me.  Sending lots of HUGS and positive, calming and healing prayers, thoughts and energy!!!!