Starting Chemo February 2013

LisaMM

MelroseMelrose-Thanks for the advice!  I do plan on using the Claritin faithfully-I need to do everything I can to keep this from slowing me down too much!  I really have been debating about icing my hands but I'm not really sure How to go about it-other than it needs to be done during the Taxotere infusion.  I've also been seeing posts about eating ice during this med to help with the bad taste in your mouth-is this something that can help also? One other thing, what were the restrictions, if any, after receiving the infusions as far as physical contact with others?

IamNancy

I asked my nurse about the fingernails/toenails and she said I probably won't have a problem since its only 4 treatments 3 weeks apart.. ?? I hope she is right. Can you tell me what your experience was?

ywheels22

Hi again,

I start my chemo on Wednesday, Feb. 6. First four cycles (x2) is AC. Second 4 cycles (x2) Taxol. Like many of you, I am very scared of the unknown, especially the nausea. I am a very active person, who runs, worksout 5x week, train with a personal train, show jump horses, hot yoga and spin classes. I have not done anything since my surgery Jan. 16 and I am still pretty sore (double mast and reconstruction).

I did cut my hair short and will have the stylist shave it once is starts falling out. I ordered a wig (Raquel Welch line). When it comes in the hair stylist will cut it how I like. I ordered some hats as well.

Hildy910-You are/did the same treatment I am doing. Did you have nausea? What was your worse side effect?

Many of you are starting Wednesday too. Good luck!

kelbo22

Hi,

I start on 2/13.  Very  nervous & still really sore from my BMX and 2 follow up reconstruction surgeries.  Last one was one was on Jan 18 to remove implants, excise tissue, and put in teeny tissue expanders.  Are a lot of you still sore from BMX going into chemo?  THat's the part that scares me most. 

I'm also at about 90 days post BMX due to the extra surgery/delayed skin healing.  Oncologist is still positive and continually reminds me "the cancer is out, this is preventative"  Gosh, I hope she is spot on!

I am triple negative, 2 nodes positive, so Stage II, will also do radiation afterwards.

Have 2 children 6 and 3.  They sort of understand at this point since I am limited in what I can do since BMX.  My husband is amazing & is basically my home health aid.  He's a saint.

DiZZyMom

Thanks for the advice MelroseMelrose. I was also advised to have ice chips during the taxotere push to prevent mouth sores and my onc. recommends taking a water, baking soda and salt solution and swishing it around for 30 seconds a couple times a day.

Good luck to you ladies starting this week. This is day 4 for me and I am feeling surprisingly good. I wish you all the same!

-Susan

Melrosemelrose

FOR THOSE ICING NAILS DURING TAXOTERE INFUSION:  Always clear anything you want to do with your oncos.  You will need to clear it with your onco about icing since not all oncos will allow icing during the Taxotere infusion.  At the suggestion of my onco, I am using clear nail polish on my nails to help keep them strong and also icing the nails to help prevent nail damage which is a side effect of Taxotere.  She suggested that use Sally Hansen Strong As Nails Clear Polish but I switched to Essie polish since it doesn't chip as much as the Sally Hansen brand.  Essie polish costs more but for someone like me who never used nail polish before chemo, the fewer times I have to apply polish the better.  I don't mani/pedis but some do.  I'd rather avoid the germ issue at nail salons and taking of a chance of getting nicked. 

ICING :

• Time period for icing- You will for 1/1/2 hours in total= 15 minutes before the Taxotere infusion + 1 hour during the infusion + 15 minutes after the infusion.
• Ice- You can use frozen peas in quart size ziploc bags marked "Do no eat!!!" if you plan to reuse those bags of peas for icing. Some have used small reusable/refreezable ice bags you can get at the drugstore in the first aid department.  I opted to use ice.  I have an ice tray that makes small rounded bottom circular ice.  I tried the peas and decided I liked the ice better because I thought it stayed colder longer.  My infusion center has ice available for me to use if I want to use it.  I always bring an extra bag of ice just in case I need it.
• Transporting ice to infusion center- I use a cooler with a freezer pack plus take extra infusion ice bags.  
• What to put the ice bags in- That is a personal preference.  Some just put the ice bags on their feet and wrap a blanket around them so the bags don't fall off.  Some use insulated lunch bags and put the ice bags in those.  My hands and feet are small so I'm using some neoprene wine cooler bags that I bought at Target for $6.99 each.  I figured I could use the wine bags later on.  I'm still able to hold an insulated mug so I can drink really cold water and eat ice during the infusion.  I have pretty small hands/feet which explains how I am able to use those Neoprene wine bags.
• Hand & Feet Protection- I wear thin sports socks on my feet when I ice the toes.  The socks keep the rest of my feet warm during the icing.  On my hands, I wear a pair of knitted wristlets/fingerless gloves to keep the rest of my hands warm.  If you don't have knitted wristlets, you can make some from men's socks by cutting holes in the toe area.  Some people take their feet/hands out of the ice periodically; however, I don't do that.
• Process- I let the infusion nurse know that i'm icing so we can coordinate when I should start the icing. Once I know when I'm going to start the infusion, I put the ice bags in the bottom of the Neoprene bags.  I put the ones on my feet first and adjust the ice bags so my toes nails are covered.  I then put the ones on my hands on and adjust the ice to cover my fingernails.  My husband helps me with this process.

Melrosemelrose

FOR THOSE HAVING FIRST TREATMENTS of CYTOXAN/TAXOTERE:  Hope this helps.  The first treatment may take longer because you are still learning the infusion center procedure.  You will probably get weighed and then your blood work may be taken to determine if your WBC is high enough for the treatment.  I also see my onco the day of my treatment and before I have my treatment.  So be prepared for things to take a little longer.  You may want to take some snacks/sandwich because you may get hungry.  You may also want to take a blanket/jacket to keep you warm during the treatment unless the infusion center has warmed blankets for its patients.  I'm lucky that mine does.  I usually wear the same outfit--- leggings & long sleeve knit shirt & men's undershirt--- so I can tell if I've gained weight between treatments.  I have my Taxotere infusion first and then have the Cytoxan infusion second.  Make sure you drink water/eat ice during the treatment to help prevent mouth sores and to start flushing that chemo through your body.  You will sit the entire time during the Taxotere infusion since you are icing.  However you definitely can get up and walk around with your IV pole during the Cytoxan.  That means don't curtail your fluid intake thinking that you can't use the restroom because you can definitely get up to take a walk or go to the restroom!!!!  Just ask the infusion nurse to unplug your IV pole from the electric plug.  My onco ordered Ativan in my IV along with the usual IV meds which helps me keep calm during my treatments.

• After the first treatment, keep drinking the fluids to help flush the chemo out of your body.  I know you may not feel like eating but try to eat 5-6 small meals every day.  A fed tummy is a happy tummy.  If your side effects start to escalate, call your onco to get some help asap.  Doesn't matter what time of day it is or what day of the week it is, just call.  They really want to help you get side effects under control and expect you to call. 
• GOOD LUCK ON THE FIRST TREATMENT!!!  WISHING MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS FOR ALL!!!!  YOU CAN DO THIS.  Once you get through the first one, you need to say out loud " I AM DOING THIS!!!!"

Anonymous

Dear ladies, I didn't have taxotere but did have 12 weekly tx of taxol which followed a dose dense regimen of 4 every-other-week AC tx.  From Nov 1 11 through Mar 23 of last year.

I iced nails during taxol: I didn't want to take any chances even though my onc. thought I wouldn't have problems. My nails are healthy and strong.

I cut my hair the day before my first tx in anticipation of hair loss.  My hair began to fall during the third week. I finally had hubby shave it all and used a combo of half-hairpieces, berets, and finally a short wig I bought on line when i went to work. I went bald in the house; hubby didn't care and neither did the cats and dog I don't like to wear things on my head so I didn't do the whole scarf thing...thought it screamed "cancer patient". 

Eyelashes thinned A LOT; eyebrows did too. I used waterproof eye pencil and brow pencil and because I wear glasses no one could tell.

I lost about 10 lbs. I allieviated a lot of side effects by forcing myself to walk/hike/bikram yoga nearly every day. AC made me feel the worst; taxol was, by comparison, a breeze. My husband and I used to go for a hike after every taxol tx.

I didn't have any bone pain from the neulasta/neupogen shots I got Claritin 24 hour the day after  tx and for four days afterward helped, I'm sure.

I also took acetyl carnitine, glutamine and b-6 2 days a week during taxol (couldn't take any supplements the day of, 2 days before and 2 days after) to avoid the nerve damage that sometimes comes with taxol. I never had any problems.

My hair started to grow back about week seven of taxol.  By the final tx I was going topless--I had about 1/2" of hair and although I looked like a buck private, it felt so good to know it was coming back in and not have stuff on my head! 

My port came out 2 weeks after my last chemo tx.

Today I have 6" of hair after 2 haircuts.  It grew back in wavy, but I love it since it was straight before. I like my shorter hair; I never would have cut it off otherwise, and I really like it now.

I gained back about 5 of the 10 pounds lost.  No side effects to speak of.

Just wanted to give you some good news about chemo. It was not fun but I'm glad I gave myself every chance of kicking cancer's #ss the first time around.  You can do this!

Claire in AZ

(ILC 9/29/11, 2 c lumpectomy chemo rads, bmx/recon coming soon.)

Melrosemelrose

Mouth Sores- Eating/sucking on ice or drinking cold water during the infusion may help prevent the mouth sores.  You may notice a few days after the chemo that the texture of your mouth may feel different.  Here is the general recipe for a mouth rinse that mix up a fresh batch for each rinsing session.  I usually rinsed several times a day after the first few days of chemo.

1/4 teaspoon of salt + 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1 cup of warm water

Bad Taste in Mouth- Things that can help is to brush your teeth after eating and hard candies such as mints.  Lemon drops are okay but remember the citric acid in those lemon drops can irritate your mouth if you eat too many of them. 

Hildy910

Claireinaz wrote: I also took acetyl carnitine, glutamine and b-6 2 days a week during taxol (couldn't take any supplements the day of, 2 days before and 2 days after) to avoid the nerve damage that sometimes comes with taxol. I never had any problems.

This is what I was thinking of when it comes to Taxol--it helps cut down on neuropathy, which can be a pain in the butt. I still have residual  numbness in my big toes, and I finished in May...

ywheels22, good luck! Everybody is different, but for  me, the AC portion was easier than the Taxol.  They managed any nausea beautifully--I had Emend in my IV during infusion, and then took decadron and ativan at home as prescribed. I had some heartburn and loads of constipation, but fortunately, there are meds that worked for both those issues.  Are you having a Neulasta shot as well? Claritin was helpful there. I found I had more energy in the days immediately following infusions because I was full of steroids. 

Taxol is a breeze for most people, but I had bone pain that really bothered  me. Acupuncture proved helpful for this. 

It's scary the first time, but you guys can do this. I pinky swear. 

Janipani

jkeller3 - I'll be starting in 2-3 weeks too.  Looks like we'll be going through the "fun" part at the same time.  My regime looks like weekly treatments for the first 12 weeks, then they hit me with the big guns the last 4 cycles, which will be every 3 weeks.

softness1

I start CMF chemo treatment on Valentine Day...Yay for me.. 

bcfree2013

Hello all, I am having my first AC treatment now. I was really nervous and scared, but the treatment itself is standard and eaay. They first used my port to pump in all the meds that deal with side effects for about an hour, and then A for twenty minutes, and then C for 30-45 minutes. I ate a chicken salad sandwich and drank a lot of water during the treatment. Went through the new patient package. So far so good. Hope I will be able to manage the SE well.

ywheels22

Hildy910 and Claireinaz: Thank you both for your reassurances. I hope my treatment goes as well. You both seemed like it wasn't too bad. I know it wasn't easy but your posts make me feel I can do this too. 

I will be getting kytril (granisetron) as pill for anti-nausea before treatment and decadron (steroid 20 mg). Then the AC for the first 4 treatments. Taxol for the second set of 4 treatments (both every other week.) 

I am also in a clinical study for rolapitant (anti-nausea) and will get either the pill or a placebo (double-blind study) as well. I will take home zofran and compazine. I bought my Claritan and got a numbing cream for my port to put on before treatment. I will also be getting the neulasta shot the day after. I think I am as set as I can be.

The day I start chemo I will be exactly 3 weeks post-op from double mastectomy/total reconstruction. I am still very sore but my oncologist said it is time to get started. I am stage IIa with only 4mm mestasis in the sentinal nodes. No cancer anywhere else and all of it was removed (from the breast and the nodes) but the chemo is to make sure it is ALL GONE. There really was no choice for me. I will post after my treatments.

jwlindakay

I have my first appt. with oncologist next week, so don't know what type of therapy I will have. I am ER neg, PR neg, HER2 pos with a grade 3 tumor. I am 2 week post lumpectomy, which is healing nicely. No nodes were positive. Anyone out there having therapy for the same thing?

AuntieEm

I had my first treatment on Friday. Adriamycin and Cytoxan first of 4 treatments every other week. I will be following with 4 treatments of toxol in the same regimen. This was not a good weekend. My symptoms hit in the middle of the night on Friday. I was pretty much up all night. I am still sore from my BMX and recon. The chemo aggravated it even more. I too used Claritin for the Nuelasta. I have not had any problems with bone pain. The good news is that my nausea was pretty much under control. I did have some heartburn and body aches. The heartburn is still around a bit but the aches are now gone. I am glad to be with such a wonderful group of strong women. It really gives me the courage I need to get through this ordeal. I don't know how people were able to handle this without the advances there are today.

kkmom

Yes, I am starting chemo on Wednesday, February 6.  I am scared, but looking forward to getting it started.  I will be having 6 treatments every three weeks, along with herceptin every week.  I am keeping my mind focused on May 22, that is the date of my last treatment.

I am going tomorrow for a consultation for a wig.  I am  very apprehensible about the consult, but I am getting more use to the idea of losing my hair.  I am hoping for the best. 

Melrosemelrose

Check out the American Cancer Society's Look Good Feel Good Program in your area.  You can attend a free makeup session and also get a free wig.  At the makeup session, you will receive a makeup bag. 

LisaMM

kkmom, we have the same start & finish date! I bought a wig last Friday & it was a much better experience than I imagined! There are some really nice ones out there, I think I like mine better than my own hair now, although I haven't had to wear it yet. I recommend finding a place thst has a large selection and experience in helping you get what you need. I thought the experience would make feel sad & tearful but it wasn't thanks to the girl that helped me. I think having found it already is helping me feel a little better about the hair loss as I've always had very thick, somewhat longish hair. I hope you have a positive experience and it makes you feel a little better too!

LisaMM

I just registered today for a Look Good Feel Better session on March 19! The people I talked to were very helpful and I am looking forward to it!

LisaMM

Thank you all for your encouraging words! Each time I log on & read things like that it makes me feel so much more positive about starting the chemo!

DiZZyMom

Thanks again for your help MelroseMelrose. I looked up the local Look Good Feel Better program and will be registering tomorrow. It's really nice of you to stick around and help us newbies with all of this stuff.

jayjayc

hi jwlindakay,



I was grade 2 but other then that we had the same DX... According to my MO that put me at the very top of the "consider" chemo group (as opposed to "recommend"). My MO gave me three choices.... 4-6 rounds of chemo every three weeks followed by 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin followed by herceptin every three weeks........ or just the 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin followed by herceptin every three weeks (i.e. skipping the first part of standard chemo)........ or no chemo at all....



I choose the second option and have my fourth taxol/herceptin tomorrow....

Addie

Hello everyone,

I am new to the discussion boards.  Already I see how many strong women are here and the info and wisdom shared is priceless. My thoughts are with all of you.

I will be starting chemo soon - not sure exactly when - i have appointment on Wed to find out. I was diagnosed on Jan. 17 and things are moving fast.  I feel like I can't keep up. 

Advice I got from a survivor before my first big appointment was that there are many many decisions to be made.  I see that from reading the posts above. Mind-boggling.

I have a couple of questions. I am going to lose my hair. Which bums me out.  I may have to lose both breasts. And my hair?  Not right.   I plan to get my hair cut short so it's easier when it falls out.  Does that make sense? My hair is pretty long now.  Should I save my hair?  Like if I want a wig later?  I can certainly donate it if I don't use it.

Also, I don't know all of the abbreviations and terms people use. I think I saw a glossary on the site somewhere.  Is that true? 

Thank you.  I have to make myself go to sleep now

Laura5133388

Addie,  Here is a link to the abbreviations, http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/131/topic/773727 

It seems overwhelming, but you will get through it! There are good meds for nausea, and I used cold caps and kept my hair.

Good luck!

DiZZyMom

Hi Addie, my hair was middle of my back and I chopped it short and donated. Other ladies have sent theirs to places to make hair halos which I think is a bit pricey. You will find lots of good advice and sweet women in these forums to help you along the way. Sorry you are here with us, but welcome just the same.

-Susan

Melrosemelrose

I previously posted this on the July 2012 and August 2012 chemo threads about hair.  Hope it makes you feel a little less anxious about the hair thing.  Also to the Hair Hair Hair thread in the chemo forum.  It helps to see the progression of the hair return. 

HAIR  (I know that this topic is not an easy one for us but here we go!!!)

As each of you are well aware of, hair is affected by the chemo.  this is just a very quick read on hair loss just to give you a brief idea of what to expect.  Handling the hair loss is very personal and so the decision is up to each of you as to if and when you cut your hair and how much you cut.  There are no written guidelines as to how much to cut or when to cut.  It is what you feel the most comfortable doing.  Whatever you decide to do, take control over the hair before it takes control over you.  I know you won't understand that statement now but you will later.

What to expect:  Most people experience scalp pain about a week after the first chemo round.  The scalp can become very sensitive, tingle, itch and even be sore.  The hair loss may begin within 14 days after the beginning of chemo.  It will come out a little at first and then the hair loss will increase.  Please be aware that when you wash your hair when you are in the shower, you will become very much aware of the hair loss.   

What to do:  Once the hair loss increases, the hair will be everywhere.  I used a lint roller to get the hair off of me, my clothes and my pillow and bed.  This is the time when most decide to cut the hair short or have it cut very very close to the scalp.  Just remember the decision is up to you as to how much to cut because it is a very emotional time.  No matter what you do, just remember you are still beautiful now matter how much hair you have on your head.  There are lots of options for head coverings--- hats, scarves, Buffs, wigs, etc.  It's just a matter of personal choice.  You can contact the American Cancer Society and attend a Look Good Feel Good session to get a make up session and can even get a free wig.  Also the TLC catalogue is a great source for headcovers, wigs, etc.

There is a chemo board thread called Hair, Hair, Hair that can also be a great support and resource for you. 

community.breastcancer.org/for...

The rest of the hair:  Loss of the eyebrows, eye lashes, leg and arm hair , nose hair and down south can also occur.  Sometimes it occurs during the chemotherapy or after the completion of chemotherapy. 

My short hair story:I opted to cut my short bob to a very very short boy haircut about 2 1/2 weeks after my first treatment because I got so annoyed with the hair everywhere. I was the one who took control and made five little ponytails of the longest sections of my bob and clipped those ponytails off myself.  It was a very liberating experience for me since I took control and did the cutting myself.  My husband used his trusty electric clippers with a 1 inch guard to clean up the sides and back so I now had a cute short boy pixie cut.  I opted not to shave my head and glad I did not.  I recently had my fourth round of chemo and have not loss all of my hair.  I have a thin veil of hair with stubs growing.  I'm glad that I did not shave it since some of the gals on one of the chemo threads I'm on wish that they had not shaved their heads.  It was my decision before I started to have to not shave my head close because I wanted to see if the chemo would take out all of my hair and felt that the transition from having waist length hair in February 2012 to being bald by May 2012 would be too much for me.  I am now almost 5 months PFC ( aka post final chemo) and have a short boy hair style.  The hair on the rest of one's body does return.

Wishing each of you the best!!!  You can do this.... because you are each stronger than you know!!!!

LisaMM

Ok, tomorrow is the day.  TC #1.  Having some very mixed emotions already this morning.  Relief that it's getting started, after all, the sooner it starts, the sooner it will be finished.  Fear of the unkown.  All you ladies that have had this treatment have been a huge help the last several days in fighting the fear.  I think it's just in my nature to feel this way.  Anger about the fact that this has to dictate me &  my family's life right now.  Throw in some thankfulness too, because I am.  I am thankful that there are ways to fight this which also leads to hope that when all of the "treatments" are done, my life will return to some semblence of normalcy again.

I am very grateful to have found these discussions, the information is that which you can't find anywhere else!  For those of us just starting- I HOPE that things go smoothly, I will be thinking of you all.  To those of you who are on the other side- thanks for keeping your eye on us newbies!

Melrosemelrose

LisaMM- Wishing the best with your first round of chemo tomorrow.  You will probably feel fine the first day after having the Cytoxan/Taxotere and maybe the second day, too.  Usually, the impact of the chemo will be felt after that.  Try to keep track of your anti-nausea meds and take them on time with food and plenty of water.  I kept a daily diary of my meds and food intake so I wouldn't forget what drug to take when and what food I ate worked well for me.  It is very understandable that you may feel a little anxious today; I felt the same way.  Just remember that you are not alone during the chemo process; the infusion staff will be keeping an eye on you throughout the infusions and especially for this first one.  If there is anything else I can tell you about our chemo regimen, just ask.  Happy to help you.  Have a great day today......

jwlindakay

Thanks, jayjayc, I hope your treatment goes well. Please write about it when you can,