Starting Chemo February 2013

caitlin61

I was to start 6 cycles of T/C tomorrow, but after consulting second opinion doctor today, may do dose dense ACT instead.  Hard to know which is the better way to go (efficacy and toxicity trade-offs) - but at this point, I want to get started with something.

lmcclure4477

Everyone is talking about taking Claritan after the Nulestra shot. What does the Claritan help with? Nobody told me to take that and I will be receiving the Nulestra shot the day after each treatment. If someone could explain the Claritan to me I would greatly appreciate it!!!

Laura5133388

Ladies, The fear of losing your hair is not "wrong, vain, or silly". Hundreds, maybe thousands of women in the U.S. have used cold caps to keep their hair. Wanting to keep your hair is about not letting cancer take away what so many of us hold very dear, our privacy. 

ywheels22

I had my first of 8 treatments this morning. The first four are AC. Really no problem and I had 3 wonderful friends with me. I got there at 8:15 and left by 11:45. We all went to lunch after. I did get a sinus-like headache from the Adriamyicin (spelling?). They gave me a tylenol and I took an advil when I got home. I still have the headache and will let my nurse know tomorrow when I go for the Nuelestra shot. It's not bad but it's there and she should know.

No nausea but I am taking it easy on eating. Just having saltines now. I did eat a decent lunch (maybe a bit too much of Mahi Mahi tacos!!) so not much this evening.

lmcclure4477: the Claritin supposedly helps with the SE of bone pain caused by the Nuelestra shot. It is not scientifically proven but my case nurse, who manages clinical studies (I am in one myself), says there are clinical trial studies going on about it's effectiveness in regards to this. I am no doctor but it won't hurt to take it and may help. Others on here may have more information.

I will post again, with hopefully good, manageable news on SE.

chgogemini

Hello



Has anyone heard of nioxin? It's supposed to help with hair follicle growth and stopping hair from falling.



I bought it for the heck of it and its a ulta 3 44 bucks and it comes with shampoo conditioner and scalp cream.

Melrosemelrose

FOR THOSE GETTING A NEULASTA SHOT AFTER YOUR ROUND OF CHEMO:  You may want to try taking regular 24 hour Claritin to help with the bone pain that may accompany the Neulasta shot.  There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating Claritin to prevent the bone pain.  Here is the link:  (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NC...)

According to the clinical trial, one takes the Claritin (10 mg) once a day for 7 days beginning the day of the Neulasta treatment.

I had my first Neulasta shot with my 3rd round of Cytoxan/Taxotere and took the Claritin.  I did not experience any bone pain.  The Claritin doesn't help everyone but it is worth a try since from my understanding the bone pain may be intense.  Just remember to ask your onco about trying the Claritin before you take it

Melrosemelrose

chgogemini- I use the Nioxin shampoo and conditioner and started using it after I was finished with chemo.  I usually buy it at Marshall's or TJMaxx when they have it at a cheaper price than at Ulta.   I don't know of any shampoo that will prevent the hair loss due to the chemo.  The only thing I know that others use to prevent the hair loss is Penguin Cold Caps.  I used Aveeno Baby Conditioning Shampoo while I was on chemo to help keep my scalp clean.  On occasion, I used Neutrogena T Gel shampoo to help with the occasional blocked hair follicles.  When one's hair is very sparse, it only takes a few drops of shampoo to get the head clean.

Robin3

Hi all,  I just got my onco score of 19 so the dr is recommending some type of chemo. I know under 25 you can opt of out chemo, but I'm hesitant to opt out altogether.  I'm thinking CMF, so i get the benefit of some type of chemo, but not as bad side effects? Is anyone going through CMF right now? Can you help ease my fears? I'm sitting here paralyzed reading the boards, but they go back so many years. I'm overwhelmed. I'm scared. I don't know what to do. I'm not looking for someone to blindly tell me what to do. I'm just so scared of the side effects of all of this. I don't want to lose my hair. I don't want to feel sick. I want to hide my head under my pillow and hope this all just goes away.

LisaMM

I asked my onco nurses about the Claritin today and they said it may help, it certainly won't hurt. In my book it's worth a try. I have seen other posts that some start it the day before the neulasta as well.

Lmimp64

Well, today was a whirlwind....decided to do chemo yesterday, chemo class today, port going in tomorrow, and first chemo is next Wednesday.

LisaMM

Anyone already getting TC? If you experienced tingling in your fingers & toes, how many cycles did you have when it started?

Shasha10

Robin

Sorry you're here with us, but welcome its a great group. Your dx is like mine. I was triple pos er with her2 I had surgery in Jan 22 and will start chemo in a couple of weeks. You'll find a lot of info. I'm doing tch. It's a tough road but doable. I've cried a lot and then went super health road till chemo starts. You'll figure out what works for you. I'm also doing penguin cold caps to try to save my hair.

Good luck.

kkmom

Hello To All,

I finished my first chemo treatment today, Wed, Feb 6.  Everything went fine for today, accessing the port was no problem, the drugs all went in without a problem.  It lasted about 6 1/2 hours, but tonite I feel fine.....tomorrow or the next day, it will probably be kicking my butt...but  for today I am good.

I believe the anticipation of this day has been worse than anything...the unknown really got to me.  My biggest problem when I found out I had cancer was the fear - it paralyzed me.  But gradually day by day, I have gotten stronger...I remember a friend telling me early on - I would have highs and lows with this beast and that is the truth. 

Thank you all for your words of support on this board....right now I have to go and chug some more water. 

LisaMM

Kkmom-glad you're day went well also! I was thinking of you! I have felt the same way-the fear if the unknown is overwhelming.

DiZZyMom

Tangles, we both started Friday and Tuesday was awful for me too. Today much, much better! I hope for you too. I don't know if day five is going to be the worst everytime, but I was not able to lay down and nap until my husband got home from work. Next round, my mom is going to be here so I'll be able to take it easy when I need to. I could have slept all day yesterday. Hope you are feeling better today!

IamNancy

I read where so many of you have a port - they said I do not need one because I am only getting 4 treatments 3 weeks apart and my veins are good.. are there any others that do not have a port?

LisaMM

IamNancy- They told me I didn't need a port either. I will be getting 6 tx total. I think at this point I'm glad I don't have to have one. They used a small bore Iv needle & it infused just fine today, my first infusion.

IamNancy

thanks LisaMM .. your comments make me feel better

Shasha10

I'm starting in a couple of weeks tch 6x

I was told that I won't need port.

My dr also said my veins looked good

Good luck to everyone

chgogemini

I'm starting tc to tomorrow and still freaking out. My directions for steroids is two 4 mg pills twice daily. It seems like alot I'm scared to take these two tonight.

Shasha10

From what I understand I will be receiving steroids incase of an allergic reaction to the chemo. Unless its something different for you. This is just being safe. I wish you the best of luck tomorrow

kkmom

LisaMM,

Yes, glad to have it over.  Glad yours went well, also.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be the same.  I have a port and it was not a big deal at all.  Everybody hang in there - I have discoverd this is a powerful group of women. 

LisaMM

chgogemini-that was me all day yesterday! I had an infusion of anti-nausea & steroids pre-infusion, but I've seen other posts about taking the oral steroids too. I don't think there are too many negative effects from them.   Now that the day is nearly over, I feel a liitle better about it & somewhat less nervous.  I think our minds have a habit of always thinking the worst!  Hopefully things will go smoothly for tomorrow!

Melrosemelrose

chgogemini- I am assuming that you have a prescription for Decadron which is a steroid to help prevent the nausea.  You should take the anti-nausea meds as directed and try to take them with food and a glass of water.  The Decadon has a tendency to get you wired so if you take it too late in the evening, you may find you have trouble sleeping.  I used to take mine at 7 am and 7 pm which were times I ate breakfast and dinner.  I always tried not to get upset with myself from not being able to sleep at night when I had to take the Decadron.  I would either lie in bed or get up and watch tv in the living room.  I usually ended up napping whenever I could.  I also took a benedryl on some of the Decadron nights since the Benedryl just knocks me out.    I know you are scared and anxious since you will be sitting in the Big Girl Chair (aka BGC) tomorrow.  Try to rest and calm yourself as best you can.  You will be carefully monitored by the infusion staff throughout your chemo round.  Wishing you the best tomorrow.... HUGS...

McKatherine

When I went in for my Neulasta shot today, I was told it had been cancelled.  Not sure what happened.  (seems like a burp between the MO and my insurance??), but the nurse who talked to me about it said that often in "young healthy" patients they wait a few rounds before they see if you need it.   Has anyone else had this experience??  Just wondering.

Made it through the day today with no anti-nausea meds.  But my mouth has been really dry . . . going to take an Ativan (per chemo nurse's recommendation yesterday) before bed now.   Blessings to you all!

Melrosemelrose

McKatherine- I was not given the Neulasta shot after my first 2 rounds of chemo and didn't start having them until after chemo round #3.  My onco is one of those doctors that waits until it is clear that the Neulasta shot is necessary ( ie an infection has appeared after the prior chemo round).  It also makes a difference as to how often you receive your chemo.  If you receive it every 2 weeks ( ie dense dose A/C), the Neulasta shot or Neupogen shots may be a part of what you receive after the chemo since the nadir period (time period post chemo when one's white blood count is at it's lowest) coincides when the next round of chemo is to be received.  FYI:  The Neulasta shot is expensive.  The alternative to the one shot of Neulasta shot administered the day after the chemo round is multiple daily shots of Neupogen several days after the chemo round which is also cheaper.  Some actually inject the Neupogen shots at home. 

tangles

Just wanted to pop in with a few points. First off my Doctor didnt request a port I did. If it was just the 6 Chemo treatments I had I probably wouldnt have bothered. I need an entire year of the HER2 ttreatments after chemo is over. Plus they can draw all blood owrk out of ports. Anytime I get an IV it takes hot towels and lots of work to get it in. Then I usually have a bruise for a week or two so this is why I decided to get the port.

As for the shampoo thing My hubby has used Nioxin for years. It has for sure helped him as his hair grows faster and is not as thin as I think it would be if he didnt ( proof lies in his brothers who are way worse off then him and they dont use it) I do not think it would prevent anyone from losing hair during Chemo. If it did Nioxin would have a GOLD MINE! There is a new shampoo out by Redken called Introforce. It is suppose to be even better then Nioxin. I bought myself a bottle to use as soon as my Chemo is done. I cut my hair VERY short the day after my first Chemo. Now I think that was a bad idea. I HATE it and it sticks up all over. UGH. I have not lost any yet so I think I rushed into that. I wished I would have waited until maybe next week. OH well live and learn!!

DiZZyMom

When I went for my Neulasta shot, a woman in my Dr's office signed me up for something called "Neulasta First Step". It's a program through Amgen (maker of Neulasta) that gives you a credit card that for the first shot, pays for all of your out of pocket or un-met deductible cost. For the subsequent shots, it pays for any out of pocket expense after $25, so my co-pay going forward will always be $25. It's a$9000 shot! I didn't ask for this, she said the company sent them a bunch of cards and she was trying to catch everybody coming in for their shot to get it to them. You do have to have insurance coverage, so if your insurance won't pay at all, this might not help you. But if they work out the hiccup with your insurance, you might want to look into it.  I tried to paste the link but this application is not letting me. Google "neulasta first step" and ask your doctor's office about it. Good luck!

McKatherine

Thanks diZZyMom. They actually signed me up for that, too. Which is why it surprised me that the shot had been cancelled when I arrived yesterday. Thanks everyone for your feedback! I certainly don't want to take something I don't need, but don't want to get unnecessarily sick either.

I'm on every three week TCH, so I'll see if I can get a WBC done during my nadir next week.

Hildy910

ywheels, glad to see you did fine with the first of the AC! 

To whoever was asking about the fingers tingling after TC, I had the cytoxan with the adriamycin, and while fingernails turned black, no tingling/neuropathy until the Taxol hit. I took the vitamin b, but not the rest of the stuff, which may have been a factor. Hard to tell. 

The hair thing is absolutely the hardest SE, or was for me. It's just such a confronting thing to have to deal with, you know? I never went out without a wig, because I just didn't want to be turned into Cancer Patient out in the community because people start treating you like you are made of glass. (I still have poeple  asking in hushed tones how I'm doing, like I'm about to shuffle off this mortal coil, and I finished chemo in May!) 

Plus, I never realized how much insulation my hair provided that a wig just does not. The wind goes whistling right through to your scalp. 

Good luck and warm thoughts to everybody heading in for treatment this week!