Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

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  • dlm425
    dlm425 Member Posts: 209
    edited June 2013

    Ckmoss sounds like u might be allergic to the tape. Seriously after all we go through why would that happen. Here's one for the books I found out ive had this precancer in my breasted since 2008 and that makes me so angry because if it was detected than iwouldnt have cancer.

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  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2013

    Pattysmiles-I'm thinking the same way..it can't hurt..Im def going to do the ice chips, etc in my mouth..the thought of sores in my mouth is a little more than I can deal with.

    Melrose-Thanks for kind words in ref to staying put in June board.  I think I will!  There were 2 trials..one where I got herceptin (sp?) something about that normally with my grades/path report I wouldn't receive..they think it might help also, but to have that I would have to do at the cancer center..my husband works at hospital here and our insurance will cover 100 % of chemo if I do there..plus 50% chance I wouldn't even get it..so not doing that one..this one is for cognitive..someone somewhere doesn't believe in chemo fog..trying to prove it exists. You take test before, during and after chemo..plus do fasting bloodwork before. I've had one phone test already..but having to keep putting off the actual "before" test due to veins collapsing/port/infection,etc..plus she has to do within 7 days of chemo.  I told her that before I started this was in perimenopause..so may confuse testers as whether or not Ive actually started chemo..lol..my memory was jotty..now with 2 months of drugs..Lord!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2013

    ckmoss- I am participating in the Herceptin B-47 clinical trial where low HER2 +1 and +2 receive Herceptin which normally only HER2 +3's receive Herceptin as part of standard protocal.   After I volunteered, my info was submitted to the trial where it was randomized to either receive the Herceptin or not.  I did receive the Herceptin which started with my first round of chemo last year in April 2012 and completed in March 2013.  I can tell you that I have been monitored carefully throughout the study.  I recently asked my research coordinator how many more patients at the place I'm being treated at are participating in this trial.  She said that I and another patient are the only ones who have qualified for the trial.  The tumor size and grade is what has prevented others with low HER2+ numbers from participating in the trial.  If you have any questions about what happens in the clinical trial, you can always ask me.  Just hope you are feeling better. 

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  • rachel22
    rachel22 Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2013

    Just got back from my first chemo. All went well except I had an allergic reaction to the anti-nausea med Emend. So weird! So they switched me to Zofran and that was fine. The actual chemo was fine too. Sitting at home resting and drinking lots of water now.



    Good luck to everyone this week! Wishing you all easy treatments with no SEs!

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  • rachel22
    rachel22 Member Posts: 54
    edited June 2013

    Melrose - I'm also in the B-47 clinical trial but I got randomized and will not be receiving Herceptin.

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited June 2013

    Ckmoss,

    Here is my life and learn today.

    I went for my third round, was sleepy and the nurses never told me they started the taxotere. I woke up and see a chemo bag dripping and shout out "what drug is this?" They said it was the cytoxan...I was sssso mad. Cytoxan is my last drug. I missed icing everything!

    Hubby convinced me to ice anyway for the next half hour which I did.

    This is one "experiment"" I was not planning on. I am Pissed!



    Oh well, can always be worse.

    Pat

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2013

    rachel22- Glad to hear you made it through your first round of chemo.  Just be aware that the Zofran can cause a little constipation.  Hope your side effects are minimal!!! 

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  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2013

    Pat-Wow!! That would so be me.  Someone on my May surgery board..said Some days you are the windshield..some days you are the bug!..I feel like lately I have been one of those big bugs that hit so hard leave green stuff everywhere..lol...Did you tell them to let you know when the did the Taxotere?  And I thought they did that last????

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2013

    ckmoss- So glad you are staying here!!!!  I'd miss you!!!!  I always had my Taxotere first and my Cytoxan second.  I always told the infusion nurse that I would be icing during the Taxotere so we could coordinate when I needed to get the ice gear on.  If you think you might fall asleep because of the IV benedryl, just make sure you tell your chemo buddy  whoever that is or the infusion nurse to wake you up so you can get the ice gear on.  I always tried my best to stay awake to ice but I do know of others who fell asleep and didn't ice even though they wanted to.  It happens.....

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  • flaviarose
    flaviarose Member Posts: 442
    edited June 2013

    Thanks, Netter, only vomited once today and headache is a lot better.   I didn't take anti-nausea meds - maybe I should have... didn't want to be dopey all day.... still have this acid burning in my stomach....  but today was better than yesterday, and yesterday was better than the day before.... onward and upward.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2013

    flaviarose- Ask your onco if you can take some Zantac, Pepcid, Tums to help with that acid tummy.  I had that acid tummy after the first round of chemo and was told I take some Zantac the day before the chemo and for a few days afterwards.  I never took them though because it never seemed bad enough to want to take another drug.  I drank a lot of ginger ale with ice which seem to help calm down that funky tummy.

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited June 2013

    Today was the first day I snoozed, I was exhausted.

    Chemo buddy is my hubby, he is dense! Lol

    It was probably all my fault as I did NOT say to tell me....I ASSUMED and you know what they say about that. The last two times they told me every time they changed drugs...so I ASSuMEd they would do it again...and of course I had my huge cooler bag they were tripping over! My fault as I hadn't been there in 3 weeks, so how could I expect them to remember crazy lady who ices all!



    Yes ckmoss, I hear you about the bug and the windshield....great analogy!



    Pat







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  • raindeer1217
    raindeer1217 Member Posts: 90
    edited June 2013

    11 days in still have my hair, no unusual shedding. Anyone else ?

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  • Netter
    Netter Member Posts: 107
    edited June 2013

    Flavia, Take omaprazole for the burning tummy.  Has to be in the morning before eating anything.  Will stop the burn, FLAT!!!! 

    Rain, Day12 and I am losing hair, top and bottom.  As they say..........it looks like a squirrel erupted in my pants, (TMI), lol 

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  • Sweetie1972
    Sweetie1972 Member Posts: 84
    edited June 2013

    Got my shot today. Took Claritin and some extra strength Tylenol . I am so tired I don't even want to get out of bed and my bones ache especially my back and neck. Did manage to do some laundry and take the kids swimming. I'm in bed now and not planning on getting out the rest of the night!!

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  • BabyRuth
    BabyRuth Member Posts: 264
    edited June 2013

    My port date was moved back to the 26th. I had my auxilliary lymph node excision and nipple reconstruction today so I am home resting now. I probably will not start chemo until July but I am staying right here with you June ladies. You are an awesome group! Hope all of you who have already started chemo are feeling okay. Rest and take care of yourselves. I will be here cheering you on.

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  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2013

    Flavia and Melrose---Ginger ale..wonderful!  I have drank gallons of it through my 3 surgeries..anesthesia gives me horrible nausea (I finally had a great nurse the last time that gave me a patch that helped)..also 2000 mb antibiotics and percocets keeps me nauseated..I told my husband after first surgery..while waiting for 2nd surgery to bring me a ginger root and I would chew on it like a rawhide!..lol..At this moment I do have ginger ale and ginger root (for mint/ginger tea) in fridge...that and saltines..

    Raindeer-Wonderful news on your hair! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

    Netter-That is hilarious!

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  • raindeer1217
    raindeer1217 Member Posts: 90
    edited June 2013

    Netter. Hahahahilarious. Shoot girl, I am almost crying from laughing. How much is shedding? Up there for clarification.

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  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2013

    Well good night all!  Going to bed a bit early tonight..this was one of those days you just want to end already..I know with each day comes more healing and one more day closer to the end.

    Prayers to you all!

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  • IngridJ
    IngridJ Member Posts: 121
    edited June 2013

    Hi everyone...

    Dlm- I had the same, DCIS that had been there for a few years, had a couple of clues, but didn't know.. I know how you feel.. Grrrr

    Rain- I am on day 15, have had some shedding but still have normal looking hair. If it holds in until next week I am thinking of doing cold caps as the thought of it going now is painful.. Anyone here doing them??? Any thoughts- too late????

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  • Pattysmiles
    Pattysmiles Member Posts: 954
    edited June 2013

    Ingrid, not sure, I think you might be too late.

    Do an advanced search for cold caps on this site and you might find someone that can help you out.

    Pat

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  • KatiAK
    KatiAK Member Posts: 138
    edited June 2013

    Netter - I needed that laugh! 

    My port hasn't bothered me but it has caused some chest pain that is weird.  I almost thought I was getting pneumonia again.  I'll have to ask the onco about it.

    Start my first chemo tomorrow.  I'm not too worried about tomorrow but I'm worried about the next few days.  Wondering which day I'll feel like I've been hit by a truck.  I'd like to keep working and attend my son's out of town baseball games on Sunday.  Guess we'll see how it goes. 

    Thanks to everybody for all the shared information!  At least I don't feel like I'm going in uninformed but it's still hard to anticipate the unknown.  I feel grateful that so far all my procedures have gone well and I'm still on track.

    I'll be reading/writing? more tomorrow.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited June 2013

    IngridJ- Here is a link to a Cold Caps thread: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/735873?page=289#idx_8646  Hope it helps.

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  • Gingergirl1
    Gingergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited June 2013

    Rain & Netter - I am on Day 13 and haven't started losing my hair yet. I did get my head shaved on Friday. Wasn't quite as emotional as I thought. I did have it cut shorter first. Rain - love your new short hair! It suites you.



    Melrose & CKMoss - I am on Herceptin as I have HER2+ cancer. It seems to be a matter of protocol here in Canada for anyone with HER2+.



    I was driving home from Costco this morning and was thinking that chemo is a little bit like childbirth. You remember that it was not pleasant, but not looking forward to the next one. Maybe kind of stupid but you get a wonderful child and chemo is just reminding you that you have cancer. I was pretty good at about Day 10 felt more like normal. At least there is another week until the next infusion (every 3 weeks).



    Good luck to anyone just starting chemo, hopefully it won't be ask bad as you anticipate it as it was for me. My worst days were Day 4 - 6. It was mainly overwhelming tiredness plus aches & pains but at least bearable. My oncologist say chemo is cumulative so it could be a little different each time. After reading so many posts it seems like a mixed pot. Some people get worse, some stay the same. Hopefully we will all stay the same.



    Have a great evening!

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  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 656
    edited June 2013

    That's strange. My mo said its not cumulative and the first is the hardest??? 😣

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  • ckmoss
    ckmoss Member Posts: 613
    edited June 2013

    Alibeths-In all the posts ...  and all the things my onocologist and tech that is going to give chemo..that is the only thing I have heard about chemo that is a given.  Perhaps she said it wrong?

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  • flaviarose
    flaviarose Member Posts: 442
    edited June 2013

    thanks, Melrose, Melrose, I'll try the zantac.  I'm not nauseated, just that acid stomach which makes me not want to eat.

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  • flaviarose
    flaviarose Member Posts: 442
    edited June 2013

    Thanks Netter!!!

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  • Gingergirl1
    Gingergirl1 Member Posts: 36
    edited June 2013

    Alibeths - I hope your Mom is right!

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  • Alibeths
    Alibeths Member Posts: 656
    edited June 2013

    Me too!

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