Starting AC July 2013

SheilaB330

Hello out there.



Tomorrow I have surgery to install port. I will start AC (Adriamycin & Cytoxan) on Thursday July 18. I will have 4 treatments spread every 2 weeks over 8 weeks ending AC on Aug 29. Then will start T (Taxol) on September 12 for 4 treatments spread every 2 weeks over 8 weeks ending T AND chemo October 24. Right now I will have the Neulasta bone white blood cell boosters just day after each AC. Oncologist said day after or 2 days after but with chemo on Thursday bet they are not open Saturdays.



Any one else having AC with me?

I already had surgery June 12. Unfortunately found cancer in sentinel nodes #2 & 3 so she removed significant area and had to go in further as originally margins not clear. Pathology showed clear margins breast cancer 1.8 cm and 5/11 nodes cancer. Stage IIIa. 59 in August.

Please post if you are a AC/T chemo. Thanks. May we all heal. Sheila

Morwenna

Just saying Hi,



I've just finished AC/T this week. I had four x three-week cycles of AC, then 12 weekly Taxol.



I survived! Things got rough on AC and I developed dvt/pe, but I did have other risk factors so don't worry too much about that. Although if you get unexplained calf pain/swelling or shortness of breath seek medical advice pronto!



My blood counts stayed good, and I never needed the neulasta, so I didn't get the bone pain se that some people complain of with that.



All in all, I agree that it is not fun, but doable. The port is a great invention! Unfortunately I had two treatments before my port was fitted, so have a bit of vein damage as the AC is tough on the veins!



Good luck, and may all your side effects be little ones!

SheilaB330

Hi Morwenna. Congratulations on finishing up. What a milestone.



Thank you for your cheer. Same to you. :-) Be well, sister.

Sheila

Mardibra

Sheila - I had the exact same regime you are about to start...even the same infusion day. It wasn't fun but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. AC was worse for nausea but Emend was wonderful for that. Only felt an occasional twinge of nausea. Some people report bone pain with the nuelasta shot but I didn't have any. You have to wait 24 hours for the shot so assuming you start chemo Thursday morning they will give you the shot Friday afternoon. Very quick...in and out in 5 minutes. I never had blood count problems. Taxol was a different story. It's supposed to be the "easy chemo". Ha ha. I had bone pain in my legs Saturday through Tuesday so I was on Dilaudid for pain. Also got a little bit of nueropathy in my feet. Barely noticeable now.



You will do just fine. Try not to worry about it (easier said than done I know). Best of luck to you!

Mardibra

Oh, and I worked throughout the whole ordeal. Again, not easy but doable. I had just turned 45 when I started and I have an office job so I didn't move around much!

SheilaB330

Thanks Mardibra!



I am making a note to ask about Emend. I have done well with Dilaudid -hopefully my pain days don't require it during chemo. One day at a time.



Continued good wishes to you! You are amazing working through it. We shall see. I can work remotely but bottom line message is for me to heal. So many wonderful people. Glad to meet you here.



Sheila

Momof3GreatKids

Sheila - I have been done with chemo since the end of September, but I had 4 AC treatments every 2 weeks and then 12 weekly taxol treatments. The AC was rough on me and the SE are cumulative, but I got through it and worked the whole time. Make sure to take the anti-nausea meds if needed. I was taking Emend and had also been given anti-nausea meds at the hospital (I had my port surgery in the morning and then my first chemo in the afternoon) and was doing great until 11pm when I was sicker than I could have ever imagined. I took some zofran that I was also given and 45 minutes later I was feeling better. After that I took the Zofran every 6 hours for a couple days after each AC treatment and was never nauseous. It was still tough on me, but the Zofran made it doable. I was told that I should never be nauseous and they Haden's different drugs I could try, but I was lucky that the Emend along with the Zofran worked for me. I even gave myself the nulasta shots myself after each treatment. It was not fun, but I decided it was better than making the 45 minute each way drive just to have them give me the shot.



I had just turned 42 when I was diagnosed and have 3 very active children that I was still able to do things with most of the time during the treatments.



I am feeling great now and gaining my strength back slowley but surely. My hair has also grown back enough that people just tell me now that they love my shorter haircut and ask if I have had a perm.



You can get through this, but remember to listen to your body and sleep it rest when you need to and also take advantage of help from others. My friends in town started a dinner night rotation and every Monday night, I had treatments on Mondays, someone would stop by and bring us dinner. I did not want them having to do this, but they insisted and it really helped us out a lot and was very much appreciated.



Take care and feel free to PM me if you have questions since I have been through this already.

scribblinhanna

I start AC tomorrow morning..not looking forward to it but can't change it.  Not sure how long I will be doing the AC.  At this point I just know I will have chemo for 4 or 5 months and then double masectomy followed by 7 weeks radiation.   Had my port put in last Thurs and can't say I wan't anyone touching it yet..still very tender.  Just ready to get going

SheilaB330

Thank you for sharing. I appreciate hearing about the additional drug for anti-nauseous. :-) I like your supper club group.



Have a 33 year old daughter. A lot of animals including 2 dogs who are at my side. Husband is very helpful so I lucky. Lots of suport using CaringBridge.org to keep friends and family updated. Their loving support and prayers are very encouraging. We will get through this. I have to figure how to PM :-)



Take good care

Sheila

dltnhm

I gave myself the Neulasta shots. We took the shot home in the little mini-cooler bag I used for my goodies. Popped it in the fridge. It needed to be out of the refrigerator for a set time before I injected myself. Just followed the instructions. It was truly not a big deal.



When I had ACL reconstruction in 2004 I self-injected the blood thinner shots. Those were every day for about a week.



Can't imagine making a second trip just for that - but many do.



I'm 11 days shy of my one year pfc (post final chemo). Hope that you will have a smooth, easy go of it.

SheilaB330

Good luck tomorrow Scribblinhanna!



The port should make it easier on you.



I will send a prayer along with you tomorrow. :-)

SheilaB330

Thank you Dltnhm and congratulations on getting so close to a year! Wow-- it must feel like you have walked far on your journey. I wish you a cancer-free future! Thank you for sharing your experience-- it means a lot. Sheila