Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

Anonymous

tekwriter~~Sometimes we have to be our own advocates. You have every right to get your treatment the way you choose. So stand your ground.

Best wishes

Paula

tekwriter

Thanks Soteria I am prepared to do more research and be and advocate for myself. I appreciate the help.

MsJAR

Hello, January sisters.  My treatments start on the 8th.  I will have ACT every three weeks for six sessions.  Neulasta on day after each treatment.  I've read that neulasta causes a good deal of bone pain and that Claritin helps with that. Also read that it is a good idea to use lidocaine cream (EMLA) on the port access spot an hour or two before tx to numb the skin. Put a glob right on the port and then cover it with a square of plastic wrap.  I'm all for anything that makes this journey easier. 

dixie123

I am starting on January 7th.  I am so nervous....I can't exactly pinpoint why.  I know it's a very scary thing but I almost feel on the edge of a panic attack thinking about it.  I have to have it...I want to have it.  Any tips for how to calm down and deal with this somehow? 

myra104

My local hospital has a program for breast cancer patient's that will pay for underinsured chemo...maybe its through a local foundation.  There are a lot of resources and money for bc now.

Paula your scaring me, however being 37 with aggressive bc I dont have too many choices.  I know you dont mean to btw;)

And how's my Kentucky lady, saying a little prayer for you tonight that all goes perfectly perfect with your port tomorrow,  xo!  Steph

Anonymous

Myra, I'm so sorry. I don't ever mean to scare anyone. What we're all going through is scary enough.

So many people were getting dose dense chemo that I thought maybe mine was every 3 weeks because I only had Medicare, and maybe they didn't want to pay for Neulasta. So when I questioned my MO, she told me it lessens the chance of those 2 things. They are rare, but I was glad for the way she handles it. I was treated at a major breast cancer center. All my doctors, surgeon, Medical oncologist, plastic surgeon, physical therapist, radiation oncologist, chemo, were under the same roof.

Also Myra you're dx at stage 0 & stage 1, and with the arsenal of medicines they have to hit you with, you will do fine.

If any of you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask me, or send me a private message.

Paula

tekwriter

Sooooooo, night before chemo or morning now, 12:44am and I am awake at my computer trying to get sleepy enough to fall asleep.  I am pretty nervous about tomorrow.  I think I have taken care of everything.  I have my stuff to take with me, protien powder, and lots of drinks for tomorrow if I don't feel well. Sigh it would be so much easier if this all wasn't so scary.

myra104

No its ok, no worries...that was only a couple of the tumors,  im actually staged at 3c, 11 pos nodes...im an overacheiver so im sure thats the does dense ac.  No harm, just joking around, guess I've been hanging with my husband too much;)

myra104

I would be, or will be up next Thursday night too!  You have done everything you can now it's time to start turning that anxiety of preparation into focus on staying well:)  Its scary but once you are there everyone is super nice and other chemo patients are along side of you...its the yaya sisterhood in there.  They won't let anything terrible happen to you....big ((hugs))

tekwriter

Thanks Myra.

Anonymous

tekwriter, we are all different! but I can tell you how AC affected me.

My treatments were every 3 weeks on Friday. I NEVER had nausea. They give you great pre-meds. (If you get nausea, call them right away. They don't want you sick) I felt fine all weekend. About Wednsday my taste buds would go. Diet coke (my favorite) tasted awful. Just find something that tastes good to you. I could taste Taco Bell. On Thursday & Friday of the first week I would be very cold! but no fever! and I peed about 400 times a day. I found out later that was the steroids leaving my body while sticking their tongues out at me as they left. On Saturday I was completely back to normal, tastebuds & all.

I did have major fatigue & anemia, but compared to how people used to suffer through chemo, I considered myself blessed.

I NEVER got Thrush because I ate a yogurt everyday. If you don't like yogurt take acidophilus. I NEVER got mouth sores because I made a mixture of 1 TBS salt & 1 TBS baking soda in a quart or so of water. I kept it in the bathroom, and everytime I used the toilet, I took a swig, swished it in my mouth for 30 seconds and spit it out. Works great!

If you get a headache from chemo, it's almost always from them running the infusion too fast. Just ask the nurse to slow it down next time.

Myra, sorry, I see that now. I was also dx at stage IIIc. I just had a bone scan Monday and everything is fine. 

I always took my iPad and a book to chemo. They usually offer you snacks & drinks. 

I found I needed to take a stool softener the day of chemo and for several days after.

They will probably tell you this, but in case they forget, after using the bathroom, close the lid and flush twice for the first couple days after treatment. That protects you & family from the chemicals.

Best wishes you'll all do fine. The not knowing what to expect is the hardest.

Paula

paloverde

tekwriter, best wishes for today.  

Myra, thanks for your wishes!  We have two things in common: 11 nodes and overachiever.  I wonder if these are related??  The big joke among my family and the co-workers who know, is that I would never make a lazy, laid-back tumor, of course it would have to be a feisty aggressive one.   

A great day to all!

encyclias

tekwriter, Amgen, the manufacturer of Neulasta, has a program available called the Safety Net Foundation which provides this and other drugs for free if you have no drug insurance that will cover it and meet other eligibility requirements (when they use the term 'uninsured,' they are talking about drug insurance).  I was surprised that I qualified back in 2012 -- they are quite generous when it comes to income limits since the shots are around $10,000 each.

Start here:  http://www.safetynetfoundation.com/index.jsp

MsJAR

Dixie, I am right there with you.  I can hardly think of anything else.  Do you know what your regimen will be and how many sessions?  I'm taking ACT for 6 sessions.  If you are like me,  you have researched and read everything you can about it already.  Seems like it helps to be forewarned. After our first session we will know more what to expect each time. If you're having trouble sleeping or with anxiety, call your regular doctor and ask about something to help.  You have every right to feel nervous about it, but everyone wants to make it easier for you.  You will need your strength for recovering. Don't waste it now in anticipating.   Hugs, Dixie, and imagine me sitting there with you on C-day.

tangandchris

Hello Ladies!

 

I'm not sure of exactly when, but i think I'm going to be starting in January. I'm hoping to have my drains pulled this coming Monday and possible port placement within a couple of days. I was told initially that it would be 6 rounds every 3 weeks, but that was really early on so it may change. I'm going to be following along here to see how it goes for ya'll. ((hugs))

OneTexasDay

Good luck to all you on your journey!  I am part of the December 2013 sisterhood and have found it great to share experiences with others that are on the same journey as I am.  You will find that sometimes you are reaching out on the boards to provide strength and sometimes you need to rely on others on the board for encouragement.

May your side effects be minimal if not non-existent.  One day at a time, dear ladies....

stephaniegee

Hi everyone,

I am having my first chemo treatment tomorrow morning. I am part of a study so I have been getting excellent attention at the hospital and they have been very reassuring. I will be taking Emend to help prevent nausea? Has anybody taken this?

tekwriter

Hello everyone.  I finished my first chemo today.  My son with and stayed with me.  I am grateful because he took care of some of the running around and registering stuff for insurance and the Cancer Center and I didn't have to do it.  It was not bad at all.  (So far)  I am very hot from the prednisone, was actually hungry when I got home.  I am also fine for now.  The nurse told me I would feel worse in three days, but it should pass quickly.  I wanted to post for those that hadn't gone yet.  I was really scared but it was far easier than i expected.  I hope it is this way for all of us.

Anonymous

Stephanie, I got a IV bag (small) of Emend along with steroids & zophran before chemo. It worked great. Sometimes the steroids cause problems with sleep. If your doctor doesn't offer it on their own, ask for something in case you have a problem sleeping.....Xanax or Ativan.

Paula

paloverde

Hi all, 

It's official: 1st treatment on the 16th.  4 DD AC followed by 12 weekly Taxol.  A chance of being finished by June 1 if all goes well!  I'll be on a Thursday tx schedule.  

Port was placed today ... it hurts some, but that shows me how much the BMX pain has receded.  The procedure itself was only 40 minutes, BS said it "dropped right in."  No shower for 2 days though.  No driving tomorrow either.

Best wishes to all having treatments tomorrow ... blue skies and few SE's!

myra104

Reading some strong work going on here ladies!!!  Xoxo. Steph

Warrior_Woman

If this is the new Jan. 2014 group it looks like I'll be joining you, Ladies.  As it looks now, Cytoxan, Taxotere x 4.  I may be trying the cold caps.  

WildMarigold

I am glad it went well for you tekwriter! I start on Tuesday so am both nervous and really ready to just get going with it. 

lawyergirl

Paloverde, I also got my port put in yesterday.  Procedure was easy peasy, but have a little bit of residual pain this morning.  

Today I'm off to talk to a fertility specialist.  It's unlikely that I'll want to do anything to delay the start of chemo on 1/9, but it will be good to at least understand the risks/options.  Thankfully my husband and I have always been on the same page with respect to having kids (or, more accurately, not having them), but I hate the feeling that this is just another choice that cancer is taking away from me.  

Now that the port is in, I am almost looking forward to the start of chemo next Thursday! Let's get this shit taken care of!!

candycandy

Lawyergirl, my chemo start on 9th as well. I got port almost 3 weeks ago and went to fertility specialist about 2 wks ago. I am looking forward to start my chemo too but also nervous! As day goes, I am getting anxious and need more mental support! I know I am not alone and I know I can do it. It just the feeling that never go away... I like the last sentence of you! Thanks!

paloverde

lawyergirl and candycandy,  

I'm with you both about being ready to get started, in fact it's almost a bit of a letdown to be waiting 2 weeks!  But I asked the MO for that, to have a chance to get things more in order at work, and also to keep my 2nd treatment from coinciding with a conference my husband plans to attend (not far, just an hour away).  I was really pleased to find out the AC will be only 4 cycles instead of 6, so that's 4 weeks less than I was expecting - still a shot at being done by June 1 - so I don't think delaying my start by a week will hurt.  

I have my wig styling appt on the 7th and LG/FB on the 13th, so also glad to be able to do those before starting.  Helps me feel just a TINY bit in control!!

stephaniegee

Hi girls,

I had my first AC treatment today. For those waiting to start: it's not as scary as it seems. You can focus on the word CHEMO it's so much scarier than the actual process. I am bad with needles and IV's so that part was not great for me, but my nurse is amazing and I was very comfortable during the whole process. I had my mother and husband with me, we talked and laughed, helped A LOT. When I got home I was feeling "fuzzy" but had some energy. As the day goes on I am feeling very lethargic and dizzy but in bed I am OK. I took EMEND and other anti nausea stuff in my drip which I think is helpful. Although to be completely honest I thought it would be more helpful. Anyways, I am taking each hour as it comes and I have great support. Remember these are steps to getting better, I am thankful for that. 

paloverde

stephaniegee and tekwriter, congrats on having the first tx behind you! 

Sam2U

stephaniegee and tekwriter glad you have 1 treatment down.

MsJAR

Stephaniegee and tekwriter, congrats on making it thru the first session and being one step closer to the end of treatment!  ((Hugs))

JoAnn