Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

tekwriter

Thanks for all the support.  It is still going well for me.  Just a head ache an a little tired and achy.  My neulasta got here in time yesterday so everything went well. Genetic came back and do not have the BRAC gene. Feeling really blessed so far.

paloverde

tekwriter, awesome news about the Neulasta and the BRCA negative!  So many triple-negatives are BRCA1.  That must be a relief. 

Anonymous

tekwriter, do you know to take Claritin for the bone pain caused by Neulasta? No one knows why it works, just that it does. The generic, Loratidine, is a fraction of the cost, and works just as well.

Be well.

Paula

Moderators

Hi January crew! Sorry we're a little late jumping in here, but we wanted to hop in to provide some helpful links, starting with the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Chemotherapy, including info on what to expect with chemo, types of chemo meds, and side effect management. Also, the Treatment Side Effects section is a great resource for tips to help manage any side effects you may experience.

There are some really helpful key threads here in the Chemo forum too! Great tips and practical advice on the following discussion board threads:

• Tips for getting through chemotherapy
• More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
• PORT PLACEMENT: Detailed description of process
• Head Covering Options for Hair Loss
• wig advice
• Cold Cap Users Past and Present, to Save Hair

Also, Last Month's Chemo thread might be informative!

Hope you find this helpful!

--Your Mods

tekwriter

No I wasn't aware of that.  I am sending my son off to the store right now.  I will have him pick some  up and start taking it before it starts.  Thanks so much.

paloverde

Happy Sunday to all!  Who's starting their first TX this week?  

Is this anywhere near correct:

January 6:  desimone

January 7:  AnneMarigold,
dixie123

January 8:  paula1441,
MsJAR

January 9:  candycandy,
lawyergirl

January 10:  myra104

How did any port placements go last week?  (I was nervous taking off my dressing at the 48-hour mark, didn't know what I'd see.  It was just a horizontal incision, maybe an inch and a half long, and a little hole above it - didn't look bad at all.  Except that a band-aid doesn't stay on well because it isn't flat )  Sam2U, good luck with yours on Tuesday.  

stephaniegee and tekwriter, how are you feeling? 

lawyergirl

Paloverde - that looks pretty close to right to me!  Thanks for putting the list together!

Tekwriter, Stephaniegee - Hope you are both feeling good!  Sending you good thoughts.

My port placement was quick and easy.  Definitely not as scary as I expected.  Three days out, there's still a tiny bit of soreness and some bruising at the site.  It's a bit itchy too, but I think that's because of the surgical tape and glue that needs to stay on for four more days (no stitches for me, just glue + tape).  Looking forward to using my new bionic abilities for my blood draw and chemo in a few days.   

Good luck to all who are starting this week.  Let's do this, ladies!!

tekwriter

My port is tilted but didn't have any trouble.  Just itchy from the tape.

Warrior50

can I join you January ladies?  I did Taxol first so I was on the weekly Taxol thread. The I started FAC on December 26th.  Just have 3 more left. So far chemo has not been too bad.  Got really tired with my first FAC but it only lasted a few days, so hang in there everyone, you can do this!

Next treatment is Jsnuary 26th.

Hope everyone is doing great.

Holeinone

January Chemo Group,

   Good Luck,   I was scared, which must mean  I'm normal, time passes quicker than you think it will...

 Lots & lots of water....hang in there

calmandstrong

Hello Desimone, 
I will be starting my chemo in Jan. 10, and I'm also nervous/anxious. I'll be receiving the FEC-D protocol. 6 cycles in 18 weeks. I've been trying to stay as positive as possible, but I'm still scared. All the best to you and let's all get through this together. 

All the best luck tomorrow!! 

calmandstrong

I've been reading a lot about the "cold caps" and the results and research sounds promising, but I just don't think I'll be able to handle a cold cap on my head for that long. Especially during the cold Canadian winter! I guess I'm just gonna take my chances with the hair loss and deal with it comes....Glad to be part of the January Chemo Group  

Caya

Hi there January 2014 chemo group - Just thought I would chime in to give you all encouragement.  I was part of a Chemo January 2007 group - and about 10 of us still keep in touch through a private email.  We are all seven years out with NO recurrences.  You did read that correctly - all different types, stages, some triple+,some triple -, some ER+/PR+ etc. - all did various chemos, herceptin, rads, some lumpectomies, some mastectomies, some did reconstruction.  I can happily tell you that you can do it,  we all did, and lived to tell the tale.

Words of wisdom and advice - take all the help you can.  This is not the time to be a martyr.  If people offer to bring you food, get your groceries, take your kids for the day, etc. etc.  LET THEM. You need to strength for fight the beast - you are a Warrior Woman now.  Get a cleaning service in if you can afford it.

Also - take the anti nausea meds before the nausea really sets in - you do not want to play "catch up" with nausea.

Go to the dentist and have a thorough check up cleaning before you start chemo. 

Rest all you can.

Good luck to you all!

xo

Caya

YoungInCancerLand

Hi Everyone, 

I'm joining the January group. Learned on Thursday (1/2) we needed to chemo, and got the port inserted on Friday (1/3). I have my "chemo lesson" on Wednesday (1/8). I might start then or on the 10th. I need more information. They will let me know what the final decision is on course of treatment. I was told two different things. Oncologist wants to make sure that she is aggressive enough and is consulting her colleague.

paloverde

Welcome Warrior50, calmandstrong, and HarmonyIzMine!  

Good luck tomorrow desimone! 

Nancyjeanne1967

Hi January chemo friends! I'm starting chemo Wednesday January 8th and definitely feeling anxious. I'm doing TC 4x once every three weeks. My Onc said no port, is anyone else NOT having a port?  Read about the cold cap but I'm with you calmandstrong.. Just going to see what happens don't think I could deal with that along with all the other crap. I'm feeling the same way I did prior to surgery, the unknown is so scary!! Will I lose my hair? how quickly? will I feel sick, nauseous, tired, cranky? My husband wants me to cut my hair short ( buzz Short ) now before It starts to come out, he doesn't understand my need to hang onto it for a little longer. It's not really the hair it's something else I can't describe. Maybe the loss of the other me or the obviousness of the illness. I'm not vain, I'll "wear" my baldness like a badge of honor, like a warrior. But, I need to keep it for a couple more days.  I'm sure you understand. Thanks for listening. Good luck to everyone. Hugs. 

YoungInCancerLand

NancyJeanne,

I might be getting a similar treatment to you if Doctor decides to go that route. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that they told me I didn't need a port either.  However, after we discussed about how tiny my veins are, and how hard it is to draw blood from me, we decided on a port. I'm sure there might be a few out there not getting it. 

Regarding your hair, it is totally understandable. I was told that it usually takes about two weeks after first treatment for it to start falling out. You have a little more time.

Desimone,

Good luck on your first day!

tekwriter

Hi Nancy my nurse told me two weeks from the day she started the chemo my haiir would start to fall out. I understand completely how you feel. I would like to cut mine but hate to pay good money for something that is going to fall out anyway. I am caught in the middle now.

Anonymous

I had my first AC on a Friday (this time last year). My hair was long, thick, & auburn. I didn't want to deal with all those long strands falling all over the place, so the night before starting chemo. I got a pixie cut. Exactly 2 weeks later it started shedding. By Thursday, the day before my second treatment, I had my son buzz it. My treatments were every third week. Most people don't shave their heads, they just buzz it. I hated my wig, so I looked for cute hats, and scarves. I even learned how to make tee shirt wraps, which I loved. They are cheap, comfortable, and you can get all colors.

I hated the thought of losing my hair, but when I weighed that against loosing my life, it was much easier.

My hair came back curly. I've been having fun with it.

Blessings

Paula

andrea14

Hi, I am new here but I am also starting my first chemo on Wednesday the 6th. Same feelings as everyone else here: scared, wondering how I am going to feel, etc. I am not so worried about my hair and haven't decided what to do with it yet (wig, hats, ...) It is all so scary, I can't even sleep at night.

Hugs to all.

Andrea

bride

Hello all,

I had my first chemo on 12/27. I was scared witless. And then promptly slept through the whole infusion. No nausea. For the first couple of days I had constipated diarrhea (??), then three days of nasty joint pain. Followed by a week of endless diarrhea. Worst of it was that I had the attention span of a gnat. Then I felt fine. It wasn't fun by any means, but it's manageable.

I had gotten my hair cut short enough so that I could buzz it -- no way was I going to risk stopping up the drains in my old house. Still waiting for the shedding.

It was one wild ride, but I believe those who have been through it that it does get less wild. 

I realized something that I hope everyone here will come to understand about themselves: we really are strong and more resilient than we know.

bride

tekwriter

I am 6 days out. I keep up my nausea pills. have had nasty headache, joint pain like flue, weak and achy, tired and sleepy and yes constipated. Not a lot of appetite and cool foods seem to be best. I like a protien shake for breakfast. I am getting my two liters of water in. Nothing has been absolutely awful.

calmandstrong

Way to go tekwriter! Good job on keeping up with the water. Best of luck Andrea14 and Nanycjeanne1967. I'm getting my PICC inserted on Thurs. and starting my first chemo on Fri. Jan. 10th. Getting more anxious but actually looking forward to getting this "show on the road" so to speak.  I'm 36 years old and I  have long, thick brown hair and I'm on the fence about getting it cut. I don't really wanna pay almost $75 just to get it cut, and I sort of want to hang on to it for as long as possible,(vanity, I know). I don't have many days left to make a decision though. I did however order a whole bunch of hats/scarves yesterday. If I'm gonna be bald, I wanna do it in style damn it  I actually find this forum and group extremely helpful and supportive. Thank you  

bride

trekwriter, if plain water is starting to bore you -- goodness knows I was boring myself even worse than plain water -- you might want to try making a weakish brew of camomile tea, chilling it, and mixing it with your water. One of my docs said tap water is actually pretty rough on your innards and camomile is rather soothing. It sure helped me.

I'm sorry you're feeling so rough. I really do understand. What was surprising to me was how, after days of feeling blah, I woke up feeling just fine. It's weird, almost like an on off switch. Tekwriter, you're doing a great job of taking care of yourself -- big, big kudos!

bride

tekwriter

thanks Bride.  A lot of my water is fizzy the rest is tap.  I will tell the truth I was always a huge water drinker.  I am diabetic so have been thirsty for a bit. I like to think it helps though.  I have been up more today and am feeling a little more like normal. My family is just the best. They are taking such great care of me.  They have all become just a big warm fuzzy blanket.  I am especially blessed.

stacey5971

Started chemo on January 2. So much fun. I'm just joining the party and waiting for this to be over. 

Nancyjeanne1967

Andrea14-I can't sleep either and from what I've read it gets worse with the chemo! Ugh! Good luck tomorrow I'm right there with you, I'm also going for the first round tomorrow (hmm actually today since it's almost 2am).  Lets talk again and compare notes! Lol! Good luck!

Diamond_lil

Hi Desimone, I have just started this exact regime 7th jan. I'm in Australia so given the time difference we will be following the same path, almost to the hour! How did you go with your first A/C. I am feeling fine. No nausea, no insomnia, if anything a little high ( I assume that's the dex). Next few days might tell a different story. Wishing you all the best, let me know how you go.

tekwriter

good luck ladies.  The first couple of days were the best for me.  Then it was down and achy.  Now I seem to be on the up swing.  feeling a little better each day.  nothing was horrendous though.  I keep up my anti nausea meds just like every one says.  so no problems.

SLCGirl

Hello all, This is my first post but I've been reading a lot on this site for a while now.  While I hate that any of us has to be here I'm so glad to have found you all!    I've learned so much about what to expect just by reading this thread.   I'm joining the chemo club this month.  My first is scheduled on Jan. 23rd.  I'm doing 4 rounds of A/C followed by 4 rounds of Taxol.  Then hormone therapy.  Still learning all the lingo.  It feels like trying to learn a new language, one that you don't really want to have to learn.  

Good luck to everyone who has started!  We can do this.