Starting chemo September 2014

SiStar-TX

Zimastar-  I am so glad that you mentioned food.  I am eating all the time and I have found that sweets taste the best!  I am making an effort to slow down because although I am almost 6 feet tall I do not want to weigh 200 pounds.

For constipation I take miralax.  There's no taste and no stomach cramps.

SiStar-TX

Today I started taking levaquan because my immune  system is low.  I will still receive my infusion of Herceptin.  I suppose neulasta is next.  It seems that the drop in the immune system could have been avoided if preventive measures had been taken (neulasta after the first chemo infusion).  

echoes1965

Starting TCHP sept 18!

SiStar-TX

I am so glad that you had the kirk franklin intervention!  That song will make even the most difficult soul smile.

Lori1967

Has anyone else had trouble with drinking hot drinks?

I don't drink tea or coffee, but had a hot chocolate twice now.

It burns all the way down to my tummy and then heartburn!

Rose0766

Had my mediport put in today, start chemo on 9/16, nice to have all this info from others going thru the same thing!!

HockeyCat

Lori - my mouth got so sensitive so I cannot drink hot drinks. I have to add some water to my peppermint tea. It doesn't burn my tummy though. 

My temperature is between 99.5 to 100 since Saturday. My onc said I should call her when the fever up to 100.5. My fever went up to 100.7 this morning but went down after my acupuncture appointment. It's now up again to 100... Has anyone had mild fever this long? Bone pains from Neulasta lasted about 5 days but gone now. I still have this fever and feel pretty worn out with no energy.

Robin73014

Good Evening Ladies!

Sorry I have not posted in a while, but I finally found my footing after about 6 days post Chemo.  It seems to me I need about 6 days to recover. I lost 7 lbs and I could not eat for about 3 days. Reading ll of your tips have helped so much! So I had my chemo 9/2 and had a appointment with my doctor on 9/9. My counts were low and I loss too much weight. But overall Nausea, joint pain, sore mouth, fatigue , elevated temperatures, and depression are common side effects of Chemo. Biology dictates how your chemistry will react. 

Sistar- yes Neulasta does help your counts stay on point. Maybe staying away from sic people, and vitamin C can help too ? We have similar symtoms~

HockeyCat- I also had about 5 days of being down too...my fever hung between 99 and 100 the first 3 to 4 days. Maybe try a protein drink or smoothie with B12 could give you a boost. A smoothie with tons of fruit can give you a pick me up. The sugars may not be the best, but throw calories out the door!

DanielaD- you should make sure you don't have thrush... Some women seem to get this and have sore throats to start!

I think Kirk Franklin Smile is our theme song!!!

I m back in the chemo chair on 9/16 wish me luck!

FYI- doctor gave me prescription for medicinal marijuana (cannabis) thoughts?? 

barremom64

careful with Vitamin C- It was the one one vitamin my MO will not let me take while on chemo. 

Lori1967

I am getting the bandaging on my picc line changed today. I really hope they can come up with something different.

It seems like every part of it is bothering me! I can feel movement with the line if I flex a certain way, then it hurts!

I am also reacting to the glue on all the ba

Saving too, if muslin doesn't itch.. It burns!

There has to be a better way, I cannot imagine dealing with this till December ....

Zimastar

Sistar, I'm not sure why only sweets taste good but yes, definitely have to watch it. I'm over weight to begin with, related to another medical issue, I Dont want to tip out any higher! However, I am going to give into my taste buds today for pumpkin something! Lol

The constipation is getting better. But oooo the bone/aches/pain. Feel like I'm 80! I'm still really tired and its day 3 after chemo. When will this subside???? I have so much to do & it wipes me out just getting ready to get out the door. Anyone found an activitiy to help?? 

Zimastar

lori

Did they put a skin barrier on you before the clear bandage?? Why did they not offer you a port? Picc lines can be very dangerous!  I hope they get to the bottom of your itchiness!!

zjrosenthal

Feel a bit queasy this morning.  Also very tired.  Hope eating something helps.  No bone pain thank God.  I am wondering how we get thru this for 14 months?

Miscraw

Hello ladies, as difficult as it is for me to admit it to myself it looks like I will be joining your group. Looks like chemo will be starting September 25, unless we can get things in order to start the 18th. I was a "grey" area when it came to post surgical treatment. I had DCIS which usually requires no other treatment, but had multiple areas of micro invasion. I was also HER2 positive & they really wanted me to have Herceptin.  In the end, we decided on 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin. Then continuing the Herceptin every 3 weeks for the year.

I see the surgeon on Monday to discuss port placement. Does anyone have tissue expanders here? Does this affect port placement? I hate these stupid expanders & was really looking forward to getting my permanent implants in late October/early November but that will be on hold now.

PoppyK

Robin, I am so sorry you are having strong SEs. Did your MO offer you any options to help you? My opinion regarding cannabis: I am not eliminating this option simply because it is used recreationally by some people. There are legitimate scientific studies demonstrating that it helps with SE. If it would bring me relief from SE, I would try it. I wouldn't want to smoke it, but it is available in a capsule form.

Lori, I hope they find some picc line relief for you. You have more than enough to deal with, without discomfort and annoyance from your line.

Zimaster, zjrosenthal, SiStar, Hockeycat... you are all in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your strength returns and your SE are/become minimal.

Welcome Rose. I saw you on another topic and am glad you found your way here. I haven't started chemo yet, but am inspired by these women... better prepared, too.

I met with my MO yesterday. I told her I wanted a port, which she didn't require for my treatment. She gave me an odd look and explained all of the risks of the port, but said if I have had problems with my veins in the past it would make things easier. Well, I am scheduled to have my port installed on 9/17. I will start chemo on 9/23. They will call me with the date of my chemo orientation (can't remember the term they used). Two of my kids are sick, and my hubby and I are starting to have sore throats and sinus symptoms. I hope I don't get sick.... I want to get on with this and get it over!

PoppyK

Miscraw,

Welcome to the group. Everyone here has been so helpful! It seems everyone hates the TEs. I hope someone can answer your question regarding placement and tissue expanders. I have the new breasts my PS crafted for me out of what was left after my BS finished removing the cancer and suspicious areas. You might want to check out the pinned post at the top of the chemo topic. There is some helpful info on port placement.

I know you want to get through this quickly. It looks like your Mx was a week after your Dx. I am tired of waiting. I was diagnosed in May, surgery in July, and finally chemo in Sept. Slowly working my way through.

Wishing you the best on your port placement.

Zimastar

Miscraw,

I have a TE, left side as right became infected & had to be removed. My port is on my left. I've had no issues with expansion however I only got to 80ml due to the infection. I will have my right TE put back in February so I understand your feelings on the delay. 

Thanks PoppyK. Today is day 3 after chemo. I have aches & pains, tired & just won myself 1L of fluids related to dehydration, which is odd being I am drinking fluids. Just a minor set back. Could be an admission so I'll take out patient! 

zjrosenthal

Does anyone know if the weekly taxol is as bad with SE's as the Adriamycin/Cytoxin?  I haven't had terrible sides with A/C but just feel very tired and like I am fighting a stomach virus.  Just generally yucky.

DaniellaD

miscraw - I'm on the same regimen. It's very doable so far. I've only had two infusions. It's also has a high success rate.  Check out the thread for stage 1 taxol herceptin.  I don't have a port or TEs so can't opine as to them.  

Dinah1950

I just signed in for discussions. This one caught me as I start treatment next week! Just getting my head around it all even though I had surgery in July after being diagnosed in June! I will be coping alone a lot although my three girls are not far away! Need to focus on treatment and staying well now. i haven't browsed all the topics yet but am interested if anyone has experience dealing with breast implants and treatment? Especially radiation? I see the radiation oncologist next week before chemo starts so will get some answers there. i will likely have to have it out as there is a leak..they are 37 years on!!. Thank you to the 2013 gang as it helps already being able to put my head a year from now.

Rose0766

went shopping today for chemo side effects arsenal, lol, never thought I would be saying that in my lifetime, tomorrow I think I'm going to make the " this helps that list " seems like a little chemistry class is going on in my head, I made an appt today to look at wigs at our local American cancer society branch, didn't think I would need an appt, but glad I found out. A little weepy doing my hair today, thinking that in a few weeks I won't being doing this for awhile, but I did find a cute hat online--I'm not a fan of wearing hats, but that will have to change, especially with winter coming hope you all have a wonderful, side effect free weekend! 

HockeyCat

Robin, I talked to my onc about my fever. She said fever is not normal for that long (I had fever for 6 days). She told me to stop taking Advil as she is afraid that it may be masking a high fever. I think the worst part is now over for me. Good luck with your infusion next week. If you get fever for more than 48 hours, you might wanna call your doctor. 

ella

Hello lovely ladies! I'm starting treatment on Monday (9/15). I was originally going to do AC + TH for 8 cycles, but after my MUGA scan and a conversation between my cardiologist (I have very minor previous heart issues) and my MO, I was told at my appt with my MO today that I'm being switched to TCHP instead. I'm pretty psyched that it's for 6 cycles over 8, and the numbers for Perjeta + Herceptin used neo-adjuvantly are so impressive I don't know why this wasn't my cocktail of healing magic to begin with. 

This is a local recurrence for me, nine years (plus) out from my original dx. I was incredibly blessed to have a baby boy a year after my treatment ended (and even more blessed that my pregnancy hormone ridden body didn't grow a beastly tumor because of it). I hate this for him much more than I hate it for me (although let me be clear that I'm not a fan of it for me, either!)

At this point I have thought so much about, learned so much about, planned so much for, shopped so much for and prayed so much about chemo that I almost wish Monday would get here already so I could get through it and know what it was going to be like! I have hypothermia mittens and boots (and glad I ordered them early since I didn't think I'd need them for three months and now need them Monday), a cooler for ice chips, my "chemo bag" packed with a warm, soft blanket, snacks, water, and an iPad that's full of pictures of the people and places I love and entertainment of all sorts. I got hair cut very short a couple weeks ago to try and transition, I've had blessings from my church priesthood - I am ready to start! Not that I want to be doing this at all, but I'm ready to shrink this beast, cut it out and continue living and loving my life and watching my little man grow up. 

Sending love and positive energy to all of you. Thanks for sharing everything you have here - although I haven't been posting, I've been listening and it's helped prepare me so much!

zjrosenthal

In the middle of the night I started to feel like I was on a roller coaster, my stomach was doing flip flops so I took an anti anxiety pill and it helped.  I feel a little bit better this morning.  Hopefully the next treatment will go as well with 5 days of yucky, followed by a week of recovery.  Well one A/C down, 4 to go.  Then on to Taxol, herceptin and perjeta.  Hang in there fellow chemoettes, we will make it.

Robin73014

hello!

Zrosenrthal- hang in there! That A/C reply is no joke huh? Sending positive thoughts a no nausea vibes your way! 

Hockey at- you are right 48 to 72 hours of a fever warrant a call to your MO. I want back and read some notes from my Chemo class and it said temps over 100.5 warrant a call but continual may mean a infection!! Thank u for following up and correcting me!  A lot of people read these post so hopefully we can learn from each other!! Xoxo

Ella- best of luck! My new motto "shrink the beast" thanks for that! 2nd is the charm and I am so happy you had your baby after the first time! 

Robin73014

hello!

ZRosenthal- hang in there! That A/C is no joke huh? Sending positive thoughts of no nausea vibes your way!

Hockey at- you are right 48 to 72 hours of a fever warrant a call to your MO. I want back and read some notes from my Chemo class and it said temps over 100.5 warrant a call but continual may mean a infection!! Thank u for following up and correcting me! A lot of people read these post so hopefully we can learn from each other!! Xoxo

Ella- best of luck! My new motto "shrink the beast" thanks for that! 2nd time is the charm and I am so happy you had your baby after the first time! 

zjrosenthal

Tks Robin,  I think I am doing a bit better today.

sybilskelton

Robin, I live in a state where medical marijuana is not legal, but my sweet daughter and her friends insisted on bringing me a "stash". Regardless of one's moral positions, I believe in receiving help in the spirit in which it is offered, and these kids are kind and genuinely want to help relieve my suffering.

And I'm here to testify that the stuff is a bloody miracle drug. Fill that prescription and give it a shot. It certainly won't hurt and it may provide some blessed relief.

travlmom

Hello ladies - I was part of the September/October 2013 groups.

Congrats to you ladies who have made it through your first chemo.  I saw several of you complain of the bone pain and feeling like an 80 year old.  I too did not take Claratin the first time and suffered through bone crushing pain.  I highly recommend taking one 24 hour Claratin tablet the day of chemo and for 5 days after.  It really helps with the bone swelling from the Neulasta shot pumping up the white blood cell production.  It works - I promise.  At my center no one had heard of it.  My nurse started to recommend it and they have been amazed at the reduced calls regarding pain. As a bonus if you have fall allergies you are taking care of that too!

Keep Moving Forward!

I need to update my picture - I have hair again!

zjrosenthal

What in the world does one eat if she has been told to avoid soy.  Reading ingredient labels it seems like soy is in just about everything!  Even saltiness contain soy!  My chemo nurse said not to worry about small amounts but I feel like I'd be feeding the cancer cells since they are ER+.  AAaaaggghhh!