November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew

readytorock

vintagegal1

Sorry you are going through this again! I hope you get some nice birthday wishes to make your day better
hugs!

Tigger2

Hey Vintage - HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL! You are in my thoughts... as you all are!

Cool fundraising friend camergirl! Thats awesome! Karen I hope your Dad is doing better soon. Not good to have extra worry! Readytorock we are nearly neighbors! My husband was pushing me to go to our GP and get a second opinion and if I did I would have likely been over at Winchester! LOVE LOVE LOVE my docs. That certainly makes a difference doesn't it! My onc calls to check on me every other day. I gave her a hug the last time I saw her and she was a bit off with that. I get it... but I could not resist. It is fab to be able to ask her anything.

BTW.... anyone read the FINE PRINT of all the documents that get passed to us in our pre-chemo meetings. My husband was combing through the details with the nurse practitioner when he came across the suggested condom use! She said for days after chemo and in the docs it says a year. I am giggling as I write this (my daughters are 14, 16, and 20) thinking about the last time we had to wrap it up (sorry I hope I am not offending anyone!)

Just another facet to this adventure!

Have a great day girls!

Leslienva

Has anyone had their second neulasta shot yet? I took the Claritin and Tylenol for the first shotbut they didn't seem to help with the pain. My oncologist says the second shot won't be as painful, but I'm skeptical!

VintageGal1111

Thanks Gals~

I wasn't scheduled early since they had to squeeze me in today for my second go round at this chemo game. I had blood drawn at 10. So it was 4:30 before I got out of the chair. loooong day! But I knew it would be, iv steroids, then the pergeta very slow, dose dense & an hour monitoring after for reaction. Then the herceptin (been there!) & then the taxotere.

Dr is still stunned how this *new* cancer (cells in pleural fluid) could be HER2+. I was cancer free in March after BMX, had rads & the continued Herceptin should have got anything that was possibly lingering.

It was a decent BD anyhow....wifi there so I had many messages, FB, texts & emails all day sending wishes & luck. Hubby sat with me the entire time. My sister delivered a bouquet from a friend who left it at her work for me. And I came home to find a bonsai had been sent by gal I met here last year on the Starting Chemo in Sept 2013 group! And said Hubby made me a gluten free angel food cake!

Stage IV is very scary at first. But I am feeling better about things. Thanks~

DianaS

Astarte

It sounds like our journey has been very similar. I was dx on 10/23/2014 with IDC Stage IIB 3cm HER+++ after a core biopsy. I then met with a surgeon and onc on 10/31/2014. The treatment plan is chemo every 3 weeks for 4 cycles, then possible surgery and radiation and then hormonal. I had my CAT scan and MRI last week and my port put in on Monday. I started my chemo yesterday. I am still in that unknown period of how I am going to handle the chemo side effects. I am hoping to return to work in the morning after the Nulesta but we shall see. I also would like to work thru the chemo. Hang in a there we will get thru this together.

cc3373

Hi

I am joining the club:

I start chemo November 17th

Adriamycin/Cytoxin every 3 weeks for 3 months

A 3-4 week recovery

Taxol follows that 1x weekly for 12 weeks.

I really don't want to do this (concern is SE in the long term effects) but know I need to (Stage 2 Grade 2 2/2 Nodes Extracapsulation)

So here for the sisters travelling through this with me

 

Chris

enlm20Erica

Chris, welcome to the thread! Looks like we start chemo on the same day. .and like you, I also don't want to do it, but i guess it's necessary. I've gotten alot of tips here on how to minimize the SEs, if u haven't already, go back thru previous posts on this thread and you'll find alot of great advice. My prayers are with you.

karen1971

i go next friday for surgery for them to put the port in. they cancelled today appointment with my cancer center over which chemo i am going to use. they reschedule it tomorrow. since i don't have anything going on until next friday i am going to ohio to visit my family and go see my dad since he is really sick in the hospital then friday they are going to transfer him to a nursing home.

silverbelle11

Tigger, you crack me up! And, I seem to remember something similar in my research, depending on the specific drugs taken. I go for my first chemo tomorrow. I plan to toss this question at my onc just to see if he squirms or blushes.

Vintage, you have been in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Belated Birthday! Stay strong!

I don't post often, but i read every post until I'm caught up, and I am grateful for everyone's advice, encouragements, and experiences. I'm proud to be on this journey with all of you.

VintageGal1111

Thanks! BD chemo went fine, long day but no issues. Went yesterday for Neulasta shot. Also had xray, chest fluid filled up again, left lung only going at 10% so back today to have it drained.

Onco & pulmonary dr both think/hope chemo will keep that fluid down.

Not happy to be in this rodeo circuit again so soon. So not fair my hair never really got to grow back much now it will be gone again. And my nails were just recovering from Taxol now Taxotere will wreak havoc.

amylsp

VintageGal, I'm so sorry you're going through this again, and so soon! My heart goes out to you. Stay strong! We're all here to support you.

Day 15 and hair seems to be holding on. My scalp feels sore though, so I guess it's only a matter of time. Week two out from chemo was a breeze compared to week one. I'm still very fatigued by late afternoon/evening, but the indigestion has calmed down significantly. Entering week three seems bittersweet though, because I know at the end of it, I'm just going to get slammed again.

.Going to my first support group today at the local area Hope Club. Looking forward to it!

Leslienva

Vintagegal, are you usuing the Elastagel booties and mittens for your feet and hands during the taxotere infusion? They're supposed to help with neuropathy and nail problems. I bought mine from Amazon.

nitengirl1

Hello Ladies,

Im new to the group. I haven't been on the boards in weeks, I needed a break. I start chemo taxotere and cytoxan November 18th. I'm scheduled for 4 rounds with 3 weeks in between then Rads. I had the port placement yesterday and was surprised how painful it was afterward. I couldn't swallow without a lot of pain in the neck incision. It is better today, just sore but the Port is really sore and is noticeable. I'm sure the swelling needs to go down still. Did anyone get Lodacain cream to numb the port before infusions? I had 2 friends tell me its a must.

nitengirl1

I start on my chemo on the 18th, so shortly behind you. I too, had a high oncotype score. Mine was 60, literally off the charts. pretty scary but thats why we are doing the chemo. Remember it reduces our odds a LOT! I was so shocked because everybody seemed to have scores in the teens. You are one of the higher ones posted. Push on and kill it!! Good luck with the chemo and let me know how it goes.

debby

enlm20Erica

Nitengirl, you start 1 day after me my oncotype also pushed me into chemo it was 34. We almost have the exact treatment, I don't have to have rads tho. Wishing you the best..I'm praying that it won't be too hard on any of us!

bonnied

Yay, finally a port date set for next Wednesday and my chemo begins Dec 1. Heck I should have started the December group. It is good that the holiday will be fine without feeling lousy…just some healing of the port i guess. I hope everyone is doing well today and getting some rest.

karen1971

i start chemo the 25th of this month.

cc3373

Erica. Thank you, We do start together, sisterhood

I absolutely feel against it but like you know it's a have to. Praying for you too! For everyone here and throughout the boards, it's such a process we go through, thank God we have each other, it's impossible without all of the angst/venting advice and support here...

Education today and a notebook full of info but I've learned so much more here including affirmations of stuff I felt post surgery was felt by others too hugs to all the ladies, we can do this (lol as I'm tearing up)

I did end up taking the flu shot despite also feeling against it figuring Murphs law would rear its ugly head and get me for saying no. Control thy miseries where you can, pick your battles... Mine may be no to Taxol

Leaving you with my twisted humor:

Chemo is like a one night stand,

They have their way with you, send you home and then you feel like c$&@!

Love and hugs

Charlottesmommy

I'm starting this month also. The sooner I start, the sooner it will be over

cc3373

Bonnied 'hoping you stay with us November gals, it's close enough for me

FurAndFeathers

Thanks for the response Astarte, and good luck to you!

enlm20Erica

I've been having a rough day today emotionally. The closer my first chemo date gets the more nervous and down I feel. I try to remind myself that it's only temporary. I think about how afraid I was to have my bilateral mastectomy but I did it and I recovered very well, I was afraid to get my tissue expanders filled, the thought of needles being stuck in my chest just freaked me out but I had my fourth fill yesterday and honestly none of them have been painful. I look at how far I've come and keep telling myself if you did that part you can do this part. But I can't escape the feeling of being broken. Guess today is just one those days. Hopefully Monday after my first treatment I can breathe that sigh of relief that i hear some of you ladies talk about.

Chris. .thanks! And I'm not gonna chance it I'm going tomorrow to have my "flu shot" ugh lol. .sometimes I Have to just laugh at it all..just feel like pretty soon my body will be 90% meds and 10% me... just too much! But this is life right now. I watched a YouTube diary of a young womans fight with BC she documented it all from beginning to about a year after all her treatments and it really gave me hope and showed me that all this is temporary, it's a challenge but it does get better. I think her name was Nallie. I'll check and post her YouTube.

enlm20Erica

YouTube: Nalie Agustin..I Beat Breast Cancer at 25 years old : CANCER FRE…:

TallyLassie

So glad to have found this group! I started chemo on Monday November 10, 2014 and am really feeling it. So good to go through this with others on a similar path. It is scary to go through this by myself (despite a saintly husband and a wonderful group of friends and family, no one else knows what it is like to experience chemo). I was diagnosed last month with grade 3 invasive HER2+ cancer and have started the chemo before surgery. I'll go 6 rounds every three weeks with: Taxotere, Carboplatin, Perjeta, and Herceptin. I'll continue on the antibody Herceptin for a full year. Surgery after I'm done with the 6 rounds. I am a very active and generally healthy 58 years old, thank god I retired early and have been having fun the past two years. This has knocked me for a loop. I was never sick, so to have this fatigue and nausea is rough. Just day 5 and I hope it gets better. This forum is really helping me with some ideas. I've been reluctant to use anti-nausea meds, but am going to give them a try. Thanks for being there and inspiring me with your experiences and prevailing over the treatment!

Moderators

Thanks for posting, TallyLassie. We're so glad you've found this wonderful, supportive community. Please keep us posted as to how things go for you.

Warmly,

The Mods

enlm20Erica

TallyLassie, welcome to the thread! It's unfortunate that we're here but comforting to know you have people to turn to that understand I hope the nausea and fatigue eases up on you. The meds should help alot.

Leslienva

Tallylassie, the anti nausea meds are your friends! My worst side effects have been nausea and a bad metallic taste in my mouth. The neulasta shot also knocked me out. But by the week after my first chemo, I felt pretty much back to normal. I'm only a week ahead of you! Lesli

bonnied

TallyLassie, Welcome to the november crew! You have kindred spirits here for sure. You and I are the same age or close enough (i am 57). I never take drugs or prescription meds…and love to go herbal when possible. I do take vitamins. The thought of having all this chemo and anti nausea meds running through our bodies is scary at best. Take the anti nausea meds and know that it is temporary and you can detox yourself as you go down the chemo road. I start Dec 1 and get my port in next week. Hang in there and be comfortable as possible. My primary physician said that many chemo patients will use acupuncture to counter effects of chemo as it relates to nausea.

Erica, the worst has to be behind you! The chemo will be a breeze though not easy as we all know but stay positive and let us here support you. We are BC warriors! Urahh!

Leslieinva, It sounds like you are hanging in there and working through it. Are you working while you do chemo? I am going to continue to work. They know at work that I may have a tough day here and there and are giving me a long line to work through it.

I just made a recipe in Rebecca Katz' cancer book Cancer Fighting Kitchen called Cozy Comfy Chicken and Rice. It is basically arroz con pollo. She talks about how our taste buds change when on chemo and talks ways to make food taste better to chemo altered taste buds. I have been making a number of things from her books and will compare the taste differences as i try them again during the chemo weeks.

Happy Friday friends… let rest be your friend this weekend..

cc3373

hi Erica. I had a very rough day Thursday - education day, I've never been that emotionally low, couldn't bring up my yeah but it's not this and the bright side list any way I tried. Education somehow helped. Today was my last work day, love and support from co-workers helped but felt such loss leaving, even though it's temporary it felt like goodbye. So I am right there with you, you're not alone, k? Hugs!

Btw stupid flu shot side effects today mild and totally annoyed last "feel good" days may be stolen but beats getting the flu full on later

I too have been feeling broken, a bit stripped down by the process that has been and is to come. We'll never be who we were before, which is really tugging at me for myself and in all the stories I read. It's true. But there are a lot of beautiful things this beast can't have and that is our spirit and our soul, as well as our love and support for one another

I will check out the you tube video, thanks

Trying to slip into weekend mode and ignore Monday - it's not coming this week, really it isn't lol

enlm20Erica

Bonnied, thanks for the support u gotta be a warrior to deal with all this so I guess you're right. I bought all the ingredients for the mineral broth, I'll be making that tomorrow, storing some the fridge the rest in the freezer. I'm also making the tea. . I'll let you know how it turns out.

Chris, I know it was hard leaving work mostly because of "why" u were leaving. We just gotta look at it as something that will help us even though the process hurts. I went to the cancer center today to get my flu shot, the lady said, "just go thru door and they'll give you the shot". Little did I know it was the "infusion room" aka chemo room. Omg I saw the patients in their infusion recliners thru the window as I approached the door. .it's like it all hit me at once, I was terrified and couldn't go thru the door. .The tears just started to fall, one of the counselors happened to walk past and noticed something was wrong, she pulled me into her office said a prayer and walked me in the room. After I sat there I calmed down and began to feel better. It was just the shock of actually seeing first hand what I've only heard about or seen on tv and knowing that I'll be there soon. I got the flu shot which wasn't bad (haven't had any side effects) and the nurse in the infusion room reassured me that she would be there Monday and everything will be just fine. Just a glimpse of the day I had today. ☺