Starting Chemo May 2015

rosesrx

So good to read most had a good day,  myself included. Ordered a wig today,  had some laughs and smiled for the first time in a while,  have plenty of scarves. Picked up meds and pre-registered for scans on Monday. I know what everybody means by the whirlwind after the insufferable waiting for results.

As for the constipation start slow and add,  stool softner colace,  fluids,  then stimulants like senakot or dulcolax then the osmotics like milk of magnesia or Miralax just a capfu! ! As some have suggested prune juice whenmixed with milk of mag and warmed is called a "mom bomb" before resorting to enemas call the nurse or MO.

When told to avoid fresh fruits and veggies I was crestfallen but will wash thoroughly at home only and avoid eating raw foods out. Probiotics may be a good idea as well.  

The port site covered looks good shanann glad you are chill. So for those that have had round 1,  did you bring enough stuff to do,  stay warm,  cool enough,  what about food? My first starts at 8 am with labs,  discussion, premeds (1hr),  T (1hr),  C (1 hr) and H (90 min) per the nurse. 

I know this will all be passe by cycle 2.  

dunesleeper

I can see the chemo working. I have a number of nasty nodes and they are drying up and getting smaller. This is very good!

StefLove

day one of AC done! I felt like a rockstar until about 3pm and started to get nauseous and just an overal hung over blah feeling. Still feel the same right now. Have been taking the nausea meds and no idea if it's doing anything. I just feel dehydrated and hung over, even though I've been drinking all day. I was able to eat a bit when I got home but since the nasuea not much. Nothing sound appetizing. Ugh. Trying to go back to bed.

Gina4h

Had my first chemo May 4. Reacted at first to the Adriamycin, but was able to tolerate it at a slower rate ~ 2 hours. No problem with the Cytoxan. Headaches and nausea, but not too bad for the first 3 days except I turned into a boiled lobster on day 3 so spent most of it in the hospital until the ER docs got a chemo consult and discovered it was a steroid reaction. Will most likely recur each time, but after a couple of days I just look "sun-kissed" which was kind of cool. Day 4 was bad for nausea, but the worst is the Neupogen shots. By day 3 of the injections, it felt like my shirts were filled with broken glass and yesterday (day 7 of 8 injections) the bone pain was so bad, that I spent 12 hours in hospital on IV pain killers. The chemo docs decided to not give me the 8th injection. My BC is very aggressive and almost the whole breast is involved now, so it was also causing a lot of referred chest pain. At least I know that my abdominal organs are okay, my heart is strong and they are no mets in my spine after all of the tests yesterday. I'm still going ahead with the treatments, but now I am on high doses of really strong pain killers, so I can't do much other than sleep, eat small amounts and play on the computer from time to time. The next chemo is not until Wednesday and then 2 more days after that the next Neupogen injection, so hoping I have at least 3 or 4 days of only having to deal with the pain in my breast.

mysunshine48

CatsRus - Yes, the party started and I got sidetracked and did not get back on here until now. My appt. was for 11:00 and I left at 4:15. Was not fun, but did it. I do not have a port and the worse part was finding a good vein for the IV. FINALLY did. I asked for the numbing cream EMLA, and learned that the MO has to give you a RX for it, which I never got. I had a RX called in to my pharmacy before I left. I WILL use it next time! Anyway, things progressed.....no reactions. I feel pretty good tonight. I think I will take a anti nausea pill before going to bed. Putting crackers on my nightstand. Drinking a lot! Over 100 oz. so far today. It seems to help.

So, all of you yet to start chemo, it is tolerable.....at least so far. CatsRus and I will update you as we go.

Oh, am not having the Neulesta body shot patch. I watched a video on it and made the quick decision that I will drive there for the shot tomorrow. So, Claritin in the morning and every day for10 days!

A good night's sleep to all and a Happy Friday. So happy to have this site and all of you!

Lynn

StefLove

so after all the medical stuff I've been trying for this nasuea, mint gum seems to have done the trick! Ginger candy didn't. And I'm a little hungry so I'm going to force myself to eat something since I haven't eaten since 4.

Hope everyone that started today is doing well!

JenJenJen

Sorry to hear that you have so much pain Gina4h. Enjoy your time before your next chemo.

Steflove, what anti-nausea medicines do you have? In the morning I take an Emend and dexamethasone (steroid). At night I take a small Ativan to help me sleep and to help with nausea. That cocktail has seemed to work for now. I still feel full and not eating as much as I would like to but will have to keep trying.

Mrsgrass

I could not sleep tonight, the steroids are kicking in full time. I take an antidepressant at night hat helps me sleep normally. Tonight it didn't work at all, I laid in bed for two hours and finally got up at 1:30, it is now. 4:40. I also got the bone pain from the Neulasta

StefLove

jenjenjen, they gave me compazine and Ativan and said I can rotate them every 4 hours. I just woke up and took a compazine just in case. I'll be going the mint gum route before wanting to eat for today and see how that works.

For constipation I have miralax but haven't started it yet. People are telling me that's too strong to start with? What's everyone else using?

And holy hot flashes last night! I woke up two or three times in the worst sweats I've ever had. That I'm attributing to the zoladex shot I got last week.

Mrsgrass, hopefully you can spend today just resting and relaxing? Hope you get some rest!

CatsRus

Mysunshine, I was practically on the same timetable as you... my appt was 10:45 and I was heading for home at 4 pm (mind you there was a sale in the hospital gift store so I went shopping first!) No problem with my veins, the benedryl was a little painful going in, but only for the last few minutes, everything else was fine. No nausea (thank goodness) but I have a headache, feel a little lightheaded and my mouth is dry. None is too bad though, definitely manageable. They gave me ice mitts to wear during the taxetere infusion, I guess my toe nails have to fend for themselves :-) Nurses were great, lunch was served so I ended up bring home most of what I'd taken. My biggest complaint now was having to get up to go to the bathroom a million times in the night (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration) but felt like it. Think I'll have to stop drinking water a little earlier today.

One of the hints I got off this board was Ice Breakers Peppermint for icky mouth, and they work great. I also like the Ice Breakers Orangeade and plan to try the Lemonade ones too.

Neulasta this afternoon (2:30 pm), so we'll see how that goes. Every day is an adventure!

Gina4h... I hope you get some relief soon.

Steflove... hope you get the nausea under control soon.

Dunesleeper.... Glad to hear your nasty nodes are drying up and getting smaller!!

Take care all and be well.

Sheila

JenJenJen

Steflove, if the gum method doesn't work for you maybe you can ask for Zofran. It's a bit stronger than Compazine. I agree that Miralax might be a bit much. If you're having constipation try a stool softener first then if you don't have stools for 2 days try a laxative like senna or Miralax

Today is day 3 for me. Hope I won't crash today.

lman

Hi, I am new to the online forum world. Started chemo on Monday, May 11. First of four three week cycles. Yesterday and today I felt a little 'off', but not too bad. I appreciate your input and following along with your stories. Thanks for sharing...

CatsRus

Hi Iman, you are a few days ahead of me... lots of good information here. Take care.

StefLove

welcome to the May gang Iman! We will all get through this together!

JenJenJen, I'll ask about zofran if this doesn't get better. But right now this morning I've been pretty good! I took compazine when I woke up and then dragged my father to the breakfast buffet at the hotel by me b/c they have amazing sweet potato pancakes and I figured those were pretty dull and filling. Then went food shopping with him to get some more odds and ends. Also bought prunes and prune juice as a first stage for the constipation if I need it. Just trying to keep moving slowly. Apparently my outing today got me 1.5 miles of walking! Heading out to my nuelasta shot in a bit! Hoping this doesn't kick my butt.

Magnolia83

Hi Gals...I think we all deserve a huge HIGH FIVE for making it to Friday! Hope everyone is gearing up for a great weekend (I plan to focus on RELAXING!)

I feel like at a week from my first AC, I sort of turned a corner and am feeling a bit better. I am still taking my Zofran, although only in the mornings (and then I take Ativan at night before bed). Also I have to eat constantly, it's horrible...I don't know why (not on steroids at the moment), but I'm basically hungry 24/7. I even had a dream about eating a huge tub of ice cream last night! I woke up and was thankful it was just a dream, ha!

mysunshine48

Hello Everyone,

Doing OK - day two. No problem sleeping, except like you CatsRus, I felt like I was on a merry-go-round between the bed and the bathroom! Up, been eating every two hours and drinking a lot. Go in for the shot at 4:00.

My MO said to take Colase for constipation, but I am starting with stool softeners. They worked by themselves after surgery.

Zolfran has been working. No nausea at all, yet. Took one at 11:00 last night, and now 8 hours apart.

Am already doing the salt and soda mouth swish every time I walk into the bathroom.

I hope this lack of side effects keeps up, but I know some will show up! I am trying to be positive and being pro-active, staying ahead of what could come.

For bone pain from Neulasta shot, take regular Claritin....one each morning. I don't know how it will work for me, but have read that is helps many women.....so I am doing it. Took one this morning.

Hope this helps someone out there. Let's continue to share as we travel this road. Together, we will all get through this little detour in our lives. Good wishes to all!

Lynn

StefLove

yes, magnolia! high five for everyone getting to Friday! Hope everyone is feeling good today.

Still positive today, just went for the nuelasta and took allegra with it as well. now hanging out at home waiting for my aunt and uncle to come visit. already told them I can't go too crazy but they just want to come hang out.

and doesn't look like i'll need the prunes or prune juice today. so far today everything has been ummm *ahem* working correctly and smoothly.

Beachbum1023

What a week you have had Ladies! I hope you feel better, and can relax over the weekend. Rest and repair, repeat! But I wanted to drop by with some pretty tulips to cheer you up!

JenJenJen

Ahh Thanks BeachBum 102! Those are beautiful and uplifting!

Hope you all have a great weekend and keep those postitive thoughts going!

CatsRus

just got back from getting my Neulasta shot...pretty painless - never had a shot in the tum before. I'm doing my own trial, no Claritin this time and see what happens but I will next time round if the pain is bad, I will for sure.

Feeling pretty good at the moment

Beachbum1023

CatsRus, I had Neulasta and took the Claritin, just keep an eye out for the pain. Mine started during the night when I was sleeping and it wasn't a good thing. I hope you do well.

labhusky

I wonder what shot I got after my 1st treatment & I mean b4 I left. And I got it in the arm. Guess I'll have to ask. Those flowers are beautiful! It's raining here in San Diego ca . I got my insurance bill yesterday in the mail. Breast cancer is expensive. Total cost $88,161.10. My total cost? $250.

tjh

Mine us up over the $120,000 mark...we have to pay $3000.

I didn't do the Clairetin.....I will next time. I could hardly move yesterday and was in tears. Dr called in prescription for vicodin😆

Love the flowers!

CatsRus

Wow, those are big bills. I am in Canada so I don't see any costs everything covered except the Neulasta - can$2700 per shot but that is covered by my company's drug plan. The other drug like Neulasta only multiple shots is covered by the government, just not Neulasta

tjh

The US is known for outrageous medical expenses and my part of Wisconsin is some of the highest in the state. I have had to put that part of this out of my head.

This week has been an adventure each day, I don't know what I will wake up to when I go to bed at night. The concept of feeling like yesterday for 4 months is terrifying.

ksusan

Hopping in from the April group to say I just had TC #3 and so far I'm actually having fewer side effects than by this point for #1 and 2 (other than fatigue, which is higher, but it's a pleasant sleepy fatigue). Congratulations to everyone who got treatment this week. Drink fluids!

rosesrx

So do any of you wear contact lens? Were you able to tolerate them through chemo or were they too irritating? 

Happy Friday!

mysunshine48

Hi, Yes, I wear contacts. My MO said that was fine, but my eyes may get dry. So, I have eye drops on the counter in the bathroom next to all the other possible things I could need. Looks like a pharmacy! I also have a pair of glasses which I am wearing some at home.

Lynn

StefLove

got through today fairly SE free! I actually feel like a normal day right now, only as if I had a long day at work. Was able to go to breakfast, grocery shopping, went for neulasta, and then dinner with my aunt and uncle visiting. My aunt had BC in 2007 and kept commenting on how good I've been. She was bed ridden from treatment #1.

heading to bed early. hope the neulasta is SE effect free tonight.

As for healthcare costs? UGH. Luckily my max is only $3000 this year too but I get the original bills and it's insane. I'm saving everything and when this is all done I want to add everything up.

Jenga60

Hi, I'm new to the group, got my final treatment plan today.

3 rounds of FEC ( 3 weeks apart)

3 rounds of D(3 weeks apart)

That's the chemo part of the treatment. There are several other drugs on top of the chemo and can expect radiation after that.

Start Wed May 20th

Had a left mastectomy on March 23rd, 4cm stage 3a, 8/22 nodes , triple positive. I'm 38 years old.

I have a lot of information to read through.