Chemo in July 2015

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  • Want2Bcamping
    Want2Bcamping Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2015

    powerthruit- I may do that. I've read where lots of people have talked about the shots. Can't hurt to ask - no is the time to be as informed as I can.

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  • powerthruit
    powerthruit Member Posts: 59
    edited July 2015

    Want2bcamping, Good for you. I was just looking and we have a very similar diagnosis -- except I beat you on the size of the tumor! ;-)

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited July 2015

    Hi Everyone .. been out of touch for a few days but thinking of everyone here. I started a 2 week Beach Vacation with my family on Saturday!! Had it planned all year and the timing was perfect - being 6 weeks post-op - starting Chemo the week we comeback.. I have to say - we just had 2 beautiful beach days and while I cannot swim fully (Dr said no submerging chest) - I was able to really enjoy my kids for the 1st time in weeks .. we can get thru this

    Welcome Welcome Free and Flying, mandrew, Btxtwins and Flaime -- we are here to support each other to get thru this together - let us know how you are doing..

    Free and Flying - hope some of your initial SE's have subsided

    BTXtwins - you are more than welcome here with your 6/29 date;

    mandrew - good luck tomorrow!

    RuthElizabeth - thinking of you today - hope you are doing well

    Bjsmiller, melinda531 & hartrish - had to laugh reading thru some of your comments about "waiting around for something to happen" ... I am sure I would do the same thing. Hope you are still well..

    powerthruit - thanks so much for sharing all you have learned especially about the constipation - great info!!

    sher0402 - my MO scheduled a Pet Scan for me before Chemo - I actually thought it was standard - was just told to get Pet Scan, Muga Scan and bloodwork before starting chemo .. had all done and all results came back fine.

    Bjsmiller - I am thinking of you for good results from bone biopsy

    lauragirl - Coping with this disease just sucks - I have my moments and try to stay strong for my kids... I hope you have resources (family/friends) that you can lean on for support .. hang in there girl - you got this and we are here for you!!

    We all Got this!! What a great group of really strong women ..

    Mary

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  • FreeandFlying
    FreeandFlying Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2015

    Hi everyone and mdoc524 thank you for the kind welcome and uplifting words. So nice! I was hoping to go into work today but I was very shaky and mind foggy- nurses said this is typical coming off of steroids. My oncologist is going to take me off the steroids for the next round. So day 4 was pretty good but day 5 I took a dip. My oncologist wants me to control my anxiety better. It's hard. I am so sensitive to any little thing going on with my body. She said the first week just expect to not feel great, especially with how sensitive I am. She is very committed to the AC plus T for me and says to just focus on one day at a time.

    I know I can do this and that all of us will get through the chemo. Great to hear about everyone's experiences and know we are not alone! 😊

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited July 2015

    Hello all,

    I will be starting chemotherapy next week (hopefully). Neoadjuvent treatment of Herceptin, Perjeta, Carboplatin, and Taxotere. Had port surgery four days ago and am still pretty stiff and sore from it.

    Starting date isn't confirmed yet because my PET scan revealed a nodule on my thyroid and the biopsy results came back as inconclusive. I have to meet with the thyroid surgeon prior to chemo starting in case he wants to do further testing and/or surgery.

    I am also undergoing fertility treatments at the moment with final egg harvesting/embryo freezing coming up sometime this week. My husband and I were going to start trying for a baby this summer. Obviously that is no longer happening. I am 31 with no family history, risk factors, etc.

    Nice to "meet" you all and good luck to those who have started or will be starting soon!


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  • Want2Bcamping
    Want2Bcamping Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2015

    Welcome MissBee123!


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  • FreeandFlying
    FreeandFlying Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2015

    Welcome MissBee123

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  • Sher0402
    Sher0402 Member Posts: 51
    edited July 2015

    Hi MissBee123 - looks like we are similar. I am starting the same chemo as you on Thursday. I'll let you know how it goes since I will be a couple of days ahead of you. Will be thinking of you with everything you gave going on.

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  • Bliss58
    Bliss58 Member Posts: 1,154
    edited July 2015

    Welcome MissBee123. Looks like we are on the same chemo treatment.

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  • Bliss58
    Bliss58 Member Posts: 1,154
    edited July 2015

    Welcome back Mdoc524 and thank you for your good thoughts. Five days out now from treatment and doing well, but has anyone had vertigo as an SE? That's one thing I'm not sure I mentioned previously thinking it was no big deal, but it's still with me after a couple days. Also now have a runny nose! Hope you all are doing well.

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  • melinda531
    melinda531 Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2015

    Hi Everyone!

    I'm on day 4 post-treatment and feeling okay. Yesterday was particularly hard because it was my first day back to work after treatment and ironically coincided with all the steroids and other IV drugs wearing off so I did end up taking an anti-nausea pill which helped and took a nap the minute I got home from work. Also, wasn't expecting the foggy brain that I experienced yesterday.....thought maybe my heart just wasn't into being at work but I feel like I had trouble concentrating. I got the Neulasta shot yesterday and am very nervous about the bone pain everyone mentions.....taking Claritin and hoping that holds it off! Other than being a bit sore and anxious about possible bone pain, I think I'm doing okay.

    Here's hoping that everyone else is doing well!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2015

    Visiting from April to say the runny nose is common, and some people have mentioned vertigo. Make sure you're well-hydrated and keep your electrolytes (salt and potassium) up!

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  • Magnolia83
    Magnolia83 Member Posts: 99
    edited July 2015

    MissBee123, popping in from the May board to let you know that I harvested embryos before chemo and the procedure is a piece of cake! You will do great. I also was diagnosed at 31 and have similar pathology, but am doing adjuvant chemo. Just wanted to offer some support from someone who's a few months down the road

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  • melinda531
    melinda531 Member Posts: 27
    edited July 2015

    Does anyone know if loss of/weakened taste is just for a few days post-treatment or lasts longer? Any suggestions for helping with this? Ironically, I taste most foods but all drinks taste terrible!

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  • theearthlaughsinflowers
    theearthlaughsinflowers Member Posts: 23
    edited July 2015

    Hello new friends,

    I was hoping to catch up with a couple of specific posts but please forgive me~ this brain fog I'd causing a real lack of focus.

    Although melinda531 I will add that although food doesn't taste funny yet I am just now starting to notice a strange aftertaste with whatever I eat.

    I had AC on 7/10. I thought I handled it pretty well. The fatigue started sometime Saturday. Also experiencing hot sweaty flashes, minor headaches, minor bone pain from neulasta. Any bits of nausea I've managed with small meals. And lots and lots of water. I expected to feel better today but I believe I overdid it with work and travel yesterday and didn't sleep much last night. So hopefully back on track tmrrw. So overall I'd say it's not so bad just no fun not feeling like myself.

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  • RuthElizabeth
    RuthElizabeth Member Posts: 103
    edited July 2015

    morning everyone. I had my first treatment yesterday. I don't have a port, and the red devel was awful. Thank goodness it only lasted 10 minuted. My hand just thumped the whole time. But, afterwards, it got better for the next chemo. My nurse said I would feel really good the rest of the day. Especially since I had two bags of nausea medicine. Well, she was so wrong. About two hours home, my guts were killing me. I held off on taking any of my meds until evening. I was so glad I finally food one. Felt a little better and slept pretty good. Now I am taking my zofran and composine as scheduled. I just took a Claritin prior to my shot. It's at 2:00. I hope it gets better. Good luck everyon

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  • inkster
    inkster Member Posts: 93
    edited July 2015

    melinda531 - I don't know how long it lasts, but my tastebuds have gone wonky too. Fruit tastes super salty, lots of things taste perfumey, and some veg tastes very bitter. Water is still fine (whew!) as are most carbs and proteins. Vanilla ice cream is divine, but not exactly a nutritional powerhouse. I'm hoping that this SE will ease up for us (and everyone else) during the recovery period. I did start writing down what I eat so I can see where I've got nutritional gaps and hopefully find somewhat palatable ways to fix 'em. If you find any tricks, though, I'd love to hear them. :)

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  • Want2Bcamping
    Want2Bcamping Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2015

    I've noticed my tastes are changing slightly. Nothing drastic - almost more like a "thick" coating in my mouth after I eat. I am thankful water (which is my choice of beverage even before all this crap) still tastes fine. My mouth almost seems more sensitive too. - no noticeable sores, just different.

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  • michele123
    michele123 Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2015

    Hi all...so sorry to hear some are having some nasty side effects :( I have my second infusion of AC tomorrow. Round one went pretty well for me. With me, infusion day was great, no pain, no side effects at all. Days two three and four after, I was drinking as much water as possible (3 to 4 quarts a day) and just ate small snacks throughout the day. I was pretty beat, but didn't nap, just went to bed when my seven year old did. From that point up till now I have felt more and more energy return and more and more like myself. Still continued to drink the same amount of water, but am now back to eating regularly and don't require any extra sleep. Unfortunately about day five or six, water started tasting like metal....so i tried mixing in some flavor or drinking vitamin waters too. That helped. No problem with food...all taste good :) Unfortunately, one week post infusion, my blood work showed low counts...so they put me on an antibiotic to help prevent infection and told me to lay low for a few days. I felt perfectly fine, it was just an inconvenience. One more bad thing...just today I have developed a sore on my tongue. Its not horrible, but I had hoped that I had avoided them by using Biotine, but I guess not. Oh and ....for a couple days my lips and tongue were tingling...it was weird. But, over all....i'll take it. Nothing was that bad....just praying that round two goes as well. Best wishes to all of you that are struggling...my prayers go out for you that things get better soon. And to all of you who are muddling through with so so side effects...you're in my prayers too that we may continue to be so Blessed. And lastly to those who have yet to begin...my prayers are with you as well that your side effects will not be nearly as bad as you're thinking they will be ...stay strong all!

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  • FreeandFlying
    FreeandFlying Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2015

    For those of you that are doing AC not followed by T.... Did your oncologist recommend that? Wondering what the real benefit of doing 4 rounds of DD AC versus 4 rounds of AC followed by another 4 DD rounds of Taxol will provide? I could maybe go through this 3 more times but 7 more times seems so daunting.

    I love all the positive attitudes in this group! You can use me as a benchmark for someone that may be on the more sensitive side of experiencing side effects. I've had a bunch of side effects but they come and go and most were due to the steroids and anti nausea meds and steroid withdrawal- headache, dizziness, heart racing, total fog brain, emotional, fatigue. Oh and even with the copious amounts of water and fresh fruits and veggies along with daily stool softener the constipation is quite annoying. All that being said - I feel ok right now and trust that tomorrow will be a better day

    STAY STRONG Everyone!!!!

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  • RuthElizabeth
    RuthElizabeth Member Posts: 103
    edited July 2015

    morning to all. I'm having a good morning so far. Was wondering if anyone had the BRACA genetic testing done. I did my blood test yesterday while I was there for the neulasta shot. My daughter had the test also yesterday. Her father had unknown primary cancer. It was awful. He passed one year after diagnosis. So, they had extended to a few other cancers for her genetic testing.

    Hope everyone has a good day. I love all the input. I think the Claritin is definitely helping my neulasta shot side effects. Thanks to all of you for that

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  • FreeandFlying
    FreeandFlying Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2015

    RuthElizabeth -I qualified for genetics testing and opted for the breast and colon panels. The results should be back in a couple weeks. I wanted to do it mostly because I have 2 daughters and want to have as much information for their benefit. Happy to hear that you are doing well

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  • Peabrain
    Peabrain Member Posts: 268
    edited July 2015

    hello, Ruth.

    Due to some oddities in my diagnosis (cancer in both breasts, including a triple negative tumor), I had the full genetic testing done before the surgery. A BRCA1 positive test meant that I went with a full BMX instead of the lumpectomy that I would have chosen otherwise.

    Now we are waiting for the results of my brothers' tests.

    Once I am done with chemo for this round of cancer, I will likely have my ovaries removed and then just yearly screening for other cancers, such as pancreatic. For the rest of my life. It's kind of a weird one to wrap my head around, but I am definitely glad that I did the testing.

    Here's hoping that you and your daughter are negative!

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  • HeatBrin
    HeatBrin Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2015

    Glad I found this, I don't feel so alone. I start TCH on the 17th (2 days)!!! 6 rounds every 21 days. Very nervous. My plan is to have the infusions on Fridays and go to work on Mondays Am I crazy? We'll soon find out!

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  • Sher0402
    Sher0402 Member Posts: 51
    edited July 2015

    hi HeatBrin,

    I am starting TCHP tomorrow and plan to work from home on Friday and go to work on Monday. Like you I have been hoping it is doable! Good luck.

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  • michele123
    michele123 Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2015

    Welcome HeatBrin...we are glad you found us too!! I am sure someone will be able to help answer your questions .... We have a great group of all kinds of different types of treatments ...you are certainly not alone!! So welcome and I wish you the best....think positive and try to keep smiling...we can do this!!

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  • ingersollnic
    ingersollnic Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2015

    I didn't even think of bringing him actually. He came for a little while but I took my computer and phone and worked from the chair and in spare time I listened to music and skyped my daughter. He worries more than me so I found it easier to be on my own and be calm

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  • ingersollnic
    ingersollnic Member Posts: 46
    edited July 2015

    good luck. I started chemo on the 2nd and luckily I can work from home so I worked through chemo in the phone and laptop during and have not had any time where I couldn't work so far. All the bes

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited July 2015

    Welcome Welcome MissBee123 - hope you egg harvest goes well and you are able to get started on treatment next week.. and also HeatBrin - I am also getting treatments on Fridays when I start and hoping to work on Mondays ... glad you both found us! We are all in this together.

    Nicevolve - just checking - did you want your info to be added to our group - let us know - you are more than welcome

    kdcjjc & sher0402 - thinking of you both today..

    cheesequake & HeatBrin - good luck tomorrow

    RuthElizabeth & mandrew - hope you are doing OK since first treatment this week and SE's are minimal ..

    And to all those who started treatment earlier - thank you all for posting your updates - means so much for someone like me starting at the end of the month - you all ROCK!

    Ksusan & Magnolia83 - thanks so much for popping in - just so awesome to lend your support and share your experience

    Hang in there everyone! Stay Strong!

    Mary

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  • Sher0402
    Sher0402 Member Posts: 51
    edited July 2015

    so disappointed - chemo pushed back to next week because insurance has still not approved. Also, pet scan hasn't been approved ans they want that before chemo even though I was previously told it was ok tondo the week after. :-(

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