January 2016 Chemo!

Myraknits

met with my Oncologist today to set up chemo for the end of the month. Need to get an echocariogram and port placed first, then onto HCT/P and Nuelasta 6x every 3 weeks. I'm trying to read up on what to expect. In the meantime...more MRI assisted biopsies. Are we having fun yet?

LovesToFly

dewfly, I was told by the pharmacist to take the Claritin for seven days, so that's what I plsnned, but then I read a few articles that said Neulasta is created to time released doses for 10 days, so I decided to take the Claritin for 10 days. I'm not having much bone pain, but I have noticed a bit of pain in my hips and legs especially late at night, I'm on day nine past Neulastaand still feel that, so I think I did the right thing

LovesToFly

here is one of the things I read about the ten-day things, also a lot of bulletin board people say they have pain from it for about 10 days

https://www.caring.com/questions/bone-pain-from-neulasta-after-chemo

Rockstarteach

Welcome to all our new friends! Glad you posted but sad you're here! I have truly found our thread very helpful. Thank you to everyone giving tips and sharing SE.

Cathytoo

Hi everyone...

There was a change in my schedule. Supposed to start TC this past Wednesday, but will begin this coming Wednesday, Jan 20th. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. It's the unknown more than anything. Reading your posts has been very comforting, especially when I read that many of you are having mild to little side effects. My biggest fear is that the chemo will bring on a cystitis attack since I'm prone to chronic cystitis. But, my urologist has prescribed an antibiotic and something for pain. For the past week I seem to be waking with a sore throat and cough...hope it doesn't turn into a full blown cold. I might have written before that my husband died suddenly 10 months ago, so I'm alone. My kids are miles away and I don't want to burden them. I have great friends who have offered to be with me for the first week. Of course, I hope the time will be spent just hanging out watching TV and eating pizza! LOL My countdown continues...In a few days it will be Day 1 of this scary journey. Hoping for the best and I will all of you the same

27heart

Hi everyone here! Just wanted to share some strength and courage with you! It's tough, but half of Jan is over! You got this!

jensgotthis

Robyn, yes! I'm on TC too and had the very sore throat. I saw others mention the same on the TC dedicated discussion board

ladyhumps

keepsake I am on a lighter dose (100 ml taxol weekly) but I'm thinking it would be helpful to others to post here. The weekly taxol group is another place I might post but it is a long thread.

Kdettwiller I am on std since my Dec surgery but I'm considering staying on it through chemo and maybe radiation. I work 12 hour shifts with 3 days in a row being the longest stretch. I always needed that next day off just to recup. My job is hard and can be stressful, I feel like I don't need that right now. Before I had surgery I used my days off to get all my appointments and testing done. That was tiring. My weekly round trip to the center is almost 3 hours.

Another thing is my company requires you to use 1/2 your vacation time to cover FMLA. If I go back to work now and need to take a day off my company will take vacation time to cover it. If I remember right I had 16 days to schedule off last year so it would be 8 days. After those days are used, when I'm out it will be unpaid. I'm getting 1/2 pay now and I think I can manage on that for a while.

LovesToFly

thank you 27heart!!!!

Kdettwiller

Thanks for the feedback ladyhumps. I also work 12 hour shifts. I'm an RN so my work is physicallyand emotionally exhausting at times. Im getting chemo before surgery. Just had first treatment on Thursday. I applied for fmla to protect my job. STD at my workplace pays 60%. I need to find out the max amount of time that is allowed.

Paulinek

Thank you for staring this thread MissBee! I was diagnosed in October and just started my TC regimen on January 8th (1 down, 3 to go). I am sorry that you have had such a long journey, but we will all get there! I am so grateful to have found this site/group to help me through this crazy time.

Paulinek

Jen, I use a saline gel,by Ayr, for my son who gets frequent nosebleeds. Mine was so dry the other night I was thinking of trying it myself.

keepsake

ladyhumps, Thanks for suggesting that I might be able to help someone else here by posting. If that's a possibility, then count me in.

MissBee123

songbird72, Hope the rest of the week has been okay for you. I got nauseous right away, too, after AC; within about 3 hours. I don't think it's the food, just something some people deal with.

Welcome Doxie! Glad you are here but so sorry you're back!

fightergirl, it sounds like you've been through a lot with so many scans, but I'm glad the team you have is insisting on being more thorough. It's definitely not uncommon to discover more areas of concern as they continue to dig around. You're not alone in that!

jenscott, I agree with the others about Ayr. It's really great for dry noses. I just put a big sploosh of it on a q-tip and rub it inside my nose. Heavenly.

Kimmer33: From what I am reading the Neulasta shot isn't supposed to be given less than 2 weeks before chemo, so I think you're right that I may have just missed out on this round. Very frustrating as I don't like being homebound!

keepsake, there are several ladies here who are doing your regimen. You are more than welcome!

Welcome Shiningstars! You might find it helpful to have a calming medicine the first day, but I promise you chemo is much more dull and boring than anyone wants to report. Get ready to sit on your butt for several hours and pee a lot. That's pretty much it the first day, I swear

Welcome Myraknits! You are in the right place for "fun". I've been eating my chocolate frosted brownies all day because they're the only thing my stomach thinks it can handle. I feel like I have a wretched hangover and all I want is a greasy taco, but when I actually think about ordering one I feel even more ill. SO fun!

Cathytoo, we'll all be thinking of you. Don't forget your kids love you very much and most people are desperate to help. Don't be afraid to reach out when you need help…I suspect they'll be even madder if they learn you needed them and didn't ask (or at least that is how I would feel with my mother! I would do anything for her).

Welcome Paulinek! Glad we can all be here to help each other.

I know some of you ladies, like myself, are a bit younger in this group (I'm 32). I've been dealing with the added heartbreak of chemo infertility with all of this. I did egg preservation over the summer, but with Herceptin running until December 2016 that puts pregnancy attempts off for at least another year and a half. I've always wanted to adopt so we are looking into that, too, but many agencies want a 5-year clean bill of health before considering a cancer patient. Before all of this happened we were going to try for children this past summer. It's been an added sadness on top of all this to have that taken away. My sister-in-law called us last night to tell us they are expecting and while my heart is so full of happiness for her it made me even sadder about my own situation. I know it will happen, but it's still emotional right now. Most days I don't let it get to me, but a little sad today.

JCS28

My doctor offers IV Ativan prior to infusion if I am nervous. I have taken it a couple of times. It helps me. For some people it will make you sleepy too.

JCS28

Hi all! I'm just now joining in but think this is a great resource for those of us going through the same stuff at the same time. I just started chemo this past Wed., Jan. 13. So far, I still feel mostly good. I am only on Taxotere, Herceptin, and Perjeta. And I've been on Herceptin and Perjeta for a while with no side effects, so I feel like I'm only dealing with Taxotere now. I am tired for sure and I had mild nausea/reflux for a couple of days, but it's already better. I drank A TON of water the day of chemo and the 2 days after. I hope that helped! I hope I'm not fooling myself and it's going to get worse in the next couple of days. But I'm hopeful I can go back to work Monday. Also, I'm doing the Penguin Cold Caps if anyone wants to discuss that as well. Good luck to all of us!

jensgotthis

Miss Bee, just wanted to send you a big hug. I'm sorry about this delay you will have for starting your family. It's definitely hard. Just wanted to throw out the idea of gestational surrogates too as that might be an option to think about if adoption is put on hold. Families are made in all sorts of ways. Love is the essential ingredient and you have that in spades

DoxieMomof3

Well got my port yesterday, it went easy but this morning I woke up with it killing me😏 Hurts to use my left arm for anything that is kind of heavy, but I still had some soreness from my BMX so maybe it just irritated the area again. So I am going to take it easy today and get ready for my first treatment on Thursday.

I called my Oncologist yesterday when I noticed that he didn't give me a prescription for Emend. He said, "you have expensive tastes" and I was like, yeah I do lol he called me one in. I was like, hey if my insurance covers it why shouldn't I get it especially since it was such a help last time 👍🏻

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Moderators

Welcome Pauline and JCS!!! We're so happy you found us!

We're all here to support each other -- please keep us posted on your journey!

--The Mods

Delight55

ShiningStar I'm pretty sure they gave me an anti anxiety through the port before the chemo.

DFWFLYGIRL I took it the day of chemo and two days after

Kimmer33

Oh MissBee, I am so very sorry for the fertility issues you face, and the timing of everything. I hope and pray that you get through this and come out the other side stronger and happier than ever. You are only 32, babies will come when your body is ready, waiting another year is okay, ok? My tears are flowing for you today, but better days are ahead!

And for those of you currently on AC chemo treatments and dealing with nausea, this was my plan: nurses made me take Dexamethasone (steroid), Aprepitant (Emend) and Ondansetron (Zofran) before they administered the chemo. Then I was to take these same meds before bedtime that same night, then again the next morning and night, and the next morning and night - so for me chemo was Friday, and I took the anti-nausea meds Saturday and Sunday. I NEVER had nausea, and actually had a crazy appetite. It really helps to stay ahead of the nausea, and this timed med schedule really helped me. The steroids gave me heartburn, so I also took Zantac Saturday and Sunday which held the heartburn at bay until it (the steroids) was out of my system.

Hope that helps some of you!

DFWFLYGIRL

LovesToFly,

Thanks for the insight on Claritan length. I am on day 3 and been taking it regularly with no bone pain. Just hit a bad wall of nausea on day 3 that won't budge:(

LoveMyVizsla

Started my AC on Friday. Freaked out the nurse fit off the bat with my pre-existing low white count and neutrophil count. 2.4 and .97 respectively. I felt fine yesterday until around 8, my infusion ended at 3. I took a zophran and feel asleep an hour later.

Felt fine this morning, went for an abbreviated hike with husband and dog. Got home and started feeling crappy and 2:30. Took a compazine (6 hours) and will take a 12 hour zophran before bed.

It was a challenge to give myself the neupogen shot. Couldn't make myself jab it in, so I slowly stuck the needle in and pushed the syringe. Stung a bit.

A friend is bringing chicken and dumplings for dinner. I'm getting hungry! She's just texted she is on her way

My doc prescribed an antacid twice a day to deal with the heartburn issue.

Anonymous

Hi beautiful ladies! I just found this site and these forums last week and have been eagerly reading bits and pieces of all the "what to expect when you're chemo-ing" advice here. This isn't my first time dealing with cancer (I had Hodgkin's Lymphoma when I was 23, now I'm about to turn 47), but it is my first time dealing with chemo treatments. I am trying to stay courageous and optimistic through this new experience. It's so helpful to know I am not alone and the tips are priceless, although a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I have to stop reading because all the possibilities of side effects make my anxiety spike to where I get uncomfortable, but then I take a break and come back to it. Ultimately I find that information is power and helps combat the feeling of powerlessness I get from being embroiled in this whole breast cancer process. But hooooeeee I am amazed at how much we are all being asked to bear and how courageous we all have to be to get through this. Go us!

Anyway, I'll be starting TC (4 rounds) on January 28th, so I have about a week and a half to get mentally and emotionally prepared, and to figure out what to do/stock up beforehand and what to bring with me on the day. The hospital is going to do a "chemo teach" for me a couple of days before, but I'm also reading all the suggestions here. I've already decided no on the cold caps (I love my hair but I hate being cold), but I am thinking about getting some of that Brian Josephs gel for eyebrows and lashes. Anyone else here tried that?

Ok that's it for now...I may pop in again with more questions beforehand, but I'll definitely still be reading. You are all amazing and lovely warrior princesses. Wishing you all the best.

LovesToFly

Hope it passes soon dewfly. If the meds they gave you aren't helping, don't hesitate to call the Chemo Clinic (or your oncologist or whoever you're supposed to call, for me it is the Chemo Clinic nurses and then they consult with my oncologist or the oncologist on call) and ask if they can prescribe something different!

sarah_sunflower

Hi ladies,

Is anyone on TC having bad chest pains ? I have been having strong chest pains that comes and goes, like somebody is pushing my chest and lungs inwards, and my heart start pumping very loudly. My onco says this is normal SE and I should try slow breathing exercises.

I am on my Day 5 since the first dose, and I feel exhausted most of the time. Have a bad sore throat, wake up in the middle of night due to sweating (hot flash I guess) and chest pain, stomach pain, bone pain. I feel like I ache all over.

Ivegotthis

Sarah_sunflower, I had some chest pains last night. For me, it's Day 4. I changed my position and breathing and it went away. Have you taken 24 hr. Claritin? I was told to take it for 7-10 days from the day of the Neulasta shot. I haven't had any bone pain. Well, sometimes it acts up but it goes away just as quickly.

I try getting up now and then to do something just to to feel normal. I really hate feeling sick and exhausted all the time. I can echo each of your pains. I feel like I'm in a fog and numb all over. Does it ever subside?

fightergirl711

Welcome Quixhobbit! I haven't heard of Brian Joseph's Gel, please share! I'm not doing the cold cap either. I live in the Northeast, I'm cold enough as it is. Plus I promised my kids they could draw in my hair.

Thanks MissBee123 for the vote of confidence on additional imaging. I know it's pretty common, but the number oversights the first place made were just too many for me to be ok with it. We'll see.

My good fortune finally caught up with me - yesterday I woke up with a terrible acne-like rash along my neck, behind and in my ears and the lower part of my face. My ears and nose were bright red and hurt to touch. It's likely from the Perjeta (thought of you MissBee123!) and my doc prescribed clindamycin and desonide. This morning it's much better and not as angry, but still irritated. My nose and ears still hurt to touch, I feel like I got punched in the face. What's amazing is that other than that, I feel fine. I know that this is going to catch up with me eventually, especially once the AC starts after this THP round is over. Hope you are all having a good weekend!

Anonymous

Hi FighterGirl711! The Brian Josephs Gel is here: https://www.brianjosephs.com/html/lash_brow_condit.... Someone on one of my FB groups recommended it and I was intrigued. I don't so much mind losing hair as I am willing to play with wigs and hats for a while, but for some reason the weirdness of losing eyebrows and eyelashes bothers me. Hope your rash goes away and you feel better soon..."punched in the face" sounds awful!

sarah_sunflower and Ivegotthis, I'm sorry to hear about your pains and exhaustion. I hope it gets better for you. My oncologist warned me that sometimes the first treatment is the hardest because your body is adjusting to a brand new (and pretty major!) onslaught. Here's hoping it gets easier as you go. Sending you love and strength.

jensgotthis

sarah_sunflower,

My chest ached but it wasn't troubling. id you have the neulasta shot? The nurse who gave it to me warned that I might feel like I was having a heart attack because of the sternum pain. It's sounds very scary what you're experiencing and I'm so sorry this is among your SEs. Good to hear that your onc says it's normal. Your other SEs are exactly what mine were. Mine started getting much better around day 6/7. Hoping that things ease up on you soon!