January 2016 Chemo!

fightergirl711

Zinny you look great!

robyn31024

looking good zinny. i have that class in february since everyone else canceled this month

robyn31024

Miss bee you look so cute. Hope your treatment went well. Day 6 post TC for me, worked yesterday and today. I did get really nauseous once and finally made myself eat a couple crackers and was good in like 5 minutes. So def need to eat a bite of something every few hours. But feeling pretty good. Taking zantac for heartburn. I do have weird "pimples" on my chest, abdomen and back which i didn't expect, Also went to PT today. Hoping my treatments continue this well. glad to hear everyone tolerating treatments pretty well!

Char1110

you look great zinny

LovesToFly

looks great zinny! I need to register for one of those classes

Day 7 today. I felt great all morning and went for a half hour walk on my lunch break. This afternoon I felt very tired and a bit queasy, I made myself eat some crackers and eventually took an Antinauseant and sat in the sick room for about 15 minutes. Finished my day. It's now almost 7 and I'm feeling good

Delight55

going tomorrow for my first TCH infusions. I think I'm also getting the Neulasta pod. Anyone have that and and advice to manage SE's? I'm not too worried about the chemo, what happens, happens and I will deal with it as best I can. I've been guzzling water all day and have my bag packed for tomorrow. I just had my port put in Monday and it's not been a picnic. I am still pretty tender from the BMX and expanders so I figure that explains the pain. One day at a time

LovesToFly

I get Neulasta. I got the shot last Thursday and have had no SE from it so far. I've taken Claritin daily....look into that!

DFWFLYGIRL

Hello Miss Bee and fellow pink ladies,

I am also joining the January Chemo team. Two time thyroid cancer survivor/thriver and now entering into new territory with breast cancer treatment. DD AC+4 and then Taxol thereafter. Have had lots of radiation in the past but no chemo......looking forward to any support/advice as we go in 2016.

jensgotthis

DFWFLYGIRL, I too have had thyroid cancer (follicular carcinoma at age 26). Now with the BC dx, they are doing genetic testing on me. Interesting pattern pointing to Cowden Syndrome. Are you doing genetic testing too?

DFWFLYGIRL

Jenscott,

I had papillary 6 years apart. THey are not recommending gene testing. Where are you in your journey for BC?

Thr_yet

I am joining this group as well. I was told, over and over, since all of my path reports were negative and my genetic test (BRCA) was negative, that it would be surgery and then on to radiology. Oncotype came back high risk, so I start TC next week. VERY anxious since I have not mentally prepared myself for this and don't have much time to even think about it. Port hasn't been scheduled yet, but it will be this week or early next week. First TC is on the 22nd. I have met my nurse and she is wonderful, so that will help. I am frantically working on renting cold caps - I am far from vain, and if you would ever meet me, you would know that, but I just do not want to lose my hair - it's the only thing I have left that hasn't been affected by this disease (yet). I am searching and taking notes to purchase a few things, since so many say "don't buy too much," but living in the middle of nowhere limits what I can find easily and in a hurry. Thanks for all the tips to those that have gone before me - I am just hoping for some kind of normal again and wonder if that is ever possible. Good luck to those starting this week - I am flat out scared, but I know God has a plan. I just need to "let go" and trust more.

zinny

Thr_yet welcome. I am doing cold caps - so far so good. I went with Penguin, and Geralyn couriered them in a couple of days with FedEx. She answered my many questions very quickly as well. The biggest issue may be dry ice, Amazon has everything else! Don't apologize for trying to keep your hair - for me it is the same, wanting a bit of normal. Everyone has their own things they need/want to do.

Wendiwithani

I

I took one last "I feel pretty" pic todaybefore I lose the hair.

I am so enjoying reading all of the updates, information and pictures. Continued thoughts and prayers for all of my BC sisters here. It's so comforting for me to know I am not alone.

My honey took me out to a nice dinner tonight. I have my port pre-op appointment and my first chemo treatment tomorrow morning. They were unable to schedule the port surgery until 1/19. And I was ready to get going so we are doing veins tomorrow...I have good ones. I am feeling both mentally and physically prepared.

Here we go!!

Cancerpickedthewrongone

good luck Wendi... I am praying all goes well with you today... My port placement is today so I am hoping for as minimal pain as possible.

Hugs to all...

Allie

MissBee123

Thanks for all the support everyone. I'll update to welcome our new people soon and put them on our list. For now, I'm curled up in bed and not feeling so great. I seem to be very susceptible to nausea and this AC+T hit almost immediately. I finished at 1:30 on Monday and by 4:00 p.m. I was feeling sick. Food definitely helps (and of COURSE it's carbs...why can't my nausea be eased by broccoli?!) and I've started on the steroids today, so hopefully those will kick in.

Nausea aside, I'm okay. I got a strange rash like a sunburn last night right down my sternum but it seems to have faded after taking a Benadryl before bed. Who knows what further adventures will come?

Best wishes to everyone having port placements and chemo this week. I'm thinking of you.

LoveMyVizsla

I had decided not to highlight my hair in December when I was due. It's going to fall out anyway, right? Went to get it shaped up one last time, and to get my wig and bangs trimmed. My stylist convinced me to let her do foils on the top, taking an extra hour at the end of her long day. What a difference it made in my look! Don't shortchange your normal pampering, it it totally worth it. She told me to call her day or night when I'm ready to shave my head. Love her!

Zin, you look marvelous! You too, Wendi!

I don't know how you girls are using your port so soon after placement. It's taken mine a week to stop hurting. Thank goodness for the emla cream.

My sister made a chemo bag for me. I won't take everything with me that she put in it, but I will add some other things to it. I know someone else being treated at my cancer center, so I asked him and his wife for tips on what to bring, what they have there, etc.

zinny

Miss Bee - my pre AC chemo nausea treatment is this:

1 hour before starting-

Dexamethasone 8mg

Emend ( aprepitant) 125 mg

Ondandestron 8mg

After we are done, it's another 4mg of dexamethasone with dinner( 4-5 hours later,) and an ondansetron 8 hours after 1st dose.

After that the dexameth is 4mg every 12 hours for 3 doses, then 2mg x2 doses (12h apart), Emend is 80 mg day 2 and 3.

I was lucky and it worked really really well, though I had a good dose of Dex shakes. They also had stemitil rescue, 10 mg , which I used with any sign of nausea. My onc says that if you are nauseous, they have more work to do….

Good luck-

jensgotthis

DFWFLYGIRL,

I am at the very beginning of my BC journey. They first saw large worrisome masses on Dec 3. We're starting with chemo first to try to see if we can shrink the tumors a little before surgery. I've got the first chemo under my belt and go for round 2 on Jan 27. Once I finish 6 cycles, I assume they'll give me a few weeks to build up my immune system and then do the double mastectomy followed by radiation. I haven't talked to anyone yet about how many radiation sessions I'll have.

I met yesterday with a psychiatrist who works with the oncology team and talked about starting Efferex, which is an antidepressant. Is anyone else trying this yet?

Martini

JENSCOTT. I was an estrogen for 9 years because of severe hot flashes after my hysterectomy. Of course being diagnosed with estrogen receptive BC, I dumped them immediately! The hot flashes the returned with a vengeance. Started Effexor and found relief, also helps me sleep. Hot flashes are not gone completely but are less frequent and not nearly as strong.

ladyhumps

I had my first time in the chair today. It was a long day but went well. I had a wonderful nurse. I had my port placed on Friday so it was still sore but with the Emla cream all I felt was some pressure for a few seconds. Not bad at all. Got a little sleepy from the benadryl, but I just rested my eyes for a bit. Right now I'm feeling fine. No SE yet. Fingers crossed and prayers going up.

Ladies, your pics are beautiful! MissBee123 I hope you're feeling better soon.

I would like to sign up for a LGFB class, but the nearest one is in the same city where I'm getting treatments and it's almost a 3-hour round trip. Unless I could do one the same day I get a treatment I don't know if I want to make another trip.

Good luck to all!

KimmieM

Hello ladies!!!! I hope everyone is doing well. I had a follow up with my MO today as it has been 6 days since round 1 and 7 days since my port was installed. I feel great and my white blood cell count is still up. She thinks it may start dropping next week. I have had little to no symptoms except I developed thrush. She gave my a prescription today. I have worked all week which feels good to feel upbeat and productive. I hope everyone is feeling well. All my TC buddies especially.

Thr_yet : Your story seems just like mine. I found my cancer early and tested negative for BRCA but my Oncotype was in the moderate range so Chemo ^{here I am. Hang in there. WE can do this TOGETHER}

Delight55

Had my first chemo today. Long day from 10am to 430pm. They changed the cytoxan to carboplatin. Put me on Warfarin, Compazine &Zofran to take with the Compazine if I think it isn't working well enough. Also gave me Cipro to keep on hand in case I develop an infection. I'm to phone immediately if I get a fever of 100. The nurse practitioner said if I get a drop in wbc it generally starts in the 10-14 day post chemo period. Of course we hope the Neulasta prevents that. I'm to take Claritin tonight and for the next three days. She also said I shouldn't plan to work at all until I'm done with chemo. Also advised against going anywhere with crowds like the grocery store, church or similar place until I've passed the span of time that my wbc can drop. It would have been nice to know all that ahead of today's appt

sarah_sunflower

Hi, I am joining this board. I just had my first TC cycle yesterday 13th January 2016. I was hoping to avoid chemo but my Mammaprint test came back high risk so i decided to go for 4 cycles of TC every 3 weeks. I felt very tired after first dose yesterday so I took a nap after drinking a bowl of chicken and mushroom soup and some fruits. I felt better after the nap and was able to down a good dinner. Got a decent amount of sleep last night and managed some toast and egg this morning. I am considering going for a brisk walk on the thread but worried its too soon and might end up exhausting my energy.

its such a wonderful place to share with all the wonderful ladies and survivors and fighters. This is my first post but this site and message boards has been helping me immensely since my diagnosis last November 2015 and during my surgery and this whole ordeal. I am 33 years old no kids but married, last thing I expected was to be diagnosed with bc.But here I am and I am trying to take care of myself as best as circumstance allow.

Best of luck to all !

Planet

Hey, Ladies!
I'm still waiting to get my port and start chemo: TCH.

My big question is, are you able to go to work? I was diagnosed while I was out on disability to finally fix my bunions. I was able to have my lumpectomy, but my 12 weeks of FMLA ends this week and I don't know if I can work during my chemo. (I wasn't expecting chemo, but my tumor was twice the size they saw on the mammos and ultrasounds-so I've been thrown for a loop). I know I need to take care of myself, but I don't want to lose my job assignment. I'm thinking about going back for a week and then start the chemo.

Any thoughts?

Ivegotthis

I finished my first chemo today. Started at 9:30 and ended at 4:30pm. It took longer because they had to give me my Emend intravenously due to a snafu between the pharmacy and the onocologist's office. I hate that I was told on 12/31 that the pharmacy need authorization from the insurance company and faxed the request to the onocologist. I asked what I can do I was told that I was to do nothing. They would take care of it between them. I was just being informed. I asked if I would get the medicine in time. The pharmacy said I'd have in ten days. That would be January 9, I'm having chemo on the 13th. Okay.No worries. Right.

I worked on Friday and had physical therapy due to my cording on my arm. I called the pharmacy on Saturday. They said they faxed it and never heard back from the oncologist's office. Well, Saturday the main office is open, not the clinic where I go. They left an urgent message for them to attend to this issue first thing Monday. I had my port placement Monday. It was interesting. I was supposed to be asleep during the procedure. They were talking and commented on the music playing in the room, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". They argued whether it was the Beatles or Eric Clapton. I waited a beat and then said "It's the Beatles". YOU'RE AWAKE? They shouted. I was numbed, so they asked if I wanted to sleep or stay awake. I chose awake. We talked about all kinds of things. In the half hour it took, I made some new friends!

Ahh, I digress... I called the onocologist's office when I arrived home on Monday. They never responded to the urgent message from Saturday. It was 4pm. I asked them if I should take my steroid at 8am (day before chemo) if I can't get my anti-nausea meds, Emend and Zuplenz. She said I would get it intravenously. Ok, fine with me. The next morning at 8am I took the steriod. I get a call at 8:30 am, sorry but the insurance company won't rush it and is putting up for review. We will reschedule you to Thursday or Friday. I told them no, I took the steroid already because I was promised it intravenously.

She put me on hold then came back and said they she couldn't promise but she could have my oncologist speak to me. Sure. Leave her a message for me. She called me and I told her how I was told one thing and now another. She was irate. She is this was totally unacceptable that I should be treated this way the day before chemo. Her office was to take care of it, not me. She wanted to know who I spoke with. I didn't know, but she could check her message to see who left if for her.

So everything went well today. I fell asleep when they gave me the Benedryl. I had Wifi, so I went on Facebook, checked office emails, played Scrabble. I dozed for over an hour and was awakened by my restless legs, which is a SE of the Benedryl. And one of the elderly chemo patients was having a meltdown in the restroom. I wished I could help, after taking care of my father and mother-in-law with dementia and Alzheimer's, I have a way of calming them. Eventually, they left. I brought coloring books and Connect the Dots that my son and his wife gave me. I used a blanket when they room felt chilly and put on a pair of socks an office colleague knitted just for me! I received a call from my pharmacy that Emend was ready for pick up. Woo Hoo!! At least I got the prescription I wanted.

The day went by uneventfully. I thought when they accessed my new port, it would be very painful. I was told that they would put Emla on it and apply a freezing spray and it would be fine to use. It worked! I felt a little more than the usual sting of a needle in my arm, but since I expected a lot more pain, it was not so bad. BTW, it's now 11:15 pm and I feel absolutely fine. As if nothing happened to me today. I keep waiting for a shoe to drop on me!

What struck me during this process today is how calm,quiet and peaceful it was on the whole (except for the screaming woman in the bathroom). You would think that something that affects us so violently ought to make some noise. The room should be like a cellar with blinking fluorescent lights making buzzing and zapping noises, with the employees complaining about their hours and treating the patients miserably. But it wasn't. It was bright and friendly. My next appointment is in three weeks, February 3 and will not nearly be as long a session as it was today. I'm going to try and get some sleep tonight. Damn steroids may have something different in mind for me. Oh well, fatigue is sure to set in and things will even out. Right.

LoveMyVizsla

Thanks to those who posted their first day timeline and meds list. Helps me know what to expect.

Thr_yet

Thanks Zinny - I ordered mine today from Geralyn also. I'm going to have to do the dry ice as well - more phone calls tomorrow. Good luck Wendi, I'll add you to my prayers tonight. Sarah and Kimmie, don't you think it's strange that we were negative on the other tests and then tested moderate or high after our surgeries? I would so have liked the port placement at the same time as the lumpectomy - I'm sure the insurance company would have liked it that way also. Miss Bee - thank you for the welcome - I hope you feel better soon. I smile when I see your name - we had a beloved 17 year old cat that we called Bee and she was often referred to as Miss Bee or Queen Bee. She was a beautiful creature of God and so many people commented on her beauty - must be the name because you have that trait also!! Planet, I have every intention of working through all of my treatments, unless it's a life/death situation. I know my immune system "may" be compromised, but that's what the WBC is for. My onco Dr. and nurse both said as long as I was okay, they had no problems with it. I started back less than two weeks after my surgery and I feel fine. My co-workers do not know and I really want to keep that way - it's the only "normal" I have in my life right now. I can walk into the office and be my goofy self, as usual. Hang in there ladies - we definitely have a purpose in life and we're working forward toward it.

MissBee123

buttaflydiva, LifeAloft, thr_yet, glad you are here! Thr_yet, I'm glad to give you a happy memory with my name!

Frill: So glad to see you again!

Just a heads up to everyone contemplating false eyelashes: I was advised to steer clear of them as—since we will be completely lashless—there is a danger of having glue running into your eye. You don't have anything on your eyelid to protect you from the glue so just proceed with caution if you put them on!

Geeper: Glad you're hanging in there after your first round. Hope you keep feeling well!

zinny, what a gorgeous photo! LGFB is a great program. My premeds sound similar to yours: I get an infusion of decadron, aprepitant, and palonosentron. For home I have dexamethasone and take two each morning. I tried just taking one at a time but it wasn't strong enough. My oncologist doesn't want me taking too many or for too long, though, as they can really impact your other organs. Still trying to puzzle this nausea out. I had soup for breakfast today; it's the only thing I could stomach!

Delight55, hope yesterday went well for you. Avoiding crowds can be helpful with a low WBC count, but if you feel certain things are important, you can always wear a surgical mask and wash your hands thoroughly. I live in NYC and so I simply pop a mask on whenever I need to ride the subway. So far it has worked for me and I haven't had any infections or hospitalizations.

DFWFLYGIRL and jenscott: I also was diagnosed with thyroid cancer! I have heard of too many cases for me to think this is a coincidence. I had a total thyroidectomy on December 11th; 5 weeks after my double mastectomy. I hadn't heard of Cowden Syndrome but I was positive for the NRAS mutation.

Wendi, you look FABULOUS!

Planet: I worked through my first chemo time, with the caveat to the people I worked with that sometimes I might not know until the morning of whether or not I would be able to come in. Most days, I could, but there were certainly days when I did not feel well enough.

I'm doing a little better today. Still nauseous, but playing around with my steroids to see what works. Insurance is being difficult with my Neulasta shot so I haven't had that yet (so silly: they'll pay for it to be shipped to my oncologist's office but NOT the hospital) although they tell me it should be today. Just glad I'm on the upswing and hoping it will keep improving.

...and why am I having a craving for chocolate frosted brownies?!

Delight55

Just a quick check in. Struggling with nausea this morning. Managed to eat some yogurt but that was all. Running to the bathroom, so glad I didn't take the Colace! I've had Compazine and Immodium already and just took a Zofran. Not much on the agenda today except rest, water, meds and food when I am able

LovesToFly

WORK:

I am on three week cycle. I'm taking off my chemo weeks, and working the two weeks after. My oncologist was completely supportive of this. I am taking Neulasta, and she said to monitor my temperature. Otherwise, I have no restrictions and as long as I feel up to working or doing anything else, I can. Obviously I've been advised to stay away from people that seem to be sick, and use good hygiene such as handwashing and alcohol wipes. My reality is that I live with two school-age children, one of them that goes to afterschool care as well, so I can't really avoid viruses anyway!

I will say that when my dad did chemo, and went to client of mine (I work with foster kids) did chemo, the oncologist we're clear that during chemo patients should live their lives as best they can when they are feeling up to it. My oncologist has said the same. I would never ever tell somebody to not follow the advice of their doctors, but I am certainly pleased that I've had the same advice because I think feeling like I had to stay home when I am feeling good would be very lonely and depressing for me

As for work, I went back to work on day six, I'm not sure I could've earlier because the steroids made me feel very shaky and wired. Work has been good. It's kind of like going back to work after a cold or flu, I don't feel 100% and after a very busy moment, I may have to sit at my desk for 10 minutes and drink a big glass of water and chilled, but I'm certainly able to get through my days and feel good about it and do what I need to. I know that chemo is cumulative, so every cycle might not be like my first and I mean need to take more days off or even eventually stop working, but I fully intend to as long as I can ( even though I have loads of sick time and a good short-term disability plan should I need it).

I will add that I am not in my current position working with foster kids, I'm currently doing a contract in information technology. I wasn't my usual position, I would probably ask for accommodations, because I would not want to be on the road and in and out of foster homes and schools all day.