Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Llroseworld

Had 1st chemo last Friday and these tummy pains are terrible! Anyone else suffer with bile diarrhea? Such a gross question to ask! Urgggggg!!!!

Heathet

Llroseworld - the fun (NOT) stuff we get to go through - yikes! Are you able to take Imodium for some relief? Remember to stay hydrated!

Nextyear

hi ladies-

Love all the comments. I am only here every other day or so but trying to be more regular. Hair being shaved by my younger son today, tired of shedding like the cats!

Txrus-Congrats on being done on July 5th

Pepper- Love the dog in the wig

coffeelover- I'm so with u. I can handle the smell only somy girlfriend took me for a trip to Starbucks so I could inhale!

Moondust- congrats on retirement.

Everyone- Hope your day today is better than yesterday!

Moondust

Dolly, for some reason I thought your next infusion was today, but now I see it is on Friday. I will be sending my spirit across the waters to be with you and help combat nausea! I know what you mean about being friends for life now. Can I come visit you after all this is over?

Krekre, glad you got through the first chemo okay! I had about the same sort of infusion except different chemo drugs and no benadryl. I don't feel a need to be drowsy, and may have to drive home next time. The beanies are very cute but too hot for right now!

Llroseworld, I did not have the big D until I took laxatives to help with constipation. I did have a stomach ache most of the first week. Frequent small meals helped. Hang in there!!

Nextyear, did you have your first treatment on the 8th? That was my start date too. So far my hair is doing okay but it won't be long now! I'm relying on my husband to tell me when it starts looking sparse. Then it will be head shave time.

I made a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone's dates, chemo cocktail, etc, but it would sure help if some of you would fill out your profiles and signatures and make them public so I could remember better!

Heathet

I decided to shave my head today. I was a little emotional when I saw the clippers but once she started shaving my head I felt better and it didn't bother me. I have the army buzz cut - about a centimeter or less of hair on my head. I had to laugh when I looked in the mirror because my head is nice and round! I decided not to wait until my hair started thinning - I felt like I just wanted a little control with my hair. Tomorrow is my first infusion of Herceptin and then Friday is the taxotere and carboplatin. I'mfeeling a little anxious - scared anxious because it's kind of the unknown and excited anxious because I'm finally starting.

Anonymous

Moondust... You are absolutely welcome here in my home Anytime!!! I'd love you and hubby to come visit!!!

bbbb

Dolly - you are so right! I have found so many things to be thankful for lately - that may sound weird when facing cancer, but there is always a reason to be thankful - like today I found a great wig! I never thought I would use the words "great" and "wig" in the same sentence when it pertained to me but really I found a great wig today! Will post pics when it comes in. And another thing to be thankful for, my insurance is covering the cost of the wig! Had a wonderful day with my daughter shopping and having lunch together - very thankful for this great day!

Anonymous

Heathet, thinking about you tomorrow. Nothing to be anxious about seriously... I'm a major weakling and yet I did first chemo with no worries at all. Your nurses will be amazing and make sure you are comfortable and well looked after. And always keep telling yourself THIS CHEMO is the goodie. It's protecting us all

Anonymous

bbbb... It's vital to always know that there is always something to be grateful for and also always something to laugh about

Nextyear

hi everyone,

Moondust- yes started on 8th. Hair came out in clumps today so my husband just shaved it off. Feels strange!

Dolly-following your lead to be grateful. My neck is finally cool without hair! Between hot flashes and 80 plus degree weather, this helps.

Heathet- hang in there. The nurses rock and will help you. I definitely agree with others when they say chemo is the good we need to get better.

I'm going to make bread. I have found that the kneading by hand is so relaxing and then I have gifts to give the nurses. There is nothing like home made breads. I may not be able to taste much right now, but the smell is wonderful.

Have a nice night everyone.

ClarkBlue

Storms are rolling in tonight... I love them!!

Heathet - you'll do great. You got this!!!! Take everything as prescribed and don't get all brave and stop taking anything. I hate taking drugs but I keep telling myself this is temporary ❤️

Dropped off my wig to my stylist for a color... Really looking forward to looking like myself again. I find myself wondering how much this process will change me. If I don't looki n the mirror, I'm fine! I forget I had cancer and feel normal. Then I get up and use the restroom or go to bed and wash my face... I see myself and am reminded. Even when I do my most favorite thing...get in my car with the radio blasting... I am reminded looking in my mirrors. I think "everyone knows!!" because of the "she's got cancer" scarves and turbans. It's so damn obvious... Ugh. I must be mid-cycle or something... Why do I even care about this petty stuff!! Lol

-Keely

LJ2016

Hello to all....

I had gone back to work this week, but today back to having severe stomach pains, so I stayed home. That's one thing I'm SO grateful for-my boss and company are 100% supportive of me taking care of myself, whatever that looks like.

Another idea I'd suggest is set up some type of meals. My daughter, Caity, who is MY chemo doula started one for us called Meal Train. She set it up where friends can bring dinners on Mon-Wed-Fri for us. It's so easy for them to sign up and great for us because we can put what types of meals we can eat, how many, etc. Just a thought since it's been SUCH a blessing to us all.

Heathet-way to go on shaving your head. It is a way of taking control. I'm shaving mine this weekend. The nurse at chemo said after you feel the short hairs coming loose, use a lint roller on it to get small hairs out...it feels good. Cracked me up to think of lint rolling my head, but I'm up for it.

^{I'm most bothered by the stomach issues as well...thought I could skip my nausea meds today and just realized it was a mistake. I see Onco tomorrow and will find out if I should expect to stay on the Zofran for the whole time in between.}

^{So glad to see all of you moving forward on this trip. Glad to read about each of you and your lives. It IS inspiring to see how we each are brave in our own ways. Only others who have been on this trip can truly appreciate the twists and turns that we endure. I'm blessed by you all.}

Heathet

Keely - I get it! I feel fine and before I shaved my head I looked pretty normal. Now that my head is shaved reality has set in. I look like a cancer patient and everyone will know "she's the one with cancer." I shouldn't care about this crap I have more important things to focus my energy on.

Anonymous

Keely you are a woman and we are programmed to feel that unless we have the right hair or look then we are less of a woman. It's drilled into us from an early age via ads, storybooks and TV. But we all have grown up now and we know that we are more than just our looks, hair or figures. Some of us are wives, mothers, daughters sadly even granddaughters. Know that people have goodness in them and they don't look at you because you are that cancer lady in the turban but rather because they feel for you and wish you didn't have that cancer.

You need to be kind to yourself. You need to know that this is just a short term feeling. You will have hair again and you will have your full health again. In addition you will pass every mirror and smile again! You will already be aware that you will be stronger and braver as a direct result of this too

pepper43

Chemo Ed was today - lots of info to process but I feel a bit more comfortable about tomorrow knowing what to expect and getting the grand tour of the infusion room.

Enjoyed lunch with all 4 kids & the in-laws at Panera and then it was off to get my head shaved. Heathet- I'm with you! I wanted to have CONTROL over the whole hair situation so even though it was a bit traumatic, when all was said and done, I'm glad I just got it over with. And look! Now my husband and I are TWINNING.

Hoping for relatively smooth sailing but I know given the nature of AC, it's going to have rough patches. Was visited by 3 different staff members (social worker, financial coordinator & a nurse all at the Cancer Center) and I joked, "hey, I'm the most popular girl in school!" Gotta laugh about it all to keep from another ugly cry from time to time.

LJ- a friend of ours set up a Meal Train for us. I was hesitant about it as I haaaaaaate asking people for help...but I'm glad I accepted the offer. We already have a quite a few folks signed up to bring meals so I'll not only get visits but a nice meal for our family. Those who aren't local can even get on the train with grocery money/takeout donations which I thought was really nice.

On a whim and with a $20 Amazon gift card on hand, I bought a ridiculous cosplay wig just because. I think I may actually wear this out to the grocery store. What do ya think ladies- too much??

Hope everyone is headed towards a pleasant, relative side effect free weekend. Wish me luck tomorrow for first infusion! I've opted to come back in the following day for a Neulasta shot rather than wear the pod. I'm the anxious type who'd be fretting about every blip and whether it had actually worked. Better to keep the stress levels down and just make sure it's done right in the office.

NattyB

Hi lovelies,

I think I'm over my case of the bitchies - totally blaming it on PMS and accept no responsibility whatsoever (Keely). Had #2 of 12 today - looking for tips on icing the hands - the feet arent bad, but the hands are rough. Thinking I may order the Elastogel mitts from Amazon to help with mobility but it's also kinda painful - I swear as a kid growing up in OH that I could play with the snow for hours unprotected but this icing is brutal. Guess I've gone soft. My husband went today and fed me ice - he was just cute and also used it to shut me up:) I think having your girlfriends there is so awesome. My friend makes amazing jewelry and made me and another friend matching little delicate necklaces to wear on chemo day - an absolute treasure for me to feel their presence while I'm cleansing:)

Those of you who have shaved or are in the process - you are amazing. I'm on Orange alert, Defcon 5, I know its coming but cant bear to shave until I start shedding - but that might change. I'm going to one of those look good, feel whatever classes tomorrow - I'm mainly interested in practicing drawing brows. I know this lady (not a cancer person) who had hers tatooed and they are kinda funny -she looks like she is always asking a question... I might decide to draw weird ones - kinda like my nipples (or lack of), smiley face nipples, emoji nipples, it's the simple things really... I have enjoyed (honestly) not having them - no bra with a sundress is awesome.

About to hit the hay - I'll check in with you all tomorrow. Blessing and peace to you all xoxo

labscientistmom

Pepper: Love, love, love the purple wig. You rock the party that brought you!!! Not sure where you live, but here just north of Los Angeles, no one,and I mean NO ONE would look twice at you in that wig, except maybe to compliment you. Rock on girl! I like the other wig on you too tho, and don't think anyone will notice. It looks better than mine, but maybe when I get mine styled, I will post a pic. Havn't broken down to cut mine yet, although its thinning on top noticably and big spidery cluster when I run my fingers thru the back. You all inspire me!!

labscientistmom

NattyB: glad you are feeling better. My husband & I got in a big shouting match over s stupid little conversation thing. Later apologized and both of us want to do better at being patient with each other. He's my best friend, but we sure don't think alike and its hard to have a conversation sometimes. He wants so much to be helpful right now that its summer and he's off (cause he is a teacher) but sometimes just tries to hard. Hope your feel good class goes well.

Dolly: I like what you said, should be put on sack cloth and ashes because we have cancer and shave our heads in shame? I wish we could chat more closely too, but sadly Scotland is a long way away from California. Maybe if I was more of a morning person? Don't think that's gonna happen. If sometime I can't sleep, I will give you a discussion board "RI"NG" 'kay??

Coffee-lover

Pepper - you rock that wig!

Hubby's shaving my head on Sunday. The last thing I want is to start seeing hair fall out all over the place. I want just a little control. We're having some friends come over for a shave party. There will be whiskey and vodka, not sure what else.

I bought a cap from our favorite soccer team so my head will be well protected on my walks. I'll add pics after the big shave.

Love this group!

Moondust

Pepper, you and your hubby look GREAT! Maybe I'll get mine to pose with me when I finally do the shave. I'll be in your pocket tomorrow for your infusion!!!

Coffee-lover, I'm so glad you'll be able to have a little fun with the shave. I'm not looking forward to mine at all.

Heathet, you are another brave one to get the shaving over and done with. I'm in your pocket tomorrow too!!! And Friday. Sorry you have to have it over two days instead of all the same day. It is pretty boring sitting there while they drip the bags of stuff into you. But you will do fine!

LJ, so sorry you are having stomach pains. I'm glad you can stay home from work and not worry about it. I think you'll be able to stop the Zofran after a week or so. My stomach feels normal about 98% of the time now. Does the Zofran stop the stomach pain? I didn't take it because I did not feel nauseous. But I did have a little stomach pain.

Keely, I can't wait to see the finished wig. I bet it will look great.

Nextyear, what a great way to distract yourself with kneading bread! Great idea!

I'm actually getting tired tonight, so maybe I'll be able to turn in early.

Dolly, Happy Thursday even though it is 10 pm on Wedndesday here! I really get mixed up with my son's time. He's in the army stationed in Korea!

Heathet

Pepper - that is a great picture of you and your husband! You are rocking the purple wig - I love it. I was thinking of ordering a blue one for fun.

Today I go in for my first infusion of Herceptin. This should be easy and since it's not chemo. I don't think I have to ice my fingers and toes today. That fun is for tomorrow!

Happy Thursday !

SthrnYankee

Hi yall! My port was implanted Tuesday, & I had Chemo class yesterday. It was more formalities than anything but I did learn some things. I start Chemo on Tuesday June 28. I will have 4 treatments of AC, 1 every 3 weeks & then I switch to Taxol, 1 every week for 12 weeks. Any advice? I've read so many things here & in other places. I was told by my MO that I could ice hands & feet if I chose because that was a question I had but that I don't need to do it with the AC. Can anyone shed light on icing hands & feet? Do i need to do it the whole treatment or just part of the treatment? I have chosen to not to cold cap, I have already cut my hair shorter & plan to go even shorter before I start losing it. There are so many things they told me I can't keep them all straight, they will administer all meds there before hand & I will receive meds to take at home after. A friend recommended Emla cream for the port so I asked about that & they will have it there for me to use. I still feel so lost. What about eating ice for mouth sores? How often? The whole treatment, just the beginning? Do I need to do this everytime? Help! I'm starting to freak out here...

Heathet

Sthrn Yankee - it's all a little overwhelming! I felt like my head was going to explode with all the information. I start my chemo tomorrow and from what I understand you ice the whole time during the infusion but I think you can take some breaks. Ice on and off the whole time. But the women here that have been through it will let you know. It's hard but try to take it one step at a time.

LJ2016

Heathet-praying for you as you begin! You are closer to being finished now.

Pepper-I love the shaved head and hubby pic! You look beautiful. The wig is AWESOME! I never thought about just going for it and getting a color, but now you inspired me. Will start looking for a STATEMENT wig.

Moondust-is there any way you can post the spreadsheet you made. It would be easier to see who is doing what. What a great idea to do that!

Dolly-we met several families from Scotland at a cancer center here in OK called Procure.(My hubby was getting daily treatment for prostate cancer) It's proton therapy and I guess the UK sends their pediatric patients here if they need it. They had to be away from home for 3-4 months, with their kids getting treatment every day. Those families touched our hearts-and we have stayed friends on FB. My kids would always ask them to say words because their accents were so cute. Their kids loved everything cowboy, including buying cowboy boots and hats!

On to my onco appt...praying they have some med for my stomach pain. I'll let you all know

NattyB

Hi all,

Southern yankee - get the EMLA cream the day before if you can. And apply a thick glob at least an hour before you get poked - it's like magic. I cover mine with a cap from one of my many prescription and either let my stretchy bra strap hold it in place or a piece of that sticky cling wrap or a piece of tape. Just saran wrap alone can smear it and not keep the glob intact. You won't feel a thing and that needle they stick in there looks like a nail. I also either chew gum or suck on something like a mint or cough drop when they flush it, you can get a weird taste in your mouth that kinda lingers.

Heathet - the Herceptin alone was a non-event. I asked to have it run over an hour for the regular dose (based on what I read on these boards) but my first was a loading dose that ran over an hour and a half. I think the standard premed for that at my facility is Benadryl and Tylenol. I get Taxol and Herceptin every week and I asked to do the Taxol first since I'm icing my hand and feet so when I get to the Herceptin, its relaxing since the icing is over. The icing sucks - hands are worse than the feet to me but I have also not had any neuropathy feelings yet. Chewed and sucked on ice and my mouth is better than it was when I didn't - it's still kind of tender but not as rough as without the ice.

Labscientist - I can relate to all of the hub stuff. Mine asks a lot of questions to me and got super irritated when we waited over and hour after our scheduled time - which is def the norm at my place. What is the point of an appointment really - it's more of a guideline, lol. The men mean well thankfully but I think because I still look like myself (aka no hair loss) that it's still not always real to him. Kinda like when we were pregnant the first time - until the baby popped out it was just a mystery alien - not his son lol.

LJ/Moondust - I was given omeprazole to take every day and sometimes I take one at night too and that has helped with the cramping, pinchy stomach feeling. Maybe that can help you too.

KNardo88

Pepper, you look amazing!

All of you ladies look amazing. Loving all the smiles in pictures... And the cats, too, of course.

The positivity here is so uplifting! It has helped me so much, and I have to give a big shoutout to Dolly who has given me a new, much more positive way of viewing this whole chemo thing: The cancer is gone, and I'm doing this to keep it that way!

That being said, today is the big day for me. My first dance with the 'Red Devil'... I go in for 2:00 today for labs, meet with my MO at 3:30, and then my AC infusion starts at 4:30.

I feel really weird right now, hard to describe. I went back to work this past Monday for the first time since my surgery, and also worked Tuesday and yesterday. It was a welcomed distraction, and it was great to return to some normalcy, even if it was just for 3 days. I work directly with people all day long, as I'm in a straight commissioned sales role.... So at work I have to always be "on", so to say. It's been difficult at times, but it definitely was helpful to distract me from thinking about what's to come. I think I've prepared fairly well... Went and bought the staples that have been frequently recommended, have my "chemo bag" ready to go today... I just hope I can soldier through this. I am A HUGE BABY when I don't feel well, especially when it's stomach related, so I really hope the antiemetics work well for me.

Hope everyone is doing well today

Heathet

KNardo88- I'll be thinking about you today. You will have 1 treatment down which gets you closer to the celebration at the end! You're right Dolly has given us a positive outlook and I like to think the chemo is going after all those sh***y cancer stragglers! I'm sitting in a recliner at the infusion center getting my dose of Herceptin. I'm pretty relaxed at the moment. Tomorrow is my big day with chemo!

labscientistmom

SouthernYankee: The icing is only necessary while the TAXOL or taxotere is infusing. this clamps down the capillaries in your hands and feet, theoretically, to prevent or minimize the chemo getting into your peripheral nerves. Last week the tip of my nose felt a little numb too. You can also take L-glutamine suppliment, for the 4 days after infusion, 15 mg 2 times a day. I orderd some from Target.com. My MO said it was ok, although he wasn't convinced of its effectiveness but said it didn't hurt. I looked at the research, and it's compelling enough for me to try it. I don't like the tingly numb in my my fingers but the ice does make it toleralble.

If you don't want to spend a lot of money on ice mits/booties, You can do it with big blocks of ice (my friend gave me some she had received with shipped medicines. These were frozen hard about the size of a hardback book and I took them in two small coolers that I could put my whole foot inside on top of the ice. Then I had another block on a pillow in my lab with my hands on it. I have done double ziplock bags with ice cubes, but while these get your hands really cold, you have to switch them out about 1/2 way through. I have seen people get those ice sheets and wrap them around feet/hands but don't know how long they stay cold.

If you didn't get printed stuff, you can go to chemocare.com website and they have all the side effect info for each different drug.

Hope that helps, A

Heathet

my Herceptin infusion was easy today. The infusion room nurses are awesome and made me feel very comfortable. Packed a giant bag but didn't need half of it. Tomorrow I'll take my icing stuff, book and water along with anti nausea meds. The nurse said they give me an infusion of anti-nausea medication that last 3 days but she said DON'T hesitate to take my other stuff if I feel sick. Met a really nice cancer patient. She has two more treatments and she's done! She looks great and has a great attitude.

Anonymous

Hello...

Pepper, you look absolutely fantastic with that GIJane look. My mum saw you and said 'Wow, she is beautiful'. You look amazing. I think you have nothing to worry about in relation to hair. I laughed at your purple wig too. AND as if that was not enough, your gorgeous husband has gone and shown you how much he loves you by cutting off his lovely locks too. You are so lucky! I have nobody to shave their head for me . I wonder if I should put an ad in the paper... I also love your 'meal train' idea. I have never heard of this, but what a lovely idea and how kind of friends , family and neighbours. What time is your infusion tomorrow? I go in at 1pm.

Labscientist, glad you are still your normal chirpy self and doing well. When is your next infusion. I bet you are annoyed that hubby has long summer hols now. He will pester you even more. Tell him that if he doesn't stop nagging you he will get detention!

Heathet, I am hoping treatment for both Herceptin and chemo go very well. Have you done any brows yet? Get a move on woman! You have to impress us all now!

NattyB Love the description of the lady with tattooed eyebrows always looking like she is asking a question. It's a bit like those people who have facelifts and always look startled or surprised. Haha.

SthrnYankee, Don't you dare get all wobbly and weak on us. This is the cool thread. We are the uber cool chemo gang and we are not phased by ANYTHING. Your day of treatment will honestly be so good. The nurses and docs will just be brilliant with you. I felt like a child being ooked after and protected for 5 hours. Any tiny wee thing that bothered me, was immediately sorted and fixed. If I needed a drink, it was there. If I needed a tissue, I was given a box. My nurses were just lovely. Yours will be too. DO NOT panic about anything. Seriously I am the biggest woos out there and I walked tall and did it and that was mostly because of the support I had along the way from family, friends and nurses and docs. YOU will be amazing tomorrow. AMAZING. And I am telling you now, go in there and just say, 'I am having no SEs at all' That's what I did, and it worked. Get to it lady. Get your chemo bag packed with everything you need. And let us know that you have done really well. This chemo is your best buddy. She is inside you to help and protect you and to make sure you get out of that hospital in the next few months and walk away and get on with life again. Slow steps....but these steps are pretty major ones really. YOU are doing amazingly well. Keep going. Keep going!

KNardo, sometimes we need another person to remind us of what we already know, but just refuse to accept. So, if I have in any way, at all, helped someone feel positive or happier, then I am really very happy to hear that. But the truth is, the majority of people with breast cancer have no further problems after their treatments and that is because they over treat it with some pretty aggressive stuff, to make sure it doesn't ever return. The big bit for me was that Victoria Derbyshire video I posted weeks ago. She said it best: "This morning I had cancer, tonight, I don't because my surgeon has cut it all out". Let's all be thankful that the world has thrown up these amazing men and women, who 'cut it out' for us and find the treatments to help us. On my last meeting with my surgeon a few weeks back, I cuddled him and said, "Professor, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the utter geek you are. For sitting in as a young student medic and studying every night (when others were out at the student unions), just for women like me. I thank you for every time you have missed a son or daughter's school play so you could operate on a woman just like me and I thank you for being that perfect professional and knowing your stuff and allowing me to be treated so well". He was very happy to hear that and said he was touched by it. We are fabulously lucky to be living in this age and to to have such brilliant people around us.

I received a call from my cancer nurse...hate that name, so I am now going to call her Olive Oil because during my first chemo, I just kept thinking that was who she reminded me of. Anyway, Olive called to tell me that my immunity count was a bit lower than they would like for chemo tomorrow. It is meant to be 1.0 and mine is 0.87. So I have to go in tomorrow but might not actually get my treatment for another few days. Grrrrr....in some ways I was annoyed but you know what, it is ANOTHER good sign. Sure I might have to wait another few days, but the mere fact that this chemo has actually damaged my immune system is utterly fabulous because it also means that it has been chasing those wee cancer buggers around in my body and whacking them dead too. It is doing what it is meant to be doing! Had to laugh though, as Olive was asking how I had been, I said 'absolutely brilliant. Sick once, took none of your steroids and was up and cleaning house within two days. Been out shopping, eating like normal and even baked cakes with niece!' She said, 'are you sure, that's a little unusual'....which brings us back to what we were saying only last night, people almost expect you to be dropping like plague victims in the street. Haha. I have no intention of this happening!!!! I am aiming for even better this next time around. MIND over matter! MIND OVER MATTER! I have told my immune system to get cracking as of NOW, as it better be ready for infusion tomorrow.

Dolly.