Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Heathet

DistrictGirl - have fun at the Beyoncé concert! It's good to have things planned - gives us something to look forward to during treatment.

Anonymous

Hi,

I just had my very first chemo today. FEC80 was my cocktail. I did the cold cap too. That was the bit that made me cry....first 10 mins were awful. But I stuck it out and kept it on for the full time. It was not at all bad after the initial shock of the cold. You get used to it.

Back home now and feeling very nauseous. Not been sick and to be honest would prefer to just be sick.

I hope this will pass by tomorrow. I am told that 5 days max for any sickness.

D

Addition...had a wee sleep on the bathroom floor, It was that sort of sleep where you press your face down on the cold tiled floor and pray to God to make you actually vomit in exchange for devoting yourself to missionary work later in the year. He answered my prayer! Now feel like a new woman and ready to hoover and dust!

Heathet

Dolly - did they give you any medication for the nausea? I haven't started yet but I have all my pre-meds. What is your cancer diagnosis and how long are you having chemo?

Coffee-lover

I have my first chemo next Wed. I'm also interested in the nausea topic. I had a complete mastectomy on 5/25 and have struggled with nausea since. I kept the patch on and took some other drugs.but still had a real struggle. Does anyone know if it makes sense to take the meds for a few days before as kind of an insurance policy?

Heathet

coffee-lover - I have heard that they will give you anti-nausea medication the day of treatment - either IV or a port if you have one. Double check with your infusion center and see what they recommend.

Coffee-lover

Thank you Heathet - I was just looking over the lists so I can start stocking up. There is some incredible information out there.

Another question for the group - I have my first treatment on Wed then have my port installed on Thurs (is "installed" the right term? Is it placed? What? Can you tell I'm an analyst?). Then my daughter graduates from college on Friday. It's a 1 1/2 hour drive and there's no shade. Obviously, I'm not going to miss it so my question - how would you prepare and what would you take with you? My husband will be driving so I don't have to worry about that.

Thanks.

Heathet

coffee lover - I had my port last Thursday and I was fine on Friday. I did ice it Thursday on and off along with taking some pain meds. It was just a little tender and I kept the surgical cover on it until Saturday. I would say pack lots of extra fluids, anti-nausea meds and maybe some pain meds.

labscientistmom

I agree with Heathet, RE: port placement,tylenol and take small soft ice packs in a cooler, or frozen peas that you don't care about. Also, my neck hurt to turn it and look up, but that got better over a couple of days. I also could feel the catheter where it goes by my trachea the first day, and it sometimes made me gag. It's been 3 weeks, and my port scar and port itself still aches and feels like it suddenly weighs 3x as much as before.

re: nausea - the Zofran for me is amazing, they give it premed before the taxol, along with benedryl and steroids. It is supposed to last until the 2nd morning after my chemo. Infusion nurse says if I get nauseous, take it and then take it exactly at 6 hour intervals if I don't want to be sick ever. it has worked so far, thru 3 rounds for me. I don't usually take it in the evening tho, thinking back, but havn't had nausea. Oncologist says tell them about nausea, cause they have such good meds now, no one should have to be nauseous any more. Hope this helps.

labscientistmom

Coffee lover, also take a pillow of some kind to cushion the seatbelt depending on what side they put the port on. Mine is on the right, and as a passenger in a car, the seatbelt runs right over my port and is quite ouchy! Depends on the make of the car how bad it is, but the cushion helps.

LJ2016

So glad to see so many people here, but just hate that it is because we have ugly, nasty breast cancer. We can be such an encouragement to each other. I think sharing the good things and the bad makes it all easier to take.

^{I had good news at oncologist yesterday. I will have 4 rounds of A/C (every other week) then 4 rounds Taxol (every other week). At first they told me I had to have chemo for 6 months before my double mastectomies. I'm still getting the same amount of Taxol, just in 8 weeks time. Not sure if that will be worse, but I just want to have the surgery to get it all out! I will have to have radiation after surgery, too. Since my cancer is advanced and aggressive, I will probably do some other chemo clinical trials after radiation too, especially if I am positive for the BRCA 1 and 2 gene.}

^{I get my port put in on Tuesday, and have to have a heart scan next week too. I'm supposed to start the week of the 13th. I am anxious, but all the waiting seems harder than just getting started. I spend a lot of time at drs appointments, so I'm also grateful that my company and my boss are totally supportive and just want me to be well.}

^{I'm planning to work through chemo and radiation...so praying I am able to handle to side effects with medication if I have them.}

^{Hope you all have a great weekend and I appreciate your posts so much!}

Sadiemaebr

Coffee-lover, Congrats on the college graduation! I'm happy that you will be able to go and enjoy the festivities.

District Girl, I'm your neighbor! I live outside of Baltimore. Good luck with your decisions and have fun at the concert! My kids are coming home for the weekend and we are going to a concert tomorrow night in BMore.

Dolly, I sure hope you are feeling better. Call your doctor. There are more meds they can try to help your nausea.

Coffee-lover

Thank you all for the great answers. I've added a car pillow to my shopping list and will be very rigid in taking the nausea meds. That may be exactly why I've had trouble. I'll put hubby's watch timer to good use.

LJ2016 - I'm also planning to work but taking advantage of intermittent short term disability for those days when I just can't do it. Does your work situation allow for work at home? When my boss found out I had cancer, he set me up with a home office and booted me out of my cube. I keep my calendar up to date on appointments but everyone knows that if I don't answer, I'll get back to them when I can. It's been a great situation.

I appreciate all of the good will and positive attitudes. Thanks!

Moondust

I'll just say a quick hello. My chemo will start next week but I won't know the day until I go to chemo education on Monday. I had my port in on Wednesday.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

NattyB

Hi all,

I start weekly Taxol and Herceptin on 6/15. Had my port placed the same time as my BMX and implants. Just ready to get this show on the road. 12 rounds followed by Herceptin every 3 week for the remaining 9 months. Still healing fro surgery but my port site didn't quite work out where we wanted hits the bra line and is tight in my neck but I'm glad I have it since my veins are crappy now and only one side available. So glad to meet you all under these yucky circumstances.

Jojobird

I just started AC on Tuesday. Dose dense, every two weeks. Slight nausea and a lot of fatigue/dizziness, but have walked a bit and can do the basics. Giving myself the Zarxio shot had been a challenge!

So glad to hear that we are sharing this journey. Glad to hear those tips!

Jo

Heathet

NattyB - I hear you ! I am ready to get this show on the road! I have 6 rounds of carboplatin, taxotere and Herceptin. I start this Thursday. So sorry we all are going through this crap!

NattyB

Hi Heathet - so great to see you! I gotta say you look awesome in your pic, love love the hair, beautiful! How did your surgery go, you went direct to implant too right? Happy so far after 3 weeks out once my skin stretched some - the first few days I wasn't so sure, they didn't even make a bump off my chest.. I'm going to ice my hands and feet to try and fend off the neuropathy and I bought a wig that I like well enough but I think I might get another that's shorter since I just cut about 7" off my length. Are you every 3 weeks? I'm sure you feel the same - this time next year we will be celebrating and talking about how easy this all was.... not.

Heathet

NattyB- my surgery was a lot easier than I thought and I was so glad I could go direct to implants. The first two weeks after surgery were a little rough but I had lots of help. Now I'm feeling really good and the girls are healing nicely. I will be every three weeks and I'm thinking of all the things to put in my chemo bag - especially icing for my hands and feet! I'm also going to take the supplement glutamine. I have heard from other chemo patients that it helps with the neuropathy. I cut about 6 inches off my hair too. I thought I would cry but I actually liked getting my hair short! I bought a wig but I'd like to get a fun one to wear - something with some color. I can't wait till next year when we're celebrating!

NattyB

Amen to that Heathet - I'm going to try and get crafty/McGuyver and make some kind of bootie contraptions for my feet with ice packs - I think I'll need like 3 sets to get me through. I'm more concerned about the neuropathy than anything else. I bought a long haired wig and the other one I'm going to get is more like a bob and kinda curly which is what my hair looks like now since I'm no flat ironing like i was before. Still can't reach up high yet. My left armpit is sensitive as is my skin (from tightness)- how long did that last for you?

Heathet

NattyB - My left arm pit were I had the lymph nodes removed was super numb for about three weeks and I really couldn't lift my arm. Now there is still some numbness but only in a small area. My surgery is about 6 weeks out and I can lift my left arm above my head which is a good thing because since I got my port my right arm is harder to lift. So glad my hair is shorter because I'm not sure I could style it! I told my husband on the bright side we'll save money on hair products and appointments! 😉 - there's got to be a bright side!

NattyB

Heathet - Yes! I think that's why my hub didn't really blink at the cost of the wigs since I get highlights every 6 weeks and two of those equal 1 wig so there is a silver lining in that regard. Trying them on was honestly pretty funny - my mom and sister came from out of town. This very sweet and serious woman helped and educated - and tolerated a lot of my bad jokes about how I looked in some of them. I've highlighted my hair since I was in high school and didn't know how awful I looked in my natural color that my mom selected - we all agreed I should always be blonde even though I wasn't born that way lol. I hadn't factored how much time and money I spent on products and styling so that's a great point too! This sales person was very particular about the washing process I swear she was intimidating but absolutely had my best interests at heart and was so kind, she kept referring to the wig as "her" as in "she wants you to rinse her this way" and "she likes to sleep on a tall vase" it was great and kept my mom from getting teary. Finding angels like her that have crossed my path in this journey has been such a gift. So now I call that wig "the she would must be obeyed"

Heathet

NattyB -the lady at the wig store was very patient and thank-goodness because my friend and I had her going around the store! I tried on what I will call a "rock and roll" wig thinking it would bereally cool and we just burst out laughing. Needless to say I guess I'm not the rock and roll type! I found a wig that was close to a hairstyle I had a few years ago, a long bob style. I wore it home and my husband said you got your hair cut! 🙂 Made my day!

NattyB

That's awesome Heathet! - i put mine on for my husband and he kinda looked confused lol. It needs some shaping up and doesn't sit quite right on my head since I still have my regular hair. I'm getting another one that is closer to my shorter bobbed hair now - I had kind of longer layers before this 'do. The wig lady said not to trim it until my head was ready:)

Nextyear

Hieveryone,

Any suggestions what to bring for chemo? I'm having port put in first then head over for chemo. I have been reading about bringing lip balm, reading materials, food ( really? Maybe this is for my husband), and water. A nurse told me they have heated blankets for patients. Any suggestions?

labscientistmom

Nextyear, make sure you have some kind of lemon drops or mints. When they flush your port with saline, then heparin and saline before and after the infusion, it makes your mouth taste icky. If you have a mint or Ricola or lemon drop it helps a lot. If you have yogurt or crackers it can help if you get a quick nausea thing happen (did happen for me the first week.). Also, bring LOTS of water. They only have the dinky water bottles in my infusion room. It helps the dryness and yucky feeling if you are drinking a lot. Also check out the list under List of things to survive chemo. It was super helpful for me.

Nextyear

Thanks labscientistmom. Going to prepare my chemo kit today! Hope you are feeling good and getting through things easily!

LJ2016

Are there stitches on the outside after port surgery? If I get port put in on Tuesday, would it be healed enough for chemo starting the next Monday?

CoffeeLove - I have a wonderful boss and my company has been great, but I'm not able to work from home I have made a spot in a small conference room if I need a quick nap or if I'm feeling bad.

Thanks to all of you for all you've shared. I'm blessed to hear your stories and encouragement.

Jbakerwebb

my first chemo will be June 15th. The red devil and and cytoxin for 4 rounds biweekly. Then taxol for 14 weekly rounds. My 3 year old grandson is set to be with us for 2 weeks starting the day BEFORE first chemo. Thank goodness my sister will be a fill in grandma and hubby is so in live with him!!!! Was hoping for every 3 weeks so it wouldnt interfere with his visit as much but Cancer is the boss! Feeling VERY blue today. I know God is in control and I will glorify Him through this process but still have those dang muddy waters. Two surgeries later I'm just now having a blue spell I suppose it's time. I know I'm not superwoman but I am a woman right??

Hope all is well with you. Don't know about you but this 57 year old mom, wife and "Nanners" has a lot of living today around these night sweats! Are you also hormone receptor positive? I'm stage II node involved. And I'm an okie!!

JustAgirl33

This all just still doesn't seem real... someone pinch me so I can wake up.

I start chemo June 15th. (THCP for 18weeks) I have yet to have my port put in; I'm sure that will take place this week. This week is going to be a busy week filled with all kinds of scans, x-rays, doctors appointments, oh and work! I'm nervous and scared (that's a understatement), like I said it just doesn't seem real.

Chemo First, Surgery second, Radiation third, and then maybe on with my normal life!

NattyB

Wow - so many of us in the magic chair on 6/15. So glad to be able to have you all to chat about this craziness. I feel you Justagirl - I had 3 weeks after diagnosis to sit and stew and i wish it would have all gone by faster. I did the opposite though, surgery first then chemo (no rads for me). It's just a crapper that this monster steps into out lives and takes over, no invitation - it's just rude.