Anyone starting chemotherapy in July?

ladylalatx

I am also doing okay on day 2. A little tired and not much appetite, but I am making myself drink ridiculous amounts of water even though it is very difficult.

I am still having a lot of pain from my port that was placed 6/30. Anyone else? I feel like it is going to come out of my chest most of the time.

Hang in there! We've go this!

Natalie68

hi everyone. I have just been reading thru your posts. Hoping to join this group as it seems to be close to where I'm at.

I'm 47, had my mammogram 16th June found lefty to have two tumours and no visable structure left 😳 I thought my boobs were just cysty and gotten quite painful. Diagnosed on the spot and graded 3 the next day. Currently inoperable so chemo started 29 June! Ac 4 rounds 3 weeks apart then 12 rounds taxol, then surgery, radiation hormone treatment. Crazy ride of tests over the intervening just under two weeks. Bone and CT showed no mets thank goodness. I'm yet to hear the results of a number of other tests.

Now on day 12 post and had my hair cut shorter again in preparation for the assumed day 17 hair loss - next Saturday. Was surprised at how well all the meds worked and only had a few days where I felt I had been run over by a truck (but with little nausea) and they were days 5, 6 and 7 post infusion (think the steroids were amazing) I'm still waiting to get a port - hopefully before the next round as the needle in the hand is rather ouchy!

I'm a soul parent to 20, 17 and 15 yr old who have been pretty good!

Natalie

boricua_63

Welcome Natalie68

We are glad to have you here and share your experiences with the treatments.

Keep on fighting!!!

Hugs💕

Lindzanne

Welcome Natalie, glad you found us even though I hate you have to be here. I agree, I know they can cause some problems but those steroids worked magic for me on my worst days.

Hope all are doing OK today. My joint and bone pain is easing up a bit.

Helen I have heard that about the nail polish too for taxol/taxotere! I read that those two drugs react with light so they keep the bag covered during the infusion and keeping your nails a dark color can help protect them. Maybe that's way off but it's just nail Polish so what can it hurt to try? I'll be going all black when I startry taxol.

ladylalatx, my port still hurts too but not as bad as yours, it's just really tender if bumped. All I want is to sleep on that side again! I have one side still a little tingly at times from my surgery and one side with that damn port, I don't want to be sleeping on my back anymore! I'm glad your doing well on day 2.

Hugs to all from my Seattle summer day-lukewarm and muggy and somewhat grey.

boricua_63

Hello ladies

Besides been tired all day and just want to sleep, I have not have really any nausea. No pain from the shot yesterday as of yet, so I'm hoping it stay like that.

I do too will like to be able to sleep in my side, and I was getting used to that until the port was put in last Thursday. So no left side due to mastectomy and no right side due to the placement of the port been done just 3 days ago. I hate sleeping on my back.

I hope everyone is doing good!!!

Hugs 💕💕

Momdin

I will be starting chemo tomorrow, I'm feeling anxious because I'm dreading the side effects. This will be the first part in my journey. After 16 weeks of chemo then I will have surgery. Thank you for all the helpful tips.

boricua_63

Hi Momdin

Good luck to you tomorrow. I brought a lot of water with me and as soon as they started the treatment, I started drinking water, to avoid cold sores. It did help a lot.

You can do this and it will be overwhelming, but you will beat this.

Prayers and hugs going your way!!

💕💕💕

boricua_63

Hello ladies

Hope everyone is doing good.

I went to work today after six weeks out, just for four hours. And boy, I got so tired real quick. Got home, ate something at around 11:00 and before noon I was napping.

A bit of nausea today and muscle pain on my neck, other than that, I'm hanging in there.

Well, night or morning depends where you are.

Hugs!!💕💕

ladylalatx

Glad to hear everyone seems to be hanging in there. I started to feel pretty bad last night and was still running fever today so up to the clinic for fluids and labs. Everything came back clear, but they put me on antibiotics to be sure. Still grateful it hasn't been worse.

boricua_63

Hi ladylalatx

I hope you do get better soon. So many side effects and is hard to keep up with them.

I'm glad you were given antibiotics just in case.

Hugs your way. 💕💕

HelenWNZ

hi everyone not much to report here except I feel like crap. Too many days on steroids lulled me into a false sense of security. Diarrhoea hit with a vengeance, near collapse in bathroom holy not nice. Poor boys looking after me in the school holidays not much fun. Achy all over. But if I keep pottering around doing little jobs I'm ok.

Hope everyone else keeping on top of everything.

Helen

Meow0369

did you get your immune booster on time? My good friend didn't want one and she got very sick, fever. She had to go to ER.

xxyzed

I'm day 5 post my first AC chemo. I've not been getting up to much, a short slow walk each day, afternoon nap and lots of tv. My boys are home now and have loved spending the day with unlimited computer games and electronics but I agree it's not much of a way for them to spend their school holidays. I have been pretty tired the last two days and had quite a sore neck last night which i thought was probably port related but got better with panadol. I'm feeling more like my normal self now. Hopefully it continues tomorrow

Cwhitney

I started chemo yesterday with taxotere, Pergeta and herceptin. So far, the only side effects are minor body aches and I'm a little bit tired. No nausea thank goodness. The worst part of the chemo was the needle placement in the port. Painful for me! Five more rounds to go.

Natalie68

Thanks everyone for the welcome, very glad to be able to join in with people at a similar stage.

Momdin hope your chemo went well and not too many side effects.

Helen the steroids were great 😬 Until they wore off 😆 Sorry to hear - I was similar. Woke up day 5 looking for the truck that must have come in the night! I'm now planning work around my knowledge days 5,6,7,8 being the really yucky days.

Day 12 post chemo I noticed whilst having a shower that the hair loss was beginning and waxing wouldn't be a thing soon. 'Twas really ok with that. 😆 By Monday, night, day -13. I was gently brushing my hair before bed and realised the hair loss had begun on my head 😖. It had been a bit itchy. Day 14 - My scalp is now quite 'sore' feeling and the hair continues to gradually fall. I'm 'trying' to be accepting but after I had little problem with nausea (always my hugest fear - due to being quite phobic) this is my next biggest worry of the day.

I was awake a lot last night with my nose streaming and 1/2 my jaw aching. The kids have all had a cold and it looks like I might have my first cold in 3 years I think! No temperature.

Hope everyone is feeling well. Xxx

boricua_63

Hello ladies

Today is my 4th day after 1st treatment.!im just very tired and ache on my neck and shoulders. (And the weather doesn't help) I did go back to work yesterday for four hours and today too. It is good to get out of the house, and do something else besides going to doctors appointments.

I have noticed that my head is hurting more, don't know if the time for hair to fall is coming soon. But it is painful.

Not much else to say, other than been tired and with aches.

Hope everyone is doing good.

Hugs 💕

boricua_63

Ladies,

My head is really hurting as if I got sunburnt or hit my head with something, first treatment was last Friday, does that mean hair will start falling soon?

HelenWNZ

Hi everyone

Natalie Yesterday was my day 4 and I reakon one of those outback truckers came calling. I still feel pretty lousy and have the dreaded D but am still managing to potter on. I was hoping to go back to work this week but I think it will be next week. It will be good when/if I get a pattern.

I have a very itchy scalp I know it's early days but seem to have got spots too. I'm not waiting I'm shaving on Friday.

The dreaded hospital appointments the calendar is fulling up.

Take care

glitterinmyveins

Hi everyone. I'm newly diagnosed and will have a port put in on Friday July 15 and start chemo treatment on Monday July 18. I will have Taxotere, Herceptin, Perjeta and Carboplatin. Very nervous about chemo and all that will come with that. I actually have a hair appointment scheduled at 10 today and have no idea what I should do...what I normally have done (maybe 1 last time before I lose my hair) or cut it shorter (not sure I'm quite ready for that). I thought I wouldn't lose my hair until after 2nd chemo treatment but now worried that I may lose it 2 weeks into the first. Anyone else have any insight on this? I really hate the not knowing. Can I just skip the whole thing?!?! Seriously not looking forward to it but I guess that's what I have to do. I'm trying to stay positive, which is one reason why I chose glitterinmyveins as my user name. I needed a positive spin on it. I guess that's just my way of dealing with it. Anyway...what I've read so far, has been helpful and I really look forward to sharing this experience with others going through the same thing. My family is trying to be understanding but not sure they can fully understand the fear and anxiety or maybe they are having their own and are doing the best they know how.

Cwhitney

Today is day three after chemo. I can't believe I am functioning. I have a few aches and pains and some minor belly aches but other than that, I feel good. Just went for a 1.5 mile walk and feel good. Maybe it's all the meds they gave me and they haven't worn off. I am super tired by the end of the day.

Glitterinmyveins I too am worried about the hair. I am going to get a pixie cut in the next few days then shave if off when it all starts. The hair is more traumatic to me then losing my boob's.

ladylalatx

Hi all! It sounds like everyone is progressing pretty well.

I know a lot of people are talking hair and that has been a big deal to me. I cut my usually long and think hair into a pixie cut and hate it, but thought it would be less traumatic for me. I have an appointment on Monday to get it shaved and pick up my wig. I can hardly think about it without getting upset.

The last few days have been rough. I have had relentless diarrhea (sorry - I am tired of talking about it too) even with prescription strength meds. I went up for labs today as it was 1 week post first treatment. I ended up passing out and had to get more IV fluids and see the doctor. I now have to go in for the next two days for fluids and if I have no improvement I will likely spend the weekend in the hospital. I am seriously considering whether this is all worth it. I have never been sick and felt fine prior to all of this. My cancer diagnosis honestly came out of nowhere for me. I am having a hard time not being able to the things I am used to being able to do. After fluids today, I was able to eat a bit and have not had anymore "episodes", so I am praying I have turned a corner, but the thought of having to go through this again makes me sick. I will be scheduled to get fluids each day after my next treatment and will be given different meds to deal with the side effects, but it still scares me.

On a positive note, I have had very little bone pain from Nuelesta. I started to last night, but was able to take Tylenol and relax enough to sleep for a few hours.

HelenWNZ

I feel like I'm going through the process. Day 3 of feeling like crap and I have been told that's things could carry on this way till I turn the corner after the weekend. The dreaded D is a pain I eat then lose my food. Keeping up the fluids is hard when everything tastes disgusting. The kids cordial is the best thing at the moment. I have started treatment for thrush in my mouth and I have indigestion. That's not even mentioning the aches and pains from top to bottom. And of all things I have a small problem with my belly button so go figure.

How an earth are we supposed to say in 3 weeks hey poison me again.

Downer sorry. Had to put off my hair shave till next week might snow here in the night and I don't want to be out and about unless I have to.

Kids on school holidays and over me right now.

Take care

Helen

xxyzed

ladylalatx- I'm sorry you've been feeling so unwell. Keep in mind that the first treatment is very much a trial run for your oncologist to see how your body reacts. They will make adjustments for your next treatment and I think you'll find that being given fluids for the few days after the next one you'll feel like a different person.

Helenwnz - hopefully this is your last day of side effects as well. If the loose bowels continue you might need iv fluid as well.

I think my main issue is going to be sleeping problems. I've booked in to see the gp to try and get on top of it for future rounds.

Remember we don't need to do well, we just need to show up and this too shall pass

Slkb

Hi Everyone! I'm hoping to join this group. In May I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer I'm 36 years old. June I had a BMX with tissue expanders. Today is my first day of chemo.

Lindzanne

Hi all. Welcome new folks.

Slkb I'm 36 as well---never thought this is where I'd be at this age.

As soon as I got diagnosed, I got a pixie cut and surprisingly loved it. I had a long bob and had been growing my hair out and just couldn't handle looking at something I wouldn't have anymore. Then, the day after my first chemo I shaved my head, again because I didn't want to deal with even small chunks of hair coming out. And it wasn't my choice to have to do that, but it also looked surprisingly good. Trying to make the best of a bad situation. It is a stressful thing. To people who haven't been through this is might seem frivolous. But it's just another way we are losing control over things through cancer.

I'm sorry for everyone experiencing the bad side effects. I was the same days 3 through 5 and say 6 turned a corner. I wasn't my 100% self but relished every day of feeling up to doing things. Went back to work last week and it was definitely tiring but felt really good to be doing what I love again. And then today, when I'm just about all back to normal, I'm sitting in the chair right now awaiting my 2nd round. 😝So here we go again. A little depressed about that.

Hang in there everybody. I know we can do this.

Lindsay

Slkb

Lindzanne - Hope everything went smooth today and the SE are minimum in the caming days!

HelenWNZ

good one Lindsay another one done. I think that what scares me with round 2 knowing how it's going to make me feel.

Lindzanne

It does feel a little bit worse this time. But manageable. I was given more steroids than last time to manage the nausea, which is worse, hopefully it won't keep me up all night!

Hoping I turn a corner like I did last time and the SEs won't last longer.

I try to be grateful thinking about how I'm preventing a recurrence. But I have to say today I've felt depressed. This isn't fair.

Wish I could be more uplifting. I just went from feeling so good to so bad. But I will perservere!

Natalie68

hey all, welcome to everyone who has joined. I have put off and put off doing anything other than cutting my hair pixie length last weekend. I really like it short! This week on Monday hair loss started as a gradual fall but today it has been awful. I'm thinking I will have to go and get it shaved tomorrow 😔 I agree with someone earlier who said this is probably more traumatic than when I have surgery. I won't know till January about that. I'm trying to stay upbeat u know "hair today, gone tomorrow" and it's going to happen, it's all part of the journey. Hair fall started day 12 post chemo and it's now day 16. I had heard that day 17 is the going in chunks day. 😖

I have also been researching the pain in my breast in my biggest tumour, very sore most the time and sharp pains that can take my breath away. It seems that appears to be the chemo working. Both oncologist and breast surgeon felt it was looking and feeling better after just the first round. Second round on Wednesday. Fingers crossed it goes well again. Sorry to those who seem to have had a tougher ride with their first round. 😔 I hope they find medications that help you get thru each round easier xx

boricua_63

Hi ladies

I went yesterday for blood work and to see the oncologist. I told her my side effects, and she told me most likely they will be the same after my second round this coming Friday. They will have to keep an eye on me bc one of my side effects on the day after was my face got very red, and hot, looked like a tomato, but no fever. My nausea I can control but my issue is fatigue all the time.

About my hair, I did cut off my long curls the day after I found out I was having chemotherapy, I'm not crazy about it, but I just wear hats. And as soon as it starts falling I will shave it.

I am however having issues with the tissue expander and is been hurting quite a bit, that I don't know if is worth it, and I'm about to tell the PS to remove it and I'll deal with it later on, I much rather not have a reconstruction than have to go through pain and discomfort every day.

I'm sorry some of you ladies are having a hard time and lots of side effects. Hang in there.

We are warriors and we will fight this.

Hugs 💕💕