Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

Miles

My port is on the left side. My lumpectomy was on my right.

JR74

Mine is on the left as well.. I'm not sure how they choose what side to put it on. I had a bmx, but the cancer was technically on the right. The nurse at the hospital said my surgeon prefers the ports be placed on the left, so who knows?

Tomorrow is the big day.. to say I'm nervous would be the understatement of the century! I can't wait to get it over with so the suspense will no longer be gnawing away at me.

Xoxo, 🙃

sandybee

Me! just took my first two this morning, I believe it is more so that we don't have an allergic reaction to the chemo? My doc told me it may keep me awake at night so I could take an Ativan to sleep.

Al12

I have my port on the right side because my cancer is in my left boob.

it sucks cause I'm a righty but today finally I can lift my arm higher and sleep with out siting up.

geneskirt I do have a fridge at work and already bringing my own food for lunch and breakfast. I was told no salad bars. But I always bring my food anyway I'm that weird girl at work whose desk is full of fruits and stuff. I will be freezing grapes for my first chemo tomorrow, that is a great idea. I'm going to bring a mini cooler and have my own snacks and green smoothies and juices. Probably not for my first time tomorrow but the grapes. I'm feeling on edge but its because of the unknown. hope I can sleep tonight. I took Claritin this morning and will take another tomorrow doesn't hurt to try. Thank God not benedryl was recommended since I don't have a good reaction with benedryl. that's what I need to tell doc tomorrow.

I started a little journal on how I'm feeling and documenting what I'm doing through out the day. hopefully this will help me in the future through this chemo treatment.

JR74 are you starting chemo tomorrow too? mine is scheduled for 1pm. hopefully that means me coming to work the next day will be a fine experience and I can last till end of day.

I commute to work by bus and everyone is caughing already. I ordered those sergical masks to wear when I'm on bus.

VLH

I called the port surgeon's office again and he happened to be standing there so the employee asked about switching to the other side. He said he couldn't access the vein on the right and it was nothing to worry about. I asked the employee if that was common and she said, "It happens." Yet I don't recall reading about anyone else getting a port switched to the surgical side. It's only a small incision and minor bruising on the non-port side, but it seems like there's been a bobble every step of the way with my treatment and I haven't even started the scary stuff yet. YIKES!

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Al12, taking public transportation while undergoing chemo must be worrisome. It seems like perhaps you might have a hardier immune system than most going into this experience? Let us know how you do with the infusion.

JR74, deep breaths! Keep us posted on your experience.

Lyn

VLH

Miles, you're absolutely right! Although I'm very lucky to have great friends, my family is 1,300 miles away so I shouldn't feel weird about submitting the request myself. I had a traveling job for almost 5 years and recall feeling weird about eating alone because everyone would think I was so odious that I had no friends. Now, I love meeting friends for meals, but equally enjoy dining alone.

Lyn

natster

Diagnosed on 9/16. First consultation on 9/20. Second opinion on 9/23. Starting chemo on 10/10. I'll be in a trial, but standard is Taxol (10 weekly doses) + AC (4 doses, every 2 weeks.) I'm procrastinating but need to get prepared!

JR74

Al12 yes my first infusion is tomorrow! I have to be there at 9:30. Praying everything goes without a hitch. The masks are a good idea especially if you're taking a bus. Two of my children are still at home but they're homeschooled so we rarely get any illnesses. I have to grandbabies that have a drippy nose every other week so we shall see! Happy thoughts everyone! I'll update as I can tomorrow.

Vlh, yes.. deep breaths! Thanks for the reminder!

Natster, welcome! You've come to the right place for support and info

Jenn28

Hey everyone! Im brand new to the message boards! I had my surgery Sept 8th, and just got out of the hospital with a nasty infection Unfortunately my chemo has to be delayed until I recover from this infection but my tentative date is Oct 21! I will get 3 rounds of FEC and 3 rounds of Docetaxel/Taxotere

Im getting really anxious... has anyone else needed these same types?

Moderators

Welcome, Jenn! We're sorry to hear that you had complications following your surgery, but happy that you're on track to begin your treatment soon! These boards have been really beneficial to many members as they begin down this road, and we hope they offer the same support and help to you!

The Mods

BevSue

Jenn28 I'm one day ahead of you, I start on 10/20. My treatment is cytoxan /taxotere.

The waiting is nerve wracking. I just want to get this done.....

VLH

Jenn28, I'm sorry circumstances bring you to us, but welcome. My treatment has been delayed by infection as well, but I was fortunate that I was able to do at-home IV infusions via a PICC lin. I'll be having 4 cycles of Adriamycin & Cytoxan followed by 12 weeks of Taxol. I don't recall if anyone else in the October group is having your same drug protocol, but if you click on Menu, then Search and type in FEC, I'm sure you can find some ladies who are. We'll be here for moral support and to help if we can.

Lyn

JR74

welcome Jenn! My name is Jennifer but most of my friends/family call me Jenn as well. I'm notfamiliar with FEC I'll have to research it. I wasn't familiar with my course of treatment either until all of this began. And I'm a nurse! Oncology/chemo drugs are definitely not my specialty but I'm learning like the rest of us. I'm sorry to hear of your complications but glad you're on the road to recovery and have a date set for treatment to begin.

geneskirt

So, same as VLH -left side.

geneskirt

Al12 I am interested in the wheat grass shots you mentioned in an earlier post. I must remember to buy/freeze grapes for chemo day on Friday!

Jenn28 We are doing identical chemo treatments - FEC for 3 cycles(9 weeks) and then 3 cyles of Docetaxel/Taxotere (9 weeks). I start Freday and am packing my bag tonight. Did anyone talk to you about a PICC line?

JR74 Good luck tomorrow! Kick those cancer cells into oblivion!!

FightingTheFight

Hello everyone. I've been lurking these forums for a bit, but finally decided to join today and make my first post. I had my port placed 09/27 and started chemo on 09/29, but joining the October group seemed to make more sense.

I had the neulasta shot the day after chemo and took Claritin for 4 days. Haven't had bone/joint pain, so it seems to have worked. But the side effects have mostly centered around my GI tract, though I've had some heartburn also. And now I'm sitting up in the middle of the night with a painful UTI, waiting for the doctor's office to open (after confirming with the after hours nurse that I didn't need to go to the ER).

This has been a speeding rollercoaster journey so far. I'm one who usually options for minimal medical intervention. So all of the tests and appts have been overwhelming.

JR74

Good morning everyone! I'm here and waiting to get hooked up. They successfully accessed my port and drew blood from it for labs. So now I just wait on that to come back. They're about to start the pre meds. I'm a nervous wreck, please pray that I can calm myself down and not have a panic attack! Prayers for others starting today!

VLH

Welcome to the group, Fightingthefight. I've heard of Cytotoxan irritating the urinary system, but the "C" in your drug cocktail it's Carboplatin, right? I'm glad you didn't have the pain that sometimes accompanies Neulasta, but know how painful UTIs can be. OUCH! Keep us posted.

JR74, your facial expression sums up the entire chemo process nicely! I'm going to feel equally apprehensive on Tues. Let's create our own treatment chant:

"Cancer Cooties, Killer Chemo Critters are Coming for YOU!"

Lyn

Charlene1

just finished treatment #1 of 12 weekly Taxol

Went without a hitch and I feel pretty good hope I can say the same with the next 11.

No port but that may change if they start having an issue with putting the IV line in.

Hope everyone is getting thru this without to many side effects

JR74

The last of my "meds" is running now. No side effects so far. Thank God for that! I know the likelihood of it continuing this way is slim but that's ok.. one day at a time. I did feel a bit of a disturbance in my force when the nurse started the carboplatin. But it dissipated quickly.

4girlsmom

Hi everyone- I will be starting chemo by the end of October but right now I am trying to figure out which medical oncologist to use and which approach. I have read through all of your posts and am taking notes on all the tips, but I am wondering how you all decided what chemo to do? I have gotten two different opinions- one doc wants me to do 4 courses of taxotere plus cytoxan. The other MO says that due to the fact that I have a high oncotype (36) even though I had a small tumor and was node negative, I should do AC plus Taxol. She says there is a B-47 protocol that is showing AC plus Taxol is best for my condition. I like both MO's, though I hate the office of the second one (The doc is wonderful but each time i have visited I want to bring a carpet cleaner with me- it always seems soiled and dirty). Any thoughts on how to decide now that so many of you have already created and are executing your chemo plans? Thank you!

GrendelDog

Hi everyone -

I've been trying to catch up on all the posts - lots of action happening this week for everyone!

I got my port placed on Tuesday. I've read a lot of you seemed to have full anesthesia? I was basically awake for the whole Port procedure - I would say 'drowsy'. The surgeon wanted me to be aware so I could breath in and hold my breath at one point so she could check the placement. The procedure was fine - occasional 'pushing and pulling' but that's all I felt. I asked to see the X-ray after it was done, and they put up a picture of my chest X-ray with some sunglasses 'inside' the chest cavity. It was a very jocular room! (They then put up the real x-ray so I could see how the port looked inside my chest - it was kind of neat. Better than it looks outside at the moment.)

My top incision opened up the day of the surgery, and I had to go to the emergency room to get it steri-stripped closed. The urgent care clinics and doctors' offices were closed, so the ER was where the on-call doc said to go. Can't wait for that bill to come in!!

The main port spot is pretty sensitive to the touch, but I can move normally, and have almost full range of motion (except reaching behind me). Overall, it seems pretty successful - well, once the bruising goes away. I decided to sleep with my bra on to provide support and avoid pulling. That seems to have helped a lot (I take the bra off and feel the difference right away). I just have to keep the cat from walking on my chest!

Chemo starts for me tomorrow. It's been reassuring to read some initial reports of relatively doable SEs. I need to work during chemo, so I really don't want to have nausea issues! Thinking of all of you and hoping for continued 'do-ability" -- and a quick resolution to the UTI for FightenTheFight. Positive thoughts!!

geneskirt

Big Day #1 for JR74 and Charlene1 -congrats on your completion!. JR74, your photo is sweet!

Welcome FightingTheFight!!

4girlsmom - I wasn't given an option to choose from... just told it would be FEC -D treatment.

GrendelDog, you and I are both having our turn tomorrow! Fists up, girl!

Lyn, I'll be chanting "Cancer Cooties, Killer Chemo Critters are Coming for YOU!" xx

JR74

geneskirt, thanks for the sweet words! I feel so accomplished having one treatment under my belt. 1 down 5 to go!

I still feel "ok" a little off, but nothing I can't handle at this point. I have the worst taste in my mouth that doesn't go away, thanks to the carboplatin. I've been getting intermittent tummy cramps but nothing else has come of it. The steroids kick my butt, I don't see much sleep in store for tonight.. I'll catch up when I catch up 🙂

Good luck to those starting tomorrow and may we all have a peaceful SE free weekend! I think I'm going to take the plunge and cut my hair before it starts shedding! Xoxo

VLH

Charlene1, good to get that first one out of the way. I hope you won't need a port. Let us know how your weekend goes.

JR74, disturbance in your force...loved it!

4girlsmom, the chemo plan recommended to me seems to be the most typical one for my high grade triple negative cancer although timing and dosages are sometimes tweaked. I'll get AC every two weeks for four cycles followed by weekly Taxol for twelve cycles. If heart issues are disclosed, I think Taxotere and Cytoxan are Plan B. One of my rheumatologist's offices is rather shabby looking, but the drive and parking are lots easier than his pretty new office. I've never felt that sterility was compromised when I've had an injection and it's only a cosmetic issue or I wouldn't go there. Would your infusions be in the yucky office or just the office visits?

GrendelDog, sunglasses? What a hoot! I was unconscious during port surgery, but a "twilight sleep" so no nausea and a quick awakening. I'll be thinking of you and Geneskirt tomorrow.

My chant is a little lame, but I think it would be helpful to have a positive verse to guide us as we visualize the destruction of our cancer cells. Creative folks, feel free to suggest something better if you'd like. ;-)

Lyn, Wishing You All a Calm Weekend Free of Side Effects & Anxiety

Al12

JR74,

great Job!!! I did my chemo yesterday and I am at work right now as I'm writing this. I have my nueslesta attached to my arm and it will go off at 8:30 tonight. My experience was amazing. I thought of the worse and I was pleasantly surprised. I came prepared. thank you for the tip jeneskirt to bring frozen grapes. I'm at Hackansak NJ and they did not offer ice chips while I was taking the A part of the C medicine. My nurse was a gem and she mentioned that they don't offer it because they don't believe in the research that it actually helps with mouth sores but the other hospital that she worked on they offered grapes and icechips and was happy to see that I was prepared and was totally cool with what I was doing. My husband and I were making the nurses laugh. I think we were the most talkative in the room. When I met with my Oncologist assistant I asked her about taking claritin the day before doing chemo and she was fine with that and was happy to hear it. I also asked her about taking a daily vitamin B6 through this AC cycle and she was fine with that too. I heard it will help with easing side effects from Nuelesta. I came home feeling jacked up from steroids and so my husband and I went for a long walk before I went to bed I took a small dosage of xanax and was able to sleep. Every time I woke up at night a drank water and when I woke up at 4:30 am I took 2 tylanols because I had a headache and by the time I woke up at 6am to go to work I was fine. took the nosause medicine and a little bit of wheat grass juice mixed with pear juice and felt fine. Now I'm at work. so far so good. But I think I will start feeling something this weekend. Hoping to be prepared.

good luck to everyone.

Alla

Al12

geneskirt,

look into your near by juice bar anywhere that sells fresh juices sometimes you can costomize a juice by asking for a shot of wheatgrass in it. here is the link that you can check out about the benefits of wheatgrass.

http://www.cancerdefeated.com/newsletters/The-one-...

this is not supported by scientific science as any thing diet related so take this with a grain of salt and you decide what and if your interest in doing so. I had also asked my oncologist about it and she didn't say no to it. She just wanted to make sure I wasn't taking supplements in powder form. She only said I can take B6 supplement or anything B was fine.

hope this helps. I'm doing this because I have always have taken this on and of for years. I will see how my blood work comes back on my next round of AC Oct 20th and I will decide If I continue to do this.

Melindawv

WOW Everyone seems to be doing great so far and that is wonderful to hear. I have been busy having tests and getting things prepared at my house before I begin treatment.

JR74 sounds like we are on the same treatment and that you are about a week ahead of me so let me know if anything surprising happens. But glad to know that so far so good.

I was just abit concerned that my port placement is Wed and chemo starts Thursday, but I guess if I am sore or cant sleep , rather it all just be about the sam etime and get it over with.

AI12 glad to hear that you are working through, I plan on doing the same thing and like the example of you making it happen. Keep up the great spirit and keep working, I will be right along with ya!

About the hair thing, I am not one of those "have to be made up" girls but I am not looking forward to losing my hair and have debated about cutting it short, but as of now I haven't. it is below my shoulders and might change my mind once this begins, but I know it will come out anyway. You would think with everything going on hair would be the last thing I worry about. But I have a friend who went through chemo 8 years ago and told me the plus side is never shaving you legs, so there is that perk.

I have been told about the Claritin and B complex as well and it doesn't hurt to take. I am already on Claritin and was wondering if it will do anything for me since mt body is used to having it.

I wish everyone who has started or will start GOOD LUCK!! and I have made a pledge to myself to get on these boards more and talk more too. I know it will probably do me some good to talk to people who are going through the same thing, I just need to get my mind set to talk not just read. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as well.

Melinda

FightingTheFight

VLH - Thank you for the welcome. And yes, the "C" is Carboplatin. Luckily, the painful part of the UTI started decreasing pretty quickly (I think forcing fluids, even though I didn't want to). I just wasn't expecting the immnosuppression to kick in so quickly and will have to be more careful and vigilant.

GrendelDog - I am recovering well and am sending prayers your way regarding your 1st infusion. And that you have minimal side effects. Despite the UTI, the side effects haven't been as bad as I thought they would be. But I think I feel that way b/c nausea was the main SE I was dreading and that hasn't been as issue.

geneskirt - Thank you for the welcome!

4girlsmom - As far as choosing my chemo protocol: Because of being HER2+, my MO suggested neoadjuvant taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin and perjeta based on the results of a clinical trial showing how helpful perjeta is. I trusted her opinion, and also read good things online about it. But I can imagine the confusion if I'd been offered multiple chemo options. Reading articles and threads on this site has been very helpful and I pray that you are able to make the informed decision that you feel most comfortable with.

Ella22

Hi everyone, I'm new to these boards. I am suppose to start chemo oct 17th. Still have to have echo and bone cavity scans on 13th so I don't know what type of chemos yet. Just like Charlene no port yet. I find great comfort in reading everyones journey! Prayers and positive thoughts