Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

Clearpath

Sunnyjay and VL22 - I also ordered from Headcovers Unlimited. In addition to the baseball cap with hair, I ordered some hats. I was very satisfied with the items ordered - good quality

rdeesides

Toughcookie - You are right! Soccer just started for us and my husband is the coach so I can't be incognito very easily. Ugh, I hope I find a good wig so that people don't look at me funny. I hate that. Sorry to hear your chemo has been pushed out. Delays can get frustrating.

Willow - I will ask about Neupogen. Sounds like a good alternative.

Sunnyjay - So sorry your port continues to bother you. So frustrating, especially when this is supposed to be something that makes our lives easier. I am worried about taking the bandages off mine and how it looks!

PauletteK

After I shaved my head scalp became sensitive what should I put on my scalp?? Any suggestion?

My new cap with hair attached. My hairdresser who gave me a free shaved plus trimmed my wig

pink_is_my_colour

Paulette you look amazing!

Willow22

paulette, you look darling! Your hair is so natural looking - I would never had guessed it wasnt your own hair! I had no idea a wig or hair pieces could look that good!!!!

PauletteK

Willow- I ordered this from ACS it is a hat then I ordered the Halo hair piece. My hairdresser and some of her customers liked this better than wig. I think I'm going to use this more in the future.

rdeesides

Paulette you look great!

Willow22

thanks Paulette! I'm doing cold capping, trying to save my hair, but it's day 15 for me after my first round of TC and my head is starting to feel itchy/tickly, so we'll see how much comes out next week...

PauletteK

I still have major constipation problem just took Miralax this afternoon how long do I have to wait?? Any good suggestions for constipation?

Willow22

thanks bluegirlredstate! Did you cold cap? I'm at day 15 of 1st round, starting to lose body hair, and my head is getting thickly/itchy. I'm trying not to read to much into it, but worried that means I have a lot of hair loss ahead next week...

VL22

Hi! Well night 2 I went to be bed 11 pm and woke at 3am feeling all out of sorts - nausea, indigestion and not being able to get comfortable. This morning I have no appetite and my sense of smell is so acute it's weird. I'm getting ready to walk the dog and hoping it perks me up.

Self pity party over!

Paulette you look fine

PauletteK

VL22 did you take any Ativan? I found this really help me sleeping. We need a good night sleep to fight this battle. I found Days 1-6 are tough days for me, hack these few days then things are getting better. 🙏🙏

sweetp6217

Paulette, You look fabulous! Thank you for sharing.

rdeesides

Is anyone getting pedicures while on chemo? I really dont want to do them myself. Any advice? Pedicures are one of the few luxuries I allow myself.

Willow22

Rebekah, I love them too, but I think you should check with your MO about pedicures. My clinic's manual says no manicures or pedicures during chemo, and it's understandable considering how easy it is to have bacteria enter where cuticles were cut, even if your salon is scrupulously clean. The BC resource book the RN navigator gave me says bring your own tools and don't let them cut cuticles, so I think there is some leeway, but only your MO can really advise you on what's safe for you based on counts, etc.

Sucks because massages and facials are out for me till next June too (I have to wait 6 mos after last radiation treatment at massage envy - but at least I can put my membership on hold during that time).

starfisher

Paulette the hat with hair looks great!

Clearpath

Hi Paulette - you are looking good! Miralax should work - be patient. Meanwhile warm liquids and "P" fruits - pears, plums, prunes, peaches. Try not to strain - causes hemorrhoids. Hope you feel better soon.

PauletteK

Clearpath- it's working now .....yay!!!! I need to stay home to unload myself today 😂😂😂

Lumpie

Good luck to all of you starting chemo in August. Having been there, my experience was that, while it was no fun, it was manageable. I hope yours will be, too.

I "get" to re-deux chemo starting Aug or Sept. Anticipate port placement soon. Question: Anyone else's docs refusing to use (or offer even twilight) anesthesia for port placement? I am just NOT ok with this. For my first go-round, they were so unyielding, I got a PICC line (instead of port). That is not going to be an option this time. Since I have an HMO, my options are limited. Just trying to get a sense of the landscape out there.... Thanks for helping me put things in perspective!!

Late update: Talked to a different doc and he was on-board with anesthesia. A great improvement.!

Mom-mom

Hi All: I'm scheduled to start chemo on August 15th on pretty short notice. Trying to wrap my head around all the chemo advice/tips from some of the other threads. Here's a bit about me:

This is my second bout with breast cancer. My first bout was 9 years ago -- lumphectomy and rads and tamox for 9 years. ER+ and Octotype 18. Thought I was done. I'm one of the very unlucky ones that reoccurred while taking tamoxifen faithfully. Tiny recurrence (7mm) in same breast detected by mammo/needle biopsy in early April. Genetic testing showing no known genes. Unilateral mastectomy on May 26th. Hysterectomy on July 17 (uterine cancer likely due to tamoxifen-- detected by biopsy by gyn during regular appt after bc diagnosis). Oncotype took forever and finally came back RS 26 -- higher than anyone expected and given my past history, tumor board tied 2/2 on recommending chemo. (Go figure.) I got to be the tie-breaker. So here I am!

I'm age 52 and the primary wage-earner for our family. I've got 11 year old twins. In addition to my family, an amazing group of my women friends and neighbors have been supporting me on this journey.

Doing 4 rounds of TC. Strong and fierce woman warrior, but still nervous about the unknowns of chemo. I've read through some of this thread and you guys are doing so well supporting each other.

Be brave ladies -- we can do this!

Clearpath

PauletteK - Yay!  I'm sure you will feel better soon - I had to stay home last Saturday for the same reason and missed lunch plans with my friends. However, since then, no issues - hope you have smooth sailing from here on.

Lumpie and Mom-mom - welcome, sorry you will need chemo, but we are here for support.

PauletteK

Lumpie- my doc told me he is going to use general anesthesia for port placement, I sure don't want to watch him while he works.

Mom-mom sorry to see you joining us oh yea we cry and cheers in here and give each other supports. I just so down to see many of us have cancer and so young too, wish there would be a better way to prevent cancer

rdeesides

My doc assumed I would want general with port placement but did offer twilight. He said no one does just local (though I know from reading here that is not true)

IntegraGirl

The nurses at the hospital I went to were such unprofessional incompetent idiots that I got up and walked out. I never did get a port. Despite their emphatic warnings that I couldn't get through treatment without one, I did okay

Icedgem

Hello All,

I am having my port fitted this Tuesday and start on TCHP on August 22nd for 6 rounds and then the rest of a year on the Herceptin and Perjeta. I am having neoadjuvant treatment to try to shrink the tumor that is pressing against / going into my pectoral muscle. Hopefully if this works then I will be looking at a lumpectomy around the end of the year.

I am not really sure what to expect with the chemo, I am scared, very scared. Will I get through it?, will I ever be the same again?. Since I was diagnosed I have just been going through the motions and trying not to think about what is happening. Its like the doctors are talking about someone else. I have been reading these forums and have got some idea of what the side effects are likely to be. I have been stocking up on supplies and getting things organised in a matter of fact kind of way, but I don't think it's really hit me yet, I just feel numb.

I guess having the port fitted will bring reality home, I hope that doesn't hurt. I don't really care what they do, as long as I can't feel or see it happen.

I'm starting to get the impression that most people seem to loose weight on the TCHP treatment, I am not a big eater at the best of times, so I am very worried about the loss of appetite and weight loss. I have bought orgain protein shakes just in case I can't eat.

Thank you everyone for your input on here, I have got some great tips from you all and I hope to join in a bit more now as I enter the treatment stage.

Lumpie

Icedgem: I gained 15 lbs on TCH (insurance would not pay for Perjeta). I think it was the steroids. I worked full time while doing chemo and the only 2 days I missed were when I got neutropenic. Once we figured that out, I did the colony stimulating factor (white blood cells) and didn't have that problem again. I was very tired and didn't get as much exercise as usual but I walk a pretty long way commuting to work. I was concerned for ... honestly, hoping for a little.... weight loss, but got the opposite. On the plus side, I did not struggle with nausea. I did lots of healthy home made soups and slept a ton. I found losing my hair very demoralizing. On the flip side, I have to admit I enjoyed not having to take care of it. Good luck... Hope it goes well!! This, too, shall pass!

PauletteK

Icedgem - all of us are in the same nervous boat, I have AC and I have lost couple lbs. I lost my appetite but I make myself to eat as soon as I feel the hunger spell. The thing worry me the must is pick up someone cold or sickness. I try to wash my hands as much as I can, so my hands became very dry now.

IntegraGirl - hope things worked out for you on the end.

IntegraGirl

Icedgem: it's no walk in the park but you'll get through it....one day, week or treatment at a time. I just finished 6 months (8 rounds) on Aug 1. I worked the entire time but I have a pretty flexible job that allows me to work from home as required. I scheduled client meetings on my "good weeks". The last 2 rounds left me pretty tired but I'm starting to get my feet back under me now. I even did a few hours of yard work tonight.

You might want to check out Valter Longo's cancer fasting research. I fasted 48 hours before treatment and 24 hours following treatment and I think it helped minimize my SEs. I lost my hair and, especially the last month, I've been quite tired but not much else going on and my Blood Ievels stayed normal throughout.

Be gentle and patient with yourself . Some days, everything is going to suck quite a bit but remember that its temporary.

Paulette: Thanks! I'm no fan of IVs but the chemo nurses are pretty darn good at it where I was. Also, I took 2 Ativan before I showed up . I tried to get my MO to prescribe heroin but nooooo. So judgey .

sweetp6217

Welcome Icedgem and Mom-Mom,

As for my port, how soon I forgot. The surgeon consulted with me right before the procedure and asked me what I wanted. I told him that I didn't do well with general and he seemed relieved. Twilight it is.

First they did a twilight, then right after a local or two. Once things were moving, I heard the doctor order Fenanyl and when it didn't arrive, he got really loud about it. The procedure took about 45 or so minutes and it flew for me. I wasn't such a fan having to turn my head away from the area in question and keep it turned with a tent like thing draped over my head. The next day, it ached like the dickens and I had to remember to keep my arm near me and not reach up with that arm near the chest port. So, I went in for the port on a Tuesday and since I was on Fentanyl, my hubbie had to drive me home. I worked the next day, but it wasn't a breeze; limited physically. Then on Thursday, my first infusions.

teaspoons

I haven't logged on in a few days - lots of comments to read through. Welcome to all of the newcomers.

I'm on day 12 after my first AC infusion. I was terrified, but honestly, besides a few days of nausea and tiredness afterwards, I had very few SEs. I'm sure the effects will accumulate after more infusions, but this past week is probably the first week I felt "human" after my bmx in late June. My hair has not started to fall out yet, but once the first clump does, I'm going to shave it all off. Guess I'm holding out hope that I'm one of the rare few who don't lose their hair. A girl can hope, right!!! Chemo is really scary and everyone has a different experience and various degrees of SEs, but we will all get through this!!!!

For those asking about Neulasta. I took Claritin starting the morning before the shot and continued for one week. I did not have any bone pain or other side effects from the shot. I will have blood work tomorrow to find out my wbc counts.

Regarding port placement, I had it placed under Twilight but don't remember a thing. I was knocked right out. Since I had cancer and lymph node removal on both sides, they put it on the side with less lymph nodes removed, so my right side. It was placed over three weeks ago and is still annoying me. I wish I had read some of the comments ahead of time because it is placed exactly where a bra strap, my purse strap and a seat belt strap (when I'm the passenger) lays, so everything is irritating it. I'm fairly thin, and it is protruding quite a bit. I wearing a big bandaid over it everyday just to provide some cushioning and so things don't rub against it. I wish I had asked them to place it a little more to the side. Something to think about for those who haven't had it place yet.

Paulette - You look fabulous!! I wasn't going to get a halo, but since it looks so natural on you, maybe I will give it a try.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday!!