Starting Chemo in September 2017

Travel_Girl

Hi Team, -- I am on Day 5 post #2. Other than taking a few more naps/more tired (right round compezine time). I seem to be doing better than the first time around. I was super diligent on the big constipation --and think I might be turning a corner to the beginnings of a big D , so now to change menu - we shall see. woohoo so enjoy stalking bowel movements - must get out more.

today my goal is going to be visualize my idea of a perfect day - what do I think of a the perfect day and try to incorporate some of those thoughts in to the next two weeks. -- Days 10- 20 are good ones, what I am going to do to make the most of them?

I hope everyone is doing well and managing SE's and having some fun.

OCDAmy

Travel Girl, I'm on day 3. Minimal side effects so far but I can't sleep at night then I'm tired all day. I'm guessing it's the steroids. Trying to still get in my daily walks. Have a small sore in my mouth and bout some orajel, hope that works.

Milkweed93

Amy - I'm so glad SEs are about the same. And thank you for all the info for after treatment ends.

mkn - good thinking about the kitchen and the comedy series. I've been watching several during the bad days. Thanks for the food tips too!

Travel girl - Glad the D is disappearing! cross fingers for you!

CA-Sunshine - welcome! I still get overwhelmed, but I'm so glad I found this board!! It helps a lot.

MzPriss - Happy Birthday and have a fun trip!

tough cookie - I'm glad you get to work at home! For my dry nose, I did a neti pot (saline wash) and put some vasaline and later some polysporin up my nose. That seemed to help with dryness, but I'm not sure about nose bleeds. I love your quote "Keep looking through the window the light is there."

I found a good cookbook called "The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen" by Rebecca Katz. It is wonderful. Her bone broth is worth the book itself - I made some before treatment and put it in the freezer. I'm going to order it on Amazon (my copy now is from the library at the cancer center in Santa Barbara). But lots of tasty (I know, we can't taste right now), nutrient dense recipes and explanations for types of food to eat.

Tomorrow is infusion #2. On steroids today and Claritin for the Neulasta. Our 24th anniversary is Wednesday. Poor hubs - not much of a celebration (we usually go away), but we will make the best of it! My biggest worry - but I'm trying not to worry - is we have tickets to see "Hamilton" in LA next Sunday and that is the start of my nadir period. I do not want to wear a mask! And I'm really hoping my SE's won't prevent me from going. They are fabulous tickets that I got before my diagnosis, expensive (although we did NOT pay the ridiculous price everyone is paying for this show), and were really hard to get. Please, please, please!!

Healing vibes and prayers to you all!

toughcookie_21

the Rebecca Katz book is awesome. I had ordered a copy of it from amazon after someone on another board here talked about the Magic Mineral Broth. I've made that and a few other recipes from the book and they've all been very good. Each recipe talks about what side effect it can help alleviate and how eating for nourishment and healing is so important during cancer treatment.

LPH

So had my first cycle Monday. My port would not work correctly so ended up with an IV. Worked Tuesday-Friday. Thursday was first day without steroids and nausea hit then all of the sudden vomiting. Just one time though. Toughed it out at work on Friday. They checked my port and ended up removing it bc not functioning properly. Did a local anesthetic so I could work the rest of the day. Wasn't so bad except for the nausea. Then vomiting hit in middle of the night. Was able to function in the morning. Went wig shopping. Bought the 2nd one I tried! Feels pretty natural!

Just been taking it easy today!

OCDAmy

LPH: that's awful that the port didn't work! What was wrong with it? Are you getting a new one or just getting IVs? Hope the nausea gets better, are you taking meds? I'm getting my hair buzzed tomorrow and will wear my wig to work when I go back Tuesday. I hope it's not hot or itchy.

HarveySpecter

Hi Amy,

I was diagnosed on August 2, 2017 and had my first round of tx FEC-D (x3/x3) on August 17, 2017. My first round was a bit difficult for me emotionally and had some challenges with my PICC and some chest pain, but otherwise I feel better than i excpected would. I had to start neupogen right after my 2nd tx due to my neutrophils. I had my 2nd tx last week and am feeling better than the first.

I am so grateful for the support of all those I have connected with. I hope you are managing well and wish you well.

Travel_Girl

I am on Day 6 post #2 -- similar side effects to round #1 -- managed a bit better -- rolling with a little 'D' Today, not much taste either, I know there is improvement each day at this point -- so rolling with it all and just listening to the drum roll that is my stomach. Interesting . I am working, my brain is just a little slower than usual, so trying to work on stuff that isn't as critical or doesn't need as much deep thinking (catch 22 is that the deep thinking is better for distraction). Onward!

I envy all of you that cook -- i like that Katz book too, just cooking isn't my thing - so it is what I have asked for help with -- sending friends and family the recipes of the good stuff. Mineral broth looks magical, if I only I could order it up on line . Today my goal is to make a menu plan with my sister before she heads back to her homeland. She has been my helper since Thursday -- and of course my sister to laugh with.

OCDAmy - as for sleeping at night, my MO encouraged me to use the Ativan, she wasn't worried about getting addicted for this purpose and it does help to get the sleep, sometimes if I wake up at 2 or 3 am, I will take another 5mg to get me through. Of course, she had me at 'it may help with the headaches' -- which hurt lots last time, so I would try anything to help with that.

Besides that .. Getting sleep makes all this so much easier -- and heck I would rather be sleeping than having all those thoughts running through my head and tiring me out.

I am trying sooooo hard not to wish away the time, I want #3 to be here now and yet, I never want to wish away today. Let's all work on being present - and sharing the great moment of today. Mine has already been coffee on the porch in my pj's with sister . Life is good.

Milkweed93

I had infusion #2 today. My MO had good news/bad news for me when I got there. It seems my insurance wouldn't approve the Neulasta pod for me since I am in the "intermediate risk" group. So, I go in on Thursday to check blood counts and if they are low enough, it would be deemed medically necessary and I should be approved. I really only want it if it is necessary. I'm hoping I won't have to get it cuz that bone pain sucked!! I just checked my insurance and it is billed at over $7,000 - that's as much as all the chemo!! Anyway, today went smoothly, though it was a busy day at the center and we had to wait about an hour for infusions to start. I'm a little tired today.

Welcome Harvey and LPH!

OCDAmy

Milkweed, I hope you get to go to Hamilton! I would hate for you to miss it. Thanks for the tip on the cookbook, I ordered one today on Amazon. I have not needed the Neulasta shot yet, hoping that continues. I can't believe how much cancer costs. It is ridiculous.

My hair stylist came over today and buzzed my hair, I now officially look like a cancer patient. I also got thrush again so back on the swish and swallow meds. It has been a tough day. Worked from home today but need to go back in tomorrow, hoping I don't fall asleep at my desk.

Travel Girl, thanks for that about not wishing away today. I needed to hear that.

Pei128

My mom started her first chemo session yesterday. They gave her pre meds to cope with nausea, vomiting, inflammation etc. The pre meds made her drowsy during chemo. She received Taxol (paclitaxel) yesterday. The pharmacist did tell us, very few people would get nausea from it. But he still prescribed us with some anti-nausea medication just in case Mom felt nauseated. During chemo, she said it was very drying. She felt her mouth was dry and she drank water. She went to toilet twice.

Mom felt all right, just a little drowsy. She still had appetite to eat her lunch when she came back from chemo. Then she napped for an hour or so and felt refreshed. She did say the chemo was very drying. I made sure she drank a lot of water to rehydrate her body.

She ate dinner, and in the evening, she started having diarrhoea. Didn't expect that, and we didn't have any diarrhoea medication on hand. Luckily it seems not so serious, as it tapers off. Next time I'll ask pharmacist for diarrhoea medication as well.

So far Mom seems to be holding well for her first chemo. I'm keeping fingers crossed!

PauletteK

Pie - get yourself some Imodium, take two pills and repeat again if needed, I had my first taxol last Friday, chemo does dry your body drink water plus use a lot of lotions. For me I lost appetite on day 3 and day 4 (today). I'm praying to have my appetite back tomorrow.

Cheska

I am new to the group. I was diagnosed just this August and have already had my first cycle of chemo. Has anyone else had chemo first before surgery? I was told because of the size( biggest one was 5 cm ormm?) and the number of tumors ( 3) it was better to have chemo first to shrink the tumors . I will have 6 cycles of carboplatin/taxotere/perjeta/herceptin ending in December and will then have a double mastectomy (by choice) 4-6 wks later if all goes as planned.

Moderators

Hi Cheska-

Welcome to BCO! Neoadjuvant chemo is pretty common, you'll read lots of posts from members who did chemo before their surgeries to try to shrink the tumors first. It's a common treatment with triple positive cancers, you can check out this thread for more info: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/80/topics....

The Mods

Travel_Girl

OCDAmy -- I am glad my good thought of the day helped -- find one in everyday - sometimes its hard. Have a good cry about your hair, I am aching in inside for you -- as we are the same schedule and going through the same emotions. Go for that sassy wig and rock it. I do like the hat w/ the long hair from headcovers - for the weekend thing. looks more comfy than a wig for weekend errands and gets good reviews. It is about $100 with different color hair. And when else will I have sexy long hair with a baseball hat - never!

I am going shopping for a make up refresh this weekend -- as all my current colors are summer (it seems time stopped the first week in august when the mammogram was suspicious) and I am looking a bit orange when I do decide to put on make up -- doing my best Oompa Loompa impersonation. "Take me home ..."

I am just waiting to get past these few days w/ a possible higher infection rate. I am hoping a good make up refresh will help mask the cancer patient look I am currently rocking.

JD - where out tho? If you are reading this, please come back to us!

Pei128

Thank you for the advice. Mom's diarrhoea stopped today. FIngers crossed. I am praying for you, that you get back your appetite tomorrow!

mkn86

happy shopping Travel_girl!

JD, everything okay? anything we can help with?

Ewu how are you doing with your first session?

I have a question any of you guys doing chemo without a port yet? The oncologists i've spoken to in general are okay without a port for EC every 21 days. but I do have Taxol coming after that which is weekly. My MO was asking if i wanted one installed rather than saying I will need one. Any thoughts on having port installed before switching chemo meds? (middle of chemo technically)

... 6 months of chemo in total for me. February seems so far away. and maybe most of you will be done with your chemo by then. 😔

OCDAmy

Mkn: I like the port. They seem to have a hard time finding good veins on me so I'm grateful to have it. The blood draws are a snap. The port doesn't bother me.

Travel Girl, I went to a free class at my cancer center called Look Good Feel Better, it's an ACS program led by cosmetologists. I got a bag filled with free make up. I've been experimenting with different make up too. And I bought one of those ball caps with hair when I got my wig. I agree, I won't have long hair like this again so I'll try to rock it

PauletteK

Mkn - having a port is so much easier, from what I heard chemo can burn our veins, how many taxol are going to do?

Cheska - sorry to see you here, this group will give you a lot of supports and we cried in here also

Milkweed93

Welcome Cheska to the board. Lots of great, supportive gals here! Ask anything

mkn86

Hi Paulette, For now 12 (weekly). just concerned about installing the port after 4 doses EC. They'll give the port incision enough time to heal before starting taxol right? i mean pre-chemo it takes. 2-3 days to heal... but if mid-chemo willl it take longer to heal?

hopebringscourage

hello ladies-I had my first chemo Friday 9-15 and was hit by the big side effect truck around 10PM Saturday-just today am I feeling a bit more like myself. Here was my top list of side effects and it's brutally honest:

Nausea/stomach pain (Zofran worked best for me) I also had diarrhea today and quickly took Immodium.

Bone pain EXTREME even with Claritin I highly recommend chasing that with Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

No sleep because of tossing and turning-when they tell youths pain is flu like it was 10 times worse for me.

Fatigue fatigue fatigue.. make sure what you do is worth the energy you will expend.

Now to wait for round 2 and hope with what I have learned it might not be so awful. I cried many tears of fear questioning if chemo was the right choice-God pulled me through with many prayers.

Those of you working GOD bless you I'm already thinking about extending my leave.

Welcome Chaska! My dear friend had chemo before any surgery as well.

Hang tough! We got this:)

hopebringscourage

Travel Girl I've taken a liking to bone broth. Not sure what mineral broth is-but I am not a big fan of cooking either and you can purchase this at your local Health Food store..heck maybe even on Amazon:)

PauletteK

Mkn- I have let my port in for a week before chemo however I have heard people only give 2-3 days rest between port and chemo. You may want to discuss with your MO on this issue.

Hope - when I have my AC Infusion I have around 6 bad days, especially days 4-6. Hang in there we will make it to the end.

Travel_Girl

I got my port put in the day before chemo started - they left the access open for me and I was good to go. Just ask your team, they will sort the timing for you.

I did the port even though it was only 4 times - my MO said I would be sad if they could not find a vein and I had to delay - I didn't want anything to delay, just adding to the scar factor

Lisa1230

I have my Echocardigram tomorrow, my port placement next Monday 9/25 and my 1st chemo 9/29, 5 months of AC Dose Dense. I was dx with ILC er+ pr+ HER2- 8.3 cm 7 lymph nodes, and IDC er+ pr+ HER2+1.5 cm1 lymph node, 8/18. 6 weeks of Radiation.

rljes

What is Chemo Treatment ' AC' ?

VL22

I had my first AC infusion the same day as port placement. All was fine

mkn86

good job for pulling through hopebringscourage!!! proud of you. keep going and you can do this!

my worst days are day 3 until day 5. day 6 is tolerable.

Castigame

A is for adrimycin, aka red devil

C is for Cytoxan sisters please correct me