Anyone starting chemo in Aug. 08?

Well guys I go today to pick out a wig and for my post-op check-up.  Friday is the big C-Day - yep that is what I am calling it.  Misty1 I am soooo glad that you are keeping us updated.  You keep going strong it gives the rest of us hope!!!!!  Alittle about myself - I have been married to wonderful man for 3 1/2 years, I have 2 awesome kids - Gunner is 9 (4th grade) and Ali is 13 (8th grade) - I live in Ohio about 1 1/2 from Columbus.  I too have a great support system - besides my hubby and kids - my Mom has taken me to every appt. - my Dad is there for whatever I need, I have a great sister and sister-in-law, my in-laws are great too.  My ex-hubby and his wife have been very supportive with the whole thing and I know I can count on them for the kids whenever I need them.  His wife is even bringing me some hats with hair on them tonight so I can try some on.  Life is too short to fight so we all get along really well and right now I don't have the energy to worry about stupid stuff like that!!!!!!  I work full-time for an entertainment booking agency.  We book country and rock acts for fairs all over the mid-west.  It is a pretty cool job and I have met some really cool people over the last 10 years - Kenny Chesney, Montgomery Gentry, Steve Holy just to name a few.  I process the contracts from Nashville so it keeps me busy and I love all my co-workers - they have all been VERY supportive.  Well I am off to get busy before my appointments today!!!!! Good luck for all who are starting this week and keep going for all the ones who have already started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Stacy, Hood1980 and I are tomorrow.  I am going to pick out my wig today and just get some things done.  Its a pretty day and I want to enjoy it.  I went "chemo" shopping last night and bought all that I could think of that I "might" need (but hopefully won't!!!).  I woke up this morning and my first thought was chemo.  I sure hope that the anxiety is worse than the actual chemo.  I am 36 yrs old.  I live in Tennessee.  I am divorced after 14 years of marriage.  I am employed by the local 911 district here in town as a dispatcher.  I enjoy my work its the 12 hour shifts I hate.  I have my mother and friends who are my support system.  I couldn't make it without them.  I am very glad to have this site also.  Sometimes you just need to talk to other people that understand what you are going through.

Well Good Luck to everyone that is starting this journey this week.  I pray we all have an easy time.  God Bless.

Tonya

Hood-you are close to me!  Maybe one day we could try to meet somewhere in the middle!  I am surprised you are not taking anything, like a steroid.  I took some the day before, the day of , and the day after.  I am sure your doc knows what's going on, so I wouldn't worry.  These were taken to preventatively lower allergic reaction and other possible things.

You and Stacy are a go for tomorrow-best wishes-we'll all be there for you!!

 I had to change my wig appt from tomorrow to next Tuesday-stylist is sick.  I am starting to worry about eyelashes/brows.  I have seen some other posts about losing them.  My doc told me I probably wouldn't lose them.  What was anyone else told?  I know-the hair is bad enough, but at least that can be taken care of with the wig.

~Misty

Hey August Group,

I had my first onc appointment today.  Sounds like I start Chemo in two weeks.  I'm trying so hard to learn the termanology and figure out what going to happen.  I'm glad to find a group that's going throug this with me.  I had right mast on 7/2, DCIS and a 2cm invasive, pr-,es-, her2+, thats all I know so far.  Hope I can talk with you guys tomorrow.  I'm sure your all in bed I just can't seem to sleep my mind is just spinning. What's involved in putting in the port? 

jdpeaches

Hello everyone.  I hope you all are well.  I am getting ready to go for my first AC tx this morning at 0930.  I hope everyone else starting today has an easy time.  Good luck to us all.  Have a good day.

 Tonya

I had my first treatment yesterday morning.  Everythng went well.  I was sleepy from the steroids but slept well last night. No SE but this morning I have redness with no itching on my face. Also I go back to doc for Neulasta shot today. I was told that tomorrow would probably be my worst day.  The Aloxi should last for about 5 days.  Hope so.  It was not as bad as I expected.

Hey momma3bn,

Thanks for getting back to me.  I have an appointment for the port on Aug. 13th.  The tissue expander I have is sore enough I can hardly wait for more pain.  Can you see the port under the skin? 

A little about me. I am 45, married for 26 years. Daughter 21 that just married in March, Son 17 senior in high school. I'm an administrator for a law firm in Houston, pretty stressful job but my bosses and coworkers are very supportive.  Great loving husband and tons of extended family and friends.  However, none of them know what a port is or what HER2 marker positive is.  I'm not even sure I know what it is yet.  I'm so thankful to have you guys to talk to. I had right mastc. 7/2 and am going through reconstruction with tissue expander etc.  Pathology said I had 6cm DCIS and 2 cm Invasive, est & prog neg., HER2 positive what all that means I'm still trying to solve.

My oncologist didn't say anything about taking steriods. Oh boy  I have a lot to learn.

Hi

Just had my first Oncologist appt today and found out I will be starting chemo on Aug 22, so here I am!  I will read through all these posts and get caught up and then post more info.  I'm getting a Picc line put in next week.  Anybody else here in Ontario, Canada?  I'm glad I found a group that is mostly a little bit ahead of me, it will help me be prepared!

Wow-It looks like some of you girls survived your first  TX  yesterday or today.  Way to go!!  I was thinking about all of you.  I hope your next few days are uneventful!  Stacy, really thinking about you sleeping last night!!  Monigue-let me know if you ever get a group together up this way.

 Peaches-welcome!  You had your mast. the same day I had mine.  I had an expander put in, as well as my port that day, too.  I am also HER2+, which is a good thing because of being able to get Herceptin(H).  However, this marker is not favorable because it shows a more aggressive form.  I am doing four treatments of TC+H every three weeks.  Then, I will continue to get H every three weeks for the year.  You need to have your heart checked occasionally because there is a small risk of that being affected.  I will also take Tamoxifen for five years because I was ER+.  I have already had two expander fills and am going for the third one next week.  It's amazing how it has seemed to take a nice shape so far.

Well girls, it was day 7 for me.  Pretty uneventful day-good news!!  I worked out, went to the pool, and went to my DH's company picnic-ribs were actually great to eat!!  I spoke with a good friend there who went through chemo four years ago (18 months of it!) and said that I could be on the upswing of this TX.  I go for blood count tomorrow and meet with the onc to check in.  I am hoping for good counts.

Hope everyone sleeps well tonight!!

~Misty

I just came back from my chemo education session. I signed the consent forms with all the side effects, and was told that I will need a port.  Starting AC every two weeks on 8/27. I f all goes well, I should be done by New Year's Day!

I have to look at it from the view that these potent potions will be zapping my tumor so that I don't need as much surgery. And being a woman of faith, I am trusting God for that to happen.

My wig waits in a corner of the bedroom. Going to have it styled next week.

Bette 

Hello ladies.  I am so glad you are all doing well.  I had my first AC tx yesterday.  The treatment went really well.  I had Aloxi, Emend, Dexamethasone,2 tylenol and a benadryl.  They cytoxan took about an hour to infuse and the Epirubicin they push in and it took about 15 min or so.  I then had a bag of iron because I am slightly anemic so he wants to take care of that now so hopefully no blood transfusions later.  I go today for the neulasta shot.  They are going to show me how to do it myself and from here on out they will send it home with me to take the day after chemo.  Next week I go in for blood work and more iron (this is going to be a weekly thing).  I could take iron pills but they work slower and cause much constipation and the chemo itself may do that so we opted for the iv injections.  They only take about 10-15 min so I would rather be safe than sorry.   Anyway I got home about 2:30 and was so tired finally gave in to a nap about 4.I woke up in sweating and very nauseas.  My friend told me I hadn't eaten much that day so made me eat some soup and it eased it off.  I was okay then just a little queasy.   About 5 hours later it started again and I ate a small baked potato and again it eased off and and I went to sleep and just woke up with some queasiness so I ate 4 peanut butter crackers.  I don't think they were kidding when they said eat 5 or 6 small meals a day to help with nausea.  I still haven't gotten sick thank the Lord.  I feel okay actually just a little queasy.  I have to take Emend and steroids for the next two days to help with nausea and if I need something else they gave me phenergan.  If that doesn't work then call them and they will give me something else.  Evidently this AC or EC regimen is hard on the stomach but so far I am not going to complain.  I hope you all have a wonderful day.  I am praying for all of us.  God Bless.

Tonya