Starting chemo January 2009?

I just had my bilat mastectomy yesterday, and am meeting with my oncologist on january 5. There is cancer in my nodes, and I definately need chemo, and from what I can tell, will start sometime in january. I'll let you know when. It's a total blow to me, because the surgeon didn't expect node involvement. I'm still reeling.

starting chemo in january

Adriamycin/Cytoxan and Taxol - then radiation, then zometa for six months

after hearing the opinions of my reno, nevada oncologists, i met with a well-known breast cancer specialist in san francisco at UCSF, dr. mark moasser, who recommends adriamycin/cytoxan every two weeks, four cycles, taxol every two weeks, four cycles, radiation (36 treatments), and six months of zometa, to help prevent recurrence. he said he recommends the most aggressive chemo treatment because he said it's my one and only chance to keep cancer from recurring, because if it recurs, i'll be spending the rest of my life trying to slow it down. his recommendation is completely different from my reno oncologists (who recommended TC and no radiation). he does not recommend that i get a port.

hi lisalisa - my san francisco doc looked at my veins and said they're fine for chemo. he said that not having a port is standard for his practice.  my reno doc said that he doesn't recommend a port because of the 10% chance of infection and the additional surgery involved for placement and then removal. but several of my friends have ports and love them.

so glad you started this thread! 

Ladies,

I won't be a regular member of your group, but I just wanted to send some encouragement your way.  I started chemo in September 2008 and just went for my last treatment today.  I was on DD 4AC followed by 4 Taxol.  I developed neuropathy after my third taxol treatment, so my doctor decided not to treat me with #4.  She told me that the risk of the neuropahy worsening and/or becoming permanent were not worth the benefit that I would receive from #4. 

When I started in September, I thought that the date of my last treatment would never get here, but it does.  And, believe it or not, faster than you think.

I was blessed with very few side effects during the process (other than hair loss).  One of the best pieces of advice I got was to know what the potential side effects are but do not asume that you will get all or even any of them. 

You're in my thoughts.

Hi

I will be starting T/C on January 7th.  I am Triple Negative.  My tumor was very small, 6mm, clear margins and no lymph node involvement.  I was dx on Oct 24th and had my lumpectomy on Nov. 21st.  My surgeon is a dear, he was my husband's doctor when he was fighting  melanoma, so we have a long history, he referred me to his oncologist friend, who my husband would see when he was in the hospital.  MY onco was the one who really recommended I do the chemo after looking at the numbers, I chose to go for it, as an insurance policy to keep it from coming back.  My surgeon agreed that I should go for it and that I would manage it fine.  I am 59 have two children 22 and 23 who lost their dad almost 5 years ago to melanoma.  

I have a great group of friends who have been with me each step of this journey.  Last week we went shopping for my wig.  It was our "wig" party.  I guess I am as ready as I will ever be to get this part of my life journey over.  I know I will be fine, I guess it is just the unknown that scares me.  I learned years ago that what you read sometimes scares you more than the actual treatment.  

sally 

I meet with my oncologist on Tuesday, Dec. 23 and port will be placed Jan. 8 so I'm assuming we'll probably start in Jan. 

Hi    I'm scheduled to start December 29.  I had a Picc line inserted in my upper arm a week ago and asked if I could wait until after Christmas to start.   The line is a bit annoying but not painful and doesn't interfere with anything I want to do.   They don't do ports much where as I live as it takes surgical time that the docs can't get.    I'm scheduled for 6 cycles,  three weeks apart and then radiation afterwards.  I'm hoping the nausea and tiredness won't be any worse than what I had when I was pregnant. 

Lisa, I hope you are doing better today.   Where did they put your port?   Mine was really not painful as much as annoying. 

I, too, am starting my chemo in Dec., however am staying with the January group.  My computer was down last night and most of today or I would have asked sooner how you made out. 

I saw my breast surgeon yesterday for the follow-up after having my port put in.  She says everything looks good and is glad I am starting my chemo next week.  

Welcome to the others in our group.  I think we are all trying to wrap our heads around the whole thing.  I feel like I have been on a roller coaster since October.  Every day seems to bring something new or something I hadn't even considered. 

I did some major house cleaning today.  I figure I won't have as much strength or energy once the chemo begins. 

Everyone, keep smiling, keep a positive attitude.  We can all beat this monster within us.  Even at 63, I still feel like I have a lot of living to do. 

Thanks for the encouragement, Caya. It is good to hear from someone who has been there.  I've been giving that cleaning service some real thought.  My friend has someone she uses and I am going to get her name.  Even for the heavy stuff. 

Thanks again. 

Brenda

Hi all.  Latest news for me is I will start chemo January 8-exactly one month after surgery.  I will get my port in December 29.  Right now I am dealing with one reluctant tube from my mastectomy.  Still draining at about 60ccs.  I will be very glad when that is finished.  I also am going to try and work as much as possible since I am the breadwinner here......My husband works hard, but he is self employed.  I got on the chat room last night and people were very helpful.  Thanks to the previous chemo individuals' advice.  The biggest advice:  stay ahead of the game, don't be afraid to ask for drugs and take meds for constipation. 

I am still very scared, but know I have to do this.  Laters!

Hi Bev,  I think the most important questions would be those regarding side effects, what to expect, diet, how long each treatment lasts.  Ask what drugs are available to counteract side effects.  My doc gave me a prescription for anti nausea that I will have filled before my first treatment.  Take everything they will give you.  I am told that taking a CD player or MP3 to listen to music is probably best.  My breast surgeon put it this way:  Take music to listen to, lay back, relax,close your eyes and picture the medication going in and killing off all those bad cells.

I know not everyone experiences the same side effects, but it is good to know what is possible.  I read that soy products are not good for anyone on chemo.  My onco agreed.   There are some really good posts on here with lists of products that are good for us to have on hand in case.  I will try to find them and let you know where they are.

Ask which drugs you will be getting and how many treatments of each.  In my case, I have to have radiation, so that will be done after the chemo.  

Don't be afraid to ask all your questions.  You need to know everything.  When were you diagnosed?   I got mine on 10/15.  Modified radical mast with axillary dissection 11/11, port installed 12/11, first chemo 12/26.     

Good luck on Tuesday.