Starting chemo January 2009?

kt57 ~

Please tell us where you got your "Life is Good" beanie!

LOVE that statement!

Nico

kt57 ~

October 12th.

Hi guys,

To add to the confusion of keeping track of everyone,  I'm another one starting chemo in January - on the 15th to be exact.

I will have three lots of FEC, three weeks apart, and then three treatments of Docetaxel (also three weeks apart). I'll also start Herceptin at the same time as Docetaxel (they won't give the Herceptin with the FEC combination due to the potential side effects of both to the heart). I'm still waiting to hear whether I'll have radiotherapy. The final part of my treatment will be hormone therapy (Tamoxifen (trade name Nolvadex)) which will last five years!!

When I write it all like that it just seems overwhelming. It's much easier to just concentrate on this coming Thursday only. I just want to get the treatment underway now - even though I'm absolutely dreading it as the same time.

This forum is great - it's good to able to read about women going through the same things I'm going through and to be able to admit to being terrified sometimes.

I'm hoping to get my hair cut short this week (if my hairdresser can fit me in) and then my plan is to shave it all off once it starts falling out. I haven't got a wig yet but I do have the form to claim for one. I'm thinking I'll just stick to bandanas and scarves but I guess I won't know until it actually happens what I'll want to do.

The best of luck to everyone having their first treatments this month. I wish there was some other way to beat this illness, but I guess even the toughest treatment is better than no treatment.

A good day today.  Day #3  after treatment and was able to go to movie with my son. Of course as I sat in the theater and listen to the coughing going on around me I remembered I was suppose to avoid crowds!! Not sure how you can do that and continue to live life.  My son really needed me to be with him today. He is 12 and very worried about this whole thing.  I try to talk with him but he would really like to just pretend it is not happening.  I hope he does not freak when the hair comes out.

 I really did not need anything I took with me in my chemo bag except the water.  How long are most of you finding the treatment to take? Mine was 3 hours and I had such a bad headache when we finished that the chemo nurse said that happens sometimes with the C of the AC and that next time she will slow down the drip and that should help.  Apparently I should have told her when I started to get the headache but how was I to know.  Little tidbit those coming behind me might find useful.

The total lack of interest in food since my treatment has  me a little concerned.  I certain can stand to loss a pound or two before I would worry about it normally except I know it is important to stay well nourished during chemo and that will be hard to do if I have no interest in eating.

Protein shakes are a good idea.  I went on line and found a site that had a lot of recepies for protein shakes and will pick up so of the ingredients to give them a try.  Will let you know if I find any I really really like. 

Pam - Noticed a while back you mentioned your husband was born in Chelsea, Mass. So was I? Did he attend highschool there?  What year?  

Hello Ladies,

I am on day 6 and so far so good. I haven't really had any problems. No nausea, no fatigue. I'm pleasantly surprised. However, this morning I woke up with a sore throat and watery eyes. It could just simply be a cold or it could be the beginnings of SE's.

I was told to stay away from crowds from day 7 to 10, so I think I will just stick close to home this week just in case.

I, too, thought I noticed my scalp tingling a few days ago. It has to be my imagination, right? Ha

OOPS!  My bad!  I acknowledged the wrong person having the same tx as I am.  KM47 and I will have FEC X 3 and doxatacel(taxotere)?  3 x.  I found a thread of people discussing side effects of FEC.  Yikes!  Of course most of the comments were written two years ago and i understand treatment of side effects-at least in the US- have come a long way.  KM47 you and I will have tx the same day, albeit several hours+ difference because of a few time zone changes, eh?  LOL!!! ( I am from the US of A) .  At any rate, let's compare notes.  Have a nice evening/day everyone.

Jess

HI Lisa

I am 44. had breast cancer surgery April 15th. Just finished Chemo.

It wasn't as bad for me as for others. Doctors said cause I am young and healthy. They got it all the docs said. Stage 3A- ER PR positive- HER2 posi. 3 nodes infected- 2 out of 3 batches of lymph nodes removed  just to be safe.

Adriamycin was given to me in low dosages every week. Oral Cytoxan at home- I was on a study at USC LAC- Kenneth Norris and the City of Hope ! Adriamycin made my feet hurt and peel- like a bruise under my feet and shed skin on my feet- they gave me Zofran for any nausea- it worked great. take it early they say..don't wait till you're nauseated.

I lost 12 lbs while on this chemo though- wasn't very hungry. My nails began to come off too..not all of them- just my thumbs and big toe nails. weird huh? my hair of course fell out the 3rd week after chemo in chunks until all gone!

second round of chemo was Taxol- They said this one is easier then Adrio.-- but it wasn't Adrio was easier for me- taxol made me have bone aches. The solution was not what you would think.

The doc gave me cemetidine- a pill about 300 mg. They said typically it is used for stomach problems- but the studies show it takes away bone and joint pain affiliated with Taxol! Please remember to ask your doctor for it right away if you have bone pain! You do not need to suffer these days. They have things to help you overcome most all pain!

I am cancer free and plan on doing everything natural to keep it off of me!

I pray yours will be swift and you will be free too.

Hi all:

I'm glad the newcomers have found us.  LIZZA-thanks for the advice. I'm on AC then T. I'm trying to get out of the puddle today...Yesterday was good.

I get my WBC checked again tomorrow. Hope it's up. My 2nd AC is scheduled for 1-15. I guess there a few of us going in that day!

Went on long walk with friend yesterday and the day was beautiful, but piddled around today waiting for DH to wake up and go out in the beautiful sunshine. Didn't happen. But he's been doing so much and working full time. I was more tired today, but woke up feeling the blues.Took a nap with my 14 year old, and it felt great to be close to her. She's so stressed by this--LADYJANE, I know what you mean.

PAM: Re chemo bag. I brought a bunch of stuff but just ended up drinking water and tea and talking to the woman in the chair next to me and all the med. people who came in to see me. Oh, and I brought graham crackers. The nurse gave me juice, pudding, and a sandwich. They have a pillow and blankets, but I might bring a small pillow. I think I'll ice my tea this time. I'm going to invite a friend if my husband can't get off work. Maybe I'll borrow my daughter's CD player.

Just reread the Avastin clinical trial agreement I'm in. Yikes. 12 weeks of Pacitaxol after the AC. I thought it was 8. What was I thinking????

Anyhow, here's to a good week, whatever it brings you!

kim

hi all well tomorrow is the day i get my port, i am just sooooo ready to get this show started and over with.

nancy just rest don't worry about work, keep you strength up.

jess and k let us know how you do, i start on the 16th.

prayers to all, have a great week

becky

Nico1012,  thought it might be....that's my birthday - yours, too?

Snowbird, I bought one yard of 45in wide silky type fabric to make a 36 x 36 scarf, I bought a padded hat liner so it won't slip.  With the remaining 9X36, I'll probably make a long tube to wrap around the turban band.  I bought turbans from Hat With Heart online.   And if it doesn't work, I'm only out $4.  Might buy some cotton fabric and make some 24 x 24 scarves for around the house - keep my head warm but not too warm.

Becky, hope your port placement goes well.  one more step to getting this all behind you.

To everybody starting chemo this week - my prayers are with you.  

auriga - Please call your onc about the sore thoat.  My understanding is that there is no such thing as "just a cold" while on chemo because of the low WBC your body will likely need some help dealing with even a cold.  Think of you body as a newborn where the doc wants you to call if anything might be wrong because something small can be very serious. 

Hawai - Wow, what a scary experience.  If you read the t/C thread I think the OP had the some problem with sodium.

Thanks to all for tips on the chemo bag.  I read some people brought popcycles and bags of frozen peas and I have no idea how they managed to bring ice with them.  I think the frozen peas were to put on their hands so the that Taxoter(sp) would not go all they way to the finger tips and maybe the finger nail would not be effected.  Sounds far fetched to me.  I know they have snacks at the hospital for all the cancer patients, even if you are just waiting for an appointment but I am not sure about a meal. One thing I liked better at Dana Farber were the snacks. They have out fresh fruit and packaged of cookies and granola bars in the waiting areas as well as bottles of juice and a coffee bar.  

Lizza - Thanks for dropping by to give us hope. 

 Took the family for photo portraits today.  Glad that is finally done.  We got a few very nice shots. I took several with my "Cancer Fears Me" baseball cap on.  I plan to get additional ones taken as I go through this journey and I think that cap will be a common theme.

 I spoke to my mother about maybe coming to stay with out the first week of chemo while we see how I handle it.  That way I will not be alone during the day and DH does not have to go into work late to drop DS off at school (it takes an hour easy back and forth from our house and DH works in the opposite direction. Though if I start throwing up I will hate having so many people in the house listening.  She is checking with my Dad but will likely be able to come.  I am planning on going down to NJ this weekend to attend a family party for my Dad who will be 75 next week, the day before I start chemo.  DH may not be able to come because it is supposed to get real cold and last time that happened one of our pipes froze.  Not sure how I will go down, car, train or plane.  If my parent come up we will just drive up together.

I have been making smoothies with my own recipe- regular or vanilla yogert, frozen blueberries, stawberries and mangos, a heaping spoon of peanut butter, some wheatgerm, superfood suppliment (ground up  freeze dried vegitables and fruits, and non-fat milk.  It is a great way to get a serving of fruit, protein and calcium in one easy snack/meal.  The wheatgerm adds a nice bit of vitamin B which may help with the nerupathy. I may leave out the superfood suppliment since the nutrientist at the hosital said not to to antioxident suppliments while on chemo. The foods were fine to eat but not the suppliments.  Oh, I was also told not to cook all foods.  Thick skinned fruit like canalope are fine but you need to wash them so that when you cut them the bacteria is not drawn into the flesh of the fruit.  And I was also told to stay clear of the salad bar, to easy for germ to land on them.  I am not good with fruits and vegs to begin with and these restriction will really make it hard to eat.

I read an Azimov book once about a world called Gia where everything was interconnected so all living things felt the joy and pain of every other living thing on the plant.  They ate food sole for nutriention not for pleasure since in nearly all cases something had to die to create the food (plants are living things after all) I really liked the concept of Gia but had trouble with the idea of food not being enjoyed.  I am wondering if chemo will be a lesson in this discipline.

BerkleyKim, great idea about involving the daughter in making a scarf...think we'll go to the fabric store 2day!

Holtbolt, I'm glad you got a new onc....I was going to recommend mine as I'm a fellow Hoosier from Carmel, but sounds like you landed on your feet.  Where are you having your infusions done? 

After deciding I'd had about enough of obsessing about my impending hair loss, I took the bull by the horns & got it cut off into an uber-short bob last week.  Turned out to be a good kind of "baby step" for me since my hair's never been shorter than shoulder-length before.  Was surprised to find out that I kind of like it this length, & may keep it this way when it finally grows back!!! 

1st T/C treatment tomorrow...wish I knew if I'm going to fall into the "no SE" or "lots of SE" camp b/c don't know if I'm under- or over-prepared!!  Everyone we've talked to knows someone who breezed through TC with virtually no SEs, so hubby is concerned that I'm focusing too much on the potential worst-case scenario.  This thread has been a godsend, but it seems like different people have different reactions, so guess there's really no way to know how I'll react until we get there!! 

Good luck to everyone starting this week, and to all those trailblazers who've already started the chemo roller coaster ride, best wishes & hang in there!!!

Hi Ladies,

Joining the January group. I start Taxol Jan. 22nd, will try to get thru 4 treatments.  Already had 4 AC's prior to bilat. mast. with tissue expanders.  I'm 5 weeks post opt. tomorrow and feeling pretty good.  Unfortunately I had 4 pos. nodes so hence the Taxol.  My Onc. says it'll be "easier" then AC and I guess I'll find out soon enough.. After treatments are done I have my exchange surgery then onto rads. I think by the time I'll be all done it'll be the end of summer which will be one year since dx. Sure is a long road isn't it?!?

Sue

Hi Jewels,

I guess 72 hours is the time it starts kicking m' butt.  Everything hurts, joints, bones, skin, teeth etc.  But today's better than yesterday - no digestive issues.  i've lost a lot of weight since surgery a month ago - about 20 pounds!  Probably about a third was that tummy flap that is now my faux left breast.  But I have no appetite or energy.  A friend brought lunch over today and that helped.  Are you all concentrating on comfort foods and protein?  I think that may work for me.

Take very good care of yourselves, warriors!