Starting Chemo February 2009?

I had 8 mg in pill form the night before and the morning of treatment, then more in my IV port... then I have to take 4 mg's twice a day until Sunday!  I'm buzzing myself, and I stayed home from work today to "rest".  yeah... just hung up some new wall hangings, and started cleaning out my closet!  Oh boy.........

Hi all!  Next week is getting closer and closer.  Yesterday I had to go back to the PS and he took a little fluid off one side.....it is slowly going down. My PS said that when he starts the fills on Monday that it will leave less room for the fluid to build up and will slow it down more. He also said that there is nothing that I can do to make the fluid lessen or increase, it just happens.

I went to the Look Good, Feel Better class and it was VERY Fun.  She did my make up for my interview later that same day. I was showed how to make a turban out of an old t-shirt and how to create eyebrows, pretty cool.  And to top it off, I do think I got the job!!  They know about my treatments but they said that my work and experience are worth more. (ain't God good).  I have bought a couple of wigs, some turbans and partial wigs and now I have the make up, so hopefully the docs will give me enough drugs so that I can feel as good as I will look....sounds like those steroids will help a lot! 

My onc said that he will be giving my Neulesta shots since I will be trying to work through treatments.  What does the Clariten D do to help with the pain? Well I hope all of you that can get into one of those classes do so, they also said that the American Cancer Society will give anyone turbans,wigs and scarfs if you need them. Funny I never knew that I was vain until this.

I am praying daily for all of you and I feel Blessed to be getting to know you all even if it is because of this circumstance.

I start chemo Feb 4.  Had a mast after a failed lump with several nodes taken!!! I'm single 38, and live with my boyfriend!

Good evening all. I'm checking in for February chemo. This has been a process that has been nothing short of painful. Initial pathology report had me as HER2 negative, so we were all set for radiation and hormone therapy. Then, onco recommended the Oncotype test that came back on Monday. Turns out I was HER2 positive. First report had a "mistake". I can't believe they did this!!

So, chemo education was this morning and I expect port placement next Friday with first treatment immediately after. I will be in the AC regimen X4, followed by  Tx12. Herceptin for a year.

There are so many things to do. I'm not known for lists, but may be forced. Anxiety is so high I just can't think.  I will need to work throughout treatment so the plan is Thursday chemo - I will have the weekend to recover for Monday work. At least, it looks good in print... Went wig shopping today and getting a new 'do tomorrow that will better match the wig I've selected. I have a friend who lost her hair (myelofibrosis and stem cell transplant) and refused to wear a wig. Not me. I'm a GRITS (TN born and raised, now living near DC) and not a day goes by without the electric curlers and makeup coming out. May have to come up with a fall back in summer, but will cross that bridge when I come to it.

It's 2:13 AM and I've been reading your Feb. group entries for the last half hour or so. I'm up to Jan. 28. I'll continue reading later in the day after I get some shut-eye. I am having my port put in on Tues., Feb. 2. I have to decide which chemo cocktail I want. I returned from a visit to Sloan-Kettering in NYC yesterday after getting a second opinion. I'm armed with more info but still unsure. I'm hesitant to take the Adriamyicin in TAC. I may opt for just TC. I'm a candidate for the clinical research study they are doing which would randomly assign me to either TAC treatment or TC. I will make my decision this weekend. Not sure how to post my diagnosis but will try to put it at the bottom of this message. Thanks for all your sharing, it's informative and supportive. suzanne from Albany, NY - had a lumpectomy on Dec. 3

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DX 10/31/08  IDC, 2 cm, stage IIb. grade 3, 1/16 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

Bethie1

Hi my name is Cheri.  I am having my treatments at AMC starting wednesday.  Just wondered if you were there or at a different hospital.  Good luck wednesday and I'll be thinking about you. 

Morning,I'm feeling more alert today.Laid around & slept most of yesterday,then slept all night.Want to go to the library today & maybe walk,we'll see.I haven't had any problem this time with eating.Last time I did chemo I lost 6 lbs. in the first week thencraved carbs all time so unfortunately lbs did't stay off.I'm eating less then usual[a good thing] trying to make sure to eat protein & lots of fruit.Gotta go,check in later.

Hey all,

On day 3 of Taxotere and so far not too bad.  I don't by any means have the energy I had yesterday... I did some serious "spring cleaning" after those steroids.  Today just feel like lounging out. No nausea as I'm on Emend and Zofran until tomorrow, but I'm getingt cravings for junk food... how unfair is that?!?  Had some minor achy body twinges last nite and this morning but nothing that tylenol ain't taken away.  Hang in there ladies, you can all do this!

Sue

a funny port story, that a few of you might have read before.

For the port installation I had a twilite sleep ANESTHESIA.   While under, I heard the surgeon and anesthesiologist talking.

"OMGOSH.. look at her torso... she has the tiniest torso but really big hips.. what a cute girl.  too bad her tumor is so big.  hope she makes it."

I didn't say anything at the time but a couple months later when I went in for a biopsy with the same surgeon and anesthesiologist, I told them I had heard their conversation and repeated it for them.. they were shamefaced.  I woke up and they gave me an envelope with an apology for their unprofessional behavior and gift certificates to Panera Bread.

I wasn't mad at them.. just sobered I guess.

Web, you might not have any nausea on TC.  I didn't.  That would be very good, right?

The worst "nausea" I had was some mild to moderate "queasiness" the day after each infusion.  My onco asked about that specifically--she said, "Was it actual nausea, or was it queasiness?".  I didn't feel like throwing up--I just felt a bit yucky in the stomach and kind of dizzy; so I interpreted that as queasiness, and she agreed.

I took Phenergan once or twice on those days, and it helped.  I never was on any of the high-octane anti-nausea meds, like Kytril or Zofran or Emend, except for the Zofran I was given in my i.v. as a pre-med. 

TC is not classified as a "highly emetogenic" chemo regimen.  Cytoxan, at the dose it's given when combined with TC, is listed as having "level 3" (moderate) risk for emesis.  That's on a scale of 1 through 4, with 4 being worst.  Taxotere is only "level 2" (low risk).  Here's the PubMed citation for that info, which is from a 2008 paper in New England Journal of Medicine:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18525044?dopt=Abstract

Another source of information is the NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) Clinical Practice Guidelines for nausea prevention, which were updated just this month (January 2009): http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp

Of course, some women have lots more trouble with chemo-induced nausea than others.

otter 

It's good to hear that so many of you are doing so well after your tx's.  I start on Tuesday, and have been picturing the worst; with the way my luck's been going lately, I figure I'll be the one to get every se possible, did anyone else feel that way? 

My onc plans on using veins for tx, but since I'm joining the trial, I might get a port since I'll get tx's for 24-27 weeks. I'll still be getting AC/T, but the frequency and duration will be determined after I am assigned to an arm.  I hope I don't get assigned to the arm that gets weekly infusions of all 3 drugs, that one scares me a bit.

Lisa:  of course you're not self-absorbed, these insurance companies can be a royal pain in the butt.  I hope you get everything worked out with them.

Apple: It's good that you told them what you heard them say, that is so unprofessional of them, really.  They should be ashamed.

For those on steroids:  do the steroids make your heart race?  It seems that if it makes you kind of "hyper"  that it could make your heart race.

I am really getting nervous as Tuesday approaches, although reading your posts makes me feel a bit better.  DH got laid off on Friday, and as much as that totally sucks, at least he'll be around to help me out as I start chemo. 

Judy

I went wig shopping today and got a new haircut as a pick me up. That haircut was only the second time I have cried. I think these actions are making it real for me. Until yesterday it was mostly talk. Now, I just want to get it going so I can get it over with sooner. I will know on Monday or Tuesday which day for the port. My onco's PA suggested I might want to go straight to chemo after the port installation. Has anyone done this?

why not Kelty?  I cut my hair  - buzzed it... right after  my first chemo.  what a mistake.  I had hair for at least another 6 weeks.  you can always wear a scarf.  The wig people are wondrously comfortable with hair loss.

Actually, my first wig was a total flop (i got it to match my old hair).  I only wore it once.

Michele,  Although I had my bilat mast w/expanders at the same time as port placement, it was sore, but I didn't realize it as much as mast hurt more.  After the first few weeks out I forgot the port was even there.  The only time I notice it now is if I am sitting in a certain position and if I wear the wrong type of shirt and have pressure on the spot.  Hang in there, in the long run you will be glad you chose the port.  I had mine accessed only once for a lab draw and although blood draws don't bother me, the port was so nice.  Hope you can relax today and feel much better.