Starting Chemo February 2009?

Apple  - I see you are on Taxol and Avastin - is that why you got to keep your hair for 6 weeks?  MicheleS and I are on the same chemo schedule I believe (Adriamycin/Cytoxin and then Taxol.

I am now wondering if I am jumping the gun by planning on shaving my head after my first treatment or if I should wait.  I just hate the idea of my hair coming out in clumps and I was certain that no matter what my hair would come out based on the chemo drugs I am getting.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Cheri, do you also live in the Albany, NY area? I see Bethie1 does as do I . I am having my port put in on Tues. at St. Peters and expect to start chemo later in the week. Still deciding if I'm going to go on the clinical research study. If so it will be decided whether I will be treated with TAC or just TC.

To all I just want to share some advice that I found helpful. A great friend of mine sent me some CDs of relaxation and guided visualization that are specific to cancer; surgery, chemo, and radiation. Bernie Siegel is an MD, a surgeon who specializes in cancer and this is his niche. He talks about exceptional cancer patients, those who do so well. It's about the mind-body connection. One of the things he said that I found particularly meaningful was that it's important how we view things. If we call the chemo poison as I was doing then we are really approaching it as our enemy. If, on the other hand, we look at it as an elixir that will cure us and make us better we welcome it as something helpful and are more likely to meet with positive results. It sounds like good sense to me. My best to all.  Suzanne

First of all Jancie,  I would strongly urge you not to shave your hair too soon.  it takes a long time for it to grow back.. mine didn't start to come in until at least 6 weeks after my chemo ended, and it came in very slowly.  It's been five months and I barely have short hair and I'm ready to lose some of what little i have. 

As to my hair not falling out for 6 weeks.

I took Adriamycin/Cytoxin  the first time.. I think.. I know it was called the Red Devil.  It really did take 6 weeks for the hair to ALL fall out.  I had a thick stubble which I actually had to shave like every 3 days so it would be smooth. .. it eventually was bald, altho it took a whole couple months. i really wish I had retained the illusion, at least, of some hair.  This time i am doing small doses of Taxol.. My hair is so short anyway, it would be foolish to shave it .. I am going to wait and see.. the onc. said I would experience thinning.

i started out with a 5.5 tumor.  after chemo - 8 heavy duty rounds, it had shrunk remarkably and my surgery pathology measure it at 2.1 cm.  Chemo really does work and we are so fortunate that they can administer with relatively little hardship for the patient.

I let my kids cut my hair.. i had a chin length bob, and we cut it about 10 times over the course of 2 weeks.  they had a blast.  we had a blast.  my boys shaved their hair, my girl let me trim hers and my hair looked awful!  I finally  went to my beautician to get a short boy cut which looked ABSOLUTELY awesome..

why I agreed to let my kids give me a mohawk less than a week later, I don't know.. I guess that is the reason i ended up shaving it too soon.  One cannot sport a mohawk and retain any sense of propriety, especially when one is a church organist.

Webwriter.. your short hair looks great.. here's a pic of my boy cut.  I wish i had taken one of the mohawk, just for prosperity.. my daughter took one, but I can't find the pic in her files.

Dx 5/10/2008, IDC, 5cm, Stage IIIc, Grade 3, 4/9 nodes, ER+

Jess,

I just started Taxotere and it wasn't too bad at all... until I overdid it.  Onc. told me no matter how good I felt to "REST"... I didn't listen, and now I'm paying for it!  I'm ok when I'm laying in bed, even though I am NOT sleeping, but the minute I get up and do something... even typing on the computer, I get exhausted.

Sue

KerryMac,

I have a 2 year old, and yeah it's a bit rough going thru chemo-tiredness with her, but we have to be mom's still so we get thru it as best we can.  I think playing with her even when I don't feel good gives me a bit of a lift and cheers me up.

I think I got a little dehydrated since last nite, I have been trying to pound down the water since I talked to my doc's office this morning and my head is finally feeling like it's coming out of the vice!   Next tx#2 I am definitely taking it much easier on myself, even if I feel "invincible"!  Oh and no nausea to speak of, I didnt' even need my Zofran this time, with the AC I did.  I know what you mean on the short hair... I look like my brother's twin

Sue

Well....... it's official!  I start 4x TC on February 18 followed by rads.  My chemo class will be this Thursday.  I had my ovaries removed on January 13 and my lumpectomy/SNB/port placement on January 23. 

Like others, I will be attempting to work full-time during chemo.  Unfortunately, January - April is my very busiest time of the year. 

Hi, Furies ~
Just checking in to say "hi" and hope everyone's doing well. 

Husband and I went to a baton competition yesterday; he said, "Look, we are actually going somewhere that is NOT medically related!"  It seems forever since we did anything "normal" like that! 

I haven't decided anything about my hair except that I did cut off a few inches myself.  It was bra-length and a bit hard to handle anyway; now I can wash and towel-dry easier with basically one arm.  (I'm still over-protecting my port arm; it makes me rather squeamish!!)

Hugs to all,
Artemis

Webwriter:  You can update mine....I start chemo tomorrow .  So scared right now.  I decided no trial for me, so I will have ACx4, Taxol x 4, dd.   Thanks.

I haven't decided what to do about my hair yet.  I don't want the wig to be too obvious, and right now my hair is long, as is my wig.  If I cut it now, then it would seem strange to wear a long wig.  I don't think my boss wants my students to know anything, so I guess I'll just keep it long, then go right to the wig.  My boss would probably have a heart attack if I wore just a scarf or hat without the wig, so I'll have to get used to it.  I only work 2 hours at a time, so that will help.

Judy

Well I'm joining the ranks of many of you and getting my port put in tomorrow. I have to admit I am surprised to hear that it has been so bothersome to have. I was thinking after the lumpectomy it shouldn't be too bad. Well, I'll know.soon enough. I kind of feel like I'm on a diving board waiting my turn to jump, I've been following so many of you and gulp, now it's my turn. It's been great reading so many of peoples' experiences. Thanks for all the sharing, it does make a difference. Best to all.     Suzanne

suzmarks - after the initial port procedure and a couple days of a bit of discomfort, I think you will be pleasantly surprised that your port will not be a problem.  I notice it during a shower because you can feel it (sort of like an inverted pop bottle top), but otherwise I truly don't know it's there.  And for bloodwork, I have had them access it with and without lidocaine (and I am such a wimp when it comes to being poked because I have had such bad veins over the years).  It's a pinch and that's it; but if you prefer to feel nothing, ask for a prescription for lidocaine and use it a half hour before your appt (cover it with saran wrap to keep your clothes from wiping it off).  If it didn't have to be flushed regularly, I would probably leave mine in forever for blood draws!

Hi everyone! Looks like I am joining as well, will be starting chemo "within 2 weeks" per my onc, though I do not know the regimen yet. He is evaluating my data to see if I qualify for a study, and should be contacting me with info this week. It is terrifying, but at the same time I am ready to get started and get it over with!

I have been reading along since the day this blog started, since I knew I would most likely be joining you all in February. I have prayed for all of you, and I hope those who have started are doing well, and that those on the launch pad ready for take off are hanging in there!

One question about the port (well really 2 ?'s). Do any of you take Coumadin for it, and what happens if it is not flushed within a month? I have had mine since 1/13/09, and nothing has been done to it, maintenance-wise. It feels ok, but has been getting harder in the last few days. My onc keeps saying that I need to be on Coumadin, yet he has yet to write a script for it. Any others in this boat?

Thanks, and thanks for being a life line in all of this!

Janine

i'm feeling pretty good this morning (5 days after the 1st chemo).. I haven't felt bad, just not quite right.  my sinuses are surprisingly clear for some reason.

One good thing I've learned is how to tie a square knot behind my head without a mirror.

My port has been wonderful.. However, I have a very skinny torso (especially now), and it protrudes noticeably.  I was showering and felt this lump near my collar bone and FREAKED..

OMG, I thought.  Then I remembered it was a port.

Suzmarks -- first, welcome.  Second, my port (placed at the same time as my lumpectomy/SNB surgery) is a bit uncomfortable, BUT it is not painful at all. 

Brenny -- Thanks for the tip on the lidocaine!  I didn't know that was an option.

Michele S - I'll look into the book you mentioned.  I have read I'd Rather Do Chemo than Clean out the Garage:  Choosing Laughter Over Tears and heard the author speak at a luncheon last Friday.  It was a good read for me personally. 

Jdeking - Hey!  I believe we have "spoken" before.  Welcome.  I had my port put in on January 23.  My first chemo is February 18... I haven't been told anything about having my port cleaned out...

KerryMac - I agree!

Apple - Thanks for the chuckle this morning.  I can see myself doing the same thing!

Webwriter - Whew!  Hope you're feeling better today... and, thanks for the updates!