**NEW** Starting Chemo March 2009
Comments
-
Gina thank you for the G &T - delicious!
Well, I certainly spoke too soon when I posted yesterday. About an hour after logging off I suddenly found myself on the floor in the hall way after heading towards bathroom to take a nausea pill. I think I was out cold several minutes. Figured I could not stay on the floor all afternoon so picked myself up and went into the bathroom. Next thing I knew I was waking up again in the bath tub! I have a lovely cut on my forehead from the first fall and a large bump on the back from the second.
Rang the oncology ward, they said call an ambulance. I did, on the way to emergency my heart stopped beating (and started again!!) so by the time I got to hospital I was a cardiac case. Stayed in ICU overnight, had the day in cardiac ward while my onco and the cardiologist puzzled. It seems slowing of the heart beat is a rare side effect of Emend, so I can't have it anymore. Boo hiss! I had never fainted before so the cardiologist thinks either the Emend or the nausea itself caused the faints. I am home now, my father has arrived from Sydney to stay with me, but I feel no further inclination to hit my head on things.
As for staying in hospital - well, my onco makes every one stay in overnight the first time for observation to see how well the nausea medications work. Since I have had this drama and will have different pills next time, I will stay overnight next time too. God bless my private health insurance, though I think to be honest Medicare would cover most of it if I had no insurance. I feel incredibly fortunate to be having my treatment in Melbourne.
Francine I do feel so awful to hear you might have to have more treatments. I hope you find a satisfactory resolution.
Thank you to all who offered advice on ports. The paramedics and emergency doctors also had problems getting needles in so the port is now a definite, though my lovely onco said no to next week because my white blood cells will be low.
I have read through everyone's posts and send you all much warmth and good wishes. Well done to those doing well, prayers and solidarity for those having a tough time.
-
Oh Rachel I am so sorry about your ordeal.....how scary. I will be thinking of you and hope for better days ahead.
hugs,
Diane
-
Just curious about what we all get before our chemo treatments....I asked yesterday at my 2nd:
Pre Meds
1. Aloxi 25mg for nausea, this lasts 5 days
2. 10mg Decadron
3. 12.5mg of benadryl - I am going to ask to have less next go round. I was only tired for about an hour of the infusion and they said they could decrease it some next time.
4. 300mg of tagamet
Then the taxotere for an hour and cytoxan 2nd hour.
Today I go in for the nuelasta shot and this should help with the WBC counts this go round.
I take the tagamet for 2 weeks this really helped my stomach. I didn't have problems going to the bathroom, drank lots of water but I found if I didn't take the tagamet my stomach felt a little off. Better to nip it in the bud so I could eat and drink while cleansing myself of the toxins. It rained yesterday so I couldn't go on a walk but I ran around the house like a maniac from the time I got home doing laundry and cleaning the house so that should have helped.
Hope everyone going to chemo today have a good experience.
And everyone getting over chemo from earlier in the week I hope that most of your SE's are subsiding some.
Diane
-
Rachel! Goodness, how frightening for you! I am glad you are doing better, and glad that it wasn't something more serious than an SE from the Emend! Hopefully you will not have this problem next time! Good thing your dad can come and stay with you for a bit.
Diane - thanks for the story of your friend w/the family hx. Good thing to know a + result does not mean I will have to get proph mx or ooph.
Welcome to new "faces" GTYforeveryoung and Nicole!
Congrats to all who made it through treatment yesterday, and good luck for all going today!
Gina, welcome back! I applaud your decision to sleep thru the ick, and think I will do the same this weekend. Crap, I know I had more to say to everyone, and now I have forgotten, and can't look back to the last page to see what everyone wrote. Chemo brain really stinks! lol.
-
Just saw your post Diane, we must have been typing at the same time!
I also get Aloxi and Decadron, but no benadryl or tagamet. (TAC). I get saline & Aloxi, then Adriamycin for 15 min. Then saline and Cytoxan for about an hour. Then saline & decadron, followed by Taxotere for about 1.5 hours. The whole process takes about 4-5 hours. I do take Zantac 150 for about 1-1 1/2 weeks after the treatment, which helps the "off" feeling in the tummy that you described. I take compazine & ativan for nausea for about 4 days, then just try to stick to zantac only. By the end of the 2nd week I can ususally go back to being med-free.
I do drink a lot, and try to take 30 minute walks starting day 3 (after the steroids wear off, they just kill me!)
-
Boy is this thread busy! good Luck to all of you, Rachael, Take care of yourself, I am glad you have such great care, you are so young, take advantage of everything you can, and kick this disease in the butt. Let your family take care of you, you shouldn't be alone with those SE.My second Tx was uneventful, except for the insomnia, last night I went to bed at 10;30, after my decadron rush of a day and went to sleep until the CO2 detector went off, for no apparent reason, then I was awake took Advil PM at 12;30, then slept in naps until 6!!! If that's all I have to complain about I'll take it, off to work for a few hours! Maybe that will make me sleep! I hope! Best to all! Dawn
-
Rachel - How scary. My jaw was just agape as I read your post .You must have been terrified. I hope they can get that all under control. Amazing what all these drugs can do to us.
ChrisC433 - I am also in the neoadjuvant group. My tumor according to ultr/mammo was 2.5 , then MRI said 5cm. So, we are shrinking it and hopefully the lumpectomy route. I have had 2 TX now and can literally feel it becoming smaller. My onco thinks we can just obliterate it.
Crusader- What a cruel joke, TCX4 , then go to TCX6. We are really at the mercy of these DRs and their opinions. I started out being told TCX4 also. Then , when they found out I was triple neg, he switched it to TCX6. At least I can see some rationalization in mine, though I would rather be half done now.
Alyad- I can so hear you on the work thing. My SEs have been pretty mild and I have to say I have gone to work feeling worse than this. Unfortunately, my job is just not conducive. I spoke with my manager yesterday to see if they could find me an alternative assignment temporarily somewhere on station. I've worked all my life , and except for childbirth, have stayed home sick about 5 days in 30 years. This is driving me crazy.
-
NYDeb48: I can tell mine is shrinking too! It is great knowing what the toxins are actually doing. I have a marker in so my doc will do surgery and take out that area even if it does "disappear". I will also have full node dissection. Did you have node involvement as well? Or just having chemo because of size? Good luck!
Chris
-
Good morning, all. As usual, I'm way behind on posts. I guess if I want to keep up, I need a direct link implanted LOL.
Had 2nd tx of Taxol/Herceptin on Tuesday. Up at 2 am Wednesday with diarrhea and nausea. Never threw up, but sat on pot til about 8 or 9 am. Got up this morning with nosebleed. Nosebleed may be nothing more than the fact that we are blessed with extreme pollen counts.
On a good note, got a new baby yesterday! My 2nd cousin had her first. Her mom (my 1st cousin) died of lung cancer when the girl was a very young teen and I got adopted as her 2nd mom. So I got a new grandbaby!!! And he's close enough to play with YIPPEE.
Bunny
-
Rachel: What an ordeal! Yikes! I'm so glad your dad is coming to stay with you!
There is NO way can I keep up today! I just wanted to make an announcement:
THE PUBE FAIRY HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING!!
Everybody awake now?
Actually, her less-shocking sister that caters to the northern areas has arrived too, with much less fanfare. Last night was church night. Hubby works nights, so he was sleeping when I returned home. So no one to shave my head. Hopefully, after returning from my son's dance class, Hubby and I can do the deed. (Puhleeze get your minds out of the gutter, Girls!)
Had quite an emotional reaction yesterday when I realized that hair loss will actually happen to me, of all people. Ugh. Getting used to the idea now. Wearing one of my lovely buffs to keep the falling hair out of my eyes. I am planning on scattering my shaved hair on the lawn for the birds to use in construction of their love nests.
That's all for now! Back to work!
Carol
-
Rachel- Wow....you had quite the experience. Thank goodness your Dad is coming to stay with you. I must say...after all that...your sense of humor is still in tact...What a trooper you are!
Gina- Nice to hear that you're ok and are resting up. Oh...and many thanks for the martini.
Beth
-
Rachel
How scary for you, hoping the changes in meds will help. Absolutely get the port, I didn't have one for the first 2 treatments and they would take 45 minutes to an hour to get a vein. Yesterday was my first treatment with a port and I did not even know she put it in....it was great.
After meeting with the Onco yesterday I was given the option of changing from the 12 taxols to the four dose dense.... after talking to the nurses in the chemo bar and lounge, I think I can do it...I will be done a month earlier and should be able to attend my daughters softball tournament in Colorado, so I feel it will be worth the stronger Ses'.
My Onco gave me paperwork for a handicap plaque yesterday because the blisters on my feet make walking hard and I used one of the motorized carts in Sears for the first time yesterday. I spent half the time out of the cart picking up clothes I knocked off the racks....lol. I am a pitiful cart driver.
Our wonderful stray cat had four beautiful kittens which she shares with everyone.... one is a calico which excited my daughter (no she's not keeping it) because her 8 year old cat is a calico. We are keeping the mama and fixing her but we will find good homes for the kittens.
After 3 treatments, it's all-doable
(not always fun, but worth the effort)
Kim
Dx 12/12/2008, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, ER+, HER2+ -
Hi All,
Thanks for all the comments about my case of 4TC's vs 6 TC's. I will investigate further and be prepared when I go to see the oncologist later in April.
Rachel. So sorry you had that trouble.Glad you dad is coming to be with you. I do remember another women on this board fainting..Hope you are feeling better.
Gina..Glad you are back .. we missed you...Sean looked real cute.......Maybe we could match him up with MOB. He looks like her kind...LOL
GTYforever...Welcome to our group. I see you are busy at home with those little ones.
Hugs,,,
Francine
-
RAchel - Hope you feel better soon. Such an ordeal, glad your father can stay with you.
GinaGina - So good to see your words.
Bwbly - Congrats on the Grandbaby!!!
I love the Kitten story Cpanisi I think put can't go back to look it up or I will loose my responses.
Diane - I take 16 mg's decadron orally day before (np said this helps bump up WBC) 8mg orally in the morning before I go for treatment. At treatment: 300mg Tagamet (wasn't told this but listed in records; 20mg decadron; 50mg benedryl; 24 mg zofran; 144mg Taxotere in dextrose 5% 250ml; 1152mg cytoxin in sodium cloride 9% 150ml. Continue oral decadron 16mgs next day, then 8mgs three following days. Neulasta shot 24 hours after finished Chemo. I didn't need the compazine last time and so far haven't needed it yet. I already take Nexium (about 4 years) for a hyatel hernia. The NP said fatigue may increase and indigestion (hoping my Nexium nixes that). Ambien or Ativan for sleep, which I will try this round. Problem getting Ambien approved in time for last round.
Welcome GTYforeveryoung
I met a fellow March Chemo patient in the Perelman Center store. She started chemo last week, while we were talking, I told her about this thread. Hoping she joins in, her name is Desiree.
-
Rachel - I read your post about ten minutes after taking my first Emend dose. Scary! I'm so glad you are OK. I told my BF and now he won't go skiing today as planned. I told him I'll stay close to the bed! I didn't sleep good but other than that tx #2 side effects are hiding. Good luck to all today!
-
<=== Me crying because I can't keep up with this thread. -
Rachel - Holy bad reaction, Batman! (I haven't used that line in a couple of weeks). Jeeze, its too bad you didn't pass out while in hospital so you could have avoided smacking your head TWICE! Murphy's Law didn't work this time.
This is a preemptive SHOUT to anyone that may be hospitalized at this moment. Your Chemo Warrior Sisters are thinking of you (whoever you are) and sending you healing ju-ju.
Thinking of sisters who we haven't heard from in a while: Gymmom... Are you OK? Ricky - ditto! Ann-idiot, Chick, malleme, marvil, MichelleinSJ - double ditto. OK, I know there are more of you who have been quiet. Hopefully you are resting, relaxing and healing.
Congratulation Bunny on the newest addition to your family. Janine - same goes on the expansion of yours!
-
Rachel- OMG!! so glad you are okay and glad your dad is with you.
Well it's lunchtime, I'm at work. I no longer feel bad about not being here yesterday. I feel way better today and its still kicking my butt. worst part is our server is sooo freaking slow and I just have to sit here and wait for something to redraw- I have enough trouble spacing out anyway , but actually being required to try to pay attention to when something is done cranking- staring at a screen- ugh.
I was in the mood for something mindless and trivial to do- but of course instead there is this person who needs maps to put in a presentation tomorrow so I have to work on that instead of the other mindless work could be doing. oh and we had a meeting about a new project where I actually need to be able to form coherent thoughts. I think 5 pm is going to be good enough- I usually stay til 6. caffeine is my friend. but tastes horrible.
-
well i'm here getting my steriod and anti-nausea. not as nervous as i thought i would be. feeling good about this - picturing the chemo attacking any lingering cancer cells and destroying them viciously.
-
Reeney - fantastic! So glad you are there. In the chair. Been a long while coming, hasn't it?! And you are online...either very comfortable with your IV or you have a port. Chemo ATTACK!!
Dayla - glad you are feeling better. There is nothing positive I can think to say about a frustrating slow network. Trying changing your screen saver to some wild and colorful?
So can I ask an inappropriate question? Are you gals with the lumpectomies, um well endowed? My only frame of reference was my own (now gone) size 34B cup and well, any size of lumpectomy on those girls would have been a joke.
-
Alyad... Yep, don't stay too late. I worked a 10 hour day this week because I was feeling so good and I paid for it yesterday BIG TIME. Left at 4:00 yesterday and didn't get in until 10:30 this morning. It is very hard for me to accept the fact that chemo does affect your energy level.
reeney77... AND, that's EXACTLY what it is doing. Good luck to you!
-
Gina... A 36C for me. I was a 34B for many, many years. I became a 36C only in the past few years.
-
Gina: I was a 34 to 36C for years, until I got the advice to get "a proper bra fitting by a specialist" -- i.e., a Victoria's Secret employee -- who deemed me a 36D. Who knew? Even my BS said I was "well-endowed." Okay. Whatever rocks your boat, Dude.
-
Hi all. Well after the variety of SE phases, I'm feeling better now that I am into the 3rd week of my first cycle. I'm still taking Zofran twice a day because nausea seems to be lurking when I don't. I'm gonna enjoy these remaing 4 days before I go in for TCH# 2 this Monday (4/6). I dread going in for #2, but I know it has to be done. I just hope my blood counts will be okay.
Rachel - soo very sorry to hear about your SEs. I too fainted in the bathroom and woke up in the bath tub (although for a different reason...happened when I was straining in the bathroom after dealing with constipation). It is a really strange experience when you wake up and realize you are somewhere else. I hope it never happens again....but please take care...its really good that your father will be with you.
Carol - your Pube Fairy announcement did wake me up haha! My hair has begun falling off too. I had it cut short at the start of chemo and although my shedding has been manageable, it can be emotional at times because you realize what your body is going through. I keep using masking tape to pick up all my hair. I ordered a buzzer and may soon be asking hubby to do the deed as well.
I hope and pray everyone has a healing week ahead!
-
ginagina - Glad to hear you were just resting
. As for boobies ... mine were 44DD and now I'm just a little lop-sided. The swelling still hasn't gone down and once it does, I'll see just how bad it looks and then decide if I want to reconstruct ... think I want to down-size though. I'm going for 2nd round of chemo tomorrow and plan to rest the weekend in hopes of being able to return to work on Monday. I'm supposed to host a pageant on Tuesday and I've already asked them to have a substitute standing by.
Kissess to all!!!!
-
marvil... An early good luck on #2. I'm so sorry you are still having problems with the nausea. As far as the Pube Fairy, she didn't do a very good job on my free Brazilian wax.
Luv2sing... Good luck tomorrow. Hoping you have minimal SEs.
-
Gina - My boob size is 36-38 C was a B long ago. I have a little dimple/dent. Nothing that I would reconstruct.
-
I am here but I have been VERY tired this week. I didn't recover as well from tx2 but am doing better today. I go for tx3 on Tuesday and am nervous about how I will handle the fatigue. I also came down with a cold but luckily no fever.
I am looking forward to an SE free weekend. My sis is coming to town from Texas and will be here for a week. YEAH! I miss her terribly. Also, my 12 yr old is having her state finals in gymnastics on Saturday and I am so glad to be feeling better and I'll be able to go see her compete. She is hoping to qualify for the regional competition next month.
I had my wig fitted and trimmed today. I wasn't sure how I'd feel with it but am now glad I have it as an option. It feels snug and a little itchy but manageable. I will catch up with all the posts and check in again soon.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Cyndi
-
Gina, my size is a at 36A. I know, the Lord chose for me to have small ones
. But my surgeon did a fabulous job and there is an incision but no dent! I couldn't afford anything to dissappear! Bunny, congratulations! Enjoy that great addition to your family! My 8 month old brings me joy everytime he smiles at me and my 3 year old keeps me on my toes. But I find that they are a great distraction from all the crazyness invovled with this silly BC!
Rachel, that is scarey! I am so glad that your dad will be there to watch you! You have inspired me to realize that even when I am feeling good I need to take it easy!
As far as the hair goes, mine feels really thin and as if it has a film on it. I feel like I can't get it clean. Anyone else? I haven't seen it shedding at all. How weird is that. Feels thin but no shedding? My doc said with TC that it could take 3-4 weeks for hair loss. We will see.
I am leaving for a women's retreat with our church tomorrow so I will be out for 2 days. I doubt I will be able to catch up when I get back but to all those who had chemo this week, Hang in there and I am praying for you!
-
Hi gals....well I hit a wall today. I had my second TC yesterday and felt great. Today I went in for the nuelasta shot and 4 hours later developed a 102 fever. UGH. I am OK now, I think I heated myself up by sitting in bed under the covers instead of taking all my layers off. Called onco at 4 and they told me to take tylenol which I had been and call if it got worse. On my other line the PA was calling me to tell me that my blood counts before chemo were way off and that they would be adjusting for round 3 by giving me more decadron. My WBC were up and my glucose level was way up, too. Doc thinks I may have gotten fever because of the nuelasta shot. Anyone else have that reaction?
Also, I was wondering if anyone has gotten their period during chemo...I feel like mine is coming on and maybe that is why I got the fever and feel crappy
Gina....as for boob size....UGH I had a reduction in 2003 because I was a 32F...yes 32F. It sucked being so big up top and only weighing about 130 pounds. After the reduction I was a 32C for about a minute and then my girls decided to start growing back thanks to 3 back to back to back pregnancies. I am now a 34D and with all my scar tissue I still don't know what I want to do as far as reconstruction. I would like to remove other breast and start over but I don't have the inclination to do any of this until chemo and tamoxifen get started.
Hope everyone is doing well and good luck to those going in for treatment tomorrow.
hugs,
Diane
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team