Starting Chemo April 2009

Hi Chelev

I too am noticing that some smells are really bothering me. I was walking today out of Walmart and I smelled someone smoking and about gagged. The smell of smoke isn't exactly something I enjoy but never before did it bring on that strong of a reaction. So far no other smells have done that to me but I am sure it is because of the underlieing nausea and other issues we are dealing with. It seems hard to believe that we will be able to go through this for months huh.

Hello all, Rachel from March 2009 popping by again. I hope you don't mind - am a very late March starter so almost feel I should be in your group too!

I am on day 8 after first AC and want to offer you all some comfort that things do get better. I have used Biotene mouthwash extensively, as well as the Biotene toothpaste and gum, and since day 5 or 6 my taste buds have been back and everything tastes fine. The first few days I had very heightened sense of smell (meat etc made me gag) but last night I enjoyed a grilled steak and vegetables exceedingly.

Use those nausea medications even if you think you don't need them - I did and have not vomited once, or even really felt more than a twinge of nausea.  Today, apart from some limited underlying tiredness, I don't feel like I had chemo at all.

I also wanted to paste here some of a post I made on the March board about my trip to the naturopath. I hope you don't find it preachy. Here goes:

But I wanted to share one thing she told me in case it helps anyone. I was commenting on the fact that I felt really lucky to have had (so far) such limited SEs. She asked me what my attitude towards chemo had been. I said I had really not thought about it much because my BC diagnosis came just as I was starting a  new relationship and that for most of the last 2 months I had been far too busy falling in love to think about cancer. She said that many studies had shown that the more positive and low key one's attitude to chemo, the more limited the SEs tend to be (obviously there are exceptions to this rule and I am not saying if you have bad SEs it is because you are a stress bunny! Nasharayne  and others, you have had horrible luck).

I asked why this was. She said that stress produces cortisol, which produces elevated homocysteine levels. These levels are associated with, amongst other things, worse reactions to chemo.

So her main advice to me was to do whatever I can to minimise stress in my life, so as to minimise cortisol levels. Mine are slightly elevated and one of the pills is for that. She said so many women are far too hard on themselves during cancer treatment - worried they are not caring for their families, worried they did something to bring the cancer on, worried about whether they can keep working etc - and that paradoxically that worry makes their fears more likely to come true by increasing their SEs through higher cortisol from the stress.She said we should all give ourselves a break.

She also said that people do better on chemo if they think of the chemo drugs as a friend rather than as the enemy. A tough call, I know, for those having such horrible times as I know many here are. But she encouraged me to think of the chemo drugs as my fellow warrior in the fight for good health, not as something to battle against. She said this would make my body more likely to cope with the chemo.

Stephanie1 we are the same age with same treatment one week apart. Hope you are doing well. That goes for all April gals.

gigldrl ~ Many of the gals on the boards take Senokot and Colace daily to prevent constipation. Miralax is a "miracle" laxative if these others fail. Also, remember fluids, fluids, fluids beacuse chemo is very dehydrating.

Nico

Hi everyone

 First chemo over -so far so good just a bit of nausea and a headache -get the neulasta jab this afternoon.

Does anyone out there still have discomfort after the lumpectomy/node-ectomy?

My breast is still heavy and hard and sensitive also the arm as far as the elbow.

Any comments welcome

Nice sunny spring day here in Greece

Love to you all 

Anna

Hi Kathy,

My surgeon, ps, and medical onc are all in the Newburgh/New Windsor area.  I had a breast biopsy on the same breast for a fibroadenoma at Nyack Hospital 2 years ago.  I will be starting 4 cycles of A/C tomorrow, followed by Taxol x 12 weeks, followed by Herceptin.  I had a mastectomy on 3/18 with a tissue expander and a port placement a week later.  I've been down the road of the CT/Pet Scan/MRI of breast/bone scan etc. and fortunately everything was clear and I wish the same for you.  Yes, please think of me tomorrow, as I have to admit I am quite nervous, but then again I'm also pretty normal!

Geri

Hi Believe1, I had my port put in yesterday and they didn't give me any restrictions except no getting it wet for 3 days.  No soaking for a couple of weeks.  Lifting is a little painful so I will avoid that anyway.  I am a little sore this morning and itchy where they have the bandages over the needle that was left in for chemo today.  I'll stop back later to tell you all how things went.  Sherri 

ikat- we both start chemo on the same day, tax day....

 i had my port put in on monday, it wasn't fun. the twilight sedation just didn't work for me, i was way to alert and able to ask questions through the whole thing. she even gave me extra drugs and i still was alert. it was sore yesterday but i think it feels a bit better today.  

I was a little sore the next few days after the port placement.  My Dr said to keep the port dry for 7 to 10 days--My DH had to wrap my chest in plastic wrap so I could take a shower!  Friday it will be two weeks and I feel "normal" and I am moving about, even walking 45 to 60 minutes a day.  I had my first chemo about six hours ago (AC).  It was pretty uneventful.  The port was great--just a little pin prink and I was set to go. I am drinking lots of water in hopes that this will help me.  I have put benefiber in my coffee for the last serveral days.  I eat my lunch during chemo--PBJ, some dried prunes and apricots--came home and had a bowl of oatmeal.  My DH came with me but had to leave before I finished so my sister-in-law and friend came to visit and drive me home.  The nurses were great and explained thngs to be.  I will be administering my wn Neulasta shot--Is anyone else doing this?  It will save time.  I think I can do it!  Wish me well.  Talk to you soon.

Geri, you will have to keep us posted on how you feel seeing as you start first.  Did they say if the first treatment would be about 5 hours for you? Oh I have so many questions.

I had a partial mastectomy with  reconstruction (breast reduction on the other side, so they match, so now I am a perky A+ at 55 ).  I will have 4 rounds of chemo, then rads, and the hormone blocker.  

bombus tax day now has a whole new meaning for us, the port sounds painful, how many treatments are you going to have? 

Ikat,

Yes, they told me I would be there about 5 hours for the A/C.  I too had a lot of questions (and I'm a nurse, so I should know some of this stuff - but it's never the same when it's you!).  I made a list of questions (ended up with 20 of them), and asked the onc nurse to call me when she had 15 min to answer them, which she did - much less chance of forgeting what you want to ask or feeling rushed.  I picked up all my meds today to take in the morning, packed a little bag, and I'm as ready as I'll ever be.  A friend of mine gave me good advice - "fight, don't struggle"

Hopefully, I will be able to update you all tomorow evening - hugs

Geri

IKAT

My treatment took right about 5 hours btw. Started at 11:00 and got home right about 5:00 - I live about 15 mins from my cancer center.

Hello all,

I will be getting my medi-port on the 14th and will begin A/C x(4) on the 20th and T x(4) after. Tamox to follow.  Pushed it off so that my DSs will have a relatively "normal" spring break and then I can deal with what I have to on my own the next week.  I chose Mondays so that I am back in the groove by the weekends.  To the teacher out there:  I was very honest with my kids (I teach teen mothers at an alternative high school).  I don't expect to return before the end of the school year, but because I am very close with my girls, I felt I needed to be up front with them.  It seemed to work for me, although we all were quite devestated my last day in the classroom.  I stay in good touch with my long-term sub as well.  Thank you all for the pre-chemo info and even the TMIs! !  I don't know what I would do without this little "club" that I have "unfortunately" become a member of. 

Tammy

Florbo

I have to agree that the Neulasta shot is really the hardest part so far. I am in the same boat as you right now that I can't tell which problem I am having - constipation or diarrhea. I wish it would make up its mind soon so I can know which treatment to take.

I went on Tues for my first post-chemo blood count - White count really low so they put me on anti-biotic just in case of infection. Weds had a bad time with bone pain (nurse says "oh good, that means the neulasta is working"!) but seem to be over the worst now. And not sleeping at all - must get round to asing for ambien rx!

believe1 - I was also told not to shower for 3 days after getting the port, but no restrictions on lifting / stretching (though I could NOT lift anything heavy for 2 or 3 days in any case).

I'm back and so far so good.  My first treatment lasted about 5 hours too.  Half of that time I was running to the bathroom to pee.  I drank tons of water during the treatment and felt fine.  Last night a had little headache and some queasiness but nothing too bad.  Took Tylenol for the headache and compazine for the nausea.  I am due to take emend today and tomorrow for nausea but so far this morning I feel fine.  I am having the neulasta shot later today.  My husband is giving it to me since our insurance won't pay the $3000 to have it done at the hospital, it costs only $10 to have him do it.  They showed him how it is just like giving an insulin shot in the belly.  He did this for his mother when she was taking insulin.  We also give our dog insulin shots twice a day.  Hope I get a treat like he does after his shot!  For anyone else doing self injections, they suggest taking it out about 15-30 before giving the shot to warm it up and giving it slow to reduce the burning.  My port is my new best friend even though it hurts at times.  They drew 5 viles of blood out of it yesterday and hooking up to chemo was a snap!  One poor guy must have had been poked 10 times before they found a good vein.  Good luck everyone starting soon.  I know it has been said before but the anticipation is far worse than the actual treatment.  Love you all, Sherri