Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

Sherrilynn - yes I did it - am in Atlanta, GA.  Bought two wigs at local wig place and thought I looked like the cat's pajamas in the store.  Of course the saleswoman kept telling me how great I looked so I bought them.  Ended up costing me $300 for the two of them!  Got home and I hate them.  I think I look like Pip the Flip in them and they will each probably take me 3 hrs. each morning to style.  So I called the local Cancer Society, they booked a date for me and they had tons to choose from.  Only trouble is, most of them were put in large bins by color, so most were kind of flat and needed brushing/combing, etc.  Bring a brush.  I got a really nice revlon wig - a blonde shortish bob and I love it.  I could have taken as many as I wanted.  They also had head coverings, hats, etc.  Good luck and definitely go. 

Edit to tell you the creme you want is EMLA creme. 

Linda

Hello

I will be starting chemo on April 28th--so I am hoping to join the May group.  Just found out I will be in a trial (BETH) for HER2+.  I need to take steroids (8mg/2ce a day) the day before and then the morning of chemo.  Not sure yet if it continues for a few more days.  Anyone else that needs to take meds the day before chemo?

I am just so scared with all this.  I get my courage from reading these posts from all you guys.  It is my source of courage.  Thanks so much for being there.

I appreciate any replies.

Debbie 

Debbie53 - This is NanaA from the March group.  I am doing taxol x 12 and herceptin every 3 weeks.  I have to take the steroids the night before and morning of chemo and then 1 pill twice a day for 2 days after.  The also give me steroids by IV before the taxol to help prevent reactions.  No problems so far and I had #5 this week.  You will handle this just fine.  Tired seems to be the biggest SE so far and some tingling in the toes that they are watching.  Day 5 seems to be the worst with the taxol.  Just take each day as it comes and you can get thru it.  I have been able to continue to work thru the whole thing so far, although I told my husband that the stairs to my office seem to be getting steeper each time  have to climb them.  When I go this next week I will be halfway!!! It is doable.  Best wishes  Annette

Hi ladies!

Looks like our group is growing. I am trying to get my thoughts together for my first meeting with my oncologist on Wednesday 4/29. I wonder if I will have to take a chemo class also? For some reason, that totally cracks me up! There has been no mention of that, but I have a feeling that meeting with the oncologist is going to open up a whole new world of stuff that hasn't been mentioned before!

I am trying to look at chemo like it's my friend instead of the enemy. I read that somewhere...somewhere here at BCO I'm sure. It makes sense to me. As much as I'm dreading it, chemo is my strongest and only weapon against the triple neg, so I better buddy up to it! I think that will help me keep a positive attitude throught the side effects. Or at least I hope so!

Winnie- I don't know how many treatments I will have yet, but I do have a port. My veins apparently are not easy to access. They had hell with my surgery and finally put the IV in my hand. I'm glad I have the port now to make everything easier. Wish we could see the pink hair! Love it!

I really need to get some wig, hat, scarves options lined up. I keep saying that but haven't done a thing about it yet. It's time to deal.

I will begin Tuesday May 5 with FAC (every 21 days for 4 rounds) followed by Taxol (weekly for 12 rounds).  I should have my last Taxol on October 13 if all goes well.  I'm getting my port on Tues 4/28.

I'm going this week to get my hair cut short and highlights.  I plan to go the first Saturday after treatment to get wigs and hats.  I plan to shave at the first signs of hair loss.

Glad to have the support and camaraderie of this board.  I've been on here constantly since I was diagnosed but only joined today.  I wish you all the best of luck with May chemo.

I found nice scarves at headcovers.com

Hi Ladies, I too will be starting chemo on May 1st --  TAC x4 every 3 weeks.  I had my port put in on Thursday along with clips (markers) on the tumor itself so just incase Chemo shrinks it ALOT, they will be able to still take all the tissue they need too (or something like that).  I'm doing Chemo first and then surgery - yet to be determined as to what type of surgery.   

Winnie --- I'm in St. Paul too!  I had my Chemo class on Monday, and no such luck -- I passed.    

I took a Look Good, Feel Better class as well and got a wig for free from ACS as well as picked up one -- nice to have a back up, cause they've already said I'd be losing my hair.  

It is really nice to read here and know we're not alone!  

Hi Everyone!  I'm new to the group...

I have 2 young boys, 8 & 10.  A husband that suddenly became very supportive.  I see the oncologist tomorrow.  I'm glad to see so many supportive ladies and hope we will be able to hold each other up during our rough times and smile together during the good.  I assume May will be my start date for Chemo.  It better be... I want to hear the fighting bells ring ASAP!

Has anyone tried CaringBridges web site?  It's a place to create an on line journal.  It can be kept personal, or limited to certain people you give permission, or open to the public.  I find it very therapeutic to journal on this venue.  And, everyone I know can ride my journey with me and support me along the way.  Plus, it keeps everyone informed, so I don't need to call or email.  I've found so much inspiration by reading the notes on the guestbook.

Well... Going to go read up on Chemotherapy, prior to my oncologist visit  tomorrow, April 27th.  I have my infusion port scheduled for this wednesday, April 29th.  I'm doing it of my own volition because I'm down to only one arm now, have horrible veins.  I've found an  interventional radiologist who places a "power port."  It's a 300 psi port. If you haven't gotten a port yet and are considering one, you may want to find someone who places these types of ports.  They allow for IV contrast injection.  Most typical ports cannot handle the pressure of the CT dye automated injector, and then it requires you to have a peripheral IV placed for the scan. I have a friend/neighbor who is a radiology RN at the cancer center I am going to.  She, as well as another radiology RN friend of mine highly suggested that I persue this type of port.  I've chosen a port also because I am HER2/neu positive, so I will be getting a year's worth of Herceptin along with my chemo.  The port can also be used to draw blood from. 

You can check out my page on CaringBridge, perhaps you want to start your own.  The web site was suggested to me by a friend of mine.  Her friend is a 3 year survivor.  I loved reading through her journal.  Here's her 3 year journey journal:  http://caringbridge.org/visit/christinemccoy

Here's my journal... in its infancy.....http://caringbridge.org/visit/bethmurray

Hello Everyone,

I too will begin my treatment on May 1st.  A lumpectomy was performed on April 1st, my port placement is scheduled for April 28th.  I have purchased 2 wigs in anticpation of losing my hair.  My ex-husband has agreed to shave my head when I am ready. (believe it or not, he is the only person that I would trust with this task).  I plan on working during my treatments A/C 4 rounds with 2 week intervals followed by Taxol 4 rounds also with 2 week intervals.  I know we would choose not to take the journey, however, I am grateful that I someone to talk with during the trip.

Good Luck, I will pray for you to have an easy treatment, post to let us know how you did and what your thoughts were!!

SHELL

Hello everyone!!!  I start Chemo on Friday, May 1.  I  am having my port put in on Thursday the day before at the hospital.  The Dr's looked at my veins and said definitely get the port, too many times for an IV.  They did say that with the port we need to use a creme on it so it will not hurt when they put the IV in with the port.  Yuck!!!  My husband will be out of town for my first treatment, so my mother is coming down to go to Chemo with me.  She is a BC survivor 30 yrs ago and is 76 now.  Yeah!!!!  Yesterday my husband went with me to try on wigs.  Wow we laughed and laughed which was like a great medicine.  I tried on so many that did not look good until finally found one and we ordered it.  I still need to get my prescriptions filled that they gave me a Chemo class for nausea and sleep.  I also need to pick up some other things that everyone suggested on another thread that are very helpful tips.  They told at the Chemo class that if I feel any nausea then they are not doing their job and this should not be the case.  That is very good to hear so I can keep working.   I toured the fusion room, the name sounds like something out of a movie.   I hear from so many on these boards that it's not that bad and they make it through it.  We women are very strong and can do anything!!!  Most of the time I am very positive person.  At first I was worrying if I made the right decision having  a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy, and then if I should have chemo....Like someone above mentioned there are so many decisions to make and it's hard, we just have to make the right one's for each of us.   We will walk through this together. 

Shadow-

I hear ya on being overwhelmed!!  My husband and I just took a long weekend on Ft Myers Beach in FL so I could have a few days of NOT thinking about BC and upcoming Chemo.  If you have time before your tx begin I HIGHLY recommend it.  It did so much for me mentally.  Of course, now I am back home and worrying terribly about my first chemo, one week from Wednesday.  I JUST DON'T WANNA.............I know I sound like a 3 year old.  I read someone's post above (sorry CRS brain cant remem whose it was) about chemo being our friend and not the enemy.  I am going to give that thought process a try today!  It looks like we have similar diagnosis except i am ER+/PR+ and HER-.  I am not getting a port either and after reading how many are I am wondering about all that.  Anyway, this is my only support group and I think it is going to serve me fabulously.  I have already read so many great posts on here and ideas it has been fantastic.  I got my scarf over the weekend from http://www.franceluxe.com/ and it is so nice.

Good luck to all.............we CAN beat this thing.  Thanks to all for the comments and support and

RIGHT BACK ATCHA!

Wow! Our group has grown. I am definitely feeling overwhelmed this week. I see the oncologist for the first time on Wednesday. I am getting very nervous about that. I am ready to get going on the chemo part so that I can get it over with, but I am scared too. The last three weeks since surgery have been kind of nice since I have had to do nothing but rest and heal. But, now it's time to fight again.

We are hoping to have a weekend away before chemo starts. We went on a cruise two days after I got my diagnosis, but it was not very relaxing for obvious reasons. We already had it booked and had two weeks before my surgical appt, so we decided to go ahead and go. But I was not in a vacation frame of mind then. Now, I would be much more able to relax and enjoy myself.

My prayers and best wishes for all of us as we begin this next phase. Sucks that we all have to be here, but glad I am not going through this alone. (((Hugs)))

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow I will receive my mediport. I know it's silly, but I am looking forward to this.  It's like a major step so that I can receive my treatments and move on with my life.  They are doing the surgery on an outpatient basis and they say it should not be too bad ( I hope not I not want to enjoy some of the Kentucky Derby events this week) .  I begin my treatments Friday,May 1st and have prepared different ways to occupy myself fo 2 1/2 hrs.

Met with my oncologist this morning and instead of TACx6, I will be enrolled in the ECOG5103 trial for Avastin.  So it's dose dense ACx4 (every other week), then Taxol x 12 weekly.  During that I will be given either Avastin or a placebo, won't find out which until the end of the Taxol when I also find out if I'll be continuing on for a year of Avastin or not.  I'm feeling way more optimistic about this plan than the original one.   I spent the afternoon getting the remaining tests they needed, more bloodwork and urine along with an EKG (I've already done a PET/CT scan, bone scan, and MUGA).  As soon as they get the results I'll get my start date, the research coordinator thought probably next week.