Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

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  • sherrilynne
    sherrilynne Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2009

    And...I forgot to add he also took in consideration the size of mine, stage and grade.  The size of mine put me over he said where he would suggest Chemo.  

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  • Cat1
    Cat1 Member Posts: 147
    edited May 2009

    deb6563 - just noticed your location.  I live in Hendersonville so we're probably close.  I normally post on the Anyone Just on T/C but ventured out today checking out the other topics. 

    I started tx on 3/30 and have 3 of 6 on Monday.  Half way done!  I'm so ready to get this done.  Believe me the port gets better and then you deal with all the other stuff.  My SE have been very mild and hoping it stays that way!   

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  • lassie11
    lassie11 Member Posts: 1,500
    edited May 2009

    taj72 - do you trust your mother's oncologist? I sure do trust mine and actually have ignored discussions of this drug or that because I trust (on good authority) that I am getting what is best for me at my age and circumstances. If your mother's is good, then supporting those decisions might be your best route. You sound like a super daughter and I agree with Sukiann that your mother knows that somewhere inside. I wonder if you are hearing her most negative thoughts because you are such a good daughter and are willing to support her, and she forgets to tell you her more positive thoughts. We sometimes accentuate the negative instead of the postive with the people we love - the ones who will love us no matter what.

     Here is what my daughter is doing to encourage me (aside from attending some crucial appointments, listening to me, making me an MP3 with some novels I will enjoy, and such): she is having a baby about the time my chemo ends! I am already confident that all will be well after this journey and am very much looking forward to the future (not so much the immediate stuff that is a bump on the road).  It wouldn't make sense to suggest you have a baby - what else is there that your mother would enjoy as chemo ends? Perhaps a reminder of all the great things you and your sister will do in the future that she needs to see? I wish you the best.

    Becky - you get mail on the weekends?! I asked for one of the scarfs as well and will see if Canadians are in on the offer.

    Sukiann - what great friends!

     I had a visit this morning from the new home care nurse who looks after my PICC line and stuff - most happy to see that she is someone competent who I can enjoy.  Also went for a wig fitting today and am confident that when the time comes in a couple of weeks, the nice lady will make me look like me.

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  • jabl1252
    jabl1252 Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2009

    Hi Girls, I had my port put in on May 4th and start my chemo on the 11th of May.I think I was more scared of getting the port then having my biopsies and lumpectomy.The realization hit me on the day of getting my port that this is for real and I have to do this to survive. I will be having  8 chemo treatments along with Herceptin for a year and radiation following the chemo. I am going to get through this,I have faith.Deb, you have a good  head on your shoulders ,I would like to join you all on this journey that we are about to take. The port is not so bad.I'll get used to it. Take care everyone . Julie

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  • ajlive
    ajlive Member Posts: 134
    edited May 2009

    Sherrilynne:  Thank you for the support.

    Sounds like everyone is having a port inserted.  My onc did not mention this.  Chemo treatment will be a total of 4 given 3 weeks apart.  Anyone else out there that is having 4 treatments having ports put in?

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  • Winnie51
    Winnie51 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2009

    Ladies of May Good Afternoon,

     I had my first infusion of TC yesterday.  I was happily surprised at how quickly the time passed.  We were at the hospital by 8:45, the drip started about 9:15 am and were leaving the hospital by noon.  The nurse who put the IV in my arm, was a real pro, no blood, no pain, and no blow outs.SmileLast night, I did become somewhat concerned when the fingers on my right hand began to swell as well as my legs and ankles. The last thing a bald woman needs is a fat hand and cankles at the end of her legsTongue out  Thankfully it is all gone today, I am thinking it was related to the bags of saline solution that were put in the iv along with my TC.  Any body else have this reaction?

    I think I must have been high on steroids yesterday afternoon, because I had lots of energy.

    But, today is another story.  I have slept off and on for most of the day.  I had some nausea last night but the anti-nausea pills put an end to that. 

    Modray1481.  As a fellow St Paulina, I am being treated at the Piper Breast Cancer Center in Mpls.  I have been so happy with how they are treating me. I hope that you are being well taken care of as well.

    Today is a good day to kick some cancer ass,

    Winnie

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  • sherrilynne
    sherrilynne Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2009

    Everyone, I have a question.   My throat is really hurting, it feels like in my esophagus (sp?) area.  I do have acid reflux.  When I eat it hurts and I'm worried I will choke.  Has anyone had this symptom?

    Thanks so much!!!!

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  • sherrilynne
    sherrilynne Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2009

    Yeah I'm having 4 treatments 3 weeks a part and they just told me you need a port, so I got it.  I did wonder if it was another surgery for my surgeon hee hee.  But now that I have it I'm okay with it.  Of course I have to have surgery to have it taken out.  They told me my veins wouldn't hold up, but the nurses at the cancer center said you could have got an IV 2X on each arm every 3 weeks.  Makes you wonder???

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    Hi Apple Valley, I'm beginning chemo on May 19.  I just did my MUGA scan today.  Like you I am really nervous about chemo and the issue of port  placement and all that. I've already met with the onco and will be in the doing clinical trial E5103 along with the standard AC chemo.  Really dreading the side effects and how it's going to make me feel. Ugggh I hate all this and how it's so controlled my life.  Yell

    Hugs,

    Barb

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  • deb6563
    deb6563 Member Posts: 179
    edited May 2009
    Cat  where are you being treated?  I am at Vanderbilt.  I love the doctors and nurses.  I couldn't ask for a better team of oncologist.
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  • Gekko
    Gekko Member Posts: 11
    edited May 2009

    Greetings to all the Ladies of May.  I have been reading the discussion boards for awhile now but I thought I should officially join the group as I will be starting chemo tomorrow.  I will be doing DD AC/T; 4X AC every 2 weeks and 12X Taxol every week.  I have gotten a lot of good tips from your posts and I feel I am as prepared as I can be for what tomorrow will bring.  I plan to check in tomorrow afternoon to tell you all how it went.  That's all for now as I thought I should get a good night's sleep while I still can.

    Smooth sailing to everyone else who is having a Tx tomorrow!

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  • DebinCA57
    DebinCA57 Member Posts: 5
    edited May 2009

    Looks like it is time for me to join the May group.  I start Chemo tomorrow.  I will be doing the AC every two weeks X 4 followed by weekly Taxol X12.  I have a port and the lidocaine cream and I am to take Emend before I go.  Wish me luck.

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  • LRM216
    LRM216 Member Posts: 2,115
    edited May 2009

    Gekko and Debin - We welcome both of you to the May Group and want to wish you all the luck in the world tomorrow for an easy and relatively se free first chemo.  I am only 1 ahead of you.  Doing DD AC x 4 and DD Taxol X 4.

    Linda

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  • Sukiann
    Sukiann Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2009

    Welcome newcomers. Just wanted to let you all know that at 11 days out from chemo (taxotere and cytoxin) I am starting to lose my hair.  I almost thought it wasn't going to happen but it is.  I'm prepared but I wondering how it's going to play out.  It's not coming out in clumps it's just kind of like breaking off in strands.  If I run my hand through it I get 5 or 6 strands at a time.  My hairdresser (who happens to be Michael Chiklis' - from The Shield and The Commish - his stepmother  - just thought I'd be a name dropper - must make me feel like a more important person? I just think it's funny because his parents are so normal) Anyway, she said she'd open the shop to give me a really short cut.  She told me NOT to shave it because it hurts? I don't know, it seems like everyone else here shaves it.  But, I'll call her this weekend and she if she can so whatever she thinks she needs to do to manage the hair loss.  I hope I'm emotionally ready for this.  You know when you think you are and then you fall apart?  Hope that doesn't happen.

    Have a good day ladies.  If you're starting chemo today best of luck - it will be ok, if I can do it you can do it!

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  • Cat1
    Cat1 Member Posts: 147
    edited May 2009

    Deb6563 - I'm going to Skyline and they are awesome also!  Hope your treatments go well.

    Sukiann - Hate to say this but watching my hair come out was harder than my double mass.  I cried more over this than anything!  Looking back I wish I had buzzed it off sooner.  It was coming out by the handfulls and raining hair before I finally broke down and did it.  Once I buzzed it off, I was fine.  You'll love the freedom it gives you.  I can be up and on the way to work in 30 minutes.  Don't have to shave or wash, blow dry and style the hair!  It's great!  Shower, makeup, dress, wig/scarve and your done!  Woo Hoo, I love it! 

    Ladies hope everyone's SE go as well as mine, so far I've done great!  Just minor issues which are easily dealt with. 

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  • Sukiann
    Sukiann Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2009

    Did anyone watch Grey's Anatomy last night?  I don't usually watch it (I got sick of Meridith last year and tuned out).  I saw the last few minutes of it.  I guess Izzzy got married to that jerky doc and she has cancer?  I don't know what kind but in the last few minutes they showed her hair falling out and then her bald.  Just hits home at this time.

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  • luvtheocean
    luvtheocean Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2009

    Sukiann- I am totally a Grey's watcher and have been watching Izzy go thru her whole ordeal....totally cried last night with the whole hair thing!  Felt like a totaly dope but whatever....doesn't take much to make me cry these days anyway. 

    Hope everyone is doing well.  So far the SE's aren't too bad.  Really glad I am not trying to work thru this though.  I am totally wiped out constantly......feeling quite a bit light headed and dizzy today.  But what, this is my 2nd day after.  So is that day 2 or day 3??  Cripes, chemo brain already???  Seriously?  Nah, just my 40 yr old brain!

    Hugs to all!

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  • shadow38
    shadow38 Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2009

    Hi Everyone:

    Welcome and HUGS to all the newcomers.  I'm sending my best to every one of you.

    Had my first treatment Wednesday, May 6th.  I'm doing Taxol and Herceptin every week for 12 weeks with Carboplatin added in every third week for a total of 4 doses of that one.  First treatment was all 3 drugs.  They had me take 5 Decadron the night before tx and another 5 that morning.

    They started me with saline,  anti-nausea medication (Famotidine & Anzemet), Benadryl and Decadron, then slowly infused 116 mg of Taxol, 650 mg of Carboplatin and 232 mg of Herceptin.  Other than a little tiny bit of abdominal cramping that lasted a couple of minutes and a little twitching in my right leg that also lasted a couple of minutes, I felt OK.  I slept through most of the 6 hour treatment (I guess that was due to the Benadryl). 

    They had me take Zofran pre-emptively (3 x yesterday, twice today, and once tomorrow) and thus far, I have no nausea.  I'm tired (slept 12 hours last night!), but other than that, I feel OK.  Not myself, obviously, but not bad either.  I'm like 3 of the 7 dwarves.....a little sleepy, a little grumpy and a little dopey.  Wink

    I'm told the fatigue will accumulate as treatment wears on.  Is it the same for the side effects?  I'm kinda waiting for the other shoe to drop!  I'm also told that when I just take the Taxol and the Herceptin, the only anti-nausea meds I should need is the Compazine.  That seems a little strange to me?  Anyone have experience with that? 

    luvtheocean:  I have the same question as you!!  Is today Day 2 or 3 for me?  Do we count tx day as day 1? 

    (((HUGS)))

    Kathy

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  • benisse
    benisse Member Posts: 81
    edited May 2009

    Shadow38 - Yes chemo day is day 1.

    Luvtheocean and Sukiann - the sunburn has faded mostly as Sukiann said but I did let the oncologist know and haven't heard back.

    Sukiann - that's not fair to get the monthly visitor with everything else.  My friend was due the week she started TC and she never got it.  Maybe it varies by drug or person?

    Yesterday I began to have numbness in my outer two fingers of each hand...I let the onc know in a voicemail.  They said to let them know if you couldn't button my shirt...but I don't use my outer two fingers for buttoning and the numbness is pretty bad.

    I'm nauseated and tired...taking decadron and compazine through today...day 4.  Then I'll alternate ativan and compazine as needed in the days to come.

    I feel overwhelmed to think of the long road ahead.  May be crying more than I should be. 

     Have my son's 1st grade mother's day tea this afternoon and will pull myself together for that. He was so excited and asked me to wear a pretty dress.

    Hope you're all doing well and appreciate the sharing!

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  • inthemoment
    inthemoment Member Posts: 538
    edited May 2009

    Benisse - I hope you were able to enjoy your Mothers Day tea with your son, and I'm sure you were dressed to the nines. I'm sorry that you are feeling overwhelmed - I think we have all been there.  I joined the April group, but pop in to other groups - I never thought I would be in a position to help others when I started this, we were diagnosed about the same time.  How many treatments have you had so far?

    Luv and Sukiann - I also am a dedicated Grey's Anatomy fan, as is my DD.  I cried like a baby at the end of the show last night.  Her reaction to seeing her hair come out was very close to mine - just couldn't believe it.  So nice of her TV husband to tell her she didn't need a scarf on her head - (((sniff))).  The season finale is next week - gotta gear up for that one!

    Hoping s/e are few for all of this - and Happy Mother's Day 

    Geri

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  • TexasRose
    TexasRose Member Posts: 740
    edited May 2009

    Hi all.

    I haven't watched much Grey's this year, but I have them all Tivo'd so I can catch up. Maybe I don't want to watch right now. I went to the movies yesterday and the first preview was for My Sister's Keeper. Don't think I will be catching that one either.

    I have been pretty emotional this week. I hate this two-week wait to start chemo. My start date is 5/25 and actually I am going to see about changing it to 5/26 because my sister will come with me sometimes and she can't do Mondays. It feels so far off and I am just ready to get this started and over with. I got my last pedicure today. I guess it isn't a good idea to get them during treatment. I do love a good pedicure. Nothing is more relaxing and I do feel better after getting it. The good part about it being still two weeks off is that we are planning a weekend getaway before it starts. We are going to head down to the San Antonio Riverwalk. We love it down there and it's only about two hours away, so an easy weekend.

    Hugs to all who are going through treatment already and SE. I'll be joining you soon!  

    Welcome to all the new ladies. Sorry you have to join us.

    Healing wishes to all. Hope everybody has a good weekend and a good Mother's Day.

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  • Hoolianama0508
    Hoolianama0508 Member Posts: 162
    edited May 2009

    Had my first round of chemo (Adriamycin and Cytoxin) on Monday followed by hydration fluids on Tuesday.

    Wednesday I was ill all day and had to go back to get more hydration fluids. The doctor changed my naseau pills to suppositories.

    Yesterday was the first day I was able to eat food. I feel much better now and can eat regularly.

    I was feeling depressed about feeling sick and my Aunt called to say don't give up. She battled breast cancer in 1984 and is strong and healthy today.

    Speaking to her gave me courage since I was too weak to post here for encouragement.

    I hope everyone is doing well.

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  • Mimi50
    Mimi50 Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2009

    Hi Everyone

    As anyone expieranced the funny head thing before thier hair falls out.  I feel little tingles, no headache.

    Sukiann-I too had a few pimples, nothing major. 

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  • Mimi50
    Mimi50 Member Posts: 13
    edited May 2009

    Hoolianama,

    Hang in there!!! This will pass Laughing

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  • prnciss74
    prnciss74 Member Posts: 16
    edited May 2009

    I too will be starting my treatments this month, most likely next week.  TAC x 6 or a study protocol. I am just waiting for my port and they said as soon as I get it I can start the next day. Like Mimi I am anxious to get the ball rolling.  I had my bilateral 4/21 and am recovering well. I've already got all my prescriptions (about 7).  I will keep all posted!

    Good Luck All!

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  • sherrilynne
    sherrilynne Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2009

    Okay ladies, when does your hair start to fall out?  I had first treatment on 5/1, and 2nd treatment will be 5/22.   Let me know your experience so far....?  Thanks

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  • Sukiann
    Sukiann Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2009

    Sherilynne  - My hair has started to fall out 11 days out.  Its kind of weird though because I only noticed it because I pulled on it and about 5 or 6 strands came out.  If I run my hand through it I get like one or two. It's hanging on!  It must have to do with the hair follicle cycle.  I'd like to make it through the weekend with my hair so I'm not touching it!  I think by the end of next week it will be gone.  I really thought that I was going to lose it all by today or tomorrow but it's stubborn! OK with me, I'll keep it as long as I can.

    Hoolianama Hope you're feeling better today.  So sorry you had a rough time. Kiss

    prnciss74 - good luck next week on starting chemo.  keep us updated.

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  • TexasRose
    TexasRose Member Posts: 740
    edited May 2009

    Hoolianama- I'm sorry you are so sick, but glad that you are beginning to feel better. My aunt is a two-time BC survivor. She calls me a lot and I get a lot of encouragement from her. Glad we have these ladies to help us through and give us courage!

    prnciss-  I see you are triple neg too. There are a few of us here. Good luck with your treatment next week. I hope it all goes well for you.

    Sukiann- I hope you keep your hair through the weekend!

    Hugs ladies who have already started and hugs to those like me who are waiting to start.  

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  • Modray1481
    Modray1481 Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2009

    AJlive - I had a port put in and am due for only 4 treatments.  I think it had more to do with the one of the drugs being so hard on the veins then the amount of treatments.  I have TAC every 3 weeks, first one took place on May 1st. 

    Had a heck of a time with Mouth sores the last couple days, they gave me a prescription for 'Magic Mouthwash' which seemed to help.  Yesterday was probably my toughest day and I felt so good the day before.

    Winnie51 -- I'm glad to hear that, I'm down at United in St. Paul (MN Oncology) and I've just been so impressed with how nice everyone is.  My surgeon (I'll have surgery after chemo) has been by far the most impressive.  He calls me day and night to check in and make sure I'm well informed - It helps sooo much!!

    Happy Mother's day to all the Mom's on the board!!

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  • benisse
    benisse Member Posts: 81
    edited May 2009

    In the moment - I had my first FAC on 5/5, so just one treatment under my belt.  How about you?  Yes my diagnosis was the day before yours.  I had a bilateral mast with tissue expanders...and we took a ski trip we had planned for my sons...so I think I'm behind you on chemo.  What's your regimen?

    AJ - Modray is correct that Adriamycin is hard on the veins and so ports are often recommended.  Are you having Adriamycin?

    My SE are much better today.  We started to go out of town to my parent's country house but my son who has had severe bladder infections in the past had pain while peeing at a rest stop.  So, we turned around and drove an hour back to an after hours clinic.  They found the little guy doesn't have a UTI at all.  So, I don't know what caused his pain which was so severe.  Anyway, now I'm at home which is just as well since I feel I have so much to get done now that I am able to crawl out of bed.  Days 1-4 were bad for me...all pretty equally bad.

    For thos of you who have had more than one tx, did the worst day remain constant between rounds?

    Happy Saturday to you all!

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