Any May 2009 Chemo Starters?

ok so its been five days i'm officially feeling much better.. still very tired though .. today depressed more than anything else.. went out to eat with some friends and my back was killing me so much that i wanted to go home.. and it just made me so sad ahhh and my ex is meeting his new girlfriends parents tomorrow yippy! life is so shitty

i just want the nightmare to be over with  

Julie - you just said what I thought! I too start chemo tomorrow and have been really helped by reading everyone's reports here. I feel as ready as possible for this with your help.

My drugs are different from the ones mentioned by others here.  When my hair starts to fall out, I call the nice lady at the wig shop so she can cut it off, properly fit the wig I ordered and have seen  and cut it the way I want. My chemo bag is packed with all sorts of good entertainment and a neat little book that has all the information and questions I need.  I know already that the people at the oncology clinic are wonderfully kind and competent. The view there on one side is the peaceful bay and on the other (if I peek over some things) is the school and playground where my grandson goes to school and it is only a ten minute walk from home so no need for long drives and finding an expensive parking spot. This can be done!

I had my first chemo tx on Friday, 5/8, morning.  My DH came with me and it went well.  After the blood test the nurse accessed my port and got it ready for the treatment.  I got settled in the chemo room, about 12 blue recliners.  I was almost the last set-up for the day as they are only opertional until 12 on Fridays.  The first bag the nurse hung was just saline.  Next up was the pretreatment anti-nausea medications consisting of Aloxi, Emend and Decadron.  That took about 15 minutes to drip in.  After that came the Adriamycin.  In this facility they push it manually by syringe so they can periodically check to make sure none is leaking out of the port, as it is very caustic to your tissues.  It was a little odd having someone I didn't know very well so close to me for an hour.  I imagine as I get to know her better and she me it won't feel so weird.  After that she hooked the bag of Cytoxin to the pump and that proceed for another hour.  When that was in I was all done.

I wasn't feeling too bad so my DH and I went to a little cafe and picked up a salad and a half sandwich to take to the park nearby for lunch.  I live in a small town where I am lucky to have my Onc's office at most 5 min from home and a few min from the downtown where we went for lunch.  It was a pretty day and it was great to be outdoors.  I was also glad I had finally started chemo.  

Morning to All!  I hope those of you who are Mother's enjoyed your day yesterday!  My son, husband and one of my step daughters were here to keep me smiling and let me know how loved I was all day.  That made a great day.  I finally felt like being upright yesterday!  Chemo was Wed and Sat was without a doubt the worst day so that is what, day 4?  I think someone told me it would be.....The nausea drugs really do work!!  Take them whether you are sick or not!!  I was so worried about that SE that I had myself a mess.....luckily so far so good, no pukey pukies.  The exhaustion SUX.  So, now, I have noticed a couple of pimples under the skin on my face and what feels like one on my scalp.  Kinda wondering if the scalp one is a precursor to the inpending baldness!  Is anyone in our group near Cincinnati?  I am in a burb outside of the 'nasti' and just wondered.  Well, off to decided what to do today before I get so friggin tired again....but then again, this is going to be a better day!  Right? Everyday closer to tx 2 means I will feel better!

XOXO

Mary-

I have 4 tx over 12 weeks so every 21 days.  I am guessing your 'up' time will be less than mine.

luvtheocean- Yeah, I think my up time will be less too. I just have to keep reminding myself that I chose the dose dense.

Can-D- Hope you are feeling better soon.

I am taking the next two weeks to get my house cleaned well and ready for some down time before I start on the chemo. I also booked a hotel on the San Antonio Riverwalk this weekend. It will be nice to get away if only for a weekend before this all starts. I'm really looking forward to the Riverwalk. We love it there and it's an easy two-hour drive.

Monday hugs to all.   

Well - first chemo is in me and so far, so good. It was OK walking there, back and then to the drugstore and back. I am glad to have the experience of some of you to be prepared for a some fatigue or other side effects a few days from now. My kitchen counter is covered with all sorts of anti nausea drugs which I will take as ordered. Maybe I should mow the lawn today - or perhaps tomorrow.

Well all went well for me so far.I feel pretty good.Was a long day. Got there at 9:45 a.m. and was done around 2:45 p.m. No nausea or anything else yet hope it doesn't come. I could only be so lucky. My onc. has order so more tests on me,having a bone scan,having some back problems and my blood count was above average. Not sure what that means but I trust him and having everything done that he suggests. Talk to you all hopefully tomorrow. Take care, Julie

Hello I would like to join the May Chemo Group of ladies:

I will go to the Oncologist on May 15th and will get all details and start date then.

I had a rt. full mastectomy-IDC-StageII/2 Nodes   on April 17th

Anyone on here from Tennessee?

Hi faithandprayers and pinkmama welcome to our little club though I am sorry that you had to join us.

I am from Tennessee.  Doing my treatments at Vandy,  how about you?

Hi pinkmama - welcome from another Canadian (just down the 401 in Southern Ontario). Sorry you are here - however I am endlessly amazed at how much easier it is to face what is next with the experiences of others to help.

Day 2 of chemo for me and except for accidentally getting out of bed an hour early (I pushed the wrong button on my clock so it was ahead an hour) all is well. I didn't get to mowing the front lawn yesterday  - some visitors, e-mails, phone calls and a bit of a nap used up the rest of the day. Maybe today that lawn will get done.

Hi Lassie11

What type of Chemo?

 Is anyone able to work through their Chemo so far?   

Luvtheocean  let me know how the wig shopping goes.  I am getting ready for that.  I just cut my hair short last week and I cried.  I thought it would be easier in the long run.  The support group at the hospital said it is easier to get fitted for a wig when your hair is short. whaaa whaaa.

Hi Pinkmama - I'm on day 12 of Chemo that I'll be getting every 3 weeks.  I get dose-dense of TAC and then the Neulesta (Sp?) shot the following day.  I'm trying to keep working and have missed a total of a day and half so far.  Feeling good this week, had a tough day after the shot and a few days after that with mouth sores.  But feeling more like myself today.

I have my wig and decided to shave it rather than watch it come out.    That's tomorrow night.  I have twin boys that are 8 and they are excited to help with that part.  Oh boy!!

Take care everyone!

Pinkmama- I actually was fitted for my wig a couple of weeks ago.  I had a custom chemotherapy wig made.........I am still pissed at the fact that it cost as much as a vacation!  Anyway, I did get my hair cut super short(for me at least) prior to my fitting, etc.  So, I just had to pick it up today...day 6 and am told that with AC I should expect to loose my hair days 6-10....head is sore in spots now so I guess it is coming.

GOOD LUCK!!

Becky