November 2009-Starting Chemo

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2009

    So many great women HERE...  I am thankful I have all of you here on this journey.  Although I am sorry you have to be here with me ~ 

    Mommy2two:  I love your kids saying they will beat anyone up that makes fun of you.  That is so cute. 

    Doronet:  I too feel this is all "surreal".  A nightmare that I just don't wake up from...  I was doing so good staying positive and then as chemo started to approach I find I am falling apart.  I just cried walking through Costco after picking up my prescriptions...  :( 

    Brenda:  1 chemo down !  woo HOO ~  I hope your SE's (side effects) stay to a minimum..  I too will be cutting my hair off as soon as it starts to fall out if now sooner.  Hubby is going to buzz it off.  I hope you are feeling okay today. 

    Anita:  Your 1/2 way through your treatments...  They say the TAXOL gets a bit more taxing.  (UGH.. dumb pun)  I hope you rest and treat yourself good. 

    CCNani:  when do you start your treatments?  I hope you are enjoying some sunshine.  Hang in there ~~~

    I am praying for each and everyone one of you girls...

    Together we can and will GET through this !!!

    Have a good day...

    Alicia 

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited October 2009

    Hi ladies,

    Popping my head in.  I'm not sure exactly when I will start but my oncologist says one month after surgery, which would be November 21.  I have an appointment with him November 10, so I am just guessing it'll be a week after that. Of course, I could start early December too.

    Chemo for the holidays, huh?  I have a 12 year old so I need to be strong and not wreck his Christmas!

    I don't know what they'll give me yet - I know I'll be doing herceptin so it'll be a long haul for me.

    My biggest fear is intractible headaches.  I already get migraine - worst any of my neurologists have ever seen.  They are barely under control now with pain meds and imitrex, and I really fear what these chemcials will do to me in that situation.  If I have a constant migraine I won't be able to complete treatment.  :(

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2009

    Hello November Ladies,

    I met the oncologist yesterday for the first time and then they realized they would have to transfer me to another office for insurance reasons. But, yesterday was not wasted, all info will transfer over.

    So my plan is AC x 4 and then T x 12 with herceptin and/or Tykerb depending on a study I may participate in.

    I am a divorced mom of two DDs aged 10 and 12 who are very scared but being great through all this. I homeschool my kids and watch two toddlers during the day. I am nervous about my ability to be a good parent/care giver during treatment.

    Next week will be busy, echo on Tuesday, PET on Wednesday and port put in Friday. Next Onc visit on 11/9 and I believe that will be first treatment (I'll have to double check and make sure the transfer went ok).

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  • MeNeverMind
    MeNeverMind Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2009

    This is the post I did on the October page but this works also.  I  

    Good Morning all.  My name is Kimberly and I am a stage 2a, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer winner.  I had zero margins and no node involvment.  I have 3 aunts with more than 1 round each of breast cancer.  I have had a lump removed and my port installed and will be going to my pre chemo lesson today.  I will start the chemo on Wed.  I will be getting AC 4 x's 2 weeks apart and then something else 1 week apart for 12 weeks.  I have a great husband who is feeling total left out and left in the dark, I know he is scared.  We don't have any kids but we do have 1 cat.  I have a wonderful support system of friends and family.  My mother in law had been the biggest blessing for me.  I bought a GREAT little bob wig and am trying it out at work today since tomorrow is halloween (costume - breat cancer winner).  I will be donating my hair to Locks of Love and my husband has agreed to be the one to shave my head when the time comes.  I was talking to a friend yesterday about maybe just wearing the wig full time a work and the doctors so there will be no time for the pitty face when I do lose my hair because no one will know.  Does that sound silly?  I have been a work for almost an hour now, trying to get as much done as I can now so I don't have to worrie about it next week.  Oh and if you can't tell I tend to ramble when I am scared.  And I am scared.  I had everything planed about when I wanted to do the chemo but the doctors schedual stoped that.  I am just affraid the I will not feel up to working and eventhough I have the worlds greatest office, I don't want to have to miss work alot.  I am mostly scared about how I am going to feel after the chemo.  Like an hour later, 5 hours later, a day, 2 days, 3 days...Well you understand.  I know everyone is different and there is no way to know how anyone is going to handle it.  I have heard that anywhere from day 1 to day 5 I might get sick.  But sick could be so many different things that there is no way to know.  I seem to have turned into a bit of a perfectionist and over planer since I was told about this "lovely gift" on Aug 28.   Everyone here seems great.  I am looking forward to all the support and wonderful info that I know I will be getting.  OK so I am going to go breath now and get back to work.  I feel better now.  Thanks

    I had to put off the chemo for 3 weeks so I could go see a cardiologist and ended up having a angiogram, then had to wait to see the doctor.  Good news, my heart is perfict just beats on the low side of normal.  I am sure I will feel better once I have my lesson today.  I have been reading EVERYTHING I can get my eyes on.  Sometimes I make myself sick because I know to much.  But I feel so much better knowing what is going to happen.  I don't know what I would do without the internet.  You guys are so wonderful.  I feel so much better.  Thanks

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  • MeNeverMind
    MeNeverMind Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2009

    I did this early this morning but since I am starting chemo Nov 4th I thought I would post here also.  Thanks 

    Good Morning all.  My name is Kimberly and I am a stage 2a, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer winner.  I had zero margins and no node involvment.  I have 3 aunts with more than 1 round each of breast cancer.  I have had a lump removed and my port installed and will be going to my pre chemo lesson today.  I will start the chemo on Wed.  I will be getting AC 4 x's 2 weeks apart and then something else 1 week apart for 12 weeks.  I have a great husband who is feeling total left out and left in the dark, I know he is scared.  We don't have any kids but we do have 1 cat.  I have a wonderful support system of friends and family.  My mother in law had been the biggest blessing for me.  I bought a GREAT little bob wig and am trying it out at work today since tomorrow is halloween (costume - breat cancer winner).  I will be donating my hair to Locks of Love and my husband has agreed to be the one to shave my head when the time comes.  I was talking to a friend yesterday about maybe just wearing the wig full time a work and the doctors so there will be no time for the pitty face when I do lose my hair because no one will know.  Does that sound silly?  I have been a work for almost an hour now, trying to get as much done as I can now so I don't have to worrie about it next week.  Oh and if you can't tell I tend to ramble when I am scared.  And I am scared.  I had everything planed about when I wanted to do the chemo but the doctors schedual stoped that.  I am just affraid the I will not feel up to working and eventhough I have the worlds greatest office, I don't want to have to miss work alot.  I am mostly scared about how I am going to feel after the chemo.  Like an hour later, 5 hours later, a day, 2 days, 3 days...Well you understand.  I know everyone is different and there is no way to know how anyone is going to handle it.  I have heard that anywhere from day 1 to day 5 I might get sick.  But sick could be so many different things that there is no way to know.  I seem to have turned into a bit of a perfectionist and over planer since I was told about this "lovely gift" on Aug 28.   Everyone here seems great.  I am looking forward to all the support and wonderful info that I know I will be getting.  OK so I am going to go breath now and get back to work.  I feel better now.  Thanks

    I had to put off the chemo for 3 weeks so I could go see a cardiologist and ended up having a angiogram, then had to wait to see the doctor.  Good news, my heart is perfict just beats on the low side of normal.  I am sure I will feel better once I have my lesson today.  I have been reading EVERYTHING I can get my eyes on.  Sometimes I make myself sick because I know to much.  But I feel so much better knowing what is going to happen.  I don't know what I would do without the internet.  You guys are so wonderful.  I feel so much better.  Thanks

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited October 2009

    Welcome - MeNeverMind, My gift was recieved on Aug. 14, 2009. Made my B-day month a real winner. I have decieded to cut my hair on my first day of Chemo which was this ast Wed. 28th Oct. I figure I would take my own hair rather than letting the cancer get it. Last year i had donated 12" of my hair to Lock of Love, this year I cut it before chemo and will send it off to have a Hip-Hat-Hair thing made for my self with my own hair attached,.i had tried wigs and couldn't stand the feel of the unnatural hair so I went with my own. It will take about a week to come in, so meanwhile just hats & scarves. Feels pretty cool haveing my head shaved. I did freak a little, cuz my hubby was watching my hairdresser, (Thank the Lord a good friend also) but anyways he had this look on his face that scared me, and i said QUIT LOOKING at me!!! Then he said I hope you will be OK. I said don't look at me like that and I will. It took a smidge, but then I got over it. I will be happy when I have my own LOCKS of Love back to me. Something to always remember what this terrible disease can to to us women everywhere. At least we have each other here.

    Phillipa, Welcome also, Please don't worry about the lingo - You will learn it soon enough!!!! Everyone has wonderful ideas and is quite helpful.  Yes, TX is for treatments X # is for how many TX are to be recieved. It won't be long, just keep reading and following the sisters. There advice is very helpful. There are specific boards throughout this site to discuss paticular problems.  Enjoy searching the sites as they will help you.

    doronet473, I wish my oncologist or even my primary care Dr. would prescribe me some good anxiety meds, BUT NOPE like they are afraid I'll get hooked. They just say to take my pain meds and that should help. BUT, right now it's more anxiety and the fact i can't sleep. I asked for Ambien CR and they wouldn't do that either. Sometimes it so frustrating. The steriods make me wide awake and wired that I received during my first chemo TX, but they won't prescibe anything for me to sleep. I can't take Tylenol PM because it has Benadryl in it and that I'm allergic to.

    Anyways sisters, To all have a restfull weekend if you can. I don't post much on the weekends because I don't have a home computor. If I send messages it's on my "Blackberry" phone and that's just a little difficult. I do read the postings, but to type is still kind of a pain in the BUTT>

    So, till Monday Girls (Hope I didn't miss chatting with anyone today!!!!)

    )))))peace(((((   (((((HUGS)))))

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  • Hopbird
    Hopbird Member Posts: 387
    edited October 2009

    Hi Ladies...

    I just wanted to pop by and see how Brenda did......sounds like everything went well....at least on the chemo scale!  Congrats on having it and the terrors over with!

    CCNani, I just want to comment on your Her2+ status.  While at one point, Her2+ cancer was not a good thing, that has been offset by the success of Herceptin.  I encourage you to go read the Her2+ thread.  It means we have to take the stinking drug for a year, but it has been very exciting in the field and has made being Her2+ NOT not necessarily a bad thing any more!   I know you may read things that say so, but realize that Herceptin has only been used for early stage cancer for a very short time, and they stopped some trials that would have given some good data early because they felt it wasn't right to deprive some participants of it.  BTW, my doctor also wanted to shy away from AC because of the cardiac issue in combination with the Herceptin.  One or the other, but not both!

    Coolbreeze, I also know how you feel about the one year thing........yep, me too!  Although I think after my chemo is over and I'm down to just Herceptin every few weeks it will feel like a picnic.  My youngest just turned 13 a week ago.  Oddly, he handles this whole thing better than anyone.  Kids don't have the same perception of "cancer" that we grew up with.  Just let him know you'll have days you don't feel well, but there will be others when you feel just fine, and take advantage of those for him. 

    Good luck to all of those that are starting soon!

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  • Shel
    Shel Member Posts: 41
    edited October 2009

    Hello to all my November sisters.  I start chemo this coming Thursday and like everyone on this post, I am dreading it.  I have the same regime that many of you have mentioned,  AC every other week X 4 and then Taxol every two weeks X 4. 

    Doronet, I have kids the same approximate age as yours -- one in college and one still at home.  Since this has been breast cancer month, they have been very supportive, but I don't think they really get it. 

    My friends and family have been so great.  Though it's not in my nature, I intend to take any help with meals and rides where ever I am offered them.  I always think that I would do it gladly from them, so it is OK to accept the help now.

    I am sending positive thoughts and energy to all those starting chemo this week (including me!)

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2009

    Hi Shel,

    My first chemo Monday ~  I have the same treatment plan as you.  So my November sister and sisters.  WE will get through this.  While I am sure it will suck plenty of days~  WE can do it!!

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  • BrendaSharon
    BrendaSharon Member Posts: 506
    edited October 2009

    Welcome Shell! , I don't like using this blackberry to type with, BUT didn't not want to welcome you here. NOT a club of preference, BUT Nessisity for sure! We sisters all need each others advise and knowledge of how surreal this -C- is!! Anyhow, I can honestly say TODAY is

    POST CHEMO DAY3 I'm still OK, NOT SICK, a bit of a dull headache and.a bit loopy from the meds. Otherwise not so bad. BUT until you go thru #1 yourself I understand the shear terror. Good Luck next week girls, I know you will all be OK!!!!!! (((((HUGS))))) Brenda



    Mommy2two HOPE U Done OK last eve after TX#1, and are doing as well as I on my 1st post chemo day. :-)



    Good Night Sisters. Happy Halloween !!

    HOPBIRD, Thanks for checking on me :-)
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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited October 2009

    Mommy2two, I hope you are doing okay with your first treatment behind you.  Post when you can....

    BrendaSharon, Glad you are OK ~  I hope your SE's are not too bad.

    You all inspire me....

    :) 

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2009

    My intentions were to get on here tonight and scream:  I HATE THIS CANCER!   I HATE IT!  I HATE IT!  I HATE IT!  And then I see all the support, all the strength, and all the encouragement, and I calm down.  I just want it all to be over. [sigh]   My first chemo day on Tuesday seems like so far from now, but then again, I don't ever want it to get here.  The only name I can come up with for that day for my calendar is "Hell Day."  Anyone have something better?

    Oh, and happy halloween!  My son made our garage into a haunted house for the neighborhood kids, so for 3 hrs., I didn't think about myself.  That felt good.

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited November 2009

    Doronet..  I hear you.. on the "hell" day.  But to me that day was the day of my diagnosis.  I have my first chemo Monday.  I am trying to think of it as 1 down... 7 more to go ~~  I am scared to DEATH of MONDAY...  but just want it over with already. 

    Hang in there....  I know it's hard.  :(

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2009

    I feel bad about venting like I did last night, but as others have said on this site, who else really understands?  Thanks, JustmeAlicia, and everyone else who has been-there-done-that.  It's just that I was filling out my calendar yesterday morning and listing all the drugs I have to take before the infusions and after the infusions and then I went into the kitchen to take my usual vitamins/supplements, yes, I take a lot, and was going through them saying, "Well, I can't take that one [throw it off to the side], can't take that one [throw it off to the side]..."  can't shave my legs with a razor, can't use whitening toothpaste, can't clip my cuticles...very, very, very frustrating.  However, I must start to look at all the drugs as being good things: Emends/Decadron/Lorazapam/Miralax/Ativan/EMLA and the Neupogen injections..., okay, well, those I really don't like because I hate, hate, hate, hate hate needles.  But all of this is so I don't have to go through all of this again, huh?  And all of the drugs are to keep me from feeling bad, so they are goodthings.  And the chem-cocktails are not a form of torture by the oncs, but a way of keeping me around longer, huh?

    And speaking of THE-Day, any advice on the EMLA cream?  Can you put on too much?  Is applying it an hour ahead enough time for it to work?  I really don't want to feel anything.  Yes, I would make Wimp-of-the-Year, hands down.

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  • mommy2two
    mommy2two Member Posts: 130
    edited November 2009

    Whoo hooo.....my first treatment is over and done with!  I now realize that I was scared out of my mind for nothing.  I went in there with a positive attitude and a lot of praying and I made it!  Today is day 2 post tx and I feel just fine.  I got a tad bit of a headache when I was getting the Cytoxan but Tylenol took care of that.   My face and chest are flushed so it looks like I have a sunburn but that is really my only side effect (yet).  I picked up my wig yesterday and it looks great...makes me wish it was my real hair.  I think I'm going to go ahead and just shave my head next Saturday, don't want to take a chance of my hair falling out while I'm at work.  My husband wants to shave it for me but I'm not sure I'm ready for him to see me with no hair.  Now I'm just wondering how long it will be before I have to slow down and cut back on my hectic schedule.  I work and go to school full-time plus having two kids that always seem to have a million things going on!  I just try to keep thinking that I am 25% done with my tx...three more to go!

     Brenda - Glad you are doing okay and I pray that you continue feel well!

    Welcome to all the new sisters!  Together we can get through this and I wish each one of you the best of luck as they begin their first tx.  If I can do this then I know you can because we are all tough cancer fighting warriors!  :-)

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited November 2009

    I am just dropping in--- this week was 1 year since my dx.... I wanted to encourage you all as you start treatment--as some of you already know, the anticipation is worse than the event.

     This is hard, but you can do it!!!  I am now 8 months past my last chemo treatment and I am just fine-- my hair has grown back into a massive thick set of curls and more importantly I feel fine and healed.  You will feel that way too..... just keep your head down, go to the treatments, do what they tell you and it will indeed be over before you realize it (I know it does not feel that way right now). 

    I also want to say that many of you may have full-time jobs, small kids, elderly parents--- and some of you might be able to keep up your schedule--I was pretty much able to.  but, if you cannot, please don't see that as a personal failing--your body is going to tell you what to do.  I think if I have one regret it is that I did not take more time off during my 8 weeks of chemo (1 every other week).... but I did not have any bad reactions, so it did not seem necessary.  Just listen to your body and do what is right for you.  I went to work, but that is ALL I did-- didn't cook, clean, anything else.... just tried to rest.

    good luck-- remember,  you are doing this to doubly insure that you are going to be fine!!!!

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  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 1,584
    edited November 2009

    momand2kids: your words are so encouraging, thank you! Just wondering how soon after treatment did you hair grow back sufficiently to go without wig or scarf?

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited November 2009

    I don't even know where to begin. It seems like it took forever to meet my Onc. and get started. Now, in a matter of days, I've had my port placed Friday, scans on Monday, chemo class on Nov 4 and chemo on Nov 17. Now it's a whirlwind!!!!! I have AC 1x every two weeks for 8 weeks (2 months) and then TH (Taxol) 1x a week for 12 weeks (3 months). It's considered neoadjuvant. I'll have a bilateral when chemo is over followed by 6 1/2 weeks of radiation to wall and nodes. I love my Onc. and place my life in God's hands. Thank you for the posts and a new "sisterhood".

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  • ccnani
    ccnani Member Posts: 46
    edited November 2009
    Hi all u beauties! Hope you all had a happy halloween. I went out with some of the grandkids to trick or treat and then to a carnival, so many cute little kids. Had a good time and it took my mind off this mess for a minute! I'm set to see plastic surgeon on Monday the 2nd of Nov. He's the man now, cause He says when I start chemo. There was a tentative date of Nov. 3, but some healing problems in Left breast. I think he is probably going to give the ok for Nov.10th.. If he says the 3rd Im saying no, cause Im not ready. Yikes, hell day in one week! I think maybe the old " Rock of Gibraltar" might crack into a million pieces!                                                            Mommy2two, so glad your still doing good, is it 3 days out now, you are amazing! Hope u continue as it is right now! How are your kids doing?                                                                   Hey Doronet, how hard is it to keep this running list in our mind of what we can and cannot take? Good thing we are all so smart! It's becoming a blur for me now! Good luck on your first tx hope you and me and all the girls that havent started yet do as well as brendasharon and mommy2two.                                                                                                                           Brendasharon hope you are still doing good after your 1st tx and that you have continued well being thruout.                                                                                                                           Justmealicia, saw your beautiful family in the picture!. Is your 1st chemo Nov. 2nd? Mija, I too feel I'm falling apart as the day nears! Thought I would be way stronger than this! How is your family doing thru all this?   Stay strong!!                                                                                    Shel, how you doing? Were you the sister that was trying to decide about clinical trials? I think there are now two triple negative sisters in the November Girls! Good luck on Nov. 5th !!              Hopbird, thanks for following all us newbies. I know your right about the better outcome for us her2+ girls nowadays. Your help and advice is great! Keep on poppin in here. I wanted to ask if you had a reaction to taxotere and thats why they put you on Abraxane? I'm very concerned about that ,cause I have mild COPD and asthma, or did they start you on Abraxane from the start?  Any info would be soooo appreciated sister.                                                                    Menevermind, Kimberly, I'm so glad you have a great husband who is also a friend, I never did find a good one not for lack of trying!  He will be your rock thru this mess!! Good luck on Nov. 4th for your 1st tx!!! Are you and your sisters braca 1 or 2 ? Thank God for your motherinlaw.BTW, there is another triple neg. sister here that is Shel!                                                                     Hi Melinda41 welcome my fellow sister with her2+. Do you start on Nov.9th? I hope we her2+ have an easy road !!! Are they giving you TCH ? I get confused a little seems my brain is clogged with info right now. Just want to check if any other sisters are on TCHX6 once every 3 weeks then herceptin for 1 yr.                                                                                                   CoolBreeze, hi sister another her2+ girl. Thats what I say. Just what I wanted for the holidays, Chemo!! I want to eat turkey this weekend cause who knows what we will be able to eat when the holidays are here!! Hope your little guy is doing OK thru this stuff!                                                Welcome Cafelovr another her2+ sister!!! Your absolutely right what a whirlwind!! More like a tornado or a hurricane! I'm so glad you love your ONC, I hate mine, He is brilliant, knowlegeable and way too polyanna for me. Not much on personality and very awkward with too many questions or someone challenging him, which I did of course!! I love my coffee too and don't intend to give it up!!  You are in the right place here all the girls are great and very brave!! Read the whole blog and go back into the september and october girls blog so you can get all their wisdom as they went thru this mess!! They have so much good info and advice and they pop in here too to help us out all the time!!                                                                                          Hi sister phillipa, welcome to the November Ladies! Do you live in Bankok fulltime? Hope your doing OK. Just come right in and write whatever you feel. Who would have thought that I too would be learning another language, I am fluent in Spanish and English but now I'm getting fluent in  Breast Cancer lingo, treaments, meds, chemos etc. I guess it's just part of the learning experience and believe me with BC the more you know the better off you are, in this case ignorance is not bliss!!!                                                                                                            Big thanks to all the sisters who drop in on us who have already weathered this perfect storm!! Thats what this disease reminds me of " The Perfect Storm" . Hopbird, Momand2kids and all the other women can be our guides out here in the outback!!! Well girls we are all in this boat together and with the help of all our friends here we will navigate this thing and come out of this hurricane to calmer seas!!! God bless us and all our families and friends!!! Alota Luv I keep trying to edit this so the paragraphs come out right but its not working. Sorry girls!
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  • MeNeverMind
    MeNeverMind Member Posts: 42
    edited November 2009

    Great Afternoon Everyone.  I stoped by today to say that I had my lesson on Friday and feell so much more relaxed.  I get the "good" stuff for my meds.  I have been doing some reading and it seems that Emend is the best.  Ya for me.  I also am getting Dexamethasone, Zofran, Comazine and if I need it I get Ativan.  I WILL NOT GET SICK!!!  I WILL NOT GET SICK!!!  I Will Not Get Sick!  I will not get sick.  Right?  RIGHT!  I went out today and picked up a bunch of soup and crakers and these little cookies that have always eased my tummy.  And I talked to the girl at the pharmacy and we got my insurance corrected in the system so I am saving $240 alone on the good meds.  Ya for me again.  So I started reading the posts since I was here last and I now feel even better.  I know that I am making more out of this than is really going to ahppen.  But I don't want any of this.  I don't like being sick.  Well being told I am sick and going to get sicked when I am not sick.  But in a weird way I will get to stay home from work once and  awhile.  And it never hurts to make the people at work that don't work while I'm there have to work while I am gone.  But enough about that.  I just really wanted to say that I am total happy to have such a wonderful group of sisters.  And I hope I am able to help others as much as I have been helped.  Thanks All.  Have a great evening.  Love Kimmy

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited November 2009

    ccnani:

    From my understanding, I will be doing AC x 4, then T x 12 with herceptin or possible tykerb. AC every 3 weeks and T will be weekly. Then radiation after chemo is done.

    Hope to get the port in this week so I can start the following week.

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  • arnie2two
    arnie2two Member Posts: 1,215
    edited November 2009

    Hey all you beautiful courageous fighters!!!!  I'm from the March 2009 chemo warriors and I just wanted to let you know that we're cheering you on!!!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!!  I had 4 AC and 4 TC and now onto rads.  Thinking of you all...

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited November 2009

    MaryNY

    they told me to expect that my hair would start growing back about 6 weeks after my treatment ended--- but, at 6 weeks, there was really nothing (I had shaved it off)... at 8 weeks, a shadow-- then an explosion of growth.  I wore a wig from January 22 to July 4th--- I only wore a wig, no hats or scarves and never left the house without the wig.  when I took it off on the 4th, I had short wavy hair--probably about an inch long---- now it is just unruly (but I will NOT complain).  

    everyone's hair grows differently, but mine is pretty much growing at the pace it did before this started--I needed haircuts once a month-- and I still do.....

    best of luck to everyone   YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!! 

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  • Mouse6694
    Mouse6694 Member Posts: 88
    edited November 2009

    Hi, joining in to the November club. I start 11/3 first with adriamycin/cytoxan 4x then taxol 4x every other week, finishing with herceptin for 1 year. Anxious to start but ready to go to get it over with. Thankful for all the data here to help us all get through this as s/e free as possible. I actually will be taking my laptop to treatment so I'll let everyone know how its going.

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  • ccnani
    ccnani Member Posts: 46
    edited November 2009

    Hi there Mouse6694,

    Welcome to your group! another her2+ sister. That is such a great idea to take your lap top to chemo. Im gonna check and see if they have a place to plug in and are wired for it. Good luck Nov. 3rd!!!!!  

    Melinda41, different chemo but still her2+. I'm praying for us all to have an easy ride on our tx's god bless us all!!!!  Thanks to our March 09 sister for cheering us on, cause we sure need all the cheers!!! 

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  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 1,529
    edited November 2009

    Momand2kids ~ Thanks for such a great inspirational post !!! 

    Mouse ~ I start tomorrow same treatment plan as you ~

    Everyone else starting this week good luck, we will get through this!!!

    Hugs and Prayers ~

    Alicia 

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  • sueinfl
    sueinfl Member Posts: 258
    edited November 2009

    Hey everyone. After weeks of reading post after post, subject after subject, it is my turn to join in. It was easier from the outside looking in. Tears are coming to my eyes as I take one more step into this long journey.

    I start chemo tomorrow, Nov. 2. My onc wants to do chemo first, ACTaxotere, 6x, every three weeks. He seems to be hoping for a lumpectomy after the 5cm ILC tumor in my left b shrinks. No nodes have been biopsied. The MRI and PET scan showed them clear, but they cannot show isolated cancer cells, of course. After a horrible core biopsy, I would be shocked if cancer cells were NOT heading to parts unknown. I am leaning towards bilateral mascs. I am really glad for the extra time to consider the choices in surgery.

    What a laundry list of drugs! I swallowed my 5 dexamethasone just a while ago. I do not know if I will take any lorazepam to help me sleep. I might just do benedryl since I have had a sinus headache most of today. Of all the time for allergies to show up. 

    Tomorrow, the list of stuff poured into the IV will be more dexamethasone, Emend, palonestron, (all for nausea I believe), raniditine for antiacid, benedryl for an antihistimine,along with the ACT. I will be back the next day for Neulasta. Emend on days 2 and 3. Ondansetron every 8 hours, but I don't know for how many days yet. They have a come a long way with treating the worst SEs.

    I also cut my hair short, mostly to get my friends and family used to it. This way, a wig won't look quite so strange. I had long hair I wore pulled up into a twist most of the time. No way I could have found a realistic wig in that style. I will probably wearing scarves most of the time. 

    I was/am in my last semester of college (at the age of 54) when I found the lump in August. The pathology report was Sept. 30.  I have had to drop a couple of classes, but hope to finish them through self-study by next semester and still walk with my classmates in May. 

    My kids are grown, 25b, 23g, 20b, all living elsewhere. I really miss them. 

    Thanks to all of you who keep checking in with us "newbies" and sharing your encouragement. Knowedge is a powerful thing and companionship a gift on this rollercoaster called breast cancer treatment. 

    love and courage to everyone (including this whimp),

    Sue

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  • sueinfl
    sueinfl Member Posts: 258
    edited November 2009

    I will be thinking of you tomorrow, Alicia!

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  • joanneasiata
    joanneasiata Member Posts: 719
    edited November 2009

    Hi Brenda

    And everyone else Ive started my TX  on Oct 23 I'm doing  X6 rounds of FEC so Ive already earned myself a smiley , then RADS X6 then hormone ???

    I'm 45YRS old 4 children 2 girls 21 and 20 and two boys 14 and 17 and two grand daughters who light up my life and a fantastic husband most of the time I'm a hairdresser who has put work on the shelf for the moment my boss is more of a friend than anything  she wants me to come back only when I'm ready so I'm very luck that way. My parents are so supportiv coming around once a week to fill my freezer with ready made meals for the family to last about 4 nights and they want to come with me to my next TX so sweet  My 2 sisters are like best friends to me .

    Well on the down side i have had really bad SEs with my first TX just the tiredness was so bad for me sores in my mouth and nobody told me of the importance of washing myself down after # ones and # twos so i developed sores ,infection and I'm on antibiotics SOO who ever is unaware of washing yourself down after the loo please do it  .Now after 10 days I'm feeling back to my normal self and it feels soooo good i Carnot stop telling everyone how good i feel now  .

    To every one who is about to go for their first TX  RELAX its so important for you and its not so bad i really enjoyed a time to sit relax and have a chat and of cause a laugh with all the others 

     WELL  thats me

    JOANNE

    ,

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  • doronet
    doronet Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2009

    My 1st chem-day tomorrow.  Not much sleep last night, but DLS time hasn't helped.  Doubt there be much sleep tonight either.

    So much encouragement from this site, I can't even begin to say how helpful, nor can I mention everyone individually, though some people, BrendaSharon, ccnani, to name two, are great at making everyone feel special!   Advice from been-there-done-that is tremendous, too. (thanks, momand2kids recently!)  Am letting friends do for me, though, as others have said, it is not my nature at all.  (Is it in any woman's nature?)  Think meals, even if only for my husband and son, will be appreciated.  My husband is a rock and has gone to every dr. visit, every surgery, and will be going with me on chem-days.  He's even going to give me the Neu. shots, as I won't be able to do them to myself.

    Sueinfl, I'll take you on as the bigger wimp any day.  Am trying to stay strong, but it's tough, huh. 

    Prayers are with everyone starting today!  doronet

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