Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Hey 11tybillion,

I, too will be starting chemo Jan. 6.

I, too am TN

I am stage IV with mets to my liver.

My Onco is recommending FEC-D D for Docetaxol (Taxotere) I think I will do 3 treatments of the FEC 1x/week and then 3 treatments of D 1x/week.

Doesn't sound fun. Crappy thing is, other than the hockey puck size tumor in my breast that is just now becoming slightly uncomfortable and the mass of tumors on my liver that I am experiencing NO side effects from, I feel fine!! The thought of purposely making myself so sick and with so many side effects, just seems dumb.

I am a mother of 4 girls (18,14,6 and 3) and I live in Canada...you ladies???

Melanie

Hi ladies,

I just got the news today that I will be starting chemo dec 30th, but I'm going to join the jan group if that's ok since the dec group is well in full swing. 

I'm 36 and have a 5 month old baby boy.  This is my 2nd time having bc.  The first time was 7/07.  I had a lumpectomy, dd AC x4 Taxol x4 for chemo and 33 rads. 

Now I might have mets in liver though they're not sure.  I'm having a PET scan on Thursday.  If it shows cancer then I have mets, if its clear they still can't rule out mets so we're going with aggressive chemo first and then a double mastectomy. 

I believe I'm having abraxane chemo first (every week) and then FEC which I know nothing about yet.

I hope I'm not freaking anyone out because I'm a recur.  I know I had a difficult time talking to people with recurrances the first time I went through because I was too afraid of that possibility. 

I still have my port in so at least I don't have to have that surgery over. 

Nice to meet everybody. 

I will be starting CMF on Jan7th.

Hi all - I'm starting mine on January 14th, port implant on the 13th. I'm not gonna lie, I'm scared. I'm having 8 chemo treatments, 4 of one kind, 4 of another, then 3 weeks off before rads start. I saw a thread on details about port implant, I'm trying to decide if I should read it, I'm worried it might make me more anxious. Anybody already have theirs in? How bad? I had right lumpectomy with full lymph node removal on 12/7 and am still hurting from that; tell me it's not that bad, please.

Trying not to laugh...

paxton - thanks for the info on the port and the suggestions for head covering. I know I would not like a wig so I'm trying to prepare to embrace my baldness and just wear baseball caps. I wear them a lot anyway with my hair up in a pony tail so won't be too different. I may wear a bandana under it to keep my head warm.

cathy - thanks for the suggestion on the placement, I'll be sure to disuss with my surgeon. He didn't go into details about exactly where it would be, he just said on my left chest below my collar bone. I may give him a call to make sure he's not planning on putting it in the bra area. I'm glad to hear you didn't notice it a lot once it was in; I've heard from others that they were constantly aware of theirs. Either way, I don't like getting stuck all the time for IV's and stuff so the port has got to be worth the pain and trouble.

Paxton - Thank you so much for the laugh.  I can't tell you how much I needed that today.

"If you do wear a wig, do not wear it when you open your oven or over other hot things.  I made the mistake of opening the woodstove door and melted my wig." 

I was feeling so scared and sorry or myself then I come on the board and see that some of you are dealing with reoccurences and mets.  I want to slap myself for being selfish.  I wish we could all hug each other.  I really could use some warm arms around me.

I called our HR dept today to ask about medical absence on the thurs and fri when I will be out for my chemo.  They told me that unless I am out 6 consecutive business days that I will have to use my vacation time.  That sent me over the edge.  It's not like we have the sniffles here, I am asking for a legitimate reason.  I freaked out and called my onc.  They are so sweet they said they would put down whatever I wanted in order to keep excess stress off me. I think the plan will be to write me out for thurs/fri and all of the following week.  I have no idea how I will feel.  How have you ladies who have had TC before felt.  Were you able to work full time?  How long after treatment will I start to feel btter?  Or do you think it would be better to just have the onc write me out of work for the entire time?

I see all these people talking about bone pain, extreme fatigue, flu X 10, nausea, not to mention the hair loss.  I am having an anxiety attack.  I'm crying uncontrollably.  Do any of you do that too?

I did find a website today, I think it was headcovers.com.  I bought matching nightcaps for me and my boyfriend.  He is going bald and always complains his head is cold.  I also got some bangs  and one of those falls paxton mentioned.  It didn't bother me at the time buying them, but now that I am home it is just one more thing that makes it more real.

I will be finding out my chemo treatment tomorrow.  I was diagnosed last month and have been on the roller coaster ride since then.  I'm 37 and have 2 kids and have a hard time believing that this is all actually happening.  After the initial mammograms, biopsies, MRI, genetic tests and hormone receptor results, I was told I was stage 1 and that this may not require chemo.  Then I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy .  I thought the hardest part was the waiting, until I discovered that they were wrong about my negative sentinel node biopsy results and a few days later told me that I am actually node positive.  That was a tough day.  I go back and forth between realizing that I'm lucky to have discovered all of this when I did and then feeling miserable because I've got the worst luck ever. So, I suspect that tomorrow the oncologist will help me find my plan.  I'm hoping that once I at least have a plan, then I'll start to feel a little bit better about my situation.  2010 is shaping up to be one tough year.  I know I'm up for the fight, but I'm still shaking in my boots.

Hi all,

What's with everyone having Dr.s apts tomorrow?? lol

11tybillion, I know what you mean about the biopsy. it's like those needles just pissed those cells right off and they gre...fast!!!

My appt is tomorrow as well... I have sooooo many questions. I've been told I'm having a PICC line put in, not a port. From everything I've read the port seems the way to go. PICC line needs to be flushed every week and covered with bandages??I can't help but wonder if because I'm triple negative, stage IV, they don't think the port is worth it (time is running out??) Who knows, been really depressed lately.

Oksana, it sounds like we are having the same treatment...interesting considering you're ER/PR +

CANSER SUCKS!!!!

(spelled it that way on purpose--it's the only control I have over this disease right now)

Melanie

Ladies - I am dropping in to say hello and share some encouragement. I am from the April 2009 Chemo group. I had 6 TCH and the rest of the year on Herceptin only. I only have 5 more to go and will finish them in April. I did rads after that and am on Tamoxifen now. It has been QUITE a year.

I have read your thread and want to share my experience to add support to you and let you know that while it is NO FUN and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, YOU CAN DO THIS! Some days seem like they last forever, but the weeks and months FLY BY and you will be done before you know it.  It doesn't seem that way now, I know, but it is true.   I did my chemo April-August and it all seems like a blur to me now.

A few things to note - I work at home, but have a very stressful and challenging job (sales and account management).  It was a huge help to work at home, but that being said, I worked straight through and didn't even tell most of my clients that I was going through this. I wore a wig to client meetings, and scarves/baseball hat the rest of the time.  I will say this - my head got COLD except during the hottest months.  I would recommend getting a soft cotton beanie type cap to sleep in. 

I had treatment on Thurs, and felt fine on Fri (supercharged from the steroids - a few times I even went running!).  Then Sat and Sun I rested more as the steroids left my system.  I didn't have ANY nausea or vomiting and never even took the anti nausea pills. But I did have some GI symptoms that were difficult - some cramping and spasms of the lower GI tract through most of the following week.  But after that I was fine until the next one.  Each treatment got a little harder, and the fifth was pretty bad.  So for the final one, I had my mom come down for a whole week to take care of me - and then....nothing happened. I was FINE and we ended up having a nice visit together. I didn't need any taking care of at all! You just really DO NOT know how this is going to affect you so try ont to worry too much by what you read of other people's experiences. For instance, I was very afraid of chemo brain and never had any of it. I was afraid of fatigue, and never really had that either. I was terrified of the Neulasta shot, and turned out I never needed it.  BUT - I did have an AWFUL full blown acne breakout after the first treatment. Surprise!  So you have to do yuor best to be flexible and just try to roll with what comes. For my personality, I like to have everything planned out and under control, and that just wasn't possible. (As a positive outcome, I do feel I am a more flexible person now for having gone through this.)

Also, on TC, many women do not lose all their hair.  The Adriamycin (sp?) and some other drugs cause that 'cue ball' baldness but TC doesn't always do that. My hair did fall out and I buzzed it down with clippers but didn't shave it all the way. It was UGLY stubble (uglier than baldness, I thought) - BUT I had a head start on regrowth after the last chemo and I was going 'topless' (no scarf or hat) in just 2 months. Granted it was super short but I tried to look like an edgy woman with a stylish short 'do. Don't think I pulled it off but I tried.............    So while my head WAS very tender as the hair fell out, I didn't shave it all off, just buzzed it down to almost nothing iwth the clippers. My husband said I looked more like Schindler's List than Sinead O'Conner which was a pretty funny line. You HAVE to keep somewhat of a sense of humor to get through this.

My port was not my friend in the beginning - I didn't like having it and had a hard time getting used to it. But it is sort of a 'pay me now or pay me later' type of thing. You live with the port, but then on treatment day, it is SO SUPER EASY, you will be glad you have it. I have sat in the chemo room and watched women sob as the nurses try repeatedly to get a good vein. And when it's my turn they just stick the thing in the port and I'm ready to go.  It took me a while to be able to forget about theport, but now weeks go by and I barely think of it. In the beginning, I would say that stretches of several hours went by when I would forget about it within a week after insertion.  I did talk to a woman who had the port put into her ARM to prevent scarring on her chest later. But everyone I know around here has it in the chest. I did ask for mine to be a little lower so I could wear v neck and other tops without it showing and it has worked fine.

So stay encouraged. It is scary the first time but you will build confidence and momentum as you take each step.  I was SO SCARED and could barely function in the beginning, and now I am all done the hard part and on top of the world. I feel so strong and healthy and happy it is ridiculous. AND YOU WILL TOO!

Anyone feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. I wish you ALL the best in your treatment and beyond.

In love and sisterhood,

Amy

Hi everyone. I will start chemo on Jan 7th.  This is my second time with BC but first time with chemo.  I will have TCH every 3 weeks for 6 cycles and herceptin for the rest of the year. My original dx 4/16/08 was DCIS, 17 cm (that is not a typo - I did say seventeen cm), stage 0, 0/2 nodes, ER/PR/HER2 had conflicting results from different labs.  From multiple biopsies, port insertion and/or scans, skin was reddened and inflammatory BC was suspected, and chemo was scheduled to start 6/9/08 but stopped two days prior when calponin staing proved no invasion.  Changed doctors, had all testing checked and rechecked (some by Drs from Sloan Kettering), wound up with double mastectomy in 8/08 with tissue expander recon.  Sentinal nodes were clear. No chemo, no rads, no tamoxifen.  Felt kinda like I cheated.  Follow-up visits were always fine, until Nov 18, 09. I felt a slight hardness under my arm where a JP drain had been from a recent reconstruction surgery (that saga can be posted another time if anyone wants to hear it).  Dr. said it felt like scar tissue buthe sent a sample to the lab to be sure and it came back positive for mets but PET scan was clean.  If I understand the path report correctly, all the nodes were totally cancerous, largest was 4.5 cm, and cancer spread from nodes to surrounding adipose tissue but not beyond that. Report also says cell were consistant with prior samples (meaning what was submitted from double mast), but that was non-invasive and this is invasive, so I'm not sure if that's still considered similar. I'm also not sure if it's considered a recurrence, since I no longer have any breast tissue.  I have not yet been staged or graded this time around.  I'm guessing IIB or IIIA from size and # of nodes and no global mets. Sucks to be sick around holidays but double sucks when your Drs are away on vacation and there's no one to answer questions.  I'm just still somewhat shocked- I never expected this based on how confident Dr. was that I didn't need any foolow up care and subsequent visits were always clean.

BTW, I am ahuge NY Mets fan and it throws me for a loop when I keep seeing mets in posts.

So glad to have a Jan Chemo 2010 thread.  I have been reading the Holiday Chemo thread since it started but never joined in as I thought I have starting at end of Dec.  I now am going to start chemo on Jan 12th.  They pushed back my chemo after I decided to have a BMX w/ delayed recon (12/4) instead of lumpectomy (I found out I was BRACA1+).  Originally, they thought my tumor was 7mm but it ended up being 2.5cm (they said the mamo and US couldn't see it all, maybe because of it being TN).

 I am now facing the decision of what chemo tx to have. My choice is "standard of care" AC x 4 then T x 4 or a clinical trial of TC x 6 vs. TC x 6 plus Avastin for a year vs. TAC x6.  The trial sounded good until we found out that if I was assigned the Avastin group, I would not be able to have surgery until I was off it for at least a month.  That would mean March 2011.  As I mentioned, I did delayed reconstruction and I am BRACA1+ and was planning on having my ovaries removed after I was done with chemo.  I (and my onc) don't like some of the longterm risks with Adriamyacin (sp?), Chronic Heart Disease or Acute Leukemia.  We are going to talk to my Onc about it again tomorrow.  I just wish someone would give me the answer and then tell me it was the right decision.  Thoughts??

Friscomom -- The Neulasta issue may be your ins company.  Some companies will pay for Neulasta automatically and some won't.  Its market price is around $4-5K each shot although most insurance companies have negotiated a better rate.  I had them after each round two years ago and it will be the same this time. However, I have known people who couldn't get insurance approval until the blood counts were below normal, so that it became "medically necessary".

VegasDiva -- you might check if your insurance company has a wig benefit.  Many do if the onc will write an rx for it.  I think they use something silly like "hair prosthesis". 

Issy -- try running a search on Dennis Slamon and adriamycin.  He is considered the "father of Herceptin".  You are Her2-, so you don't care about Herceptin, but his research indicates that adriamycin only works on Her2+ women that overexpress the topo2 gene.  Not all oncs agree with him, but you might want to read up a bit so you can have a conversation with your onc about it. 

Melanie -- I'm also stage IV/triple negative and my onc and I are currently trying to decide on my treatment.  It looks like mine will probably be Zometa (because of the bone mets), cisplatin and gemzar, but we're still talking.  I know it must seem strange to just have a pill, but I'm hearing good things about Xeloda.

Here's a suggestion on insurance companies for all of you.  Call your company and see if they offer a case manager if you have cancer.  If they do, sign up for one.  You may not need it, but it's handy to have one point of contact when you have coverage questions or issues.

Comment on Neulasta and Claritin -- the theory is that people who experience bone pain are having an allergic reaction to Neulasta.  What my onc had me do is take a Claritin-24 (not Claritin-D) the day of the shot and for two days after. 

However, you should check with your onc before taking any OTC drugs or supplements once you are on chemo.  It is typical to get a lot of stuff in your IV as premeds.  If I recall correctly, I had benedryl (for allergic reactions to the chemo), tagamet (for heartburn), and aloxi (for nausea) in addition to the oral steroids before I ever got one drop of chemo.  If you add OTC meds/supplements that the onc isn't aware of you may impact what the meds are trying to do. Or if you get a side effect, it can muddy the waters as to whether its from the chemo/pre-meds or something you are taking.

The steroid I was on was decadron.  It's another one that is suppose to reduce allergic reaction.  I didn't have any problems with allergic reactions, but it made me so wired I had a hard time sleeping.  I took it the day before, day of and day after chemo and then crashed like a log about the third day after once it had worn off.  I was on TCH and never needed anything beyond the Aloxi they put in the IV.  However, the only consistent in TCH is the Herceptin part.  I was on taxotere and carboplatin, but the 't" can also be taxol and the "c" can be cytoxan, so you may be on a slightly different combo.