Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

I liked Zofran and Kytril for nausea.  I had Emend for some tx's and not for others because the insurance was always baulking covering it because its super expensive.  I didn't feel any worse the times I didn't use the Emend. 

The decadron steroid they give you in the IV works good, too.  I was worried about feeling wired because I have panic disorder, but it felt fine.  I'll just briefly share my experience with decadron.  They gave it in the chemo tx and then I had some I could take at home.  I felt pretty decent taking it at home.  You're suppose to take it for like a week and then kind of stop.  So, I'd feel decent for that week and then when I quit the decadron, I would crash so hard it was horrible.  So, I tried not using the decadron after I got home and felt fine, no big crashing.  There were a couple of us that felt that way about the decadron and others who had totally different experiences with it.  Just thought I'd mention it.

Good luck to everyone with appts and starting chemo.   Oh, if you're interested in receiving little gifts and mail during chemo go to chemoangels.com and sign up.  Sometimes the little things help.

I will begin chemo on January 5.  I'll be participating in the BETH trial so will be receiving either TCH or TCH + Avastin for 6 rounds followed by 6 weeks of radiation and Herceptin every three weeks until this time next year.  I was diagnosed just prior to Thanksgiving and had a unilateral mastectomy two weeks ago.  Anyone else in this trial?

Day -- a couple suggestions I used last time to avoid catching anything.  I carry hand sanitizer in my purse and car and sanitize frequently.  I try to use my own pen whenever I need to sign anything -- whether a credit card slip, sign in at the doctor's office, or fill out a form.  I quit shaking hands with people.  The funniest was when I told I doctor I was going through chemo and didn't shake his hand.  He looked at me kind of funny and then said "you know, that's probably a good idea".  I traveled on planes between rounds last time and would try to get the bulkhead, window seat and would wear a mask.  I've found that a mask doesn't protect you from others' germs, but it keeps you from touching your nose and mouth which will infect you if your hands touch something.  I got a Neulasta shot after each round (and will again this time) and made it through without a single cold or infection. 

11tybillion-

Thank you for starting the thread. It will be helpful to share our experience. I am waiting for an infection from my rexcision to clear. I am tenatively scheduled for 4x of TC to start either  January 7 or 8th. I should say nothing has gone as scheduled. For a planner, not having the plan work as scheduled is what is driving me nuts. I never fully appreciated what a control freak I am. Won't this be a learning experience for me

Cathy - I'm more afraid of what is already in my body not to get worse. The sinus infections I get because I have what my PCP calls "allergic-type reaction to cold". Whenever I breathe in air that is below 40F, my nose "swells shut" and the little openings through which the facial sinus drain get closed - hence I develop sinus infections over the winter. Never due to spring/summer/fall allergies. Only because of the cold. And the two teeth that have the "bud" of infection on them. I am afraid those would get worse.

I am already all prepared for hand sanitizer, and everything else. I did take the flu and pneumonia shots - couldn't take the H1N1 shot because I was still on antibiotics after the second surgery - and apparentlyyou need to be at least one week off them for the shot to be efficient.

I hope we won't have too cold of a winter.

And thank you for all the good advice.

Hi Doris:

You can give me a 2 day heads up as to what to expect.   I'm getting really anxious and nervous.  I'm sure it will feel like only minutes until Thursday comes for me.  My appt is 8:15am.  What time are you going?

I have to go into work tomorrow and write my review.  It is due Jan 11th, but I will be out starting12/31.  I would rather get a root canal without novocaine than write my own review. Do any of you have to do that too?

Has anyone seen My Fair Wedding with David Tutura on the WE channel?  It is a hoot.  My boyfriend turned me on to it.  Go figure....

Oh yeah, 11tyBillion, I'm starting on the 6th too. It's good to "talk" to people that are in this with you. 

I was wrong when I posted my chemo regimen.  I'm doing the same one as you 11tybillion.  I start AC on the 6th as a dose dense regiment so I only have to do 4 of them.  Then the T will have 4 cycles too.  I'll have my port put in on Wednesday.  I'm working on finding some head coverings right now since there's no doubt I'll be bald.  My daughter told me last night she was afraid I'd look like a monster!   She's only 3 so there's no telling how she's going to react to all of this.  I'm just glad I started prepping her.  I think we're going to go get mother daughter haircuts (short sassy bobs) tomorrow so that we all can ease into my short/no hair look. 

I will be starting chemo on January 7.   I had a lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy in October--surgeon did not get clear margins.  All other scans were clear, decided on the mastectomy.  Surgeon found another 1 cm. of cancer cells--good decision. TCx6, no radiation since I had a mastectomy.  Wondering if anyone else is doing the six rounds rather than the four?  My oncologist originally said four and then recommended six.  Naturally I would prefer four--any thoughts?

I will be starting my Chemo on Jan 13th.  I am not sure whether it will be 4 or 6 cycles, it is going to depend on the results of the HER2 results (neg 4 cyles, pos 6 cycles). The onc said the reports he had were conflicting so he ordered a FISH test to be done. For someone who has never liked going to the doctor, all of this is so overwhelming that I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

I had gone to the doctor in late September because I had hurt my pinky finger and that's what led to having a full physical and a mammogram in October, followed by an ultrasound, bisopy and surgery the week of Thanksgiving. I had lumpectomy with sentiel biospy.  Also during the surgery  I received 1 dose of radiation at the time I had the surgery done (dose was equal to the 6 weeks of radiation), so thankfully that is something I don't have to worry about. The radiation treatment is a clinical trial that is being done at UNMC here in Omaha.  I was told that I probably wouldn't need to have any Chemo just take Tamoxifin and that would be it, but after meeting with the Onc last week it was determined that Chemo was needed because of the grade of the cancer and how poorly differnation the cells were, then followed by the Tamoxifin for 2 years and then another drug (don't remember the name) once I am into total memopause.

I am a single mom with 2 children, ages 12 and 10, and am concerned about how this is going to affect them.  I have discussed most everything with them both the good and bad so they are aware of what is going to happen.  My son (10) is concerned that people will make fun of me when I lose my hair and that my head will get cold since it is winter time.   So while they are on winter break, we are going to go shopping for new head gear for me. I don't think I'm a wig type of person, so it will be scarves or turbans.   My sister is also going to make some hats for me.  I would be lost without her help and knowledge.  She works in a hospital and lost her husband to lung cancer 2 years ago.  She went with me to see the Onc and some of the staff still remembered her.

I am thankful to have found this group.  Thanks for listening and being there

My PET scan came back showing no cancer on that liver spot.  It did show some in lymphnodes but nothing has shown up in that area on any of the other tests.  Onc said no guarantee that cancer hasn't spread, but this is the best results I could get for now so I'm pretty happy.   

I'm starting Abraxane tx tomorrow.   Three weeks on, one week off for 3 months.  Then onto FEC followed by a db mast.

I had dose dense AC X4 Taxol X4 the first time I went through chemo.  AC made me pretty tired and nauseas with diarrhea sometimes.  It wasn't horrible.  Taxol wasn't horrible either.  I felt better overall than on the AC but had 4 days of the bone pain 2-3 days after each tx.  I was really worried about that beforehand, but only resorted to vicadin twice.

Hello everyone,

I've known about the  lump for two years, doctors told I was to young at 35 for BC. Now, I have IDC ER+ and PR+ positve, Her2 negative Stage 1, Would like to be a part of the group. Thank you By the way I'm in Boston, anyone from New England!

Hi ladies,

I will be starting chemo on January 14th. I am doing a clinical trial of 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin and then coninute with Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year.  The trial is for small node negative HER2+ tumors.  Along with my small invasive tumor I had over 3cm of high grade DCIS.

I am also nervous about the side effects. It will be nice to have a place to go to get support.

I'm married and have 3 kids under 10 and was diagnosed right before m 40th b-day.  Not the way I planned on celebrating my 40th!

Since it looks like many of you are going to be on Taxol or Taxotere, I have a couple suggestions.  Both of these drugs are known for making a mess of nails.  I found that keeping my nails short during chemo made them less likely to tear.  It took about two full rounds of growing out my nails before they were strong again, but they did recover (just in time to cut them short again).

Likewise, neuropathy (a tingling or numbing in fingers and toes) is pretty common.  The onc had me take 100mg of B6 every day to try to combat that.  Talk to your onc and see if B6 is an option.  I'm back on it already because the cisplatin I'll be taking can cause the same side effect.

Paxton -- glad your first treatment went well and that you are feeling okay.  I'm trying to decide whether or not to drive myself this time.  Last time I always had someone take me and then had my husband pick me up after work (he works a couple miles from where I get treatment).  I need to talk to the onc next week and find out how long each infusion will be.  We've switched treatment plans since we first discussed things a few weeks ago and I'm not sure about the new infusion times.  If it's only a few hours, I'm pretty sure I can drive myself.  The problem I had two years ago is that it was taking up to six hours and I found the whole thing exhausting by the time I was done.  Which, of course, seems funny since you're just sitting there.