Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Well, one down, 3 to go.  It was pretty easy yesterday.  Everyone is so nice there.  I was supposed to be there at 8:15.  When my boyfriend walked the dog at 6 he said it wasn't doing anything outside.    I walked out at 7:30 to about 2" of snow and it was snowing like a blizzard.  It usually takes 35 mins to get to the hosp, but it took me an hour.  Almost everyone was late including staff, so it worked out.   First they did a finger stick and took some blood.  I guess they test it for something to see if you can have treatment.  Then I had a meeting with my onc.  She said she thought this treatment would be easier for me than the 5FU was 6 years ago for my colon cancer, not counting the hair loss thing.  That made me feel better.  

Then I went down the hall to the infustion center.  It is really nice.  They have all private rooms with either a bed or barcolounger.  Flat screen TV, stereo, DVD.  I love junk daytime TV so it was perfect for me.  I watched Regis & Kelly, Rachel Ray, Martha Stewart, The Insider and All My Children was just starting when I left.  I was there about 4 hours.  I had 2 nurses and they were both so nice.  The one told me she was going to steal me as her patient next visit.  :-)  

IV's - all given 1 at a time right after each other.  

1. Aloxi - for nausea

2.  Decadron - steroid to stop adverse reactions

3.  Pepcid & Benadril - stop allergic reactions

4. 30 minute break to let all that get into my system.

5.  Taxotere - 1 hr infusion time.

6.  Cytoxin - 30 min infusion time.  

They were unaware of the gel mitts & booties my onc nurse friend from Canada told me about.  They had no problem putting the ones I had brought with me on during the Taxotere.  I asked them to contact the manufacturer to see if they could get some.   

They offered me coffee, tea, and a bagel for breakfast.  Then I had a choice of a turkey or tuna sandwich for lunch.  I got the tuna, and it was actually good.  It came with Lorna Dunes for dessert.  :-)    I felt sleepy and they said I looked drowsey after the benedril. I was fine by the time it was all over.   I had driven myself there.

I went back today for my Neulasta shot.  Then I also have to go back on Friday Jan 8 for more bloodwork before I go back to work on Mon the 11th.

I am still feeling fine and will take each day one at at time.  Good luck to all my sistas in this new year.

Congrats VegasDiva on one down.  Nothing like weather delays to stress you out for your first chemo day.  I'm glad it worked out no problem.  Thanks for the details.   I think I will be getting all the same meds.  What was the total amount of time that you were there?  They have told me about 2 hours.  You are lucky to have private rooms.  I toured the infusions suite where I'll be going and from what I can tell it's all open. 

I had my port put in and am doing well.  If it wasn't for the stomach bug that both my kids got just in time to ring in the new year, everything would be great for this last weekend of feeling like the "old me".  My husband and I just looked at each other as my kids were throwing up and thought,"this is a fitting way to welcome 2010- in the midst of a family health crisis."  I'm prepped for next week as best as I can be.  I'm anxious, but ready to start the fight to get this cancer out of me.

By the way, I ordered one of the free wraps from Franceluxe and Laurie Erickson couldn't be more helpful.  She asked me to share the site.  It's already on this thread I think, but just in case, here it is again: http://www.franceluxe.com/i/goodwishesscarves/GoodWishesScarves.html 

pagaowens- wonder woman underwear-  that's a great idea.  I'll have to look for some.  You and your 3 year old grandson sound like you are both very lucky to have each other. 

Good luck to everyone getting started.  I know this is going to be a tough year, but I'm ready.  It helps to have people in the fight with you.  Thanks 

Hi Georgiabird,

You can find the Wonder Woman stuff on Amazon.com, the underwear is:

http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-cami-panty-women/dp/B000NUWOXI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1262456281&sr=8-1

Speaking of Amazon, Wonder Woman was supposed to come from an Amazon tribe of fearless, courageous, strong women.  The Greek term means "without breast" - - supposedly, Amazon warriers cut off or burned out their right breasts so they could throw their spears, wear their armor and be more effective in war. 

According to Wikipedia (lol): Hippocrates describes them as: "They have no right breasts...for while they are yet babies their mothers make red-hot a bronze instrument constructed for this very purpose and apply it to the right breast and cauterize it, so that its growth is arrested, and all its strength and bulk are diverted to the right shoulder and right arm."

As a person with right breast cancer, I'm thinking those moms might have done their daughters a big favor! LOL.  Anyway, seems like an appropirate suite of armor for chemotherapy.  )

Ciao,

Pat

I found a place to make a wig out of my own hair.  It was reassuring to know that I had that choice.  You go in at 9am and they shave your head (in sections) and they make a mold of your head so they can make a custom cap for the wig.  Amazingly, the wig is ready at 4 in the afternoon!  While I was there, he measured my head and I confirmed something that I already knew, I have an extremely large head and I would have a hard time finding a wig that wouldn't pop off the top of my head.   So I am going to have one made for me.  Fortunately, I found out about this earlier on and have not had my hair cut since mid-October.  I will lose about an inch in the process of making the wig.  The cost is bad ($1400) but insurance will pay $400 and I spend $140 getting my haircut and color every 5 weeks so in the end, it will be about a wash. My hairdresser has not charged me for my "colors" since I was diagnosed. It is amazing and grateful at how generous some people can be.

Just stopping by to wish you all strenth and luck over the next year.  I began my chemo 1/21 last year.  Finished in May.  For me it was not that bad. Not fun but doable. Here are a few words of wisdom from someone who stood in your shoes a year ago.

Expect the best but be prepared for the worst.  The fear of the unknown is almost always worse then the reality.

Be kind and gentle with yourselves over the next year.  Cancer and Chemo both takes alot out of you.  Don't expect to keep up with lives as they were.  If you can take time off fromwork, even if it just means cutting down on your hours, do. You may need the distraction of work but you also need your energy for more important things than work.  Find the right balance for yourself.  In a year you will likely start feeling normal again, but it will seem like forever at times.  And be prepared for the cumulative effect.  The January Jewels of last year hated the word cumulative, but it is true.  The last treatments will take the most out of you and it takes months to really bounce back.  But you will.  But knowing it is harder near the end may help you to use your resources wisely.  

Let friends and family help. It is not just good for you but also good for them. Don't let pride stand in the way.  One of the blessing of being this ill is that you find out how kind people can be, how much love they have in their hearts.  You may be hurt to find some friends are not able to really be there for you at this time, but if you let people see your weakness you will find that people you did not think of as friends and even strangers will go the extra mile for you.  But they can't if you keep it a secret that you are ill or weak or hurting. 

Find strenth in whatever spiritual practice you follow, whether formal religion or just walking through nature. It matters alot where your heart is during a time of crisis. 

Be willing to try things.   I used accupuncture, massage, reiki, meditation, Gi Gong, Yoga and expressive arts to get me through the last year. I even got attuned in Reiki and now offer it as a gift to others.  A year ago I though it was the most ridiculus thing I had heard of.  I still find it hard to explain what it is to others with out thinking I sound like an idiot, but I know I can feel something when I do it and that people tell me they feel better when I do it for them. 

Losing your hair does not have to be the worst thing in the world.  Wigs and scarfts can be alot of fun.  It takes no time to shower in the morning if you are not fussing with your hair.  Wigs are always ready to go when you are.  It is Ok to feel sad and mourn the loss.  But try to move on from that feeling and even have fun with it.  Think of it as a gift to the woman walking the path behind you.  If they see you bare headed or with a scarf and smiling, at ease, they will know it can be OK.  I am not saying you need to embrace the bald this month or next, but try to make it a goal and you will get there.

Sign up with Chemoangels.com. They will make the journey easier.

Be open and honest with your children.  Keep things age appropriate, but don't keep things secret.

Find ways to be creative.  Knit, draw, sew, paint, sing, play music, scrape book, bake.  

Turn to each other.  You will find the support of this site and this thread one of the most valuable resources you could wish for.  Your sisters here with "get it."  You can share things you might hold back with your IRL family and friends.  It really helps to have a place to let loose.

Thats all I can think of at the moment.  Feel free to e-mail me if I can be of some assistance.

Renrel

Renrel and Bethie1:  Thanks for the support.  Sometimes I get so freaked out about how much I have in store and that after chemo I still have a lot more ahead.  But, I keep thinking that this time next year I'll be shaking my head about all that has happened and that I made it through. 

VegasDiva:  How was the Neulasta shot?  I'm worried about that.  From everything I've read it is the most painful part.  Is that what's making you achy? 

Yep.  Ugh!!  I start TCH on Jan 7.  Had a port put in last Mon.  Played tennis this am (5 days after port) and was so happy to find that it didn't hurt at all to play.  It feels so good to be outside and move around.  I hope I can keep doing it(??).  Had lunch today with my friend who is 10 years out from BC.  So great!  I too am trying to go with 1 day at a time, though I did take a leave from work, which makes things feel a little wierd...no real structure, but I feel fine (we'll see if I can still say that after the 7th).. Thanks to all who have already done this and have given us words of encouragement.  It helps!! 

  Bonnie 

Hi Wren-

  I'm doing 6 rounds of tc with h.  I actually don't know exactly why, but I think that My onc is completely brilliant, and will go with what ever she thinks is best. 

   Bonnie 

Hi Bethie, Caya and Carole,

Thanks for sharing your experiences and optimism.  You're right - 2010 looks like a long and hard year.  On New Year's Eve my husband and I toasted 2011 and the future.  It's hard to be positive but your encouragement "from the other side" of this experience is a big help.  THanks for dropping by.

Pat

Just had my first chemo treatment last Tues (29th) and was really sick after it. Apparently the anti-nausea drugs don't work if you can't keep them down eh? It's been a rough few days. I have moments of feeling good and then feel like crap again. Am I a total whimp or what? I feel like it.

It's encouraging to read everyone's experiences and how good some people are doing. I just need to find a way to fight through this. It's good to know it is doable. Countdown to the hair loss now which will be the next big hurdle, although, honestly, the last few days it's been a huge pain in the $$s to deal with when you feel like crap  :-)).

Take care everyone.

NurseMary, you wouldn't want to move to ky would you. I have my first, tc , at noon tomorrow.Then 3 more to go.

My onc. is starting me on antibotic next sunday, since that will be the time for lowest blood count.So hopefully no shots.

My hubby went thru brain cancer, and I learned then to do ONE day at a time. That is how , we will all get thru this. Don't look in the future, when it is a bad day. only look at today. and sometimes minutes. Try to see all the good that is still around us. (friends, family) Think of someone in worse shape than we are.And let us remember all those , that have already dealt with this, and how they are doing well now. (and let me also,remember all these things, on my down time)

We will survive, will be our motto.

Hi Kesnick,

You are definitely not a wimp!  I think this stuff kicks your butt, in more ways than one!

I'm getting more and more nervous as I face my first chemo treatment next Tuesday. When you say you feel like crap - exactly how do you mean? Overall yulkee or specific area problems?  I'm worried about non-stop diarrhea, which I get when I'm stressed anyway (IBS). I'm also already tired since my surgeon had me go off my vitamins right away -- as she put it, "they make you too juicy for surgery" and then the oncologist said they act as anti-oxigents counter to the oxidizing chemo drugs.  I had gastro-bypass 5 years ago and have heavily relied on my daily vitamins to stay energized and "normal." Then, to make matters worse, I have degenertive arthritis in my right knee and had to stop the Advil and switch to Tylenol which doesn't help as much for the inflammation.  So, I'm already a mess and haven't had one treatment yet!! 

As you can see, you are not a wimp!  Somehow we'll all get through this and come out the other end - like those who have posted encouragement here.   

Pat

Hi Georgiabirdgirl.  Don't worry about the neulasta shot.  It was really nothing.  They gave it to me in my upper arm.  No worse than a flu shot.  I was a bit achey later but I took 2 advil and felt fine.  Last night I had some stomach cramps and diarrhea.  My BF noticed I was up and down out of bed, but this morning I feel fine.  I actually feel like I could have gone to work, but glad to have the week off.  I'm sure being off from work will make the time fly. ;-)

An oncology nurse friend of mine in Canada told me that the manufacturer of Taxotere (Aventis) supplied them with gel booties and mittins that are to be placed on the hands and feet during the infusion of the taxotere.  She said this has totally eliminated the problems with nails.  I contacted the company, but they were closed for the holidays until today.  I hope I hear back to get some.  In the meantime I just brought some frozen gel packs with me and had the nurses put them on my hands and feet when they started the taxotere.

I have not had any nausea, which was one of my biggest fears.  No one is a wimp, and treatment effects everyone differently.  Just take it hour by hour or day by day.  Last year on this day I left for a cruise through the Panama Canal.  I can't believe it was a year ago already.  Our treatment will be over by this time next year.    Stay strong Sistas!

Hi Pat,

When I said I've been feeling like crap, it's been mostly stomach upset (I have a bit of a 'moody' stomach to begin with). I only puked a couple times the first day but have had rumbling guts where I feel hungry but then feel awful when I eat. Constipated one minute, the runs the next (oh joy). Yesterday was the runs and that's 6 days after treatment. I'll have a half hour where I feel good and it is oh so awesome and then just feel rotten again.

Today is the first day I finally feel human again. I am going to do some shopping, take a nice walk in the cold air and just get moving again (as long as I can get away from the bathroom, haha). I am definitely going to ask about more/different meds for the next treatment. I wasn't surprised that I was sick as my stomach has always been finicky. They did give me anti-nausea meds by IV first and a pill but, like I said, it didn't seem to work. I go in for a PICC line on the 18th and have my treatment on the 19th so that gives me a chance to talk to them about being pro-active on this nausea crap! Darn it! As long as I can get this nausea thing under control, then it won't be so bad. I'm thinking my body was just in so much shock with being poisoned, it was saying, "What the **** are you doing to me??"  :-))))).

One day at a time is all we can do I guess. Savor those moments you feel good, man you really do appreciated them!

nic

I have my 2nd tx on thurs.  I felt tired, fluish and a little achey for the first few days last week but feel pretty good now.  I've started eating an asian, indian, meditarranean style diet.  I really like it and feel good, although bf's stomach really isn't handling it (thought I'd be the sensitive one with chemo....sissy).  Anyway, prob won't be able to eat like this during the 2nd kind of chemo I'll have later on. 

Good luck to all you ladies starting soon.