Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

Dear mslrg,

I may be mistaken but I believe the Nadir is when your white cell blood counts are the lowest - ergo most at risk for infection - but not necessarily your lowest point of energy.  I think (altho I am a newbie) you are experiencing side effects not connected to your Nadir for the drugs.  If you took a Neulasta shot, your Nadir changes to less than 10 days (generally) and a shorter time frame.  I'm so sorry that you're experiencing these side effects.

I got a call today that my regimen has changed once again.  Now I start next Wednesday the 20th with a dose dense format - every 2 weeks, rather than every 3 weeks.  I know this is going to kick my butt over time with not enough recovery time in between.  But, the benefit is that it's done in 16 weeks rather than 24 and it's an aggressive therapy for this GD aggressive disease, so I see that as a bonus.  So, I'm hoping that I'm one of the lucky ones that doesn't experience drastic side effects - fingers and toes crossed!  I'm still working full time but told my boss today that if this dose dense stuff is going to knock me out, I'll probably go out on disability leave for the duration.  I'd hate to do that - I love my work and it's a great distraction from BC.

Hugs to everyone.  I'm realizing how important and valuable this discussion blog is to me.

Pat

A lot of fatigue today and baby was crabbyyyy.  I'm surprised I feel so yucky today because I have my next tx tomorrow.  A lady from the community called me this afternoon and said they want to do a pancake breakfast fundraiser for me.  I feel sort of embarrassed, really grateful and so touched that anybody cares.  It will help so much.  Bf can stay home and help take care of the baby longer now not to mention the things we need to fix around here like the furnace.  I was so worried how this was all going to piece together. 

I'm going to shave my hair off maybe tonight or tomorrow.  Its getting gross and starting to come out. 

JudyM -- Docetaxel is the generic name for Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide is the generic for Cytoxan.  Several drugs have the same first letter, so C can be cytoxan, cisplatin or carboplatin.  T can be taxotere or taxol.  In some cases, they are in the same family (taxotere and taxol as well as abraxane are all taxenes), in other cases not.  So, you are on TC but it could be a slightly different TC than someone else.  When your hair falls out is a bit different for each combo.  If I remember correctly from when I was on Taxotere, hair normally starts falling out around the 21st day, so if you are getting treatments three weeks apart, it may not be until after the second treatment.  I will tell you that mine just greatly thinned -- it never completely came out.

Paxton -- so sorry you are having to battle both fatigue and a crabby baby.  That's wonderful that the community is doing a fundraiser for you.  I know that will help ease your mind a bit.

Maryanne -- it's the pits when you have a tough time.  Be gentle with yourself and let the onc know what problems you are having.  They may need to make some adjustments.

Pat -- glad they have finally settled on your treatment.  It's much easier to do research and get prepared once you know for sure what will be happening.

Leta - so sorry you are having to join us. I'm 42, but my kids are 20 and 23. Same with me, no history of BC and my BRAC was negative. If it helps to ease your mind any, I had my port put in today and that was something I was really stressing about. The good news is, it wasn't as bad as I had worked myself up to believe, the pain is manageable, the incision small and it doesn't look like I have an alien in my chest. I'm mostly sore in my muscles of the chest and shoulder but it's fairly mild. I start my Chemo tomorrow, I'm having FEC x 4 then T x 4. I'm nervous about it, scared really, but I know I'm going to get through it; preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Will be thinking of you next week.

Had my first treatment today.

I am on TCH (T for Taxotere, C for Carboplatin, and H for Herceptin)

Had this thru my port - and anyone else who has one - get the EMLA cream and use it one hour before. It works, I did not feel the needle stick. The nurse did mention that the Port area, specifically muscles, could be sore for up to a month. I also was given a prescripion for Emend, which is taken one hour before Chemo, and then on days 2 and 3. Also an anti nausea drug.

Before the TCH started, they gave me liquid benedryl, a liquid antacid, two extra strength tylenol, and a anti-anxiety pill.  Then the Chemo started. H was first - about 1 1/2 hours for loading dose - no problems as it went in.

Second was Taxotere. Before they started this one, the gave me ziploc bags full of ice to put my fingertips and toes in. You keep them on ice the entire time Taxotere is being injected - for me was about 1/2 hour. There have been several posts about this drug - and the tingling pain it caused in fingers and toes. I had even read about some gel mits and booties. But if my place is going to provide the ice packs, I am going to use them.

Last was Carboplatin - this also took about 1/2 hour. I was done by about 3:30pm. Now I am just waiting for the side effects to start. Currently only have slight metal mouth, but peppermint gum seems to mask that.  Wondering what is next

Take care everyone.

AGBmom, what part of MASS? How old are you? Looks like we have the same diagnoses. I have only completed one cycle of AC, it's doable but everyone is different but 3rd day it wiped the floor with me burped, and then walked back over to tep on me again, OUCH!

Chasinghope - I'm on Cape Cod - mid 40s.  When you say 3rd day, you mean 3 days after your first dose?

Friscomom - Good to hear the port went well, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow! 

Cathy-CA : that sounds like a wonderful cruise.  I have my next one scheduled for the end of Oct this year.  Hopefully by then all this will be behind me and I can sail off into the sunset!   My cousins and I are starting to plan a cruise to the Baltics for June 2011.

paxton18064:  Sorry to hear you are having a bad time right now.  Hopefully the baby will be in a better mood today.   How wonderful that your friends and neighbors are so willing to help you.  Just say "thank you" and graciously accept.  There are a lot of folks who don't have that kind of support. I have a hard time accepting help from folks too.

This morning was the first time I noticed hair starting to fall out after my shower.  Today is 14 days after my first treatment.  And how ironic that my hair came out really nice today.  I put a bunch of hairspray on it and hopefully that will keep it on my head while I am at work!!

Love & support to all my Sistas out there.  Hope you have a good day.

Got my port put in yesterday.  I vomited non stop for 12 hours after.  Originally I was thinking I had a bad reaction to "happy juice" but ironically my husband and kids also got sick.  Looks like a stomach bug is going thru my family.  Crappy timing.  Doc says I can get chemo today but will need and IV fluids prior. So much for all the hydrating I did earlier in the week. If chemo after effects are anything like my last 24 hours, I may need to rethink my invincibility game plan. As for the port pain, it is very minor even with out any pain meds. Bad thing is no shower for 4 days. Ordered my silk scarf so thanks for the plug. I opted for the Hawaiian print.  Laurie Erikson with the "good wishes" program is awesome.

Good Luck tomorrow bikerchick1!

nkrun - sorry you're not feeling well, hope that passes soon and that you breeze through the chemo. I had my port put in yesterday too, doing ok today, just some soreness. I was told I could shower today, wonder why different? I have some glue stuff over my incision so maybe that sort of seals it?

I'm scheduled for 12:15 today, I'm in Texas so I will be heading toward the oncologist's office in a little over an hour. Trying hard not to focus too much on what is to come and not get too anxious; it's hard though.

Best wishes to you!

For all who start chemo today, you are in my prayers.  I felt much better yesterday.  When you get home take a Zofran, don't wait for symptoms (it's too late).  Eat little meals every few hours.  I didn't do either the first day and I am hoping that is why I felt so crappy.

Hi all...and Happy 2010 ~ can I just fast forward through this year please?! 

I am due to start chemo on January 21...AC every 3 weeks, 4 cycles; then onto 12 weeks of Herceptin and Cytoxin I think they said...I'll finish out the year with Herceptin; and then I get to do radiation!

I am still healing from the mastectomy (11/20/09) and 3 subsequent surgeries since then, debridement, removal of the tissue expander, and then the wound opened up. What a mess. Fortunately it looks like I'm healing well enough from all that mutilation to move forward to the poisoning stage - lol.

Today, I am not scared witless, but it comes and goes.

Hi chasinghope - nice to hear back from you. I'm starting on the 28th with just AC, 4 cycles every three weeks.  I'm not going to do Taxol.

Did your fatigue level plateau after the 4th day?  It's all so hard to anticipate. I have friends who had few side affects and others who were flat out.

Hi agbmom,

I have done my research. I feel like we all take oncology 101 and learn everything we can about it. You have pretty much the same stats as me. Where are you going for treatment? I'm going to Dana Farber. I asked my onc if I needed Taxol and she said "I don't think you need it" YIKES *think* but I understand how she doesn't want to give me extra chemo just because. My 2nd infusion is the 28th as well? Are you in a support group on the Cape? I hope you don't mind the questions....

Only days 3 and 4, I was tired, so I'm expecting the worst from the next cycles, but we can get through this, it is doable.  Just want to add Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash are a good combo to fight againt mouthsores. One day at a time, that's how I'm taking this...and drink lots and lots of water (and not from plastic bottles.) I'm very wary of environmental estrogen it messes with our estrogen postive selves.  I only drink water from either box or from a glass bottle. Aqua Panna/Voss/ are some that sell spring water in the bottle. Hope I helped, ga night!

I didn't really introduce myself properly, sorry ~ my name is Shannon: Shannster is my super-hero identity, lol.

A friend told me about this site/board and said it was helpful when she was going through chemo; I'm glad this particular board is here because I've felt completely clueless about this next step and what I'm about to undergo and all the information you all are sharing about going through this is very helpful, is helping with my anxiety as I approach 'the big day/s'...Thank you. Researching online is one thing, but reading women's actual experiences is very helpful.

Now I'm going to go email my oncologist about my treatment schedule ~ see if I correctly understand what she has told me, and confirm whether or not I am not only who I am but also something new, something called "Stage IIIC, Grade 3"...

Someone mentioned Oncology 101 ~ yes, it's like you get this crash course in cancer when this happens, AND you have to learn another language if you want to understand what is going on/happening to you. Is there a Dummies Guide to Breast Cancer book? I could really use one...