Anyone Starting Chemo Jan. 2010?

camm2 - that all sounds very uncomfortable. Hope they decide to go with a port, honestly I don't even notice mine other than a bit of soreness still from the initial proceedure and that's almost completely gone.

Glad to hear your SE's are minimal, hope that continues for you over the next couple of days.

Anyone feeling jittery and not able t sleep? I am taking tylenol pm but still doesn't work that well. Will this week be "normal"? Will each treatment be the same or will I get worse?

Hi all- Today is day 6 and I am feeling pretty normal (yeah).  Had a very good day yesterday (first day of no nausea).  I am hoping for a relatively normal week this week so that I can I have the emotional strength to go back at it in a little more than a week.  I had the Neulasta shot 4 last Tuesday and I have not had any bone pain just a few weird twitches (don't know if they are related).

Had my hair cut 3/4 inch all over Friday. Saved some hunks and will try to make my own bangs!!! I discovered Miracle Fruit. Its a lttle pill (that I broke in 1/2).dissolve it on your tongut ,then those things that have tasted so weird taste sweet! Amazing. Now I have no neutrophils!!! MY onc doesnt use Neulasta. So I'm on huge antibiotics to prevent infection until my counts go back up. I guess this is a little unusual since its day13 aafter my first treatment. Have  to check CBC again Mon. Don't know what is next. The good news is that I finally feel good!!!  Maryanne

VegasDiva:  Thanks for the description.  I am anxious about the day when it starts coming out in clumps, but am mentally preparing for it.  I'm planning on shaving it once I see that it's starting to fall out.

Today is day 3 from my first AC treatment and so far the meds are all helping.  I haven't had any bone pain from my neulasta shot, yet.  THANK GOODNESS!  I have been really tired and have had intermittent stomach upset, but nothing intolerable.  I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop tomorrow because I'm out of the Emend.  Aside from feeling a jittery head after the initial treatment, the steroids don't seem to be causing me any trouble.  I've been drinking a lot of water and herbal tea and eating small meals when I am feeling OK.  So far that seems to be helping. Since everyone says (indcluding docs and nurses) that day 4 through 7 can be the worst I'm just waiting to see what happens next.

MichellinSJ- I registered with the cleaningforareason group, but they said they were experiencing a higher than normal activity and it would be 4 weeks until I heard anything.  I may try again later.  It would be such a huge help to my husband who is picking up all of the slack now that I'm spending more time in bed.

I am going to go to a "Look Good Feel Better" class in a couple of weeks to help with the hair loss and I'm really hoping that it is a good class.  Also, my cancer center has a lot of support services (yoga, accupuncture, massage, therapy, nutrition, etc.)  Now that I'm in treatment, I may check some of those out. 

Take care everyone!

JRLEGAL - I had my first TCH treatment on 1/13, via my Port. With all the stuff they gave me before hand, didn't have any problems with the first one. They gave me was something to calm my stomach, liquid benedryl, an anti anxiety medicine, two extra strength Tylenol, and some other pill.

They started with the H, and that took about 1 1/2, then was the T - make sure to ask for ice packs for your fingers and toes. May want to suck on ice chips too. Last was the C. Overall, first treatment was about 5 hours - the place that I am going to also had a new Chemo patient orientation. Of course, it was my turn to go after I had gotten the benedryl. Started to fall asleep mid-way thru - good thing hubby was there to listen.

First night wasn't to bad, was able to sleep.

Second day, gave myself the Neulasta shot. Wasn't too bad, as I injected it very slowly like I was told to. My nurse said no to the Claritin, I also have a heart issue (lucky me). Third day, started to get alittle achy, not to bad, kinda of like a very mild case of the flu. About midway thru day 3, got really tired while running errands, so hubby got me and home and after laying for about 2 hours, felt a little better. Today is day four, no new se's. Still haven't been able to sleep all night, for some reason keep waking up around 3am every morning. But after a quick sip of water, am able to fall back asleep for a few more hours. Have been trying to keep myself moving, as that seems to help with the aches.

Scalp has been sore for a two days now, and my hair isn't as shiny. But, I have my wig ready to go! One of the things that I have been reading on numerous other threads is to make sure to drink enough liquids. So far, have been able to do that, but I really miss my diet soda.

There is also another Thread for people on TCH that might provide more insight as well. I am bouncing between that one and this one and getting good tips.

Hope this helps - but as numerous people have mentioned - we all react differently. 

Keep us posted on how #1 goes 

pagowens-I am so sorry to hear about your fil.  Hang in there.

Today I had my heart test and then met with my doctor.  He did some research and the hospital he works for just started using Emend!  I was so excited that I almost hugged him!  Would have made him very uncomfortable.  I was telling my sister the other day that I tell him something I have read about and even though it might be new, by the next week he has researched it to see if it is available here.  A big blessing to me. 

Has anyone had the emend for ac and is far enough along to know if it helps on day 4-7?  The packaging only allows for 1 tab or injection first day and then a pill for the next two days.

vegasdiva - my doctor does not give the shot prophylactically due to some of the severe se he has seen.

Pat-

My condolences on the loss of your father-in-law. It doesn't seem fair that you need to endure so much pain at one time. My thoughts are with you and your husband.

Barbara

Pat (()) your one strong women. Thinking of you through this tough time.

Hello Everyone,

I was a little hesitant to join the group or to even post anything, but I feel I need to to help myself.  I start chemo on the 22nd.  I have 6 cyles to complete.

Hi January Girls,

Started my first round of A/C last Friday and so far so good.  Stayed on all the anti nausea meds and haven't felt too bad.  The fatigue hit today though and I've been sleeping off and on.  Am drinking water like crazy and swishing with biotene to keep the mouth sores at bay.  I get my port put in tomorrow - unfortunately they couldn't get me in before my first cycle. So we'll see how that goes.  It's all so surreal to sit around waiting for S/E's that might or might not happen.  Now just waiting for the hair to fall out - really not looking forward to that as mine is long and thick.  I think I'll be shaving it this weekend.

Good luck to all you ladies!  Be Strong!

Bikerchick

Hi Jaebee...welcome.  What kind of chemo r u having?  You came to the right place for support.  We all need it.

I'm in my hotel room at the Mayo Clinic.  We just finished meeting with the Dr.  Its all so scary.  He recommends staying on the Abraxane chemo for now to see how the tumor responds as well as to see how the spot on my liver responds (we don't know if its cancer).  If the liver thing changes during the chemo, then its cancer and I get a death sentence. 

But for now I'm relaxing in the room, getting ready to order supper and then later hit the hot tub.  We're looking through the take out menu now and wild catepillar rolls are on the menu.  Think I'll pass.

Hi ladies,

Pat, so sorry to hear about your FIL. Hang in there.

Leta, I am also from NJ. and start chemo on Thurs. where are you going for treatment? I am going to Cooper. you can PM me if you want. 

stcardsfan, glad to hear your first round went pretty good and you sound like you are in a good place emotionally which is probably more than half the battle. I will also be doing TCH starting Thursday so your update helped me feel a little more prepared.

I received some great news today. My surgeon called to say that all 4 lymph nodes she removed last week came back with no signs of cancer in any of them:) That was a huge sigh of relief and just the news I needed before I start my first round of chemo on Thursday. I am still feeling discomfort from the port & sentinal node biopsy and will be going back to work tomorrow after several days off to recuperate. It was a rough week though b/c I didn't feel good physically and emotionally I have been all over the charts. My thoughts go to the negative(ex. what SE's will I have) and then I have to stop those thoughts in their tracks and convince myself to not think negative and just try to have positive thoughts. I exhaust myself sometimes. And my poor husband is just trying to keep up my emotional highs & lows.

Have a dumb question:  During chemo are we not supposed to drink any caffeine or alcohol? I know caffeine dehydrates and that we need to drink alot of water, etc so does this mean I have to cut out my daily coffee fix or can I just drink extra fluids? and what about alcohol? a glass of wine sure would make all of this a little easier:) I wasn't sure what I am supposed to do...cut this stuff out for the entire duration of chemo(18 weeks) or just during chemo treatment weeks? Feel free to give me some input.

Thx,

Youngmomof3 - I was told that caffeine is a diruetic and so I should switch caffeine free.  I didn't but tried to cut out as much as possible and just drank LOTS of water.  As for alcohol, my onc did not mention it one way or the other, however, I know lots of people were told NO to alcohol.  I think the key is that the chemo goes through the liver and thus you want to be nice to your liver.  I love a glass of wine with dinner and thought I would really miss it, however, the chemo is messing with my taste buds and the wine tastes like it went bad.  Makes it easy to abstain.

Paddlegirl - I have continued to have draining from my Mastectomy site (Dec 4th).  I was doing well but got an infection on Jan 2nd and after having a 170cc drained from my right breast twice in a week, they put a drain back in.  This one is on the lower edge of my breast (in front vs. coming out of my side).  It is amazing how your perspective changes.  I loved getting my drain put back in (I hated them after surgery).  It was much better than blowing up like a water balloon.  I still have it in as my doc said to keep it in until I stopped "draining".  I am almost done but still had 20cc yesterday.  I feel good otherwise and can sleep well so it doesn't bother me.  I am doing AC/T so can't answer your chemo questions.  All I can say is that once you get the first chemo tx done you will know how you react to chemo and it won't be so scary

pagowens : so sorry for your loss.  You are in my prayers.

youngmomof3:  I started my chemo on New Year's Eve and I specifically asked my onc about having some wine with dinner.  She told me 1 or 2 glasses would be fine, but no more than that.  I had one glass and felt fine.  They also offered me coffee or tea when I went for my treatment so I guess caffeine is not forbidden.  I just have one cup of coffee every morning.

Yesterday I decided to cut my hair off at my chin.  I gave myself a Dutch Boy cut.  I would say about 40% of my hair has fallen out.  Today is the first day I had to wear my wig to work.  I feel really self conscious. Of course all my co-workers are telling me how great my wig looks and that if I didn't tell them I would be wearing one that they would just think I colored it and got it cut over the weekend.

I'm happy to report that I have been feeling really great.  Yesterday I had off for MLK day.  I cleaned my entire house and made a big pot of matzoh ball soup and a pot roast in my slow cooker.  Now I don't have to cook for the rest of the week!  I have my 2nd treatment this Thurs the 21st.  Hope the second one goes as well as the first.

Hope all my January Sista's have an easy week!