Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

Just wanted to say good luck and stay strong to all of you!  I had 6 rounds of TAC (taxotere or taxol - can't remember which, adriamycin, cytoxan) between June and Sept of 2009.  Chemo's no picnic, but it really wasn't actually as bad as I expected.  In fact, for me, the worst side effect was anticipatory nausea I would get for the day before each treatment.  Ativan works well for that, so they'd try to give me that as soon as they could with each treatment.

My onc told me they really don't want people to be sick and that they have great meds for all of the side effects (except the hair loss!), so let them know of any issues you're having.  I was able to do normal things, play with my kids - we even planned my chemo schedule so I could still take a vacation between the 1st and 2nd cycles!  I fwas off for the summer anyway, but I think I prbably could have worked, just maybe taking a day or two off with each cycle.  You will quickly see how each cycle goes for you and which days you feel the best.  I felt great for the last week to 10 days of each 3 week cycle. 

My hair is finally coming back enough that I do go out like this, although it is still pretty GI Jane!  Anyway, you all will do fine and you will get through!

I started the 1st round of 4 AC and 4 rounds of T on Feb 2nd.  The first day was uneventful and I was hopeful that the rest of the journey would be as smooth.  Went in for the Neulasta shot the next day...still feeling ok.  The full force of the chemo effects started to kick in the late afternoon of the second day and I was in a fog for three days.  Neither Compazine nor Ativan worked.  The nauseousness was the most unbearable.  I couldn't hold anything down....including liquid.  My hubby took me in and they infused IV immediately and my onco dr. gave me a new prescription (zofran).  This is the 5th day and I am starting to feel a better.  I hope it will get better.  I'm not sure if I have the strength to endure 7 more.  Love to all.

Marie 

Marie, hugs to you! Hate to hear you felt so bad! Hoping the Zofran is working and glad they gave you the IV infusion. They told me that I would be able to do that, too, if it gets too bad.

Faithful, I don't know if I'll be able to recognize my just normal laziness and chemo fatigue! I'm impressed you did your Wii Fit Plus! I got one for Christmas, and I have YET to even take it out of the celophane! LOL

For everyone else, I thought I would share this decision-making tool my onc uses when he maps out a chemo regime.

It's called Adjuvant! Online, Adjuvant! for Breast Cander (Version 8.0)

He plugs in a number of variables, age, any co-morbidities, ER status, Tumor Grade, Tumor Size, Positive Nodes (mine was 0, by the way) and then the option: Calculate For Relapse.

Oh you also plug in any hormone treatment recommended.

The program then returns the odds for 100 women with the exact same "variables" and what the likelihood of recurrance in 10 years, with four options, 1) Doing Nothing, 2) Doing Hormone Treatment only, 3) Doing Chemo regime only, 4) Combined Hormone/Chemo treatment.

For me the calculations were that out of 100 women:

Doing nothing: 55 will be alive with no cancer; 39 would be alive, but have a relapse (recurrence), and 5 would be dead of other causes.

Adding Hormonal Therapy gives an additional benefit and 18-19 more women will have no cancer/relapse

Adding Chemo Therapy only gives an additional benefit of 12.5 (more women who will have no cancer/relapse)

Combining Hormonal and Chemo adds 25-26 more women who will have no cancer/relapse in 10 years.

Meaning that the 55 jumps to almost 80 out of 100 with both treatments who will likely not have a cancer relapse/recurrence in 10 years.

Those numbers are good enough for me! And -- I know that cancer can't read and has no clue what statistics mean, but I will take these odds! 

Checking in.

Had a crazy few days, Wedspent the day looking for a fake boob.  Went to a couple of beautiful boutique stores and was greeted with "Darling you must make an appointment".  Finally gave in and went to an old drugstore, with the older ladies and was welcomed in, measured, fitted and very satisfied with them.    Bet if I had gotten service at one of the beautiful boutiques, I would have paid a fortune and very possible not get a real experienced person, just a good salesperson.  So in the end it worked itself out.  As I read somewhere on this site "I got a fake boob because the real one was trying to kill me"

Thurs sched for chemo was moved to Fri, because I needed to take steroids the day prior.  Spoke with the oncologist about vitamins and she was OK with all of them except multivitamin.  So I'm back on Vit D.

Fri Feb 5my first dose of Chemo TCH  every three weeks X6 , then Herceptin every 3 wks for the rest of the year, the infusion lasted 5 hours.  It wasn't as bad as the fear leading up to it.  All the nurses loved the power port, just felt on little pinch and that was it. Also was given two additional bags of anti nausea medication.  Also informed that the power port could be used for MUGA scan, unlike the older port styles.

MD ordered Ativan and compazine for nausea.  After chemo I felt good then later that night I was nauseas, constipated and vomiting.  All my fault I didn't pay attention to my bowel movements and did not fully hydrate my self.  Once I cleared up the constipation I feel good.

Today one day post Chemo:  Had to take an anti nausea drug Emend weather I needed it or not, and two steroids pills Decadron

 I made sure I took extra stool soften and monitored my BM's.  I lined up all the bottles of water that I have to drink, and other than feeling slightly nauseous, which I treated effectively with Ativan. I am having a good day.  Eating small bland meals is also helping. 

Whew only 1/2 bottle of water left to drink.

Being very careful and rinsing my mouth 4 times a day with biotine mouth wash.

Hope your all doing OK

Grace

I can't believe this, but my brother shaved his head in support of me!!!  We met up in NY City with his family this weekend and he went home and shaved his head!!  He said I souldn't be the only one in the family with a bald head!!  Very touching and I am still in SHOCK that he did it, after all, I have a wig and he doesn't!  I think in that respect he is braver than I am, I don't go out without my wig on!

This Thursday is TX #2, hoping things go as smoothly as the first!

To all who just joined the February sisters, you found a great place to put it ALL out there and ask questions and share your experiences etc!!

Hello gang!  My first treatment was Friday, and two days later I'm still doing really well.  Kinda surprised, actually, but never sure how long it will last.  

My sleeping has been disrupted a little more than usual, but it could be worse.  I awoke around 4 in the morning the past two days, went back to the spare room, watched TV in the chair for an hour, then crawled into the bed there and dozed off again. Christine, I see you also had sleeping problems.  Are you sleeping better now?

Yesterday I awoke with just a little queasiness, but taking the Zofran kicked that very quickly. That's great stuff! I took 2 of those pills total yesterday and never had any more queasiness. Marie, I hope going forward the Zofran will keep the nausea away. Hang in there!  You can do these treatments, especially if they keep that nausea away so you can keep the fluids in. I am sorry you had such a rough start.  Retrievermom, has your queasiness gone away completely?

Faithfulc, I am amazed you did 40 minutes on the Wii Fit!  I've been out in the yard for long periods of time with my dogs but nothing strenuous.

Grace, loved your story about tracking down the right fake boob!  You sound like me. I'd definitely prefer the old drugstore to the fancy shops. I ran into one of the fancy shops when wig shopping, but the wig person was not available and no one else felt they could go into her domain and show me any wigs -- appointment needed. I live 40 miles away, I'm starting chemo, and I don't want to make a special trip for "madame" to fit me!  Odd thing was the shop was in the cancer center where I'm being treated.  Oh, and I'm also doing the Biotene rinse routine a few times a day.

Me2u, that's great news about your scan coming back clear!  A reason to celebrate!  I had my body scans (CT and bone) right before my surgery, and it took a weight off my mind when they came back clear.

Michele, I am not as brave as you. I've known about Adjuvant! Online for awhile, but I just can't see my odds reduced to a number. I might start obsessing, more than normal, that is. LOL   I'm glad you are happy with your results!  I've heard it really is a great tool, though, and I am sure it is immensely helpful to many.

Leta, that's too cool about your brother shaving his head. I'm glad your first treatment went smoothly, and here's to hoping the second goes as well!

Mo and everyone starting this week, we'll be here waiting to hear how it goes.  Many thanks to the ladies dropping in who have been through this and are cheering us on!  Your support means so much!

Cindy 

It's good to see we're all getting this show on the road. To those who had an unpleasant experience, HANG IN THERE! This will not last forever. I just loved the message from Amy is strong. It helps to keep all this in perspective too. None of this has been fun but I keep looking for the positive things and there are always more than I thought at first. I am focusing on the positive!

Roso88: Finally, someone else with the same drug! Every week for 12 weeks seems like a long time but it will pass quickly. I hope it goes as well for you as me. The only problem I had was a mild burning and red face the day after. I took benadryl and cortisone cream and it cleared right up. I also drank lots of water, but was not told to do so by my team. I see many talking about naulasta shot but I've had no mention of it from my onc. I am also having 4 rounds of FEC, maybe it will come up then. Good Luck! I'm sure it will go well. It really was not bad at all, more of an inconvinience by having to take the time for it.

Tomorrow is #2. I'm ready to kick more cancer butt!

Good morning ladies- hope you are all having a good sunday

I haven't posted since right after my 1st treatment which was a week and a half ago, but I had been feeling good- went for a walk every day for 4 days in a row this last week! But then I was around someone wednesday who had just had a cold but was feeling better- and the next day I had a cold too- and still have it! They said that days 7-10 is when your immune system is at its lowest.. So don't let anyone around you if they've just been sick- make them wait several days! I'm going to call my docs tomorrow if I'm not feeling better, but really hoping I am..

Anyway good luck to you all who are starting this week- I was so nervous before my 1st treatment and it really wasn't bad at all!

my cocktail: its AC 4x, ? 12x, Rads (5wks) and Tamoxifen 5 years. Kyeril and Dexamethasone to prevent nausea/vomiting via IV. Neulastin injection to increase white blood cell the following day.

MW943, am having AC 4x too and thanks for your post chemo experience. am going to ask for Zofran to standby (in case).

thanks CinD, faithfulc, Grazie47 and Ibreedl for your detailed experiences of your post chemo experience. Writer, hope your chemo went well. CAL30, hope your cold will go away soon.

lets all be strong to fight this and go through together!!!

I start tomorrow with TAC

Thanks, faithfulc. So happy to hear you're doing well.

I've been hopped up on steroids since yesterday morning, so yesterday was not stressful-- I was full of vim and vigor. Walked 5 1/2 miles, wore out my dog but I could have kept going! Usually when I walk longer than normal my hips hurt all night, but no trouble last night. Not that I slept-- but I didn't care! The down side, of course, is that I was starving all day and night.

Anyway, off we go for my seven hours of infusions. Ready as I'll ever be. Thanks to all who have been providing wisdom and reports! 

Just dropping in to say good luck to all.  I finished chemo in Feb last year--and you DO get your life back, I promise--- it does NOT last forever and a year from now, there will be parts you have forgotten.

Cal, I saw your note about your friend.  I had a similar experience with someone who has been my friend since we were 4 years old.  She knew what was going on and I called her just before chemo started and asked if we could see each other (she lives close by) she never called back and I never heard from her again--- I called her this past November, she said she would call me back, never did.  She always had alot of drama  in her life as well as some really tough times.  I just decided that she couldn't help me-- and I had enough other wonderful people in my life--- so I had to let it go.... it was hard and sad- but one thing having had breast cancer taught me is that I am not wasting time on people who are not as commited as I am...... 

 I am sorry this happened to you-but it may be that she just cannot deal with this---- 

GOOD LUCK TO ALL--remember, this too will pass!

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed in December 2009 three days before xmas! I am having my port put in this wednesday and the oncologist wants me to start chemo next week. I had a rt mastectomy with reconstruction. all of this is a whirlwind. I have had incredible support, but I and scared of chemo and its effects. I don't know what supplies I should have on hand or anything. I have three small children and I want to be prepared for anything!! I wasn't even going to join the forum since I don't get on the computer much, but I need help!

Welcome aboard, sgerrity - I, too, like everyone else, I think, am scared of the chemo side effects.  I was supposed to start this Wednesday, but because of the predictions for a major snowstorm, again, it's been moved to Friday - so, just when I had my head around Wednesday, the weather gods have changed my plans.  I have to say that reading all the posts from the others going through this has helped me so much.  I'm actually feeling at peace with moving forward and getting this show on the road.  The best thing about this is you can really feel like you're not alone in this process - these ladies are all in it with you and you can talk to them - only they know what you're going through, and it's very comforting.  Hope you come back often - have to say, I'm kind of addicted to it now!  Take care, take a breath, and know that we're here for each other.  Mo