Starting Chemo Feb 2010?

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  • rababar
    rababar Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2010
    Faithfulc:  Do you have a source for your Neulasta info?  I'm scheduled for DD with Neulasta on day 2.
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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2010

    rababar, I went to Neulasta's website.  Here is a link to their FAQ:

    http://www.neulasta.com/professional/about_neulasta/faq.jsp

    The recommended dosage is a single subcutaneous injection administered once per chemotherapy cycle. Neulasta® is supplied as a preservative-free solution containing 6 mg of pegfilgrastim (10 mg/mL) in a prefilled single-dose syringe with a 27-gauge, 1/2-inch needle and an UltraSafe® Needle Guard. It should be administered at least 24 hours after myelosuppressive chemotherapy, but no sooner than 14 days prior to the next cycle

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2010

    Another one:

    http://www.drugs.com/ppa/pegfilgrastim.html

    General Advice: Do not administer in period between 14 days before and 24 h after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy.

    However, it looks like the DD schedule does not necessarily conflict with Neulasta.  It is really the weekly chemo that makes Neulasta shots unrealistic.  So don't worry.

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  • rababar
    rababar Member Posts: 8
    edited February 2010

    faithfulc: Thanks for the info.  Everythings so different from what it was 25 years ago-- feels like a totally different beast! 

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  • faithfulc
    faithfulc Member Posts: 284
    edited February 2010

    You are most welcome, rababar.  The treatment for cancer does evolve over time - I just wish there is a quick cure TODAY!

    Just a little bit more information on why Neulasta is not to be given during the above mentioned time periods.  This, too, directly from neulasta.com:

    Neulasta should not be administered in the period between 14 days before and 24 hours after administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy (see DOSAGE AND Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) because of the potential for an increase in sensitivity of rapidly dividing myeloid cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy.

    I'm not sure if I understand it all, but suffice to day that it seems any time between 1 day and 1 week after chemo is safe for a 3-week cycle, and perhaps only the day after for a DD cycle.

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  • Grazie47
    Grazie47 Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2010

    I think if you get weekly chemo you can get Neupogen daily instead of Neulasta.

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  • MomWhoFan
    MomWhoFan Member Posts: 9
    edited February 2010

    Hi everyone!

    So glad to hear that everyone is doing well with their treatments. Nothing special today, just taking it easy and trying to rest up. My intestines aren't too messed up today (Imodium does work, but tastes awful), but I did get a bloody nose. Just out of the blue, it started to run. I could tell immediately it was a bloody nose and grabbed that handy tissue (thanks for recommending having them close by!). I don't understand how some of you can actually exercise during this. If I exert myself too much, I start to get a wicked headache and feel exhausted. Taking the dog to the groomer, grocery shopping and putting everything away pretty much did me in for several house today.

    I remember getting my Neulasta shot from my husband the day after chemo my last time around (2002), and this time they recommend getting the shot 36-72 hours after chemo. Yes, bones hurt, but it was tolerable. I can't remember if it's a cumulative effect, though, and will get worse after each dose.

    I'll be getting my 3rd Herceptin next Tuesday, then switching to Mondays for treatment. It works out better at a different location and day schedule for me. I don't think there's any need to change the main list above. It will still be the every 3 wks. for TCH and every week for H.

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2010

    So any thoughts on ways to unknot the guts? I neither have constipation nor diarrhea, so I'm wary of taking something for either of those. I'm drinking ginger tea, which helps a little but not a lot, and I'm making myself eat something every 4 hours or so, which does help a little even though I have no appetite. Basically there's just a moderate vice grip on the lower GI area all the time. But I'm not nauseous, so it seems like Zofran (which they gave me and is unused) isn't right. 

    Any ideas appreciated. Hope you're all hanging in there. 

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  • CinD
    CinD Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2010

    Writer, my husband has Crohn's, and when his guts get in knots, he takes clear chicken broth. Just a touch of blackberry brandy is also very soothing for him. I like a little greek yogurt.  Hope you're feeling better.

    Cindy 

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  • peaceandhealth
    peaceandhealth Member Posts: 26
    edited February 2010

    Re:  constipation - I took magnesium to keep myself regular.  Have done it for year and it worked for me much better than any over the counter things that were for that purpose.

    Re: marinol - which is the pharmaceutical marijuana - I got a prescription from my oncologist and filled it at the Kaiser pharmacy near me in Maryland -

    Re:  Zofran - if you get bad headaches after chemo and have been given that for nausea, get another anti-nausea drug - I had terrible headaches after my first two AC treatments that went on for two weeks each time - once I stopped the Zofran, the headaches went away.  Looks like on this board, though, everyone does much better than I did with it.

    Re:  rababar - tell your boss you will come in when you can but you have no idea how you will do. I was one of the few people who had some type of chemo brain that I couldn't drive while taking AC.  It totally went away two weeks after my last treatment and I was fine.  I had to get rides to and from work.  My daughter said I drove, when I tried, like an 85 year old woman.  Just giving an example that this process is quite random.  I think all you owe your boss is an indication that you will be in as soon as you can for as long as you can.  You should have protection under the Family Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. If your boss keeps bothering you and you really like this job, you might even want to have a consultation with an attorney.  I wouldn't tell your boss that you are doing that until you need to - it could threaten your boss - but then you will know your rights. 

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2010

    Tried the broth CinD, and I've tried everything else I can think of, and it's still no fun, although I was able to sleep last night. I guess I'm not going to worry so much about weight gain if this is how I'm going to handle chemo-- I'm down several pounds this week. Could only manage saltines and water last night. No diarrhea, just constant intenstinal pain/discomfort. I appear to have also gotten a bit of a sinus infection. I'm prone to them, and I don't have a fever or anything, just a thick head and green stuff, but it's pretty minor, so hopefully that won't complicate anything.

    We're going to have a beautiful holiday weekend in SoCal, and I'm lucky enough to have parents who live on the beach, so we're heading there this afternoon (if I'm better) or in the morning. Hopefully salt air, a walk on the beach, and time with my sibs and and parents will help me turn the corner on this first week and head into a better second week!

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  • lbreedl
    lbreedl Member Posts: 59
    edited February 2010

    writer: Dont forget to take Mary Jane!

    Hope you feel better ; )

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2010

    I did, lbreedl! It didn't help. And then I was just a little high with intestinal cramps! It somehow made the NBC team's hyperbole-mad Olympics opening all the more annoying.

    But I'll try again if it doesn't get better today. Although I feel sure it has to turn the corner soon.

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  • lbreedl
    lbreedl Member Posts: 59
    edited February 2010

    Yesterday mom and I went wig shopping. Got to the mall and the wig store had closed last week! I was so bummed. I wanted to get that started, at least try on a few and get measured, then maybe order online if price was a lot better. Went home and found Penquin Cold Caps. I called them and spoke to Frank the inventor. He says these are standard of care in England where he is from and are not fda approved here but are trying to get that process started. The caps are kept at subfreezing temps and worn for a 20-30 minute period then changed to a fresh cold one. This is done at the same time as chemo. I spoke to a woman here in Texas who has had 5 treatments of TAC? ond still has her hair. We were on the phone for a very long time. What a gem she is! She even offered to bring them Monday for me to try during my treatment. There is a thread on this board all about these and has her photos on it. Has anyone researched this? I am wondering about that one little cell that hides up there in the numbness and does not get killed by the chemo. My vanity loves the idea of keeping the golden locks. OPINIONS PLEASE!

    When I first heard that I needed chemo, my little voice inside my head said,"well, at least I'll loose some weight out of this deal!" That was BEFORE the darn steroids! Sometimes I just can't win. Looking on the bright side works wonders. As I see it we can be mad, blame the powers that be or just make lemonaid out of the lemons. We all have our pity party times, and they are well deserved for sure, but we must pull ourselves up out of that pit and go on. Today is going to be a good day.

    Writer: I bet your body will get used to it soon. I was one of the smarties that took 2 stool softeners before chemo and then found out loose stools were the norm! I have had some stomach cramping but mainly heartburn. I did the same as you, crackers & soup. It's gone now. Yours will be too. Enjoy your weekend, walk on the beach, eat cake, laugh, cry, hug & repeat as often as needed!

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  • Iamstronger
    Iamstronger Member Posts: 378
    edited February 2010

    HI all,

    I am really getting nervous on my first chemo tx. I start on Monday.   I know that once I go through the first round, I will feel better.  The thought of feeling like crap for 4 months and loosing my hair really sucks.  I know that I need to look at the big picture and that this is really a small price to pay for life, but, it sucks none the less.  I am going to try and let this all go and start worrying about it again on Monday. Hopefully, I can do that.

    Writer-I hope that you are feeling better today.  Still have not heard if i am in the study or not, but will find out on Monday.

    Hope you others are feeling better too!  

    Verene

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  • leta17
    leta17 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2010

    Love the stories of medical MJ!!  Too funny!

    rababar - Take a look/read through January's posts too, there are some women on there who are a few tx's in on their AC, they can give you an idea of down days etc.   It is good for us and for our work to have an idea, but we also need to put it in the right light for them (work) and manage their expectations.  Let's face it, what we are going through takes a lot of time out of our already crazy schedules!  If you can, I would manage their expecations to the down side and give yourself some room and then if you don't need the room and can go into the office etc., then you have surprised them to the upside:)

    CinD and faithfulc - I asked my onc about sweating, I too have had sweats off and on and she said it is my hormones and that I could expect 'chemopause', not necessarily permanent, but the sweats are hormone related...I later thought, after our meeting, since I'm ER+/PR+, isn't this a bad thing to energize the hormones, since hormones played a big role in starting this whole mess??  I still get confused about the whole tx plan...Chemo is for the salt and pepper cells that could be lurking but unrelated to the hormones, then radiation to further kill cells in the breast...then Tamoxifin to keep the hormones from binding into cancer?  Also, interesting note on sweating, before I was diagnosed, I would have soaking night sweats fairly regularly...I am not sure why I never asked about those before?!! 

    Today is day 3 and I am feeling good, I went to a baby shower last night (a friend at 46 had her 4th!), didn't stay out long, left with the first round of women at 9:30pm., I could have stayed out, due to the steroids, but I didn't want to push it, came home tucked my kids in and had a really good night sleep, surprisingly!!  My apetite is good and this time my taste buds are not as dulled, so that is nice!  I like wine, but I am staying away from it during the first week after tx., I figure my body has enough to deal with...No steroids today so I am hanging out at home for the afternoon, just to make sure I have the energy to make it out with another couple for dinner, no kids!! Hopefully I will not have as much of a downer day tomorrow as I did the 1st round...but we shall see...after that I hope I will be on the upswing again!

    Interesting on Neulasta, I am given the shot the next day, at about 30 hours after chemo....hmmm  my counts were way high...I wonder what is too high, I hope they would flag that as well!! 

    Take care!

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  • writer
    writer Member Posts: 208
    edited February 2010

    lbreedl, I asked my NP about icing for nails, hair, etc, and she say the discomfort is so pronounced and the results not very effective so not worth it. But that's just her opinion. Personally, a cold head for a half-hour at a stretch would be pretty hard to take, but then again, it will be bloody hard to be bald this spring and summer.

    Verene, try not to worry too much about Monday. As long as you don't have an allergic reaction, chemo day itself is easy-- you just sit there, and I felt fine. I guess we can think of it as the calm before the storm. But hopefully your ensuing storm will just be a small squall. Mine wasn't bad except for this gut issue, which is trying to turn the corner this afternoon. Had a whole banana for breakfast and a piece of toast a little while ago, and only mild pain. Hope!

    And lbreedl, I had the same thought, as I've said here before, about the weight loss thing. Now I'm losing because I can't eat; that may change next week. But I don't understand why "the steroids" make us gain weight if we're on them just 3 days out of every three-week cycle! They seemed out of my system by Wednesday. Do they have some long-lasting pernicious influence? 

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  • Ezscriiibe
    Ezscriiibe Member Posts: 598
    edited February 2010

    Just to update:

    I'm having my port installed Tuesday, Feb 16.

    I start the chemo (taxotere/cytoxan) on Thursday, Feb 18.

    Getting an Annie Lennox cut on Weds, Feb 17.

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  • Leah58
    Leah58 Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2010

    Hi all!  I am a newbie to the February group.  I went to my oncologist on Wednesday and had to make the hard decision to have chemotheraphy.  My Oncotype score was 14 but some other factors of my cancer made my oncologist and others he conferred with suggest that doing treatments would be a good thing.   So I went ahead and had a port installed on Thursday.  My first TC treatment is on Tuesday, Feb. 16.   I will have 4 tx, one every three weeks.

    Thank you for sharing your stories!!!  I keep you all in my prayers.  BB 

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  • 4Sophia
    4Sophia Member Posts: 23
    edited February 2010

    Grace and other sisters of February Chemo,

    I am new to this forum.  I had my a right mx with SNB on 1/11/10.  I went to meet with my medical oncologist for the first time this past Friday (two days ago).  It was very anxiety-provoking for me.  In fact my blood pressure sky-rocketed to 176/42.  I thank you all for being warriors and helping me to cope with everything.  Your strength is helping me to normalize this journey and am so grateful for not having to do this alone.  I am off to "chemo bootcamp" as well next week.  Tomorrow, CT's of abd, chest, and pelvis.  On the 23rd, I have the muga scan and bone scan.  Followed by chemo on the 26th.  My treatment is AC x 4 and Taxol x 12 weeks.  I then have radiation and Tamoxifen for 5 years.  I have been asked about a clinical trial.  I am going to have to read through it again to see if I want to do it.  I feel obligated to do so, just want to be sure of the risks associated with it. 

    Thank you all again for the strength, courage, and hope.

    With love,

    Tiffany

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010

    Good morning, everyone - well, day three after my first treatment and other than feeling like I have a vodka and orange juice under my belt (which, unfortunately, I don't), I feel okay.  It's a strange head buzz type feeling, but my stomach has been fine (thanks to Zofran, I guess), and I've been drinking fluids like they're going out of style - tons of water, green tea (non caffeinated), Gatorade (not my favorite but it does give me a little boost), and more water.  I always have something to drink in my hand.  I think that has helped.  The Neulasta shot was on Friday and I haven't had any sign of that yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.  Slept like a rock last night.  To all those starting up this week, good luck.  I was so nervous that I was going to have difficulty during the first infusion, but it was a major breeze - I can't say how thankful I am that none of my fears were realized.  We are all moving on and each day I have my kids cross off the calendar is another day of this stuff done.  Take care - Mo 

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  • leta17
    leta17 Member Posts: 120
    edited February 2010

    mofend - Great to hear!!!   Woo hoo!!

    Happy Valentines Day ladies!

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  • CinD
    CinD Member Posts: 163
    edited February 2010

    Mo, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. This is Day 10 (counting day of infusion) for me, and  I'm very grateful this first time has been so smooth so far.

    Writer, hope your time at the beach has helped. Steroid weight gain is only temporary considering the small amount we are taking. They cause fluid accumulation that will slowly go away. Limiting sodium while taking them may help.

    lbreedl, I've read about the Penguin Cold Caps. I don't really have an opinion on them except to say that they sound very, very cold. Guess I'm resigned to the fact that the hair will go, and I'm too lazy to return the hats and turbans that arrived in the mail yesterday in anticipation. Good luck on whatever you decide. Might be fun to try the caps.

    Leta, I hope you're still feeling well today. You are not alone, the hormone-related issues with whether we are energizing them considering we're ER+ and PR+ have me a little confused too. Thanks for the update.

    Peaceandhealth, thank you for the information on the Zofran headaches. I had been taking Zofran without problems for close to a week, then I began having bad headaches in the night. I don't know if it had to do with my getting my period at the same time or if it was the Zofran or even something else, but I cut out the Zofran and haven't had a headache since. At least I know to watch for headaches if I need to try it again.

    Tiffany, it is good to see you posting here. Sorry to hear about the blood pressure, but hopefully that was a one-time thing for you. You've got quite a busy month ahead, and that's great that they have you going to "chemo bootcamp". Hang in there!

    To Verene, Michelle, BB and everyone starting or getting procedures this week, I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

    Have a nice Valentine's Day, everyone! 

    Cindy 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2010

    I'm on for Wednesday...after reading all the posts from you gals, I'm not TOO nervous. I'm gonna try to start drinking a lot today, and continue on for days after the treatment. I got a very short haircut yesterday. I don't feel like myself at all! I've had very long hair for many years. I'm armed with my biotene and ready for Wednesday...I think.Smile Ready for my smiley face!! 

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  • sgerrity
    sgerrity Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2010

    to lbreedl, i just ordered an ice cap. I got the information from my surgeon. he said a lady tried the ice cap and it worked. I will let you know. i start chemo on thursday. They are using these in the Uk and Canada, but the patient is hooked up to a cooling machine before, during,and after chemo. I don't know how good the cap will work, since it will eventually warm up during treatment, but I thought i got nothing to lose!!!

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  • mofend
    mofend Member Posts: 140
    edited February 2010
    vmarie - good luck tomorrow - I promise you that it's a lot less scary once you're actually there - the ride is sort of surreal but then it's all business and you just go through the motions.  I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - good luck!  We are very similar in our diagnosis so I'm very curious to see how you do and wish you all the best - Mo
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  • CAL30
    CAL30 Member Posts: 15
    edited February 2010

    Happy Valentines Day Ladies :)

    Its day 18 for me and I'm feeling ok-mostly tired. My hair started falling out a couple of days ago, nothing dramatic yet, but I think I'm going to go ahead and shave it soon, rather than wait for it to get worse. My second treatment is on wednesday, can't wait to get that one over with- then theres just 2 more to go!

    Anyway good luck to all of you ladies who are starting this week!

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  • teemee
    teemee Member Posts: 122
    edited February 2010

    I read up quite a bit on the penguin cold caps, until I realized that I don't have that much commitment to anything, even my dearly loved hair Smile. From what I researched, you have to have 4-7 caps per infusion because your head has to be cold the entire time. People have a thread on here, in the chemo forum I think, talking about it. You need a friend to help you quick change, a cooler to pack them in, etc. Sounds like it works though--if anyone's really interested search for the thread.

    And happy valentines day!

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  • avanarsmom
    avanarsmom Member Posts: 3
    edited February 2010

    Hi! I'm 37 y/o, stage IIa, high grade, node neg, ER/PR neg, HER2NEU positive.

    Just started last Feb 12th with my 1st AC dose. Will have 3 more then 12 weeks of weekly placitaxel PLUS either lapatinib or herceptin.

     God bless us all!

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  • Grazie47
    Grazie47 Member Posts: 94
    edited February 2010

    Welcome to all our need ladies.  Sorry you had to join us, but you came to the right place for support.

    Good luck to all those getting chemo this week.  For those of you getting chemo for the first time I have to say the fear of the first infusion was worse than the actual chemo.   Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate.

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