March 2010 Chemo Start

Well, it seems that everyone is ahead of me in the chemo game.  I start my treatments tomorrow and although I am a bit anxious, all of your posts give me strength.  I honestly feel that I need to get sick to get better but am hopeful that any sickness can comes my way will be controlled by medication. I have 4 treatments of AC ahead of me which will then be followed up by Taxol, RADS and more surgery.  

With respect to losing my hair which should occur mid-April, I firmly believe that I am 'losing my hair but saving my life'!  I really don't know how I will react come the day that I finally shave off whatever is remaining but all of you have survived it so I know I will too. One of my dear friends who just went through chemo suggested that I buy a Rogaine type product to apply to my eyebrows.  She didn't end up losing her eyebrows.

Thx to everyone who posts here!

Welcome Kayne, it's amazing how much great information is on these discussion boards. And lots af wonderful people too, we're forming a real world wide web - to support each other through all this crap.

It was interesting you mentioned the key is to drink, and I know you mean water, but since I've started chemo, I can't drink alcohol, my body is completely averted to it -friends took me out to lunch yesterday - I ate like a trooper - but had no desire for the inch of bubbles they poured in my glass. As with the slow trickle of short hairs on my pillow case, I repeat the mantra we're all coming to say - don't forget - this is temporary. 

Lisa 

Good evening everyone...I haven't been around the last couple of days because I feel pretty good. 10 days out from first treatment and I finally feel normal, so I have been enjoying the warmer weather . There was 3 days where I had so much bone pain, I just laid on the couch and cried. I was given Vicoden...it didn't help (no, I don't get the neulasta shot). Has anyone else experienced that? Any advice for the pain? I figure I'll have to go thru it 3 more times!

My 37th B-day is Friday and I get to spend it at the Dr's office! There are so many other things I would rather do, but I know it's to make sure I have several more birthdays to come.

Best of luck to the "Marchers" starting their Tx tomorrow. I hope everyone is coping well. All of you phenomenal women are in my thoughts and prayers.

I've been more lurking than writing the past few days.  I find it hard to read and write during the chemo fog that sucks me under for the 5 days after the treatment.  And then, mercifully, it lifts and its amazing to be "back" and I can sit still and listen and read and be part of regular goings-on, I feel like I'm in a different dimension that the rest of the world (except you guys, who are right there with me) when that fogginess settles in.  Uncomfy, that part.  Ofcourse, my insomnia persists through all, but even that is is easier to handle when I'm clear thinking!

Unbelievable that our group is still growing!  The more we are, the stronger we are...we stand together, we'll get through this together...all tips and pointers and words of support are so appreciated and heard by the group.  This is an amazing source of strength and I'm grateful to the ladies that are here. Brave and strong and together we will do what is difficult and we will do it well!

Loving thought with all for a restful night and wishes for a  good calm Monday. xoxo

Ana1973? Are you on Taxotere? I am 11 days out and for 3 days couldn't hardly move because of the severe bone pain. I however, have bone mets, but I was hurting in places other than where my bone mets are. My Oncologist said Taxotere affects some people like this. I'm even on VERY strong pain meds due to bone mets and it barely phased it. Dr. increased my pain meds and now I'm doing ok. I'm SO glad to hear you're doing better.

I keep repeatedly seeing that taking Claritin helps bone pain? I'm curious if my Onc. has ever heard of this. I'm going to try it. It would be a miracle for me if it worked, I would love NOTHING more than to be able to be taken off all these pain meds. Everyone hang in there!

Suzanne E. 

hi everyone

not posted for a while i am now 13 days out my first cycle of the dreaded medication

feel good back to myself, got throught with minimal side effects so hope the next cycle will be the same.

my hair is still hanging in there for how much longer i wonder

hope everyone is well and getting through this xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello New Marchers!  I'm so sorry you are as I am in this revolting situation but I hope you will find all the information and support you may need.  We are in this strength, courage and resolve parade together and together we will successfully negotiate this "temporary" detour.  Kayne, about the cryo gloves and slippers, I found out after I bought them (I was able to return) that my Oncologist did not want me to use them.  So you should check on that also there's info on this much earlier in this string.  EZH, I'm concerned about your lack of sleep, I'm also chronically sleep-deprived.  I finally broke down and took an ativan...got 5 fitful hours.  Have you tried tryptophan?  Not necessarily in a pill...how about warm milk and a banana with p'nut butter before bed.  I tried that last night and it worked as well as the ativan.

Hello fellow marchers,

I'm on day 13 post my 1st AC, looking towards Wednesday when I go back for #2. This round wasn't too bad - the drugs for nausea do work! I didn't have any. I spent the first week feeling 'weird' and tired but it wasn't as bad as I expected. We'll see what the week will bring!

Kayne: I had the same experience with diagnosis - that ILC can be tough to diagnosis. Mine also didn't show on MRI. The irony here is that even if they could see it sooner, LCIS isn't considered cancer and would not be treated - so we'd have to wait for it to become invasive before anything would be done. I hope new modalities and treatment guidelines for LCIS and ILC will become a priority in breast cancer research.

Hope everyone has a good week. Keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel!

Hello all

Bouncing over from Jan 2010 Chemo board to wish you all luck. You guys can do this!!!

I am thru 4 out of 6 TCH (T = Taxotore, C = Carboplatin, H = Herceptin)

Here are a few things that may help some of you

When I get the Taxotore - my fingers and toes are on ice. The nurse brings me ziploc bags full of ice, and I dig my fingers in, and wrap a big bag around my toes. It is a cold 1 hour, but so far there are no signs of damage to fingernails or toenails. Have seen a few posts about the finger gloves. ziploc bags work just as well and are free!

Chemo caused me to have severe heartburn, never suffered from it before. So, I am on Prilosec every day until Chemo is done. Doctor prescribed it.

I went to a nutrition website and found how much protein and fiber a person of my height and weight should eat on a daily basis, During the first 7 or so days after each Chemo, I make sure to get that amount in no matter if I am hungry or not. Protein is helpful in the rebuild process.

Hope this helps!

HI All,

mamaof3bugs:  We are on the exact same treatment plan as far as the AC, Taxol and rads.  But I am also in a clinical trial which adds Avastin or a placebo  I started today.  Everything went well.  I felt fine.  No problems at all during treatment.  Right now I have a slight headache. (41/2 hours after chemo finished)  So try to relax, it really wasn't bad at all. 

I just hope I can sleep tonight.  Sending good vibes and warm hugs to all esp. those that are having a hard time now. 

Michelle

Elen- I had a heck of a time with very heavy nausea on AC back in "08" when I did it. Are you on Prilosec? It really helped me along with zofran for breakthrough nausea and I lived on a little candy called "gin-gin's". You can buy them at an herbal store, they always had them at my Oncologist's office. Or you can try drinking ginger-ale or using any time of ginger. I wish you the very best getting rid of that nausea, it can be debilitating. Hang in there!

Suzanne E. 

I haven't been posting much, but have been lurking around and keeping up.  I just went for my second round of TCH today.  I handled the first one pretty well.  My side effects were some serious heartburn (now on Prilosec every day) and some intestinal distress on and off.  For me drinking a lot and eating a lot of small simple meals really helped.  When I didn't stick to that my gut got angry.  

 So far so good on the second treatment (between the Emend and the dexamethasone everything is covered).  I'll get my neulasta shot tomorrow and the aches will come on in a couple days.  I might try Claritin this time...

Good luck to those of you who are just starting.  I'm sorry you have to join us, but I'm wishing you an easy time with this crap! 

Hi

I startet my chemo ( AC ) 15th. march.

so many new names - welcome to all. 

 I went to a Look good, Feel better session today - I didn't know they had them in Australia too. I don't wear much makeup, so it felt a bit like dress ups - but it was really fun, and I can never say no to free anything, the make-up and moisturisers are from good companies. And also, I had really thought I'd just go bald, and scarves/hats - but I tried on a really cute reddish bob, and I'm going to have to buy it. Never had red hair before, but everyone said it suited me - and it did look good. So I'll wear it for special nights out     - day 10 and mines still hangin' in there.

Also had a trip to the PS today because my surgical wound was having a little struggle to heal properly, he ended up re-excising a bit and re-suturing it and put me on a week of antibiotics - hopefully it'll be fully healed before the next chemo on the 9th of April.

Looking forward to Easter with the family. Hope everyone who's just had treatment is going OK - thinking of you all,

Lisa

Hello all,

Well yesterday was not bad but I sure did feel tired.  Just a little off.  Maybe I did to much.  We will see  what today holds.  One day at a time!!!!!