Chemo June 2010

To whomever mentioned the different treatments we are all planning, that really shocked me too.  I was given so many options to choose from without any clear information on why one might be preferable to another.  It really seemed to be a matter of physician preference in many cases.  Which, I know, is based on their years of experience, but when they each had years of experience and still had differing opinions it made things very confusing

wow this list is growing.....Hi all!  I don't know why our treatments are so similar. I  live in New York. It seems that these treatments are not tailor made for us and our individual size, cells, nodes, oncotypes etc. When I was offered a choice between the A/C and the T/C., I said to the Oncologist, "Are you kidding me, how am I supposed to know what to do, I didn't go to medical school!!!" She wanted ME to go home and do the research. I was upset at first, did my homework and then spoke to the nurse practitioner's and the surgeon. The decisions came and I'm sort of relieved that we are getting close to the same treatments. I'm glad I'll be able to commiserate with you gals. On a side note......I just got my hair cut very short in preparation for the inevitable.....and splurged and bought myself a buff

Hi all you Canadian ladies wondering about your identical chemo regimens.  I just found a great site called cancer math.  I'm sorry I don't have the exact link.  Just google "cancer math".  When there, you can put in every specific thing about your own cancer (your age, estrogen pos, etc...) Then you can plug in the different adjuvant therapies (specific chemo regimens, whether you will do hormone therapy etc....).  It will give you the statistical projected outcome based on the different choices.  I plugged in every different chemo to see which gave the best outcome.  It helped me clarify things for my particular situation.  Give a shout if you can't find the site and I'll post the specifics.

Hi Melanie!

The genetic counselor told me that my BRCA test would be a blood draw that they could do before one of my chemo infusions using the same IV. I am definitely going to ask about the mouth swish. Thanks.

Designermom--I had an orientation session. They insist on it where I live. To be honest, though, it was too generic to be really useful (not like Holli's). I've learned more on these loops than I did in the session. But I felt a bit the same way about details, so I called my onc's nurse. She told me that the blood work I had done 3 weeks ago would be used for the pre-chemo counts. After that, I'll need testing before each session.

To MelMel10 and HolliColorado: Good luck with your first treatments today! We'll be thinking of you!

Designermom, Thank you too for the cancer math website.  I found it helpful and interesting.  It is reassuring to see the stats on the treatment that was choosen for us.

Hugs and best wishes, Mimi9186

cattatplay- I had the same annoyance with my port. They told me that it can be installed and accessed immediately, but with all the soreness, no way I'd want them sticking it. It's been about a week now and it's MUCH better. Hang in there.

designermom- The port thing may depend on how many treatments you are receiving... I was told that they COULD use the veins in my arm... but because I have a long schedule and lots of IVs to set up, it would be much more comfortable for me to have an easy access.

Hi all, I am starting my chemo tomorrow, June 2.  I am in a clinical trial so my stats are as follows:  Doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide plus either placebo or bevacizumab every 14 days for four cycles, then paclitaxel once every seven days for twelve cycles and either placebo or bevacizumab every 21 days for four cycles and if i am in the correct arm of the clinical trial i will go on to receive the bevacizumab every 21 days for ten cycles.  I am kind of hoping to be done before that!! Good luck to all and I will keep everyone posted as to side effects, etc.

Thanks, everyone, for the well wishes!  I'm sitting in the infusion lounge right now with my feet up in the recliner.  The first drip of the Taxotere just came down.

I'm very happy right now to have the port.  It's slick.  They gave me a numbing cream to put on it an hour before coming in, so I didn't feel a thing.  They used it for drawing blood, so I'll only have one needle stick for the entire day.  Once the needle is into the port, they just screw a line into the coupler.  I may need to learn to carry my purse on the other arm when I'm out and about to keep the irritation of the port site to a minimum.

@DesignerMom:  I was trying out wigs and decided I liked the crazy ones the best.  I call this one my Raggedy Ann. 

Hello everyone already on this thread!!  This is my 1st hit and I've already been surprised at so many differences in our treatments, etc.  However, one commonality is that we have BC....which, I call "the beast'. 

Danielaes, I sent u a private message, but just in case you didn't receive it I would like to be included as one of the 'newbies' for June '10.

I've had 3 surgeries in past 4 weeks in preparation for chemo to begin, which will likely be within the next couple off weeks.  I have PET scan tomorrow & echogram next Monday, since I had heart attack 2 years ago.  I'll be on dose-dense AC T cocktail with 6 radiation rounds thereafter.  The A is that red devil that can cause heart failure, among other things for heart patients.  Wouldn't matter in the bigger picture, we're all getting pumped with poison and every bit of it has numerous SE's that will scare everything out of us, except the beast!!

Was dx w/ Metaplastic Carcinoma (rare type); Triple Negative; Stage II; Grade 3; 3+ cm, nodes clear; BRAC 1+; BRAC 2+; HER 2-.  

Am 58 year old divorced mom of 2 grown daughters & I have 3 fantastic grandsons, ages 7, 6, & 4.  Work for a state public university. 

No way would I even try to address everyone's comments up to this point....but, i hope we'll all become great long-distance pals, even tho this beastly circumstance is what joins us together. 

From HolliColorado's last post, it looks like she might be getting that stuff running thru her veins right now.   Will look forward to hearing what you can tell us later.  For those who've already started treatment, I'll read the posts this evening and try to catch up with status of everyone.

Look forward to chatting w/all of you.  And, I don't typically write an enclopedia's worth of 'stuff' like i apparently did in this post.!!   

Hope everyone has great evening.  !!   SMILE, SMILE, SMILE----ha!  someone may have to remind me to do that after my 1st chemo treatment!

Deb

Hello Ladies,

Add me to the list as well.  I will starting T/C x 4 beginning June 3rd.  I think I have everything ready to go but I am anxious like everyone else.  Good luck and minimal s/e for everyone.

 Gail 

Okay.  After WAY too much research, and being totally paranoid about Taxotere, I asked my Oncologist if there might be another regimen that would have equal benefit for my cancer and fewer SE.  A new BC friend of mine talked to a very good Oncologist friend of hers and he said CMF would be comparable to TC for her.  Who knew we could ask for alternatives!!!!  My Oncologist said she always used the "newest" like TC, but would not have a problem using the "older" CMF on me.  I know it will mean 6 infusions instead of 4.  I sure do HATE all these decisions!  I am so afraid of the permanent SE from Taxotere that so many of the girls are experiencing.  As long as I can feel sure the CMF is comparable, I will opt for that.  It means I need to get a port, so I'm sure I will be here whining about that soon!  Stay strong everyone!

Good luck to you tomorrow, too, Jenni!! I hope your day goes smoothly, and your infusion (doesn't that make it sound like a concoction from Booster Juice?) is quick and uneventful. We can certainly keep our fingers crossed for no SEs. Couldn't hurt, LOL.

Hey DesignerMom, thanks!  I was planning to ask my breast surgeon to give me a cute little scar anyway so I'll be sure to suggest the vertical scar.  That sounds excellent!