Chemo starting in December 2010

Hi everyone -

    I had my port procedure yesterday.  Was there at 6am, home by 2:30pm.  Very sore.  Mostly the vein feels sore, not the actual port.  Today I feel better.  I can move more freely, but I've spent most of the day in bed with my husband taking care of the kids.  I still need to move gingerly.  The nurse told me not to lift for 7 days but the doc never mentioned that before.  Does that seem right?  My little one still needs diaper changes, so unless I'm going to start doing them on the floor, I need to get her up to the changing table.  

   I had one friend who did chemo 10 years ago and said all of her friends had infections with ports.  I still decided to do it since half of my stress at every appointment is the needle/catheter. I figured maybe the chemo treatment would be a bit more bearable if I wasn't freaking out about needles all of the time.  The funny part is I studied anatomy and physiology in college and even dissected cadavers with no problems.  But bring a needle near me and I can't even watch.  Our minds are funny that way.

  Lawleigh - now that chemo is almost here (Tuesday!) I also feeling weird about injecting so many poisonous chemicals into my body. I was always 100% healthy before this and never took meds for anything.  Even gave birth twice without meds.  I'm really struggling with getting my head around the fact that these very evil chemicals will hopefully save my life.  Maybe I need to start by not referring to them as "very evil chemicals".   I need to start thinking about them as very wonderful chemicals that just happen to have some not so great SEs.

  Sammolisa - I'm also doing dose dense AC followed by T x 12.  I start on Tuesday.

  Dlcw - I'm in El Cerrito (treatment at Alta Bates in Oakland) and no mention of shortage here. Must be a regional thing because I'm starting AC on Tuesday.

   I had contemplated the trial but just couldn't bear the thought of another surgery to do the biopsy again. Took me a good week to recover from it last time.

   How did everyone get all of the names of the other meds that go along with the chemo? They haven't said anything to me about what they'll be giving me or if I need to take anything in advance.

   I need to go back to bed to sleep with the kids are napping. 

Sammolisa, I am on the same thing. A/C . Started Thurs. Today I feel knocked on my butt. Trying not to be a baby but honestly I have wondered at times how I am going to get through this!

I had my shot yesterday and I am having some aching. She (nurse) said I can expect a backache in a few days or aching in the sternum since the white blood cells will be increasing in the bones and the pressure causes pain.

I wish I could envision this making me better, but right now....

Hey everyone....my heart goes out to all of you that are having tough weekend.  Hang in there and use this place to vent and be understood.

@Maria- Welcome to our little family.  You have choosen a great place to hang out, but I am so sorry that you have to join us.

@Nolaa-You make a good point but its tough to not think of them as the evil drugs that they are.  I too seem to be on the same treatment as you with the AC dose dense followed by T x 12.  Just add in the the clinic evil drug (I mean wonderful drug) and you have my prescription for success. As far as the lifting (I had my port put in tue), I was given no direction regarding lifting although I did try to help my husband shovel snow and promptly had the snow shovel taken away and was sent inside to rest....go figure.  I would say common sense must prevail and your body will tell you what you can or can't do.

 Take care and positive thoughts are coming from this end....5 days and counting

Leigh

Just want to convey my best wishes for those who are starting or already have started the chemo...stay positive...try to be happy...and believe me....you will be out of it soon..healthy and strong.

Hi all,

I started my chemo last year in December.  It was a hard year but I was so lucky to have found the ladies on this site.  Good thoughts and prayers are being sent to all of you...

Hi, I am new to the site.  I do not have breast cancer but my daughter does and she is starting chemo soon after having mastectomy on 10/13 with reconstruction and then having underarm lymph nodes removed 11/24 (all were negative).  Her oncologist is talking about injections to be taken every day for 7-10 days each time she has a treatment.  something about white cell counts.  My daughter hates shots.  I can't find any info on this online.  anybody know about this??

Hi Guardian, the 7-10 days shot might be neupogen. Neupogen is giving everyday for 7-10 days.Neulasta only need one shot. Pople's preference or reaction might be different for these two kinds of medicine. I will be getting neupogen too. Onc planned for 10 days for now, but may reduce the number if needed. He also mentioned we do not want the white cell count to be too high, maybe that make chemo useless?

Better today.  Woke up achey, took tylenol and anti-nausea right away.  I was able to take a walk and eat some breakfast.  Watered down icey gatorade is my friend today.  I am planning on working tomorrow, fingers crosses.

Sam- So glad you are doing better. Cold things and pain pills are miracles right now!

MsJag- Happy to hear your doing well too!  I hear you about drinking anything for a catscan, I can tolerate very little. 

Shel-Hope you are doing ok, you have been in my thoughts.

Hopefor tomorrow- How are you doing today?  Any more pain from the neulasta?  Mine was mainly in my sternum, neck, and jaw.

Off to nap again!

Hi Everyone

Thank you Beth and Ang7 for your support to all of us!!

Beth-Definitely hearing you about the laxatives. I can relate to smells hitting you wrong. I know that it isn't low calorie, but I have some old fashioned spice cookies that I take a bite out of to help the nausea. My niece said to just keep some root of ginger in the fridge and slice a piece and suck on it if I need it (she is a chef) well the idea of doing that makes my stomach turn. Maybe my husband could slice it for me! 

I have been living on the last three days:  a morning cinnamon bagel, gingerale and 7up, Icewater, a banana, a potato and chicken breast. The only foods that appeal to me! My stomach does feel irritated...gassy or sore, not sure which best describes it.

Overall a good day. Just a bit sluggish! When I get aches I do take a pain pill and I seem to be ok.

Lisa, even though you aren't feeling well you seem to radiate energy-maybe it is your style of writing. Thank you for sending positive thoughts my way!

I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday! Cathy

Leigh, I was given the emend in the hosptial, for day of and two days after, then a prescription for another nausea med to take. I just assumed it was included in my chemo stuff, maybe not.  So frustrating to think we have to think about paying for such needed expensive meds at a time when they are so needed.

Thanks for all the updates suggestions everyone.  I am eating bagels/with peanut butter, brown rice, oatmeal, popsicles, ravioli without sauce.drinking lots of water, tea..that's my taste buds! allow! so far no constip or dar.  Think I should still take a softener?  Off the steriods and emend as of today.Gonna try work tomorrow.

Leslie,

Thanks for the advice.  I am actually at the Cancer Care Center at St Als but pretty sure they both offer the same perks.  I have some great resources over there and will be touching base with them tomorrow, as well as checking with my onc to just see if we can do this as part of premeds.  If worse comes to worse I will obviously pay for it but it sure irks me.

I hope that you are doing well and the time that you have between now and the start of tx is filled with wonderful things.  I have been eating all the things that I have been told either i can't eat or won;t want to....lol

Warmest thoughts go out to you

Leigh

Hi gorgeous ladies -

I'm sorry I vented and ran the other night. I just needed to get it all off of my chest before I exploded. I still feel like complete and utter crap. I think it's the Neulasta shot causing so much pain and weakness though. I've been reading and it looks like most (if not all) of you have been prescribed some pain meds. I haven't. I've been using Tylenol and it's not doing anything to take the edge off. I'm starting to have muscle cramps now.

The only thing I was given was Zofram for nausea and I only take about 1 a day as needed. 

My nausea isn't too bad - but food has definitely changed. I tried eating a salad today and the dark green lettuce tasted like dirt and iron. It was horrible! OJ is awful. I've been sucking on popscicles - but noticing that ice and pops aren't as cold on my tongue. It's really weird.  It feels slightly warm and slick. 

So far raw nuts, cheese, crackers, potatoes and water is all I can handle as far as the taste buds go. 

I'm calling my oncologist office tomorrow and asking about pain management for the Neulasta shot. I think if I can get these massive body and head aches managed I'll feel a lot better. I am not sure if that's what it is but I assume it is. 

I hate being a whiner or a complainer. It's just not in my nature and I hated to do it the other night - but I was just feeling so completely alone. Now that I know that most of you are using pain meds to manage the pain I feel like maybe I have hope and I just pray my oncologist office will help me out. 

I keep all of you in my prayers daily, if not by name, then by association. I welcome the newest members with a warm hug. 

By the way, does anyone else's scalp hurt?? Heck, even my earlobes hurt! HA! 

Love & hugs! - Shelle