Chemo starting in December 2010

Sammolisa: Remember that if you lose your hair, then you will probably lose the hair in your nose, which causes side effects like runny noses, and may contribute to your bloody nose.  I had chemo this summer (ACx4 and Tx4, DD) - and I dabbed petroleum jelly in my nostils,which helped me.  Ladies - chemo is a drag, but make sure you take all of the pain meds they give you. And ask for sleeping pills, if you can't sleep.  Whatever gets you through the night.  Toni

Hi Ladies - just wanted to pop in to say I was in your shoes last year.  Today is the one year anniversary of the day I started chemo.  Hard to believe it's been a whole year as I remember the day so vividly as though it was yesterday.  I lost my hair and it was very hard at the time (I'm a hair person)...got over the hair loss and embraced my wig(s)...then it grew back and I'm now choosing to wear it short. Chemo's no fun but it's doable. Now that I'm on the other side of the fence, I look back and am so glad I did the chemo.  I have no regrets whatsoever. I finished rads end of April 2010 and returned to work on Sept. 7th.  For the most part, life has somewhat gotten back to normal. Hang in there and I wish you all the best for your holiday chemo treatments with minimal side effects.

thanks everyone, so nice to know there is light at the end of this sleepless tunnell...which brings me to needing HELP!!!  Side effects  for me were manageable except., no sleep (2 or 3 hours total) in a day, day six, and I could be going to work, but I'm afraid to get behind the wheel, called onc two days ago, they didn't want to sedate me, said to give it a day to two, no luck with that, this am  doc going to call in ativan.  she said take one pill, if it doesn't work take two tonight.  ANyone have ativan? any suggestions?  one or two?  I also have diverticulosos, so if you don't get rest, that lovely colon starts spasms...lovely!!!!  Any help would be appreciated.  Today I think reality hit, that I have to continue with these treatments.  If only one could do the trick.   Hoping things are going well for everyone.   My second treatment will be without a port again, 12/23/  and onc suggested only taking steriods night before infusion, and iv during the infustion, but none after that. what do you all think?  don't the steriods keep  from having reactions to the T/C? 

1st day after DDAC - so far so good.  They gave me ativan for anxiety/sleep.  I slept almost 9 hours.  Got up once to pee.  It was a long day - we left @7am and didn't get home until around 7pm so I was wiped out anyway.  I took one steroid and an Amend this morning.  neulasta shot coming soon, and I did take a Claritin.  No appetite which I don't mind because I need to lose anyway.  This dose of steriods is half of my old dose so hopefully it won't send me intoa  roid raging, carb loving monster.  I have roid in infusion, then 1 pill for next 2 days.  I have not taken a nasuea pill yet - 'as needed' and i havn't needed it yet.

Feeling so much better today.  Saw the onc doc this am before my Neulast shot (they do it only one day later here) and she mentioned that people often prefer pain to nausea.  I think I'm with her on that one.  I'm actually wondering if it was my post-chemo lunch that did me in instead of the actual chemo drugs.  Anyway, Atavin worked and she said to go there first before zofran or compazine. Just one doc opinion.  She also said to take garlic capsules for a few days before the next chemo treatment.  

After getting the Neulasta shot today the nurse did say that claritin might help although they didn't tell me to take it in advance.  I'm sure it would work fine either way.  I'm not feeling it yet though.

I'm still very wobbly and off-balance.  As much I want to nap I'm afraid to since I was vomitous after napping yesterday.  Maybe I'll try sleeping upright.   

I went amd got my hair cut with one of my friends today.  Pixie short.  I was a baby last time it was this short.  I actually kind of like it in a I-know-this-is-temporary kind of way.   

Hang in there everyone. 

Lisa, I would check on the aleve- I have been told to stay away from it because it lowers the white blood cell count. The nurse told me at the most I could take it twice a week. Maybe your Doc's office will feel differently, but I would check with them.

Hi All - just checking in to see how everyone is doing.  I STILL haven't started yet but have my repeat MRI and echo by the end of this week and then my mandatory chemo counseling appointment Monday and then surgeon right after that....so hopefully I'll get started next week.  I am sure I'll hear more about this on Monday, but can someone tell me what the steroids are for?  Does everyone get them?  I expect to do DD A/C followed by Taxol - looks like lindaa is on that protocol and is having steroids - so maybe that is standard?  I just wasn't expecting that.  My son has a friend with leukemia and I've seen him on steroids (not sure if it's the same steroid or not) but those are some intense side effects.  I was planning on being here calm and collected every day when my children got home from school to help ease their worries.....maybe not realistic????  When I told them this morning that I wouldn't be going to the office starting next week my son (he's 9) jumped up, gave a couple of fist pumps, and said 'YEAH!!'.  He likes the idea of me being here when he gets home from school instead of just him and his older sister - would hate to have him wish I weren't here if I'm in a grumpy steroid mood! 

Hope you all have a good night and fewer SE's tomorrow - and I hope to join you all soon in active treatment!

Donna

donna, the steroids are only for  2 or 3 days, so you should be ok.  When I was on taxol (my last chemo cycle) thet were to prevent an alergic reaction, about 1/2 way through, since I never had a reaction I was able to stop taking them.  For the A/C the nurse said it is to prevent nasua so I must take them as prescribed.  As someone else posted, the nurse staying ahead of nasua is better than trying to stop it later. 

Hey meglove I am with you starting tomorrow and trying to have a nice relaxing eve with my husband.  We went to Costco to stock up as my grandson and son arrive this weekend for a couple of weeks.  My husband stocked up on animal crackers and said between me, Devin and the dogs the animal crackers would be gone quick.  Also bought Claritin.  Even though my Onc hadnt heard of using it, to many of you swear by it so I will be using it on Fri before the nasty neulasta.

As far as the anti nausea that were prescribed to be used as needed (2 of them) any idea if you take them together or one before the other.  I guess I can take them with me and ask tomorrow as well.  I will start the Emend in the morning before I go in the morning.

Feeling a bit emotional tonight as it seems like the last night of my "life".  Not a great attitude but I can't describe it any other way.

I hope everyone is feeling ok....Nolaa I am so sorry you are feeling cruddy, my thooughts are with you.  Samm I am glad that your numbers look good.  Enough with the weight loss though girls.  As much as 10 lbs would be my dream I know they are watching us to make sure we don't drop much.

I will check in tomorrow and let you know how it goes.\

Leigh

So I finally had my mastectomy drains removed tonight, the night before chemo tomorrow. However, the chemo is no longer happening tomorrow. My doc said that he is just too afraid that I will get an infection if I have chemo so soon after taking them out, so I need to wait until next week.

 No biggie- I was just totally mentally prepared and geared up for doing this tomorrow, ya know? Scared- not excited about it, but packed and ready.

 Good luck tomorrow meglove and leigh....I will be thinking of you.

 Kim

I take my steroid in the morning with food, not at night.  The steroid and emend are only for the 2 days after chemo, so both in am, about 30 min apart seemed to make sense to me.  My DH left me a note in the morning with both pills and reminder to take them, reminder to eat small, regular meals, and he left 4 bottles of water with the little tabs already popped so I wouldn't have to.  Brought tears to my eyes he is so sweet.  I have a neighbor who is a chemo nurse so she came over last night to give me my shot.  I took a claritin and she did confirm that many ppl do and that some places are now using claritin the day before chemo to help with any reactions. 

 Overall I am just moving slowly and stressing over Christmas.  I have a lot to wrap still and cards to send out.  Every surface in my house seems to have something on it. 

ebann:  I left you a PM.

Leigh & Meglove- I am thinking about you both today.

Kim- I understand the frustration of waiting for it to start. Enjoy the extra week!

Matthew-Lack of sleep really affected me by day 4.  I finally got Ambien which worked. 

Linda-Your husband sounds very sweet, that is great that you have such a good support.

I am doing well, I survived the first week!  I am having a lot of bone/joint pain which I now think is Taxotere related, not neulasta.  Painkillers and a heating pad have been good to me.

I think that when I am done with all of this I am going to drag my couch outside and light on fire.  After spending so much time on it I can say it is the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I have ever owned and I am kicking myself for buying it.  Damn you Ikea.