Chemo starting in December 2010

Well, my stay at home didn't last long.  Woke up next day with a fever of 101 and stuff oozing out of port wound.  Went to Brigham Womans, the Dana Farber hospital, and now that I actually had real sysmptoms they could determine that the port was infected.  After just a few hours they pulled it out.  I instantly felt better and doing even better today.  At first they were going to delay my treatment but i was anxious because I am in high risk group (trip neg).  So chemo tonight, hoping all goes well.  I did not drink all of my water but have been on IV drip so hopefully that will help. 

hopefortomorrow - I didn't get actual nasua but I did have a lot of problems with smells getting to me.  i ate mild, simple things like toast and made everyone keep their food away from me so I couldn't smell it.

hdangelbaby - i know what you mean about shopping.  I can hear someone sneeze or cough and I run the other way!

 sunflower - keep an eye on that fever.  Anything over 100.5 needs to be called in.  i have learned the hard way that it is better to call and feel stupid than to not call.

Joystars - wow - a new baby!  Congrats! I hope you have plenty of family to lend a hand - don't refuse any help.  Sleep as much as can and keep drinking that water. look around the boards - I know there are others who have little ones while on treatment.

msjag - i am TN and on DD A/C.  Dr Winer came to see me today - he is one of top docs in country for trip neg.  Overmoyer is my regular onc.  I am in good hands.  When I saw him I just started crying. 

Congrats to all of you with good blood counts.  We will all be ready for nursing degrees when this is done.  One doctor asked me if I was in medical field because I was so well versed.  I said no, just a lot of time on internet and breastcancer.org!

Jtbs.....

I urinate so often I cannot keep all my liquids in to stay hydrated. My night went well, the nausea left me around midnight. But I woke up so darn weak. When I arrived for the neaulasta shot they took one look at me and gave me 4 hours of IVs. I had a bag of anti-nausea meds, two bags of normal saline. I swear I drank more liquids yesterday than I can EVER remember. But liquid just kept coming out! I think I may need to discuss an "absorption" problem with my onc. Glad you got in some activity! My routine is golf and I sure do MISS hitting that little white ball around. Now with the "N" shot in me we will see how much I ache the next few days.

passofino222...

I am a 26 year middle school science teacher in the hood. I was told by my onc I could not go back until after all 18 weeks of TAC were complete and I rested my immune system for 2 weeks, due to 110 little middle school germ carriers in this city. There went the rest of the school year. I qualified for retirement December 31. So I have the papers on the way and will most likely sign them making it retroactive to that date. That way I can get a paycheck through this ordeal. Maybe when this ole' middle school science teacher beats the "cancer beast" someone will need me to help teach the state test to "low kids". We will see! Leaving my kids was the hardest part of this. I told them I WOULD be back b/c the doctor believed I would dodge the chemo. But the nodes changed the journey. I STILL love teaching needy kids! But it looks like cancer ended it...............

Bambi

Joystars - my heart breaks hearing your story.  My husband had really been wanting a third child but this kind of sealed the deal with a big NO.  Both my breasts and both ovaries will be coming out in June.  The joy of motherhood and the overwhelming urge to take care of your little one is obviously being upstaged by the incredible need to take care of yourself.  That alone is a hormal battle in your mind/body.  Add to that the incredible trauma of childbirth.  Trauma in a good sense, but there is no mistaking that childbirth is a physical trauma that needs time to heal.  And in this case, 3 weeks is NOT enough time to heal.  Most women need 3 months to even begin to feel normal.  Add to that insurmountable exhaustion associated with a newborn.  I guess you won't be breastfeeding because of all of the meds, but you could also be feeling a loss from that if you had really been wanting to breastfeed.  At least with a baby on formula there are lots of other helping hands that can feed the little one giving you the super important time to rest and heal.  Add to all of this the very scary first chemo!!!   The unknown is always more scary than the known and unfortunately, the first one is just stressful.  Use all of the visualization, breathing techniques, or birthing techniques you learned and apply those to keeping calm and relaxed at the first appointment.  If it helps, you can know that everyone here has felt 100% more at ease in the second treatment.  Not that we look forward to it necessarily, but the fear factor is gone.  Just keep reminding yourself that these meds will make you all better for that magnificent baby waiting at home.  --Get as much helps as you possibly can.--  For you and the baby, and for your husband's sanity.  We tend to forget what a burden they bear.  Finally, looking back to when I had my babies, I wish I had spent more time just snuggled up with them.  Skin to skin, they say, has phenomenal calming and healing effects in humans and babies.  Since you have such a big responsibility to take care of you right now, your baby will probably be getting less holding, touching, etc, than if you were well.  Sad but true fact.  But you can certainly make up for it by laying skin to skin with her right next to you in bed or on the sofa while she takes a little baby power nap.  Or if you feel better not being in a bed, relax in a rocking chair and just lay her on your chest (or somewhere that doesn't hurt your c-section incision!).   I only did it once with my 6 month old daughter - it was after her older brother had accidentally pushed her down some cement stairs while she was strapped in her stroller. (Here's the eternal mom guilt: I know, where was I?  Half asleep on the park bench thinking they were fine but it was a new park and I didn't know there were stairs nearby). It was awful and horrific and there was so much blood and an ambulance but she really came out remarkably well with just a big scrape on her gums, of all things.  It was a miracle.  But she was traumatized, I was traumatized, she refused the breast and wouldn't eat (I'm sure her mouth was sore) and it was a very stressful time.  So one night, on the recommendation of my lactation consultant, I stripped us both down naked with just her little diaper and we just laid skin to skin snuggled up in a bed all night.  Me wide awake since I was always too worried to sleep with a baby in my bed.  But it was so calming, so peaceful, I could just feel my hormones surging at the joy of this gorgeous little creature next to me.  It was very healing for both of us.  In the morning she was back to herself. She latched back on, kept feeding, and all was well in the world.  Granted this is kind of a breastfeeding story, but that night made me realize the power of skin to skin.  Looking back now years later I wish I had done it more.  For me as much as for them.  I'm just more of a type-A than a hippie and kept thinking, "oh, we'll all be cold" or "who wants to lay naked with a baby all night."  It was one of the most healing experiences I've had.  Give it a try with your little one when you feel up to it and it might do you both a word of good.  You can do this.  You will do this. You will survive.  And when you look back you will always have those memories of this stressful time.  But let's look to the future and think hopefully about how your second childbirth will be a cancer free one!  Joystars, hang in there.

My mantra is this whole thing is that I'll try anything and everything that anyone suggests.  Why not?   It can't hurt.  It only has the potential to get me better.  I'm doing herbs, homeopathic, acupuncture, laugh therapy, yoga, support groups, oh yeah, and chemo.   I actually, logged in tonight with some good news.  Great news!  I feel like we need more in a world where there isn't always a lot.

The side effects this time around can only be described as 100% different than last time. I'm functional!  That alone seems like a triumph over the misery of last time. 

The first day was hard - I couldn't really eat, was as pale as a ghost, and had bad nausea. But I took all of the meds they prescribed plus 2 new homeopathic meds to get rid of nausea and a few hours later was feeling good enough to lay down and sleep.

This morning I took both prescription meds and homeopathic meds before getting out of bed and was even able to eat breakfast! Managed to keep down lunch and some dinner. Even had enough energy to help put the kids to bed!

I spoke with a friend today who is a cancer survivor and she said the key to chemo is keeping the side effects at bay. She is SO right.

I went in this afternoon for neulasta shot. This time I'm armed with Claratin and 2 homeopathic meds designed to help reduce the pain. My back is a bit sore already, but not nearly as bad as last time. I'm hoping I'll be functional again tomorrow.

Hurray for doing a better job of managing the side effects!

Hi All - After the longest weekend of my life I finally started chemo this week.  Had all my scans sent to Stanford prior to starting the trial.  Then got a call from the onc saying that the PET/CT now had an addendum saying that there was a possible bone met in my lower spine (10 mm questionable spot).  This was Friday at 3.  So, I rushed over for a 4:00 spinal MRI and then waited all week to see if I was Stage IV.....turns out it was an overgrowth of blood vessels!  Huge relief!  So, I got my transfusion on Monday and my first dose yesterday!  I'm doing the trial first with gemcitabine/Carboplatin/PARP for 6 3-week cycles and will follow up with post-surgery DD/AC + T.  Going to be a long year but I am glad to be started.  Feeling pretty good today - some issues with nausea last night but took my Zofran ahead of schedule along with Ativan and it really helped.  1 visit down, 23 to go for the trial!!

Tonlee - glad to hear you made it out of the hospital in time for Christmas.  You are my motivation - when I'm feeling like just staying on the couch and asking my husband to fetch things for me I think about you running the hospital stairs!  Not sure I'll ever be as motivated as you but it's good to have a goal!

Joystars - My heart broke when I read your post - I am so sorry that this awful diesease is happening at all, but especially in that wonderful period of welcoming your child and the wonder and joy that goes along with it.  I will be thinking of you and hoping that you are surrounded with all the support you need to get through this and back to health to enjoy your family and little girl.

Hope everyone else had minimal SE's and a happy holiday!

Donna

How do you ladies stand the Neulasta shots.  The chemo doesn't bother me at all in comparison.  I get my chemo of DD AC on Wednesday mornings and feel fine until Thursday about one hour after I get my Neulasta shot.  Then the bone pain begins so I take Vicodin and get all weak and foggy and still have the bone pain.  I am miserable for 4 days...can't eat, can't sleep, can't sit still, etc.  I need to know your secret to handling the shot.  Many thanks for your suggestions.

Nancy

Nancy -- I haven't started chemo yet, so I'm not speaking from experience ( I start next week).  I have seen  a lot of women posting about using Claritin (not sure if Clairitn or Claritin D) starting the day before the shot, and continuing for 4-5 days after.  I haven't asked my oncologist about this yet, plan to do that tomorrow on my final appointment before my first chemo treatment.

I have also removed the reference to my book from my signature.

K 

i have left side upper gastric pain-- then in starts in my ribs and back. vicodin was an option but i elected percocet. to me, it lasts longer. and if i back it with advil (onc suggested) it lasts even longer, and i only end up taking 3-4  a day vs 2 vicodin every 4-6 hours. that is for the neulasta pain by the way. the fact that my counts didn't drop during my first chemo, makes the few days of neulasta pain worth it for me!

my wife got a neulasta shot the day after her first TCH, she was ok the day after, but on day 2 developed a bad headache and soreness/pain in her neck, upper back and legs.  A couple of aleve really helped.  Our Onc said they are fine to take once in a while.

My second treatment was on Tuesday, December 21.  I spoke to my onc about my last bouts nausea and she put me on Ativin.  I've been taking it with the Emmend but was woken up this morning with queasiness and took both.   Feeling very week and a couple of facial hot flashes. 

My hair is falling out like a bad shedding dog today.  My friend Katherine cut it short on monday and it's getting shorter every day.  I'm ok with it after a hard crying day.  I have to keep the focus on the main program--killing the cancer.      

Spartina,

The back of my hair fell between my shoulder blades.  In the last three days it has fallen out to such a degree it is now barely to my shoulders, and thin.  Guess those longer hairs went first. 

I bought some fabulous hat hair.  And watched several videos on youtube on how to wear a wig so it doesn't scream WIG...I find black women much more informative about tips and tricks than white women on youtube. 

Hang in there sister.

 Dear December Ladies, 

I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas with little or no SE's

 Mommafluff61-  I had chemo on the 14th and was able to return to work a few hours on the 16 and 17 and have worked full time this past week.   I think I have been one of the lucky one's with very little side effects.  Some headaches, my taste bud not working and  achey.  I go in on the 28th to see my onc and he will tell me if I need the neulasta shot.  I did not have to have it the 1st time.  So far I haven't lost my hair.   I feel very fortunate. 

Prayers and Hugs for all ~leslie

Happy Holidays fellow December chemo gals.

I have had terrible bone pain following the Nuelesta shot for a week now. Blood taken on day 6 had a white bc of 1.5.  Onc said that was fine and it would be better by next week. Does that seem about right to you more knowledgable ladies?

Also, are there any diabetics out there? My sugar shot WAY up when I was on the steriods. I'm trying to get in to the regular doctor to maybe get more meds to help with the side effects of the meds that help with the side effects of the meds that are supposed to cure me of cancer. I feel like a walking pharmacy already.