Chemo May 2011

bkj66,

yes, I have been getting my neupogen shots since day 3.  they prescribed 7 injections for me to cover day 3 to day 9.

Oh no, sorry to hear about your WBC count.  i hope you are feeling much better now.

Take care,

Laureen

Cyborg,

 Thanks for the hugs. I have been looking at the stage IV group. There are a couple of people 24 year survivor of stage IV mat. It is making me see hope. I was really sad eariler. But am looking at good things.

But just so you all know even if this is bad, and my chemo get moved out to June, I will still stop by here.

I really like my surgern and oncologist. But that being said. CHANGE!! Both my surg. and onc said that I have to be healed externally before chemo. They said that I could start chemo 3-4 days after the biop.  

However they have not scheduled me for a MUGO scan. and you know they seem to schedule me for alot of scans.

I do think you should change, you need to feel comfortable with your doctor. I dont think you are.

38 yr old - We're already going to change.  In fact new onco is having home health come out today to do the wound vac, once that gets taken care of I think I'll feel much better.  Nerves are completely shot.  Now I have to call other Onco and cancel appt.  I feel terrible, I'm so bad at that stuff.

bkj66- funny you say the doc kept getting your stats mixed up.  Our concern started, well, my hubby's started when I told him they called to say they would start on Wed and I have the open would, he did not voice this worry to me only to his co-workers who are aware of what's going on. What I found uncomfortable was when this past wednesday the nurse who would be administering the chemo called to let me know that even though my appt was for 8:30am she would be there by 8:00 if I wanted to come early.  I hadn't even seen my onco for the details yet and was utterly confused as to what she was talking about.  Then while on the phone with her she says "Oh, Dr just waved his hand to get my attention wants to tell you to be sure to take the steriods beforehand", my response, "what steriods, we haven't talked about anything yet"  Now I'm getting myself really angry.

Hey Grannyslilbuttercup, hugs n more hugs. I too was AC then T but blood levels changed that so now I'm T x 12, then AC x 4. At the very least, you get to knock out the worst of the monsters first. I was poised and ready for battle and while waiting on my 1st infusion doc says nope, we either change it or you'll be admitted for blood transfusion. I just wanted to get the horrible one over with first but oh well. Taxol number 3 Monday morning. Blessings to you. We Win!

Loviesmom2- Of course I wont ditch you all.

Your comments about fighting and punching made me smile.

Thanks Beaglegirl (Laura). I was not given a list to prepare . Was told by my Dr. that my side effects would be hair loss. The nurse that actually gave me the chemo was the one who told me to keep hydrated, to make sure I ate when I could because there might be days I wouldn't be able and if I got a fever to call them. My main problem today, again, is constipation, got the generic co lace last night but haven't taken it, will take it tonight if the problem persists and my neck and collarbone, clavicle hurts still, especially when i barely wake, up. Was given two prescriptions for nausea, just so glad I don't have to go for round 2 till the 30th. It gives me time to feel better. Don't even want to think about it. Well Beaglegirl, God bless you and have an awesome day! I have a feeling everything is gonna be alright, like the song says. bye now. 

I seem to be doing fine with the halaven....two treatments done and I am off next week, BUT let me tell you, that Neulasta shot was a rough one....it didn't hit until yesterday (got it on Thurs and even went back to work from onco's) afternoon....it was like instant arthritis everywhere and I even got a headache and I never get headaches.  I came home yesterday evening, took a muscle relaxant which always knocks me out, crawled into bed under lots of covers and this is the lst I have been doing anything other than going to the bathroom or getting myself something to drink.  I guess I did not know all there was to be prepared for with this shot.....was told to take claritin, but I didn't get it until I had already had the injection.  Next time I will know better. 

cyborg - glad you are getting out there - it's hard, I know, but way to go!  Hope you were able to enjoy the game!

I am feeling sorry for all of us! It is a beautiful day in Seattle and I had to go downtown to get my nuepogen shot. Hubby is at work but my brother offered to take me thank goodness because I was tired~I actually feel really good except for the tiredness, all my counts are good except the white ones which are very low, but nurse said that is not why I am tired, she said I am tired because the chemo is killing the cancer! I like her!

I just can't believe it was less than 2 months ago and I was not not thinking about cancer at all. I was going on living and enjoying my life, working, going to school, just in general being busy and happy. Now here I am thinking about cancer, treatments, doctors, hoping the chemo will kill these bad cells without hurting me too bad first. I just want to go do something normal but I don't feel well enough to. Not suppose to go around too many people as my counts are so low, but I am bored to tears.  My dogs are lying next to me and it seems like they feel my depression. Sometimes I fear that this is it, treatment for life and tiredness forever more. I know there is happiness out there, so why don't I just hold on to that? I see people running and biking on the trail and wonder if that will ever be me again. Why can't I focus on the positive? I do feel good right now, just tired. I am so sorry some of you don't feel good, it just sucks. I hope better days are ahead for all of us.

Laureen, I wrote about the neulasta.....supposedly you take a claritin 2 hrs before and then several hrs after injection so you are getting like a double dose.  I had never heard of it, but it was suggested to me on these boards and when I mentioned it to the onco nurse, she said oh yes, I think it was mentioned in Susan Love's book. I just hurt everywhere and am not sure if it was bone, muscle, joints or all of them, but it was an effort to move around.   I have had nuprogen before, but I think with those you get them for several days, don't you?  Neulasta is one shot.  Now I had a friend who had no problems with it whatsoever, but boy oh boy, do I ever feel like a big fat achy mess. 

BKJ66, hopefully this too shall pass.  The way I always look at it is that the cancer was there and we did not know about it until a test discovered it and they told us.  It is devestating news, but at least now we are getting treatment and not just allowing it to take over.  Better days ARE ahead.  I sure would not want to be driving downtown for a shot in Seattle.....your traffic there is terrible! 

Hi All - I have been lurking here for a few days as I am not sure I will get my chemo started again in May and maybe won't be part of the start in may group....I just finished a neoadjuvant trial with Gemcitabine/Carboplatin/PARP inhibitor (I am triple negative) and had my surgery this past Monday.  I will get my results from the pathology and start adjuvant chemo as soon as I am healed (hopefully within 2 weeks, but maybe 3).

A couple of things I wanted to share from my experiences with the trial - first, taking the Claritin before and a couple of days after the Neulasta really helped me.  I didn't take it the first time I had the shot and starting about 2 days after I felt like I had been run over by a train.  Ached all over with bone pain, especially in my shoulders and sternum.  From then on I did Claritin and although I had some aches, it was not nearly as bad.  I did not have Neupogen so not sure how that one feels.

Second, my doc gave me Ativan right at the beginning.  It helps with the nausea and it also helps with the anxiety.  If you didn't get something I wouldn't hesitate to ask if you think you need it as it can really help with the emotional roller coaster we are all on.

Finally - my initial mix of antinausea meds didn't work well and I waited a few weeks before I asked for a different approach - should have asked sooner.  They started me on a combination of Decadron, Emend (a 3 day pack), Compazine, and Zofran.  I had horrible headaches from the Zofran and the Compazine made me feel drugged and out of it.  THey switched me to Decadron/Emend/Kytril and it was SOOO much better.  So, there are multiple drugs they can try and if you're feeling awful you might discuss it with your onc (insurance might also be an issue but I was able to get the Kytril covered).

I think my adjuvant chemo will be DD A/C +  12 Taxol.  Is anyone doing that with the Taxol first?  Just curious as it seems some oncs are doing that based on an MD Anderson protocol.

Candice - I had a false alarm with my PET and spent a weekend waiting to find out the status of a spot on my spine - mine turned out to be an overgrowth of blood vessels - I will be hoping and praying that yours is a false alarm too.

mccrimson - definitely shop around - I got 3 opinions before starting the trial and have multiple appointments set up for discussions of next steps after I get the path report back - I think you have to find someone you trust completely and you feel answers all your questions and gives you the time you need to ask them.

Everyone else - hang in there - I know there are days when it is so hard to stay positive as I've had many of them myself (and more than a few since surgery).  

dlcw

Marybe and Cyborg,

thanks for the input about nuelasta and claritin.  i guess it doesn't apply to nuepogen since it was notprescribed by my oncologist.  take care you both!

Laureen