August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

Truenorth...Welcome!  And what a wonderful hairdresser you have.  It's people like that (angels) that are making this bc more tolerable.  Sorry to read that you had an infection complication. I also had 1 node test positive.  I have never thought about not doing the chemo with my positive node.  Different parts of the country have different treatment plans; you'll find that as you cruise around the bco forums. You are NOT being a baby.  All of us undergoing chemo are apprehensive, but you have locked into a great group here, and I think we are a big support to each other.

Koal...I take my steroid in the am.  Maybe that would help.  Good luck at your chemo.  You'll probably sleep when you get home.

Welcome justme and truenorth....so sorry you have to go through this too, but welcome!!!



Summergirl....what an interesting reaction?? But what a great distraction for all of you.... I haven't had any hysterical laughing bouts in a long time....I hope I have that s/e too!



Kasi....how you doing with saying goodbye to your hair? Are you holding up ok?



Maryj....two down!!! YAY! I hope the s/e's stay away.... Are you doing 4 dd AC and than 4 Taxol? My T is taxotere....boo!



Anyone know why taxotere is given WITH the a/c and than taxol is separate??? What's the difference in them?



Mommyx2....YAY for making it through the first one....I'm increasingly becoming terrified as my date approaches. I know I can do it, it's just the anxiety beforehand that is terrible. I have cut about 6 inches off my hair and probably should cut another 3-4 before I start....I'm not sure it's going to help me with the transition but I'm going to try??



Koalakid.....do you have chemo today? Good luck if so....NO s/e's!!!



Chrys...you know what's weird, my onc put me on NO restrictions for food or drink??? I see you want a cosmo (YUM by the way!) and my onc said I could "drink in moderation" I doubt I really will but it's just so strange how every doctor is different??? The only thing I was told NOT to eat is sushi.



Robyn...glad to hear you are feeling better now, sounds like you had a rough go of it. I'm not looking forward to the neulasta shot at all....the pains sound terrible. I'm still waiting to hear if my insurance will let us bring it home to self administer.



michelle...sounds like you had fun with the wigs, I'm still waiting on one I ordered online to even ship??? It seems like it's taking forever?



VtEllen....how ya feeling??? Still on house arrest with the WBC counts?



Hi to everyone else....I need to go back like 2 pages to catch up with everyone's happenings, I was only gone one night. My stepson is officially at his college, it was so emotional for all of us. And it's so weird without him here and it's been one night? My 8dd sobbed when we said our goodbyes, she absolutely adores her big brother! And I am having a hard time knowing the next time he sees me I'll be knee deep into chemo. Sigh....



Everyone try and have wonderful days!!!!! I'm off to my PS for a dreaded fill, they really hurt lately.... Not looking forward to the pain today.

Robyn, I didn't get chemo training either. The hospital gave me a DVD to watch that went through the whole process, and I had a meeting with a pharmacist to go over all the meds, but that was it.

Madismommy, ...no SUSHI???? I love SUSH!!!! Were they specific about why? I don't eat the raw fish kind of sushi...I usually sick to vegeterian. I can't imagine why rice and raw veggies would be an issue.

I'm feeling a bit anxious this morning. I logged onto the hospital website to confirm my appointment time for tomorrow and noticed that they've changed my chemo time for Monday. They've booked me again for pharmacy teaching, and have extended the chemo time for an hour. I'm worried this means they're making a change based on something they saw on one of my scans. I guess I'll find out tomorrow but it's hard not to worry!

Michelle, they said the excess of bacteria that could be lurking in sushi....I'm assuming that's the raw kind which YUCK!!! Although, I've never been a big sushi fan anyways?



I had "chemo training" but it wasn't what I expected at all....it was me and DH, in a consult room with the nurse practitioner and a student from the university....and we read through a binder together. I got to bring the binder home.....with phone numbers, a chart for taking all my meds and a s/e chart.... And than all my prescriptions to go fill. It took about an hour.... I didn't really learn much that I hadn't already gotten from this thread....

Mommyx2 - I did NOT cut my very long hair first and I am now wishing that I had. I am in the "shedding" phase right now and it's VERY annoying to have long hairs all over the place.

Truenorth - I didn't really have a choice about the chemo in terms of my treatment plan. They said "You're getting chemo." Obviously I didn't have to do it and I did think about not doing it. But I'm only 31 and am in otherwise good health so I want to do everything I can to extend my life. For me, the side effects did not outweigh the benefits. And if the cancer came back and I had refused chemo, I would have wished that I'd done it.

Lele - Thanks for popping in, nice to hear what other people have experienced. I will be having 4 rounds of Taxol after the AC and I am worried about neuropathy.

Summergirl - That is hilarious! Laughing is good anyway :-) I have my 2nd treatment today, will be thinking about you :-) Good luck!

Koalakid- #2 for me today too! Good luck! 

Capinva & Chrys - Glad you're feeling a little bit better!

Hi to everyone else, I hope you're all feeling good today!! :-) 

tldrose - Keep us posted on how the Taxol goes, I start that on September 29th. 

truenorth - I wasn't really given a choice, but if the recommendation is that you do chemo, I would do chemo!  hhahaha .. why take the risk when you can do everything in your power to stop it NOW.  .  The SEs for me have been pretty minimal I'd have to say, but everyone is soo different.  I feel really really tired, like I have no life in me, unmotivated, hot, thirsty, no nausea, constipated or diarrhea, that's about it!  I know it's different for everyone. 

I didn't cut my hair before it came out.. the reason being because I got a wig that was long like my hair, so it would look weird if I cut it short and then it was long again.

Good luck to all the ladies having chemo today!!!  xoxo

Madismommy, don't sweat too much about the Neulasta. I can honestly say I have had NO noticeable side effects from the shot.



Aimska, I couldn't agree more with your outlook on chemo. We only get one shot at this (especially in my case being triple negative) so we need to throw everything we can at it!



vtEllen, they haven't changed the date of my next treatment, just made it longer. The more I think about this, I think the change in the length of my appointment may be a result of the clinical trial I signed up for (Denosumab). The nurse did say last time they'd administer the study drug at my next appointment. Guess I'll find out tomorrow!

Grimbol -- we are on the same schedule! My next tx is 8/31 as well. I want to quit! I'm also getting tingling in my legs, hands and fingers too.  Looks like you and I have the same s/e's as well. I hate to say this, but I'm glad, because I feel alone in that everyone else seems to feel 'ok'.

Robyn: Yes! We should meet and drink until the sun comes up LOL

My Onc did say I could have an occassional glass of wine, but I don't think I'll do it. I'm already having s/e's from chemo and don't want to add alcohol in the mix. It's going to be a loooong couple of weeks without my nice glass of wine  or my Cosmo

I had a one-on-one chemo call with my Oncology Nurse, which was pretty thorough. She also sent all my scripts for meds and literature via mail.  I'm glad it was one one one -- I was armed with a ton of questions and I was able to ask her in the privacy of my home and not feel rushed. She also gave me a brief once-over at my 1st chemo session.

Question -- do you ladies have an open infusion room or do you have private rooms? One aspect I like of my center is that all the rooms are private, so you are not seeing others. I have my own room with TV, open window, magazines, etc. It's very comforting.

Last night I felt tired and flushed. My temp went up to 99.8, and I just rested in bed. I did wake up at 1am all sweaty, so I took a Tylenol. Thankfully, as of now, I have no sleep issues as I treasure my sleep.  My temp is back to normal today and I'm having residual, very minor, aches and twinges. I hope I continue to feel a little better.  Oh, and my Neulasta shots came via UPS this morning. Popped those suckers in the fridge until I have to use them on Sept. 1st. 

Welcome to all the new ladies -- this is a great group!

Best wishes to everyone today!

Good afternoon, everyone.

I too am not getting the neulasta shot. The nurse was kind of surprised about that. I haven't had any major side effects from my first TCH and also not from my Herceptin, yesterday.  Tiredness has been the biggest issue and not been that bad.  I've been feeling pretty good for the last couple of days. The only training I was given was a silly DVD. I had already read the info so it was nothing I didn't already know.

I cut my hair short preparing for this, but haven't started losing any hair yet. Only 8 days in so expecting a lot of changes.

I had clear margins but my Doctor gave me the stats and said because of my age would recommend this regiment. It went for almost 50 percent chance down to less than 20 percent. When  asked what he would want his wife to do, he told me, this! So here I am. He was my mother's Ocon 10yrs ago when she was diagnosed. She is still doing great and cancerfree.

I hope everyone is hanging in there. We are gonna get through this and move on to bigger and better things!

YAHOO  made it through first TX of TC without a hitch, feel exactly like  I did when I went in this morning, so far so good, I know its early days but was happy I had no reactions , didnt experience any metal taste either form the cytoxin, and the nurses were lovely and made me feel at ease. wasnt nervous at all, so glad to have round 1 over , hoping to not have too many SE's go for my nuelasta shot 2mrw , and have claritin ready so hope that helps. 

Truenorth : welcome !!!!  we are all very nervous especially before first tx ,but we will get through it with each others support . 

And hope everyone else is doing good and not having a hard time with their SE's xx

When my hair started falling out I had my husband cut it super short he buzzed it. Then it was still hurting my scalp at night i couldnt sleep good for it hurting. I had him shave it with a razor and now i am really really bald but no pain so i am much happier.The sooner i got it off was the better . I was sad to loose it but it was just one step closer to getting past this awful chemo.

VT ellen, thanks so much and yes Im so releived its over , I have my stock up of anti sickness, claritin , laxitives and pain meds but not sure if I can take any of these tonight after the chemo today did you ? ,I have been rinsing my mouth with salt water to prevent mouth sores and have drank gallons of water , never peeded so much in my life haha , 

Michello: i was also asked about that trial and as I already have very weak bones was quite interested in it , but then decided against it as I have to travel 100 mile to my hosp each time I though 5 yrs of this would be a bit much especially if im just getting a placebo, but I think you are doing the right thing if I lived closer I would have done it too.

amelie, we're on the same schedule.  i'll have my second tx of TCH on monday, too.  i went naked today and it felt good ... i really didn't go anywhere special, but out and about in my car.  i think it's shocking to some people, but i'm trying not to worry about others and worry more about what feels good to me.  it's all so weird, isn't it??