August 2011 chemo, anyone w/ me?!

vtEllen -- Yes, the steroids help control the SE's, but the body does "come down and crash" afterwards, which what I was told. I do take the sterioids (4mg/2x a day) the day before, the morning of -- then I have a good dose (20mg) of steroids in my IV and I was told I didn't need to take another dose that evening. Then, I take my final dosages the next day after chemo and that is it.  I still got the horrible, wracking body aches/pains from the Taxotere though.

And for me, the steroids did not keep me awake at night -- I've been sleeping really well since my 1st infusion. I hope and pray that doesn't change.  I never needed the nausea meds really (I think I took only one), but that was it.

Just saw this post and would love to join the August group.  I have my 2nd treatment tomorrow....I tolerated the 1st ok -just crashed hard from the steroids.  I think most of my side effects were from the steroids (emotional, heart racing, hot flashes-I think), so they are going to decrease the amount.  The past 3-4 days I have felt pretty normal.  Hoping it's like this this time, but I still get overlly anxious about having a bad reaction -(not sure how often it happens).

Welcome allformy4 and jmull!!! Glad you found our group!



So Michelle....go ahead and change my start date officially to Aug. 30th....my insurance company was my hold up for tomorrow, regarding the neulasta shot approval. I guess it can only come from CVS pharmacy via mail order and my insurance requires a bunch of additional info and red tape for cost approval before they will ship it. SO....I received the confirmation letter today to call and order it and it should ship right to my house by the end of the week..... BUT, delays treatment another week....I'm relieved and mad all at once?!?!?



I worked a full day today....exhausted!!! I need to get my daughter to bed and heading there myself to catch up on here before I pass out!



Hope everyones having a S/E free day!!!!!!!

Hi Summergirl...I am on day 6 and started to get some of the SE - have thrush in my mouth which is pretty nasty. taking nystatin and probiotics and will eat yogurt all day long if I have to. Did not get the bone pains much with nulasta shot - my onco nurse said to take claritan the day before shot, day of and day after.

good luck and enjoy the beach. I have the mountains here so will hopefully get up for visit this weekend....

Taylor....good luck with your port! I hope it's really easy like mine was....it'll bug you for a few days but I got used to it where I rarely remember it's there. Although, the incision site itches sometimes and I accidentally will scratch it and that freaks me out! Good luck.

What chemo regime are you getting? I'm TAC x6.... Every 3 weeks. I should be done dec. 13th I think?? My birthdays dec. 22 so that'll be a nice present I suppose? The claritin is for the bone pain with the neulasta shot and to ward off any allergic reactions, specifically from the taxotere for me.... That's the drug I'm really dreading the most!!! Although, I don't think any of them are great? I really wish none of us were going through this!!!!



The Look Good Feel Better class is great!!!! helped me a ton, especially in meeting some other women in my area that are my age going through this....

Glad to hear your treatment and kindergarten went great!!! I hope the s/e's stay away for you!

Madismommy-I have 4 AC and 4 Taxol i go every 2 weeks done Dec.6th just in time for my birthday which is Dec.12..so we both have something to celebrate!!!

Thanks for telling me about claritan so I'll take it the day before the neulasta shot the day of and the day after..

I'm glad your feeling good Jendon and Amelie-Rose!! I hope I feel good after my treatment!!

Yeah I loved the feel good look good program and was hoping to meet people my age but no such luck everyone was so much older then me..I just wish there was someone where I lived who was around my age...:( A friend of mine is all stressed out about starting teacher's college..I wish thats all I was stressed out about!!!

I'm joining the August group too. I just turned 42 last week. Worst birthday ever for me but I'm going to get thru this. I have 3 girls and I need to show them I can fight this. Had my bone scan and Cat Scan today so hopefully all goes well.  I got 2 different opinions on my chemo regimen from 2 big centers (CMF dose dense every 2 weeks for 4 months vs TC every 3 weeks for 3 months, followed by radiation and 5yr Tamox) So confused so I am going for a 3rd opinion on Thursday and will finalize my decision of which regimen I will do and hopefully start in the following week.  The MO that offered me CMF said I wouldn't lose my hair, may just get thin. Any one doing CMF and is it true about minimal hair loss?

I'm definitely with you. I start chemo on Aug 31st so I am barely squeaking in. It actually sounds like I have a very similar treatment as Michelle did last year. I will be taking 6 treatments of TCH. The H part (Herceptin) I am taking for a year. I will also have radiation after chemo and then the tamox for a while.

I don't have any children yet, but just recently froze some little eggs for later just in case the chemo makes me sterile. I am 29, so Kasi, I feel you when you say you were the youngest one there ( I am in all the waiting rooms). In fact, when I went and tried on wigs, my mom went with me. Everyone kept assuming she was the one with cancer. I will say, the wig trying on was a relief because I had a fear that I would look like a used car salesman with a bad toupe'. But there are some that are very natural and real looking and made me realize that I could still look like myself during this.

Also, getting my port on Wednesday. My Doctor said he was going to put it under my arm. Anyone else have it in this location? 

I am looking forward to hearing about how everyone is feeling and coping with the wild cards of chemo. 

Hi all



Sorry that I haven't been on here in such a long time. Have been feeling a bit out of sorts with the world. I have to say that having chemo is the strangest feeling! I suppose that my s/e's have not been too bad in a sense that I have not been ill but the aches, pains, numbness, mouth sores, general malaise have been tough to deal with. Here I am waiting on DH to collect me and bring me for my 2nd round - oh I am fed up at the thoughts of having to go thru another 8ish days of yeuch!!! Hair is coming out slowly but surely over past 2 days and I can't decide whether to take the plunge and just shave it all off or not. DD's are freaking out over hair loss and I am finding that hard to cope with.



A big warm Irish welcome to all the newbies on here. I hope that you are all managing well and am really glad that you have found this wonderful group of people!! I honestly dont think that I could do all this without them



Have a lovely day folks - talk soon



Michaela

Don't know if I am going to make the August start...I am coming off of being declared stable since April that started to stabilize in January.  Now suddenly, some wacko issue is going on - I was in hospital for 8 days and still don't have any real answers to what is going on - it was a sudden onset that seems to be a break-away set of cells from a spinal turmor that took a lille ride through my bloodstream and sprinkled little seedlings in my abdominal cavity.  At least it is breast cancer so not some new thing but that is a far as the tests have confirmed.  Somewhat unsettleling but with the ER receptors changing from positive to negative, the antihormonals will not be effective so chemo it is.  I don't know what but they are talking about a trial with Avastin and then a random computer pick of Taxol or Abraxan.  The trial is suspended at present since the third arm has been removed and the language is being amended.  It passed on the national level and is on the agenda today for passage in the State of Minnesota.  Should it pass, they will be making application for me for special dispensation to be included in the trial as I meet all the criteria and could begin as soon as next week. 

I have to say, this waiting is way worse than any scanxiety...it feels like limbo land with the lack of conclusive test results (you cannot hurry cultures), the flip of the ER receptors (likely to include the PR as well) and the HER2 is not done yet leaving me wonder if I am now going to be a triple negative.  Thankfully, the trial is not restrictive and all expressions are accepted - the biggest criteria is I must have had no chemo or rads and have measurable lesions which some of the 'sprinkles' are.  It is quite opposite of the general requirement of 'must have tried all available FDA approved treatments' that most of the trials seem to include. 

So, I wait...all I know for sure is some flavor of chemo will begin next week.  Woo Hoo.

LowRider

Good Morning Everyone

Madismommy cant beleive how many young ones with BC you know. I dont know what the hell is going on!! How is this happening?? What is causing it??? Is it the foods were eating??

This summer has been the worst I wish we could fastforward to next summer but were all going to get through this and next summer were going to have the best summer ever...we are going to beat this!!

Lowrider- I'm praying that everything can get started for you..the waiting is the worst!!

I'm off to get my port put in and I'm going to try and stay calm after reading some of your posts..I'll try not to freak.. If anyone is having treatment today hope it's all good

Going for second AC treatment on Thursday - wondering if the fatigue gets worse with each treatment or stays the same.  Also, I have to ask something that is a little awkward - is anyone else experiencing hemmorhoid problems?  Ohmigosh, I have never had one before and it is PAINFUL!  I've been soaking in warm water, using witch hazel on a cotton ball, using PrepH wipes but it is still horrible.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  HELP!

Justina- have you tried stool softeners, increase fiber and fluids too. Lots of fresh veggies.