Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?
Comments
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Hey everyone! I'm now on day 5 of treatment one and so far it's really not too bad! The first night I had a little heartburn but zantac fixed it, and aside from being tired and a little achy, I wouldn't really know I was on chemo at all. I've definitely done worse to myself just by drinking a bit too much
Now I'll just keep my fingers crossed it stays this way!!!
So curious as to when I'll lose my hair, the waiting is making me crazy... -
Maggie: I'm scheduled to start ac first, but I read a study the other day that showed benefits to starting Taxol first. Tomorrow I am going to talk to a new oncologistcloser to my home who is affiliated with UVa...a really good hospital. I'm going to ask him about the new studies and see if he agrees.
FieryRed: Thanks for sharing your experience so far...it is encouraging. The lady at the cancer center told me that my hair would start falling out in about 3 weeks and the dr said 2-4 weeks depending on the person.
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Day 6 for me, and apparently I have the great luck to be one of those folks whose body reacts to cytoxan by acting like I've got the worst sinus infection ever in the history of anything. So that has not been any fun at all, and late this afternoon I got ... mouth ulcers. They don't hurt at all, and I've immediately counter-attacked with a saltwater/baking soda mix, which helped immensely. Bloodwork appointment is tomorrow and I imagine they'll give me a scrip then. Or maybe they'll just tell me to stick with the saltwater/baking soda. Hope I don't have to have a Neulasta shot, but if so I'm prepared with Claritin.
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To all of you - my thoughts and prayers are with you. I clicked on this thinking it was my group, Sept. 2010. You will get through it - some of you with very few side effects, others with many. I was one of those who had every possible side effect. It is one year later and I'm forgetting what it was like. So will you. Best of luck.
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Dorothym, I'm glad you accidentally clicked on this thread.
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lwarstler,
I'm being seen at UVA - started chemo this past Friday. What doctor are you talking to there? I'm seeing Dr. Dillon and he's been awesome so far! If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know. {{hugs}}
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Hey ladies! Just checking in from Jersey here
My port is getting installed tomoro, and I am a little nervous because I got such a nasty staph infection in my SNB site after my lumpectomy..so now I'm kinda scared I will get it again and it will delay the chemo. Not that I'm dying to get chemo, but now I just want to start so that I can be done.I think I mentioned it before but I am getting the TCx4, and I start on Friday. I think I read too much about taxotere (huge mistake) and now I'm afraid my head is gonna explode or something when they start to give it to me.
On a positive note, after looking at a million wigs, I finally found a place near me that specializes in custom made, human hair wigs specifically for chemo patients. So, I ordered it and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it lives up to the reputation. They will shave my head about 15 days in, and they will put the wig on me and cut it into my style. I did buy a cheaper wig when first diagnosed, which I thought was ok, but I tried it on for a work friend (?) and she literally fell on the floor laughing. I know......mean, right? Some people really DON'T get it. But I haven't even been able to try it on ever since.
the other good thing is that my real hair is so sun/bleach damaged that I kinda can't wait to get rid of it all
. Hope everyone is doing well! And remember, When you're going thru hell, KEEP WALKING!
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Freefly,
I am going to see Dr Gorsch tomorrow as he comes out here to Culpeper. My surgeon is from MJH and she really wanted me to see one there, but as often as I understand you end up going back and forth during chemo, it just seems like it doesn't make sense. Her view is that the UVa docs are spread too thin, but I figure you can't beat their research. Same goes here if you need anything at all.
Lee Ann
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Hi ladies.
Well, today was my first chemo session. Pretty anticlimactic so far. I feel really good actually. It took about 4 hrs start to finish. The worst part was getting the iv, but that's just because I really hate needles. Planning on going into work tomorrow. Hope the drugs do what they're supposed to. Good luck to you all. -
Finding solace
I got my port put in on 8-29 and had my first infusion that day. You won't remember much, as the versed makes you kind of forget eveything that happens that day. It's a long day, but we drive 2.5 hours for treatment due to a study I'm in, so we combo everything at once when we can.
The first one will be longer because you have to wait 30 mins from your pre Med load to start. The first perception loading dose takes 1.5 hours. After your first tx, they will load your Herceptin ( if you are getting that for your her2+) for those 30 mins so it will go quicker.
I'm doing Taxol x16 weekly with Herceptin, plus Tykerb (750 mg) daily. Then surgery, 4 rounds of DD AC and 6 weeks of rads. Then Herceptin for another 12 rounds every three weeks. So far no major SEs that aren't manageable. Good Luck! -
Hi there everyone - I'm starting chemo on 9/19 and am not quite as nervous now that I'm a part of this board. You guys provide some outstanding advice. I'm not sure which chemo "recipe" I will be on yet as I'm participating in a clinical trial for us folks that have triple negative breast cancer. I see a few of you on this board. I will literally find out my chemo mix when I show up on Monday. I sure hope the SE's aren't too bad. Reading all of these posts has certainly made me feel a lot less scared. I'm so grateful that this forum is available for us as we journey down this road together!
Blessings and Hugs!
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Hi All,
I scoured the TC June thread to try to determine when people started losing their hair, and it seemed to be around the 17 day mark. I have been losing my hair consistently since my treatment, I would estimate, at twice my normal rate. The last couple of days it slowed down, so I was thinking maybe I might get lucky, and be able to hang on for another week or so. This morning I lost my first clump. I'm at day 11 now. I'm sitting here wondering if I should call the wig salon, or hold out for a couple more days.
Its not that I am particularly attached to my hair. I wear it in a pony tail every day. I guess it is just one of those very symbolic moments of the disease. Not to mention, it is still hot out, and I'm not excited to have to wear something on my head that will make me hot.
Uggh, so to take the plunge and shave the head, or hold on as long as possible?
Good news is that today is my last neupogen shot for this round.
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Carla,
Like you I'm triple neg...at least that's the approach my doctor is taking after 2 her2 inconclusives. Although, I am getting a second opinion today. We have a great hospital that has several clinical trials for TN going on right now and I want to talk to this new onco logist about that. I was set to strat dose dense ac at the end of the week, but after reading the findings of starting taxol first, I am thinking I need to find out if this might be a better option.Please post when you find out your regimen, because I am curious if it would match any of ours.
Suz,
I am dreading loosing my hair...I think big clumps would really freak me out, so I have cut it real short. I actually really hate it, so at the moment, I don't care if it falls out. Of course that might change when I start to see bare scalp
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Just got back fron the new chemo doctor and I love this one. Starting chemo on the 27th now and doing TAC every 3 weeks, instead of dose dense ac followed by taxol. Switching means getting chemo 5 minutes away instead of an hour and a half away. He is also with the better hospital in our area. I really think my surgeon just didn't want me to go there because they sold the practice to a competing hospital.
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Starting chemo this Friday Sept 16 and am terrified. Although Shawna77 and Fieryred42 have cheered me up a bit. I am doing my first chemo without a port and then getting the port put in Sept 30 immediately followed by chemo #2. I just cant wait any longer to get this over with and they cant get the port placed in time for my first session. I am doing dose dense AC x4 followed by dd T x4 and herceptin. I find all the chemo options confusing and dont really understand how they choose. Lwarstler... just wondering if your new chemo Dr. told explained why they thought TAC was a better choice. Good luck to all.
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First chemo tomorrow. I cross my fingers that I am prepared for side effects. I'm making some homemade gingersnaps. Ginger is supposed to help with nausea prophylactically, but is also an antioxidant so I don't want to overboard with the supplements and negate my chemo. My solution is gingersnap cookies. Hell, it may not help but I like them anyway. Hmmn, key lime squares too. Nothing healthy about them. I'm kind of having a last supper before chemo. Steak on the grill, mushrooms, spicy beans with sausage, mashed potatoes (big pot with lots of leftovers), and goodies. I figure I won't be eating anything medium rare for a few months.
I did notice some bad news with my chemoeducation. I had not actually seen my path report from surgery and expected the tumor characteristics to be the same as the core biopsy. I saw something passing by the screen. My core biopsy tumor grade was 2+2+2=6. Surgery was 3+3+1=7, so that was not exactly good news. Oh well, got to roll with it.
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ccjj,
My cancer is a nasty little grade 3 triple negative and they tend to have a higher recurrence rate. He said that it has just been his own experience that the TAC has had lower recurrence rates. Instead of 4 doses of each medicine, I will have six and all at once...he said it was an aggressive way to go at it. In addition, there is a small possibility that I might still get a Her2+ from a final test (the others all came back on the low end of the borderline.) If that's the case, he wants to do TCH and just take out the A because both A and H can cause heart weakening and since Herceptin is so effective, there are studies showing there is no significant increased benefit in giving both and that the AC+TH carried a higher risk of permanent heart damage. That is just his explanation though and other doctors might feel differently. Also, I have had my surgery, I'm not sure if you have or not. If they do it before surgery, he would have done the AC first, then they do the surgery and than T or TH.
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what to do...Today after 12 days finally I got drains removed, chemo scheduled on Thursday. I had really high fever, 100.5 on Sunday, monday 99, 6 and today it is slowly coming back .They did not find any infection ( blood count) and it ( ches) looks ok, even it is slightly swollen . I also wearing the tightening west.Can I start chemo inthis condition? I am taking antibiotics till tomorrow, and tylenol for pain.Tried to call oncologist, but only nurse is allowed to talk
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Olgah,
Sounds like you feel relaly rough and like you should definitely talk with your oncologist before they start chemo. Can the nurse talk to him and get him to call you? I'm sorry you feel so rough, I hope you feel better.
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So now I'm on day 6 and I woke up today feeling perfect! Yesterday ended up being my "worst" day, but that pretty much just meant I was kind of tired and achy - like I'd done a hard workout, nothing I would even really consider "bad." Oh, I also had some bizarro mood swings - I almost started crying because we didn't have any clean glasses when I wanted some water, and then I was telling my husband and I DID start crying. I'm not normally quite THAT sensitive
But now I'm feeling totally back to normal, so I'm really hopeful that that was what chemo is always going to be like because that was SOOOO doable. Even if it gets a little worse each time I can handle that. No idea if my supplements and stuff helped but I'm definitely going to keep taking them!
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Hi lwarstler - glad you found a new oncologist. As you know I'm triple negative too. If I had not decided to do the clinical trial my doc was going to give me TAC every three weeks too. I'm glad it worked out so that you can have the treatments so close to your home. After I have mine on Monday - the 19th - I'll let you know.
Robo47 - thanks for the kind welcome. You said you are 10 days post first chemo - any side effects? I'm just trying to figure out when I'm going to be able to go back to work after treatment on Monday - 19th. It sounds like you've done really well with it.
Olgah - I sure hope you feel better. Do you know why you've been running a fever? My doc told me yesterday that if I ever come in for chemo and my blood counts are not at certain levels then they won't give me chemo.
FieryRed - it sure helps to have you and Robo47 giving us "newbies" reports of your side effects. It makes me feel so much better. I know we're all different but I'm keeping my hopes up that mine is going to be okay too.
One day at a time!
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Kimberly - I am planning on having a feast on the day before my chemo starts too!! Great minds think alike!
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Good luck with chemo Kimberly!!! I start tomorrow too. Took my decadron this morning and feeling a little hyper and unfocused, still pretty normal for me
. I stll need to get my chemo bag packed, It's going to be a long day.I ordered some buffs and a cool pair of Uggs and did a little shopping at VS today for comfy easy acess chemo gear. Now to pack the bag....
Olgah - I hope your are feeling better soon and get to talk ot you Onc. soon.
FieryRed- Great news on how your are feeling post chemo!! It gives us all hope.
Time to take some drugs - had my TE's filled today and my chest muscles aren't happy!
Sending healing, calming vibes to all.
Kelli
xxx
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So I have 3 more days to the next round. A little anxious as my MO is modifying the C dosage so that I don't get as sick as round 1.
I don't take any pre-drugs except the anti-nausea pill and MO is supposed to back down the steroids/antihistamine ordered at start of treatment, so maybe I will actually sleep Friday night!
My friends think I am rocking the hat/scarf look. Have to say its comfortable.
Only SE I am still experiencing from round 1 is the fatigue at the end of the work day. So, I come home and rest a little and then go on with my evening. Here's hoping my counts are good enough to get round 2 on schedule. I will then be 50% done!
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I've got my prescription for steroids to take on Sunday. Chemo, TCx4 starts Monday. I also have the nausea pills and I'm thinking of giving them a try while I am healthy. I've been feeling sort of sick for the past 3 months (I wonder why :-)), but when I took some other pill for my stomach, I feel asleep for 3 hours and woke up mean. Needless to say, I tossed those pills out. Maybe these will be better. I think it's best to know before the chemo meds are swirling around in me.
I also have been wearing a hat for the past few days. I want to get used to something on my head. I may end up with a wig or a hair piece with a hat and so far this damn thing is giving me a headache! I usually take Advil, but I brought Tylenol since my "chemo book" says that is what I should take if I need it. I almost bought some Claritin today since others mention that for pain, but I'll cross that bridge later.
FieryRed, I soooo get that sensitive thing. I was at my kids school and they were talking about some stuff happening in May 2012. I almost lost it. I was thinking...crap, who knows how I'll feel in May and how can I volunteer to help. Do any of these people know what I'm going through? Do they care? Do I care if they care? So................tears :-(. Of course I am tougher then that so I pulled it together. Of course I had to explain to my kid why the tears were there. It made sense to him later :-)
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Saw my MO this morning (day 7), and he truly does not believe my sinus issues were a result of the cytoxan. He does think my headaches were probably due to the Aloxi -- an anti-nausea drug that was in the IV during my first treatment. So he's going to substitute something else for the Aloxi and cut the dosage, since I really haven't had any issues with nausea. Also my mouth ulcers had disappeared by this morning, so ... yay for the efficacy of baking soda and salt?
White blood count was in the cellar, as he said, which accounts for my exhaustion. No Neulasta shot, though -- he's one of those guys who waits to see if the counts rebound. So another appointment this Friday, and then another next Tuesday, and we'll see. He did prescribe Levaquin as a preventative antibiotic, which I'm supposed to take for five days.
Sending good thoughts to everyone.
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Hi everyone,
Jersey, wondering how your port went? Got mine in this am and so far so good...watching like a hawk for any sign of infection though.
ccjj- I start chemo on the 16th also, and I think Jersey does too, i know we will all do fine.
Welcome Carla, Iwarstler and Mags, looks like we have quite a few triple negs on here:) I'm getting a little nervous though because I seem to be the only TN on TC 4, or as Rockym calls it 'chemo light.' i'm starting to wonder whether i am being aggressive enough...
to everyone else who has already started thank you for keeping us up on what you are experiencing. i went to the drugstore and got my chemo survival pack based on your tips. It really is taking the edge off waiting to start on friday just having some idea what to expect. Take care everyone!
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Welcome Carla9112. I am 5 days post chemo. I am on TC x 6. I had my infusion on Thursday, the 8th and went back the next day for fluids and the neulasta shot. I drove my bus on that Friday morning and was back in time for the afternoon route. No problems. Saturday was a burst of energy. Sunday I woke up with thrush and was a little tired. Began using the magic mouthwash the doctor had prescribed and it is much, much better. Worked all three jobs on Monday and had MO appointment today. Blood counts were a little low but they told me that was to be expected since I had just had chemo 5 days earlier. Have to go back next Tuesday for labs only. No sign of hair loss yet but I know it's coming and I'm ready.
If I have as good an outcome next time that I did this time, well, it is indeed doable for me. Hope you have lots of success with yours and very little SE's.
Hugs!
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Cooka I did the same thing with the chemo survival bag. I have everything that the ladies mentioned here on the thread. Never hurts to be prepared!!
Good luck Friday. I hope you have a fantastic treatment with no SE's!
Hugs!
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FieryRed, you are rocking girl! I am really hoping this is what chemo is for me too. If so, this will be sooooo doable.
I'm still waiting for the hair fallout. My onc asked me today about it and there was nothing to report. No hair loss, but I'm ready for when it happens.
Hugs!
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