Does everyone get steroids?

Claire, I was given steroids but it was on the day of the infusion plus 2 days after that. I was given other meds for nausea to take if I needed them after that (fortunately I didn't). I had no weight gain or moon-face since it wasn't long-term use though I was wired and had trouble sleeping for a couple of days while on them.

Best of luck with your chemo.

Leah

I also had my port the day of having my first chemo tx, it didnt bother me at all and never felt the needle going in the port, I was glad I made the decision to have it put in.

As everyone said they give you the I believe it is called decrodon? a day before and during chemo then take it for 2 days afterwards. For this short of time you shouldnt have the moonface or weight gain, my sister takes steroids for her asthma for the last 10 years she had a lot of weight gain and does have the moon face but that is only after taking it for a long period;

Good luck with your treatments. we are all here for you for support and to answer any questions you have ((((((hugs))))))

Debbie

Claire,

In answer to your question about the port:  My cousin and I had our ports implanted in the same week.  She started chemo within days of having the port implanted.  She had no pain and no infection.  However, I started chemo weeks after my port was implanted, and I found the needle painful the first time it was inserted into the port.  I read later that scar tissue forms and may cause pain.  In starting her chemo treatment right away, my cousin probably didn't have the chance to form much scar tissue, so she felt no pain at all.

She also never had an infection in her port, but I ended up with an infection in mine that spread when my counts dropped.  So, the possibility of infection doesn't seem to depend on how long you wait after the port is implanted to start chemo.  You just have to pay close attention to the port.  The nurses also will check your port before every treatment.  If the area looks red or hurts at all, tell them or your oncologist.

When I was first diagnosed, the idea of taking all of those medicines worried me, too.  I never was the type of person who took medicine; I never had to.  Like you, I questioned if I needed steroids.  But, all of that medicine and the chemo turned out to be necessary.  Like the others have stated, you will only be given steroids (Decadron) along with Emend for a few days when you're having an infusion (assuming you'll be receiving A/C treatments).  After A/C, I was given Taxol, and with Taxol, I wasn't given steroid pills to take.  Instead, the Decadron was infused as a pre-med right before each Taxol infusion.  I was told the steroid helps to combat nausea.  As chemo patients, we're not given a high enough dosage in steroids to cause the side effects you mentioned.