All of a sudden: fearful of chemo tx this Thursday

Hi Claireinaz

Wow you are prepared! You will find any bit of control you can have over this feels great! But don't get so overwhelmed that you have to control everything. I am a complete control freak and I know that added alot of stress to an already stressfull situation. Since I am now on the other side of the treatment I can tell you its not as bad as you think. 

I was 48 when I had my treatment and had the same regime that you had only they gave me taxol first. On taxol I was excercising everyday, and only felt fatigue the day of the chemo. The AC did make me tired but not till around week 3. Then I did notice I was a bit more tired. But not enough to be bed ridden or anything like that, just some days, felt myself get tired and luckily had the ability to take a nap when I wanted to. But again only happens a few days after chemo and not til week 3. 

Lost all my hair but didn't loose eyebrows and such til last weeks of AC...and absolutely no nail or toenail problems.

 I have to say the worst part was losing taste buds, (on AC they say your sensation of taste changes - different for everyone.) I don't know if everyone gets this but by week two I could only taste really salty and really sweet. YUCK! could not figure out what to eat. I love my veggies, and spices and nothing tasted good! And I don't have a sweet tooth! Arrrgh!

But hey that's pretty minimal in the whole scheme of things right. One tip, drink lots of water throughout the whole chemo regime. It gets the chemicals out of your body a bit faster and I think helped minimize any symptoms. 

Good Luck and you will survive this! I did! 

claireinaz - you will get through chemo - not a fun time but you can do it.  If you are an active person and already in good shape you have an advantage already.  The more faithful you can be to exercise the better you will feel, even if it is a walk every day.  In addition to water, please drink juice, have some soup, etc.  I mixed Gatorade and water.  All those things count for fluid.  If you drink water (and it may not taste very good) only you may have some electrolyte problems, so mix it up with other things, but drink a LOT!  Like 100 oz. a day starting a day before your tx.  If you are concerned about neuropathy ask your onc if you can take this combo - 30g of L-Glutamine powder (10g mixed with a hot drink 3Xdaily) a B-6 caplet and an Acetyl L-Carnitine caplet daily.  Also please ice your fingernails and toenails during the Taxol portion of your chemo.  Some doc and nurses poo poo this - but other members on this forum will tell you that it works.  I had acrylic nails that I removed prior to treatment, damaging one in the process with a high tear.  That is the only nail that I had trouble with - I iced during all Taxotere treatments.  I brought 4 bags of frozen peas with me and had them on fingers and toes for that hour of the infusion.  My nails are beautiful - no Mees lines, no ridges, no discolorization. I would also advise wearing gloves and socks to bed with tons of moisturizing cream on feet and hands. Many of us who had TCH had cracking skin on feet and hands - this will help with that. Try to eat a much protein as you can, sometimes it is hard because things taste weird but it is important to keep your hemoglobin up. Are you getting Neulasta or Neupogen? If you are take a Claritin an hour before the injection, and then for several days afterward - it helps with the bone pain from the injection, but not any bone pain from chemo itself. I did not really have any problems with the chemo bone pain, but some do.  I never lost all my eyebrows, just had to fill them in a little.  Lashes thinned but I just wore more eyeliner.  Good luck - you will get through this!

You will get through this and probably be a little surprised about which side effects effect you.I had the same chemo's as you will. 

I was really scared the first time I had chemo, I cried. I finally asked the nurse if it was going to hurt? It didn't but I had no idea. I sort of thought it would burn, it didn't. The taste bud thingy was a huge surprise to me, coffee and just about everything tasted like shoe polish to me.

One of the antinausea meds I was given gave me horrid headaches. Be aware if you get a headache and check in with your Doc, don't wait like I did. I found Gingerbrew, a soda pop, helped me with nausea. 

I did lose all of my toenails after chemo was long over. It also did not hurt, not at all. The new nails begin growing in long before you lose your nails.  You probably won't want to wear sandals during the process but afterward your nails will look normal.

You are getting lots of good advice here. Isn't this just a great  place? 

Blessings Ginger

(((Claire))) I just finished DD AC/T (the Taxol was also DD, not weekly).  I am 61 and I have to say that chemo didn't cut down on my activities much at all.  I had company almost every weekend through the summer (family - grandkids).  We went out to eat every Friday night, like we always do.  My treatment was on Wednesday and by Friday night I was ok enough to enjoy getting out, even if my appetite was less than normal.  I grocery shopped and had DH help me carry in stuff and put it away.  I did a little cooking, DH helped with some. 

I haven't had any nail problems at all - I took Acetyl-l-carnitine, L-glutamine and B6 every during the Taxol treatments and I am still taking l-glutamine and B6.  I've stopped the supplements as I have run out of them, now that treatment is finished.  I found I needed generic prilosec during AC and then added generic pepcid when I started T. 

And be sure to take generic Claritin on the day you get your Neulasta shot and for 3 - 4 days afterwards.  I never had any bone pain.  I had some joint pain during T, but nothing that a couple of Tylenol didn't fix. 

Your experience will be different from everyone else's...but try not to assume the worst. There's a drug for everything except hair loss and fatigue. Yes, I did get more tired as treatment went on. But I am not quite 5 weeks post-treatment and I went shopping last Thursday for about six hours.

I hope this is encouraging to you.

Hugs,

Michelle

Hi "other Claire"!

I did SIX of each and am here to tell the tale.  Exercise is important.  I don't know why you need the Efflexor, and I don't take meds unless I have symptoms.  (Other than the Decadron.)  I was through menopause though when I started.  Not everyone gets hot flashes.

No one yet has mentioned protein.  I aimed for 80g per day.  This helps greatly with energy.

You probably don't want to take supplements other than a multi.  You want any remaining cancer cells to be as weak as possible so they DIE from the chemo.  I did take a probiotic to keep things working normally in the nether regions.

Hydration is really critical.  I carried a water bottle with me whenever I went out for exercise which was daily.  Get one with a tight screw top though as I drowned my cellphone.

I didn't get blistering on my feet. Taxol does make your skin more sensitive, so I got blisters from cycling clothing rubbing. I revamped my underwear and all was fine. (Didn't worry about infection as had the Neulasta shots.....bet this is a benefit no one thought of!)

I was a bit apprehensive for my first AC treatment too. Once through the cycle, I knew I would be just fine. And I was. - Claire

I'm a couple of weeks ahead of you. Kept waiting to get sick. really only felt "sick" like day or so.

I had mouth issues. and learned that I can get antiviral for that so it doesn't happen again. my mouth felt very sensitive starting on day 7 till about day 10. just had to eat soft things.

never lost appetite. really only felt fatique for that day 1/2.

my energy level pretty much same.  I'm on AC dense dose X4. then taxol x12 weekly.

That first day I felt strung out from the steroids. had lots of energy. but felt tired at same time.

But overall it was very tolerable. I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised.

I got my hair buzzed today. another milestone that I cried and cried about the day before. but now t hat its out. I feel better. 

Claire in AZ,  I live in Tucson and just finished my first tx this past wednesday.  I was to begin TCH X6  but that was changed and I received Taxol/Herceptin as well as dexamethasone, Benedryl, etc.

I know the feeling all too well going for the first infusion-- I had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 29 and this bout with BC likely due to tx from that.  At any rate, the unknown factor is huge and as you can see from the multitude of responses, your experience will be unique to you.   

I could tell you how I faired but the best advice I can give you is to keep open to the beauty that is all around you, right now, right here.  Be curious and let the fear dwindle.  FIll your life with awe and gratitude and there will be no room for negative emotions that only confound your treatment and the quality of your life.  Do this and there will be room for exercise and good eating and life, while not ideal, will be unfold as best it can.   

I will be going through my treatment not very far from you both in time and space. Write as often as you need-- it is good therapy! 

Hey I'm getting the same stuff your getting. I'll get my third AC this wed. It really hasn't been that bad-nock on wood-for me. I have some mouth issues. and there's been a couple days after second AC tx where I laid in bed. But I've been doing stuff.I havn't really been out much. I'm a little of a germaphobic right now. but I go for walks, meet friends for coffee, go to PT. That first day makes me just really wired, anxious. But they have great drugs out now. don't let your mind freak you out

It is Hopi, Claire. So you live in flagstaff? I lived there for much of my life.  My husband still works there and commutes.  Who is your doc up there?  Not too many to choose from but I recall an excellent oncolgoist who moved to Sedona  (can't recall her name..chemobrain already???LOL)

I have had two weekly tx since I last posted.  Only SEs were hunger, fatigue and some bloating (all probably due to steroid).  I think they are just trying to keep the cancer at bay right now unitl they figure out if my body can handle the tougher stuff.  I think I can!   Give it to me and let's get this over with.   

My biggest problem it seems is that "friends" have kinda moved away from interaction with me.  I am sure they think I need to be left alone but alone is about the last thing I need.  No amount of talking seems to help them get that.... maybe it is something else?

I have yet to see chemo as a gift but I do see strength that comes up from people when they get cancer as a gift---  separates the wheat from the shaft!