Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?

Hello everyone, I'm also starting chemo this month on Nov 22nd, just 2 days shy of Thanksgiving, guess I won't be having turkey with all the fixings...sigh.  Thanks for all the posts I've been so busy reading up on all the useful hints and advice that I am finally putting up a post.

Hey Deb, How are you feeling today??

Fortunately, I'm still feeling pretty good overall - no major SEs.  However, I'm getting very tired from lack of sleep at night.  I'm going to try to take a good nap this afternoon.  I just had one of my favorite relaxers - beef bouillon with a hint of cinnamon.  Then I'm going to play some sleep relaxation music on my new Kindle Fire. 

Thanks so much for asking, Lory48.  I hope you're doing okay too.  When is your next treatment?

naan1004, thank you for joining us.  This is a very encouraging group of ladies to join up with.  Do you know what your chemo combo is?  It helps to try find those with the same treatment to be able to compare notes with.

naan1004,

I think the timing on the surgery depends on the size of your tumor.  They may want to reduce the size of it first with the chemo. That's just my best guess.

Like I've said in previous posts, I really like having the port.  But then again, it's a personal decision.  Since you're not HER2+, you won't be needing treatments as long as I will (Herceptin for a year).  That was a big part of my decision - knowing that eventually threading the IV through my veins might become a big challenge.  I know the nurses prefer the port because it's easier for them to start the IVs.

Deb, I feeling pretty good.. little spurts of energy, then tired. SE's are minimal..had my "shot" yesterday, gave me a bit of bone pain, but not too bad! Oh anf my next one is 6 Dec

Naan, I too am triple negative, and having chemo prior to surgery.

terry, i think i commented in another thread, but just wanted to say again, CONGRATULATIONS!!  

mardibra, i used the numbing cream and it was wonderful.  it never hurt when the stuck the needle in my port.  i highly recommend it!   

Bonseye, yeah another person starting around my start date, we r Nov chemo sisters, hee hee :P

Beth, I am having the queasy off and on.. but the weird cravings..?? I just told my husband I wanted a shrimp taco.. lol. Guess I will have to settle for soup..

Lory, I'm sorry to hear that.  What was the reason?

Lory48,

I'm sorry to hear that too.  It's probably due to the size of the tumor and its presence in your lymph nodes.  Here's a link to staging descriptions that are on this website:

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/staging.jsp

It was because the MRI found the size to be larger and of course the node involvement..Well it is what it is..

Thinking about you Lory and BIG hugs comin at ya ((((((((((((((LORY)))))))))))) 

Bonseye- I had a picc line up until today, was taken out after my last treatment, they will use this for your chemo thats what its for....... and its so much easier.......

I think we all deserve to have a meltdown once in a while.  I don't think of myself as a "whiner", but it just seems like there is so much to all of this-so many doctors' visits with different doctors, tests and blood work, surgeries, side effects, radiation.  I am beginning to wonder if it will ever be over. This has all happened so fast, and several times I have been just so overwhelmed by it all.  I cried for just a few minutes when my radiologist called me to tell me my diagnosis.  My husband was with me, and I was trying to be as positive with him as I could about it.  But I told him that I was a little scared (really it was a lot scared) and I cried a few tears.  Then this week when I had my chemo ed and the nurse was telling me that my hair would definitely fall out, I burst into tears again very suddenly.  I wasn't expecting it.  Actually, on her way to the waiting room to get me, she stopped by a storage room and picked up a new box of tissues.  i remember thinking that she probably needed that sometimes for other people, those who were not as "informed" as I have tried to become, those who were more worriers than I, those who were not as strong as me.  I was so surprised at myself.  I am much more concerned about the side effects of chemo and radiation, the port placement coming up, all the needles and IV's I have had and will have (they freak me out) than I am about my hair falling out.  But for some reason, when she asked me something about my hair or a wig or something related to that, I opened my mouth to answer her and all I could do was cry.  It was kind of embarrassing, and sure enough she passed me the tissue box that I had known I would not need.  So you certainly deserve your meltdown.  I can't think of any other illness that people have to go through so many things with. Just look at it this way.  You have accomplished so much already.  Every time you have a new procedure, treatment, lab or test, you are that much closer to the end.  Cry when you need to, then try to focus on the end result after that.