March 2012 chemo

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Oh, and happy birthday gabbi.......mine is the 14th ;)

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  • Gabbi42
    Gabbi42 Member Posts: 16
    edited February 2012

    yes crazy is a good word for it. I am not sure that the concept of having breast cancer has really sunk in yet. They say that having chemo makes this diease more real. Have control over what I eat is about the only control I have right now.

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    I know.....my diet is one thing I've changed for the better.....makes me feel like I have some control, too!

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  • shera
    shera Member Posts: 184
    edited February 2012

    ha... I've done the opposite! I'm normally a healthy eater and since diagnosis I've been allowing in comfort foods. It's as if there is a glitch in my brain saying... "Fine! I got it anyway so might as well eat this whole box of girl scout cookies." 

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  • Rosie24355
    Rosie24355 Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2012

    May I join?  I was also supposed to be in February but I got a hematoma which delayed chemo.  Met with my MO Feb 10 and he said 4 rounds of taxotere & cytoxin (I think?) when I was healed and they'd call me around March 10.  I'm ready to go but waiting...  I've been following the February thread and it's been very helpful.  My MO didn't say anything about a port.  Anyone else?

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Hi ladies, missed a few days and playing catchup!!!



    Natsfan thanks so much for coming back sharing and encouraging us on, sure we will be doing the same to 2013 "marchers!!!"( love that by the way)



    Have Pet Scan and MRI tomorrow, hopefully all go well with these test. I am nervous about every test, you would think I would get use to these test by now. Will be going wig shopping this weekend.



    Sissydi did you mean Adriamycin because I am starting that one too with Cytoxan, what's your other chemo medicine? Best wishes and sending calming Hugs for Monday, I follow on Wednesday.



    tc9876 I wanted to try the cold caps too, but my RO was against it, I decided not after she told me just in case the cancer has spread to the scalp (though very rare) then the chemo would not get to it because it will be frozen. How does your RO feel about it.



    Welcome Ladies lets "March" together :)

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012



    Welcome Rosie - not everyone needs a port it all depends on your veins. Even though my RO did not suggest it I know how difficult it has always been for me when blood is been drawn so after reading on this board I suggested it. When the nurse saw my veins she agreed and sent me to get the port. If your veins are fine maybe you can suggest or just ask them to take a look and see if you need it or not.

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  • shera
    shera Member Posts: 184
    edited February 2012

    My first infusion is Wednesday....  I thought it was March 1 but it's Feb 29th. Leap year.  So add me to the end-of-Feb gals hanging out here in the March thread.

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Alicea, yes I meant Adriamycin, duh! I hated getting my PET scan.....so nerve racking, but all was clear, and I'm sure it will be for you.



    Welcom e Rosie.....I know what it's like to be ready to go and waiting! I have a port also; it's been really easy with the blood draws.

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  • Rosie24355
    Rosie24355 Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2012

    Thanks Alicia & Sissydi. Usually when I have blood work they always love my veins so maybe no port. We'll see. So far everything I've thought won't happen to me has happened so now I look at everything as a possibility. It's good to hear all of your experiences. Sissydi I am in CA but know where you are! My DD lives in Middleburg. In 2005 when I was visiting her I even got to spend a few nights in Orange Park Medical Center (good food btw!).

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  • tc9876
    tc9876 Member Posts: 136
    edited February 2012

    @Alicia, My new MO is a big proponent of cold caps.  There is a risk due to it preventing chemo from reaching the scalp but it is very small.  My old MO was very against it due to that risk (that is why he is my OLD MO).  My personal risk-benefit analysis pushed me toward using them.  I do not believe there are ANY recorded cases of brain mets among past cold cap users.

    Regarding a port, I opted out of that one and my MO supported it.  We'll see how my veins hold up to the 6 chemo treatment and years worth of Herceptin treatments.

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Tc9876, keep us updated on your cold cap experience! I thought about it, but my hair is so gray underneath my color, and you can't color during your treatments, so I'd still have to cover up, so I opted out. But I did get some really cute wigs.



    Rosie, that's right around the corner! I am also from California; southern to be exact! Where abouts is Menifee?



    Alicea, thinking of you today as you do your scans! Please update us on your day!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2012

    Hello March gang!

    Stopping in here to provide some great information from the main Breastcancer.org site on Chemotherapy, including what to expect, types of chemo meds, and side effect management.

    Hope you find this helpful!

    --Your Mods

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Thank you mods ;)

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  • Kadia
    Kadia Member Posts: 314
    edited February 2012

    Hello, all. Just found out that, barring any insurance issues, I'm starting cytoxan/taxotere on Tuesday 2-27. Faster than I expected, but so close to March I thought I'd make a home here. Going wig shopping tomorrow--might try out something kinda wild. Have a beach vacation coming up in late March, hope I'll be able to make it, even if I'm bald.



    Good luck to all you sisters!

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Welcome kadia ! Keep us posted about your experience on Tuesday! My first tx is Monday!

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Hi ladies pet scan and MRI went well, must say I was a bit scared when I saw the safe box of steel and the steel case the radiation was in....had me thinking why the hell is this going in my body...took several deep breaths and told myself this is going to help me find whatever cancer is lurking in my body...or so I hope. Now I wait for the results.



    Welcome kadia, my treatment is on Wednesday doing Adriamycin and Cytoxan.



    Have wonderful weekend ladies...planning on going chemo shopping over the weekend.

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Oh I know, that trippy looking metal box the radio-active stuff comes in freaked me out! Luckily, I had a great tech who warned me first....he said this box was for his protection, not mine, lol. What are you buying over the weekend? We stocked up on broths, meds for constipation or diarrhea, Popsicles, dinners for the week, bananas for smoothies, etc. I plan on getting out in some crisp temperatures tomorrow, and getting in a long walk;)

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  • galena_79
    galena_79 Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2012

    I was diagnosed with IDC in December, had a right modified radical mastectomy in January, and my first chemo infusion is on Monday. I know that is technically February... but I hope you don't mind me joining your March group.

    I'll be getting 4 doses of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (I'm not sure what brand names), on a three weekly cycle.  After that I will get 12 doses of paclitaxel.  Chemo will be through the Autumn and Winter months here, so I'm really looking forward to Spring.  :D

    Last week I tried to prepare myself for next week.  I visited my dentist for a clean, saw my GP for drugs to counter SE's, picked up some turbans, and tried on wigs.

    I got my power port on Thursday.  Unfortunately the general anaesthetic resulted in a lot of nausea and vomiting - blah - but I'm feeling much better now, and actually enjoying my weekend!

    My husband has been wonderful and helpful, and I really hope I'm not too much bother for him next week.  :/

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  • shera
    shera Member Posts: 184
    edited February 2012
    Good luck with the cold caps. I looked into them.. the risk is miniscule. For me, it was a bigger risk investing hundreds of dollars and then having them possibly not work. They don't work for everyone and the whole process seems pretty complicated, and if you goof up just once... they're even less likely to work. Penguin cold caps were real expensive... almost a grand... but I found a cheaper type (cant recall brand name) they were $80 per cap.. but you need at least 4. I definitely think its worth it if you have help or are just way more organized than me! I cooresponded with women who it worked for. I probably would've gave it a shot if I had the extra energy and money. Also... I hate being cold.

    I personally, can't deal with another thing during chemo and felt less stress after deciding to let my hair take care of itself. Not the easiest decision... have had long hair entire life except one haircut in 1st grade.

    I wish you great luck with them!

    Just thought I would share this in case anyone wasn't aware of the expense and amount of organization it requires. It might save you time and stress researching it!

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Ohh boy I have never been so physically prepared for anything in my entire 34 years. ( emotionally its a whole different story)

    OK,

    I have all my constipation and nausea medice, I also picked up Claritin and Tylenol for Neulasta shot side effects.

    EVOO and cotton to swab mouth twice daily ( trying to prevent mouth sores) I also have biotene and baking soda as backup, along with a new baby soft toothbrush :)

    Chapstick

    Dial antibacterial hand soap

    Tissue for teary eyes and runny nose. OMG did I miss anything!

    Food:

    We stocked up on stuff to make soup, DH says he will make it daily for me ( lets see how long that will last)

    Gatorade, Greek yogurt, Popsicles, didn't want to do much with food will play it by air most days.

    Wig fitting went well , took my daughter and we had a blast did not take home any though ,the wig place will try and get certified by my insurance company on Monday so I can get 100% reimbursement ( did not know wigs were so expensive), also liked the halo so I think I will get one of those too, with a few hats and scarves ( why not explore the new me :) ) .

    Sissy hope you had a great walk!

    Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Shera - I was a bit surprised at the cost and the work needed to make it work too, but I still think I would have tried it if I weren't worried about being in that teeny tinny percentage of person that gets it in the scalp ( leave it up to me to worry about that ) plus my MO was convinced there was no getting around losing your hair with Adriamycin, so I decided not to (now I am convinced my hair will never grow back...why I do not know...guess its my worrying nature)

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Holly crap I forgot hand gel....I am laughing so hard at myself right now...need to get it tomorrow promptly. Sissydi I was just reading your other thread I realized I did not have any hand gel :)

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  • galena_79
    galena_79 Member Posts: 107
    edited February 2012

    One more sleep until chemo #1.

    I'm feeing really organised now that my chemo bag is all packed.

    I've got: neck pillow, eye mask, ear plugs, headphones, magazines x2, protein snacks, gum, water, moisturiser, hand sanitiser, thermometer, spare top, powerport stuff, and pain killers.

    In the freezer are some frozen yoghurts on a stick, and some frozen bananas.  I'll grab one of each before I leave tomorrow.

    The house has been cleaned and tidied now, and I've replaced our normal soap with good antibacterial soap.  I've got drugs on stand-by in case of nasty SE's.

    I'm hoping everything goes really smoothly tomorrow.  :D

    Will keep you posted.

    (((((hugs))))) 

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  • Kadia
    Kadia Member Posts: 314
    edited February 2012

    Couldn't decide on a wig...so I got two! Just used up all the money I'll save on not having to have my hair cut and colored during chemo!

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  • corkins
    corkins Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2012

    I started Feb 20th on TCH x 6 rounds.  So I had my first dose, so far so good!

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited February 2012

    Wow galena, you are so prepared! My bathroom counter looks like a drugstore smorgasbord!



    Kadia, good for you....I bought two as well...I need to go pick them up before my hair starts falling out!



    Welcome corkins! You are encouraging!

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  • Rosie24355
    Rosie24355 Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2012

    Sissydi Menifee is between the 15 & 215 freeways just north of Murrieta & Temecula. We became a city just 3 yrs ago so no one has heard of us.

    My MO is supposed to call around March 9 to get things started. Have 1st fill in 10 days. I haven't been on here past few days. Bad cold & overwhelmed with BC stuff. Is it me or does anyone else get where you just can't think about any of this for a while? Some days it's ,"lets get started on the chemo already!". Other days it's pretend it's not real and let's go plan a cruise. Sorry if this is a whine.

    My sweet SIL sent me a nice wig. It's short & so not me but DH said it looks good. Went to garage sales yesterday and found a hat with long black dreads and giant frog eyes on top from Rainforest Cafe. When I told the lady I was going to need it for chemo she gave it to me if I post a pic on Facebook. My grandson would be so embarrassed.

    You are all so organized I am impressed! What a resource this place is. Many of us wouldn't have a clue without it.

    Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

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  • Alicea
    Alicea Member Posts: 36
    edited February 2012

    Galena - BEST WISHES FOR TOMORROW !!!!

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  • Kadia
    Kadia Member Posts: 314
    edited February 2012

    Anyone know if TE fills have to be postponed during chemo? I'm scheduled to start chemo 2-28 and have my first fill 3-7.

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