April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Sandik- I know what you mean about some food tasting funky at times.  I can't tell if the food is off or it's my taste buds. 

I started cooking again too!!!  I got tired eating what healthy take food I can eat and finally feel okay to go to the grocery store and cook again!!!  Big steps for us, IndigoMont!!!

Tonight I cooked a pork tenderloin roast, fresh veggies (yellow squash, broccoli, celery, onions) and rice.  It was yum!!!  Tomorrow night or Saturday night is hamburger night since eating those out are a little problematic.

Hi Maureen,

Welcome!  Im triple negative too. I had DD AC infustion #1 last Wednesday (4/25) I was ok Wed and Thurs. Friday I started getting tired. Sat. I was wiped right out. Didn't get out of bed all day. Felt like the flu. Sunday I did half a day of work, Monday I was good, but a little tired. Tuesday I was back to normal. So, you should be ok with Wednesdays. 

Hi Positivity! I'm on the same exact regiment as you. But not pregnant, though. All the very best to you and your baby! Hugs and purple healing wishes.

Hi girls,



Writing a bit late tonight but today I had my very 1st Chemo treatment. I can't believe how well it went. First they gave me my steroids, then benedtyl incase of allergies, Fluids, and pepcid.

Then came the big guns...Herceptin...it usually takes 30 minutes but the first time they give it slowly in case of a reaction so it took 90 mins.

Next came the Taxotere and then the Carboplatin.

It started at 10:00am and left around 4:15pm...so just over 6 hours.

Came home and took a couple hour nap. When I woke up I thought I might be a little bit nausea so I took a Compazine and a couple hours after took an Ativan to help sleep... Hasn't kicked in yet but gonna try to go nn now.

Tomorrow is my Neulasta shot and my hydration...will check in again soon.

Hope everyone is feeling well.

Cindy

Welcome Positivity!!!  Wishing you the best with the pregnancy!!!!

chrissera- Good luck with the 1st chemo today!!!!  You can do this.  You are prepared so you are ready to move forward with your treatment.  The 1st treatment may last a little longer so make sure you take some snacks with you.  If you are able to get up during your treatment with your IV pole, do so and take a walk.  If you are having Taxotere or Taxol, you may want to ice your toes and fingers to help with the nails.  it means you sit for that part of the infusion but can get up once you finish icing.   Drink, drink, drink fluids during the infusion and afterwards so you can get that chemo moving out of you.  Don't worry that that if you drink too much, you can't go to the restroom.  You can go to the restroom because you will have an IV pole that can go wherever you go!!!  If you want to help prevent mouth sores ( no guarantees you won't still get them), eat ice during the infusion.   

Pretty normal to be nervous and scared.  I was given an option to have Activan in my IV to help with nerves so I said yes and if asked again, I will say yes.  Just remember that the chemo staff know it's a new experience for you and are there to help you and closely moniter through the process.  You are not alone. 

When you get home and start experiencing side effects that the chemo prescriptions don't seem to be helping, call your oncologist asap.  Do not hestitate to get help; doesn't matter what day of the week it is or when it is..  Your medical team is there to help you 24/7--- someone is always on call.   There is no reason to suffer through post chemo side effects.

Positive calming & healing prayers, thoughts and energy today for everyone as we all move forward!!!!  Minimal SE's today and everyday!!!

Totally jinxed it by saying I didn't have mouth sores in my post yesterday. Woke up with three really big ones on my tongue. Have to go to the pharmacy to pick up some Magic mouth wash.

Isiharvey- I am guessing that your BP is probably why they switched you to TC. AC is hard on the heart.

Indigo- I noticed that you posted you weren't taking Neulesta. Same here, seems to be fine for two rounds. Let's see what the MO says when I go next Wed for round 3

Wishing minimal SE's to everyone

Hi, hopeful123!  About Neulasta - when I asked my MO at my consult appointment about it, he said they don't just prescribe it out of hand - they wait until you get your labs done at tx#2 - and then see if it looks necessary.  It also sounds like they lean more toward Neupogen instead of Neulasta.  He didn't got into a lot of details, just left it at "wait and see."  He also said that everyone's white counts go down, and just to expect them to be at the lowest from days 7-10.  Another one of my nurses said as time goes on, you get to figure out what the low counts make you feel like.  Well.... I won't get labs again until next Wednesday, the day before my port placement, and as far as how I felt at the nadir time, I had that major fatigure everyone talks about, but I didn't feel anything otherwise.  So I don't know if this first treatment is very indicative of how the rest will be or if each will be a little different.

My starting counts were really good, so I've been hoping that gave me some "wiggle room."  I do have Claritin (take it all the time for allergies), but from what people say about the bone pain, I'd rather not have to deal with that if possible.

But... We'll do what we must to get through this, right?

Clair, yes! Especially for us triple negative people. Exercise and a low fat, low sugar diet, are the two best things to fight recurrance! 

Hopeful, I hope you can get rid of them. I think I got mine under control (crossing fingers)

Good luck to those starting today, those who had their yesterday, hope you are doing well!

Have a good weekend everyone!  

Sandik- thanks. I got the magic mouthwash. Wow it does wonders. Can't feel a thing.

Indigo- I agree. Would rather not have the bone pain. My MO said so long as I didnt fall sick and counts were good for next chemo they would avoid it.

Have a great weekend.

I guess this is the place for me to be. Got the news about chemo just a few days ago.  I somehow convinced myself I didnt need it - dont know why. Anyway will be doing 4 rounds of T/C every 3 weeks. Had oncotype score of 24.  

Had single mx on 4/12 w immediate recon.  I feel pretty good from that. I have had the same shoulder length hair forever - maybe this will get me to do some shorter style in my hair at least! Cancer has just not done much for my diet! I just eat and eat  - just terrible.

Nice to meet everyone here. 

 Carol 

Welcome Carol50 - you sound just like me!!  Denial land was nice tho!  I just found out I'm TC x 6 every 3 starting Monday so I'll let you know how it goes.  Has anyone heard of a anti nasuea med by the name of palonosetron?  Apparently it's given during treatment and I'm guessing its pricey since they had to do a pre auth thru my insurance company.