April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

P.S.  I take an electric blanket and heating pad with me to my infusions to make the icing more tolerable.  It really helps!   

Thanks so much Melrose!  I have really thin socks that I wear for dance, so I'll try them!  Oh and I made my own fingerless gloves.  Just took an old pair of socks, cut off the top, and made a little hole for my thumb.  I sleep with them and wear them all the time around the house with lots of moisturizer underneath (my skin was breaking down after my first TCH).   

You are so right - it is mind over matter with the ice.  So worth it, though!  Ounce of prevention....!!!  

So true Melrose.   I wore a skull and crossbones head wrap to my last chemo.  It was my battle cry to the chemo to go kick some cancer *ss!  

Thank you Melrose and Dancetrancer.  I'm going to save all this information.  I'm having DD AC first, followed by DD Taxol, so I should be starting the Taxol around the beginning of July.  It would be nice if the nurses in the infusion center offered to ice your fingers and feet for you. You would think they would want to prevent as many side effects as possible.  I'm going to look up slush mugs and stock up on popsicles too.

mb1024, not sure if this is a repeat for you (sorry if so), but have you heard about taking acetyl-l-carnitine to prevent neuropathy with the Taxotere/Taxol?  There is a clinical trial going on for it right now.  Parameters are 1000 mg, 3 x a day (yeah, it's a lot).  I cleared it with my onc, which of course you'd need to do if you are interested in doing it.  I also take 50 mg B6 as an extra precaution.  I tried the l-glutamine, but didn't like stirring something into my drink - kind of developed an aversion to it.  Must repeat, all things must be cleared with onc!  They all have different guidelines in what they will allow.   So far with 2 TCH's, I've had an occasional "zing" in my left hand - but nothing lasting.  Fingers crossed!  

No one told me anything about icing or supplements, etc. at my onc's office.  I found it all out here from the great ladies on bco!    I'm also doing the cold caps to try to save my hair, but most don't.  It's a big investment of money and time.  So far, so good. 

Hi everyone,



I have my second treatment tomorrow (dd AC) I am more nervous ths time cause I know how bad I am going to feel.... I am taking emend this time so maybe I won't be as sick...anyone else asking that? Last time after I got so sick the called in zofran, can u take that with emend? I guess I am also more worried since i know my hair will be coming out after this one

Hi Tweety!  Wish I could give you more info but I do my first treatment tomorrow.  Hope all goes well for both of us!  I'll be thinking of you.

Hi LuvbBngBma, I'm triple negative too.  I got my port on Friday, but I'm having AC, which is supposed to be hard on the veins, and I wasn't given a choice.  It's called The Red Devil, which is not very reassuring.  I'm glad I have the port because I'm tired of being stuck all over my arm every time they take blood.  Now I have a vein on tap.

LittleRedHead - you're definitely not alone when you're here! Best wishes tomorrow - hope you can get some sleep.

Hello everyone!

 I know I am a bit late to this discussion, but still hoping I can get in on some of these helpful posts. I too have triple negative, Sandik. I/m 36, had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy (4). Tumor was 1.1cm and all nodes were clear, thank God. I just had my port put in last Monday and am feeling ok, althought the day after was definitely no fun camp.

 I am sruggling whether to go with the chemo schedule my oncologist/surgeon originally prescribed - 6 rounds of CT, 21 days apart, then radiation -- or whether to go with the more aggressive regimen of 4 AC's, 21 days apart, then 12 weekly T treatments, then rado.

Also, has anyone ever tried biofeedback? 

For those having their 1st infusions today--Good Luck!!!!  You have lots of support here and remember you are not alone during the infusion and after!!!  Drink, drink drink lots of water during and after the infusion to help flush that chemo through your body.  You can walk during the infusion because of the IV pole.   You may want to eat ice during your infusion to help keep the mouth sores away.  Don't worry about drinking/eating ice during the infusion, you can still get up and go to the restroom if you need to go.    Eating small meals 5-6 times a day will help keep your tummy happy.  Try to eat foods that won't aggravate your tummy ( like spicey.)  Take your meds to help with the nausea- on schedule.  As for constipation, you can also try prune juice/apple juice, Sunsweet Ones individually wrapped prunes, grapes.  If you find you aren't doing well with the side effects, do not hesitate or be afraid to call your onco.  No reason for you to suffer with side effects!!!  Ladies.... you can do this!!!

Hoping for a great day for all and minimal SE's!!!!!

I've been reading on here that it's best to head off the constipation by taking something before treatment, but the RN who gave me my chemo talk said I shouldn't do that.  She said I should wait to see what happens.  What is everyone's experience with first AC?  Should I head it off or wait?

Hello All,

I had my port put in on my left chest wall last thursday.  I wasn't sedated, wishing during the procedure that I was, it was more than they made it out to be.......but none the less I got through it.  Now here it is 4 days later, I am less sore, but seems like I get shortness of breath a lot now, and a pain in the center of my chest that kind of goes up to the base of my neck, has anyone else had any problems like this after having a port place.  I start my first round of chemo tomorrow, don't think I am going to be able to find a babysitter, due to them being in college for the year still, are kids allowed in the infusion room or not?, I also got my hair cut yesterday, it is super short, but I just keep telling myself that it was worth a good cause, since I donated it to locks of love, but I admit that I did cry, so I dread it when I do loss my hair completely. I really wish I knew what to expect after treatment, I have no family that is close to me, so we are having to spend 200 dollars to get my sister in law up here, to help incase I have bad side effects, 200 that we really can't afford, but not knowing what to expect, I have to.  I hope everyone else's treatment is going good.  Any answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much.

Kristy

Thanks for the wonderful help Melrose.  I just talked to the radiology department, because they said I shouldn't be having shortness of breath, tomorrow when I go in for my chemo, they will put some dye in there to make sure that it is flowing properl; and take some pictures.  My wonderful cocktail will be the AC 4 treatments, then 12 treaments of taxol.  Thanks for the helpful hint about sister in law, I guess the money might end paying off for itself, considering I still have a 5 year old that is not in school yet, so I will most likely need help with her.

Kristy