April/May 2012 Chemo hang out

Thank you, everyone, for all the information and tips!  I will ask for whatever they'll give me tomorrow to numb the port area.  My tummy has been sensitive since diagnosis, and it's been a struggle to eat normally, so I don't know how it's going to react to the chemo tomorrow.  It makes sense that as soon we're done with the steroids, we crash.  They should get me to work on Thursday and Friday, but we'll see about Monday.   

OK, let's try again - I didn't realize you have to change the status to public.

@ Marcia - I got 2 opinions after all tests were back including oncotype and they both agreed with my score, grade and age that chemo was in order.  Initially my primary said ACx4 then 12 Taxols but the second opinion was thru the U of P and they said TCx6. By the time I got back to primary she's also switched to TCx6 so I was happy that everybody was in agreement.  I was a little nervous that my primary was going overboard with no nodal involvement and the heart risk on AC so I was happy when everyone agreed.

Krazycatlady37



That happened to me after my first treatment I called dr on call and was given zofran, that stopped the nausea and vomiting quickly.



They gave me emend for my second treatment which I had yesterday and it has been so much better so far.

Thanks tweetyb! I think the second pill is starting to work, along with water crackers and ginger ale. I called the doctor on call and he said to continue with the pills I have unless I vomit again. Whatever dude! Definitely addressing this tomorrow. I just want to sleep (not because of the chemo but because I have gotten up at 7am for the last week and I am soooo not a morning person!).

Krazycatlady37 -



Glad you are starting to feel better, so not fun. I have similar diagnosis as you, are you doing the chemo then surgery then more chemo? That is what I am having followed by radiation. Long haul, I am trying to take it one day at a time, but so hard. Hope you get some sleep

Hey ladies , finished my 1st round of AC today....got a little nervous about the chemo while pregnant, then remembered that all my reading and my drs. Have reassured me that it would be fine.



Got loads of pre meds, steroid, 2 anti nausea meds.....

Came straight to where im staying, had a bowl of fresh fruit: pineapple banana and papaya and a tall glass of watermelon juice.

Went to bed for about 3 hours....woke up and had dinner.

SE so far: tired but not sleepy, headache, heartburn....can't seem to get back to bed tho



Hope you all have a restful night and best wishes to all getting infused tomorrow.

Tweety, thanks for your encouragement! Chemo now, then surgery, then I don't have a clue. I believe she will want to re-assess. I did get the BRCA test taken today and will know something at my next onco appointment.



Sandik, I promise I will try small meals! But crackers sound awfully good just hardly real food. I like positivity's fruit plate. Nice that your SE's don't include nausea with the pregnancy. I wish you easy and managable SE. I forgot I have some bolt house smoothie down there. Might try those later.

Wildflower...don't forget about taking Claritin (if approved by MD) prior to Neulasta and then 7 days post to help decrease bone pain.   Glad to hear things went well for you yesterday!!! sorry to hear about the headache...could be Zofran if you are taking it.   P.S.  Sleeping pills helped me incredibly.  It's so important to get rest as I know my body heals trememendously while sleeping.  

Thanks Dancetrancer,

Yes I did take Zofran yesterday, and am suppose to take it this morning, and this evening.  Would say that I hope it doesn't give me another headache, but I still have a little one from yesterday.  I have not thrown up, and after reading some of the posts, am very thankful.  I drank a lot of fluids, juices, water, flavored water, had watermelon, don't know if that might had helped me with that or not, but haven't thrown up.  Thanks for the tip about the Clariton, when the doctor prescribe it?, or is it something that I can just pick up, I think I did hear that they gave you benadryl before the shot though, and do they also prescribe the sleeping pills, or is that otc as well?, I know I need some I didn't sleep but for very short briefs all night, nothing steady.  Again thanks for help.

Kristy

Krazycat,

Very good way of looking at it.  Thankfully I haven't had to bad of side effect yet, other then the headache and the insomnia, but whose to say that I won't get sick, but for now, I am just drinking a lot of fluids, and praying and keeping my fingers crossed that I don't.  Would love to still be able to take care of my 5 year old daughter on my own during the day, since she's not in school yet, and then daddy can take over after he gets home.  I have 3 chemo meds that are injected into my IV slowly from syringe, then I have a small IV bag.  Hope that is what you mean by dose dense.  Hoping they will give me something for the bone pain once I get the shot,  so the insurance will cover it, that is something that I am really dreading, since I was hit by at car at the age of 14, broke both legs, hip and pelvis, pelvis still broken in two place, and when the weather changes on me, I already feel the affects of that in my bones, but keeping my head up and moving forward.  The stronger I am, hoping the faster and easier this will all go.

 Kristy

Hi krazycat. We're on the same regime....ACx4, Taxol x4...started yesterday too....only difference is I'm 32 weeks pregnant.



So far so good since infusion yesterday...besides tiredness, mild headache last night (took painkillers), heartburn and major insomnia.



Woke up this morning with some shedding on my pillow. Husband is saying it might be from my haircut on Monday. But I dunno.



Hoping all of you have minimal SE.

Keep your chin up and your thoughts positive.

Can't say I blame you wildflower for being wary.  I guess if it were me I'd probably try the other med, since you have it...but it's a tough call!  You could always call your onc's nurse and see what they advise.  Either way, definitely take something to prevent nausea before you have it.  All the "old timers" from chemo that I've talked to plus my onc and onc nurse told me to take your nausea meds on schedule, even if you don't have symptoms.  They say that once you start vomiting, it is harder to get it under control with the meds.  Easier to prevent. 

Krazycat - ask you nurse what time to start them after chemo.   Every onc is different in what they want you to do, which makes it all so confusing.  The premeds do stay in your system for a while.  I was told to start my Zofran around 9 or 10 p.m. the eve of chemo day.  I get Aloxi AND Emend in my IV.  Aloxi/Zofran  are the same class of drug - 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.   They work by blocking the action of serotonin, a natural substance that may cause nausea and vomiting.  Emend is in a different class of drugs - substance P antagonists (SPA).  It mediates its effect by blocking the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor.    And yes the IV premeds do work for several days, but I was told to still take the Zofran on schedule b/c otherwise I might get breakthrough nausea symptoms, which are more difficult to control once they start. 

The studies I have read have said that getting both Emend and Aloxi/Zofran in your IV on chemo day results in significantly better control of post-chemo nausea (of course combined with taking post chemo meds as prescribed).