Starting chemo Thursday, May 31 - June Group?

Steelersluver:  I will have AC fusions x 4 every 2 weeks and Taxol and Herceptin weekly for 12 weeks.  It looks like I will begin on July 11th since my BS rescheduled my port consultation earlier that 7/6 so I can get my port in on time. 

Best of luck to those in the big girl chair tomorrow!!!  You can do it!!!!

Hoping for minimal side effects for all!!!! Just have to keep pushing and moving forward through chemoland.

cmomof4 - My second one is today.  I'll be with you in spirit!  We can do this!  Good luck on Friday, Ellendou and to everyone else going to the BGC!

I have known all along that my hair would fall out.  I have 5 wigs, which I doubt I'll wear and tons of scarves and hats, but as it falls out by the handful today, I guess I am realizing y.yhat you're never fully preparred for it.  I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.  It could also be due to being awake since 4 a.m. and going for infusion #2 soon and my baby having left for Israel yesterday.

It's amazing how these boards work.  Just having all of you to say this to is making me feel better.  Thanks, soul sisters.

Thinking of you all as you go through your procedures today -- I will be there tomorrow.

I also agree how wonderful it is to have sisters here, we all understand what each other is going through and the feelings we have.  Seems I am doing just fine and then all of a sudden the tears start, I hate when that happens but can't seem to help it.  Yesterday when I went to get my hair cut, I was feeling strong and ready for it and then broke down as she started to cut it....now every time I look in the mirror I cry.

Sending Hugs to you all. 

Doris - totally agree on the meds.  The NP said it would be clear and not to bother writing down anything she said.  Well, I totally freaked out the night before treatment #1.  Some said bring to chemo, some said take an hour before . . . Thanks to the wonderful ladies here I got under control and now much more calm as I am sitting in the BGC for #2.

yahoo marcia !!!! soon to be two down...mine is the 27th...

Marcia-Good luck today! I bet your baby leaving for Israel has got to be hard.  I know I can be much braver for myself than I can be for my kids.  I'll be praying for a safe return.  I buzzed my hair yesterday after I came home from my second tx, and it feels so good. Something I was able to take control over.

I was more tired than the last time after treatment, but I had a good nights sleep.  I took lorazepam(ativan) which is for anxiety/nausea/vomiting.  It does make you drowsy. No vomiting this time around. 

Doris- I know the meds can be very confusing as to when to take them.  I hope you didn't have a reaction to them.  I was told to take my first at bed time after my firs tx. and I was already throwing up bt 7pm. So this time I was done by 11am and took my first pill at 2pm.  It went much better. I like the prochlorperazine(compazine) the best for the day time.  Zofran gives me a headache.

Good luck this week for everyone in the BGC!!

Ellendou - Since you and I are on the same chemo regimen, I thought I'd let you know what chemo meds I take and when.  I don't know if this helps you  since I don't know what prescriptions you have.  I found it a little confusing at first but have the drugs regimen down now.

• Starting the day before chemo- Decadron(Dexamethasone- steroid)- 1 dose = 8mg.  3 doses-- one dose morning before chemo, 2nd dose the evening before chemo and 3rd dose the morning of chemo.  If you are taking this med, try to take it early in the morning and take it early evening (12 hours apart) so you can sleep.  My onco allows me to take Decadron for 3 days twice a day.
• Starting the day after chemo- Zofran (Ondansetron) -  One 8mg tab twice a day for 3 days post chemo.

I also have a prescription for Phenagran (Promethazine) for nausea if I need it after I have taken the other two drugs. 

Ellendou- I can see why it is confusing to know what to take when.  I use a month to month calendar and write what drugs to take when so I don't get so confused. It helps.  i also made a drug checkoff list to record what time of day I take the drugs so I take the correct ones on the right day.  It helps plus the onco research assistant reviews the log at every treatment since I'm on a Herceptin clinical trial.

Thanks Melrose, think I will do that also.....I also have to take antibiotics (ciproflox 500mg)- day 5 for 7 days.

Also have zopiclone for sleep if I need it (which I think I will use tonight) and  Ativan for when I need it (which I have not used yet).

I have not had to take any medication for years - except my Vitamins - so this is really different. 

Thanks Special K - going to print these off and use them.

KeepMoving:  I never lost my eyebrows but that may depend on the chemo drugs you're on.  They got a bit thin but not terribly so.  You can always use an eyebrow pencil in a colour close to your own eyebrows (or a tad lighter).  I would just add, don't worry about what anyone thinks!  If it's obvious what you're going through, people usually respond with sympathy and nothing negative.  I remember feeling I was wearing my head scarf as a badge of courage.  Wishing you well today and hugs to you and everyone on this thread.