Starting Chemo July 2012

Hi teeballmom - I'll be starting on July 2 - ddAC x 4 and T x 4. What about you? I was originally stage IIa and node negative in 2010 but now have a recurrence in a node so am upstaged to IIIa.

I've been getting so much amazing info and help from the April, May and June boards so hopefully we'll have a group of our own to go through this with!  

I might be joining you in July. Just had my lumpectomy four weeks ago (re-excision two weeks ago) and am waiting to meet with my MO but seems that July would be likely. I'll let you know.

I am meeting with my oncologist in the morning to map out my treatment plan. I expect her to tell me I will start some time in July. I am just about 2 weeks out from my BMX and free Tram. Will let you know.....

I will be getting my port installed on July 16 and start my first round of TCH on July 18. When I was in the waiting room at my oncologist a woman mentioned biotin toothpaste and mouth wash for help with any sores that may develop. Have any of you heard of this or any other tips/tricks that you can pass along.

Jae

I'm finally meeting with my oncologist next Thursday so I should have a plan then. I'm feeling good. My BS said that I healed quickly and very well after my lumpectomy so I'm hoping that bodes well for chemo, etc. I am scared and nervous about chemo but I have a great support system or around me, including an amazing boyfriend who helped seal up a leak my incision sprung! Thanks for this group and I hope everyone does well through their treatment.

My support group is incredible. I also had someone reach out in a surprising way. A fellow artist who I barely know set up a fundraising campaign through Give Forward and has raised over $3,000 to help me cover my rent, food, etc, while I go through treatment. Absolutely humbled and overwhelmed me. So many people reaching out, including a huge number of strangers. People surprise you when you never expect.



Check out Give Forward through my campaign and maybe see if this is something that might help you or someone else.



http://www.giveforward.com/susanleecancerfund

Hi Ladies! I've been stalking these boards since my diagnosis and finally decided that I needed to jump in since I will be starting chemo on July 19th. I am truly dreading it, but it will be nice to have others to relate to during this time. Best wishes to all of you! 

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A PORT FOR CHEMO :  You may want to ask your onco for a prescription for EMLA cream (lidocaine) so you can numb the port area before you leave home for your round of chemo.  If you forget to apply the EMLA cream or don't receive a prescription, ask the infusion nurse to spray the port area with numbing spray.  That way you won't feel the poke when the port is accessed.   

If you receive a generic EMLA cream at the drug store, it may not come with any special coverings for the area to put on after you apply it.  In order to avoid getting the EMLA cream on your clothes and other places, just a 4 X 4 inch square of Glad Press N Seal plastic wrap to cover the area.  Make sure you avoid the temptation to spread the EMLA cream on the port area; I'm told that your fingers will be numb for quite a while!!!!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm on the April/May 2012 chemo hangout and wanted to share with you some tips to help you.  I'm heading into #4 of #6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere next Tuesday and found getting tips from those who have already started chemo really helped and assured me that chemo is very doable and you are not alone through chemoland. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to private message me or post your questions here or ask on the April/May 2012 chemo hangout thread.  There is a wealth of practical knowledge here to support you through chemoland.

Have a great weekend and stay cool!!!!!

Lisa614- Hope you have minimal side effects from the Neulasta since you are already taking Claritin.  Let me know if you will be icing your nails during the Taxotere infusion.  You may have read about it on other threads but may not know the practical side of icing.  Just let me know if you need some tips on that.

Hi ladies, I went through TC X 4 at the end of 2010. Sounds like you are all doing some great research to help you get through this time. The Claritin really does work- combine it with Advil and it helps even more! I used the Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash religiously during chemo and never got a sore. It is important though to see your dentist and get your teeth cleaned before your first treatment-this helps cut down on mouth issues as well! Also, be sure to have both something for constipation and for diarrhea on hand- you never know which way you're going to go! If you have any questions, let me know. I'm always happy to help!

The best advice I was given regarding chemo was "You don't have to be brave, you just have to show up." Best wishes to you all!

FOR THOSE ICING NAILS DURING TAXOTERE INFUSION:  Always clear anything you want to do with your oncos.  You will need to clear it with your onco about icing since not all oncos will allow icing during the Taxotere infusion.  At the suggestion of my onco, I am using clear nail polish on my nails to help keep them strong and also icing the nails to help prevent nail damage which is a side effect of Taxotere.  She suggested that use Sally Hansen Strong As Nails Clear Polish but I switched to Essie polish since it doesn't chip as much as the Sally Hansen brand.  Essie polish costs more but for someone like me who never used nail polish before chemo, the fewer times I have to apply polish the better.  I don't mani/pedis but some do.  I'd rather avoid the germ issue at nail salons and taking of a chance of getting nicked. 

ICING :

• Time period for icing- You will for 1/1/2 hours in total= 15 minutes before the Taxotere infusion + 1 hour during the infusion + 15 minutes after the infusion.
• Ice- You can use frozen peas in quart size ziploc bags marked "Do no eat!!!" and reuse those bags of peas. Some have used small reusable/refreezable ice bags you can get at the drugstore in the first aid department.  I opted to use ice.  I have an ice tray that makes small rounded bottom circular ice.  I tried the peas and decided I liked the ice better because I thought it stayed colder longer.  My infusion center has ice available for me to use if I want to use it.  I always bring an extra bag of ice just in case I need it.
• Transporting ice to infusion center- I use a cooler with a freezer pack plus take extra infusion ice bags.  
• What to put the ice bags in- That is a personal preference.  Some just put the ice bags on their feet and wrap a blanket around them so the bags don't fall off.  Some use insulated lunch bags and put the ice bags in those.  My hands and feet are small so I'm using some neoprene wine cooler bags that I bought at Target for $6.99 each.  I figured I could use the wine bags later on.  I'm still able to hold an insulated mug so I can drink really cold water and eat ice during the infusion.  I have pretty small hands/feet which explains how I am able to use those Neoprene wine bags.
• Hand & Feet Protection- I wear thin sports socks on my feet when I ice the toes.  The socks keep the rest of my feet warm during the icing.  On my hands, I wear a pair of knitted wristlets/fingerless gloves to keep the rest of my hands warm.  If you don't have knitted wristlets, you can make some from men's socks by cutting holes in the toe area.  Some people take their feet/hands out of the ice periodically; however, I don't do that.
• Process- I let the infusion nurse know that i'm icing so we can coordinate when I should start the icing. Once I know when I'm going to start the infusion, I put the ice bags in the bottom of the Neoprene bags.  I put the ones on my feet first and adjust the ice bags so my toes nails are covered.  I then put the ones on my hands on and adjust the ice to cover my fingernails.  My husband helps me with this process.