Starting Chemo July 2012

Good morning group! Happy Friday! 

I am now on the one week to go countdown. Trying to focus on today rather than too far ahead! I was wondering if you can share your Chemo Kit lists with me. I've been going through posts this morning and there is a lot to sort through to find out what others take to infusion. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Love and strength to all! Have a super weekend! 

Good morning everyone! I'm now on day 5 after my first adriamycin/cytoxan so thought I'd check in. The day of the infusion I drank massive amounts of fluid and kept my hand in a warm sock along with a heatpack to keep my veins plump, and the IV stick went well (although in the wrist, very achy spot). I'm hoping to get through this without a central line (port or PICC) so I'll keep you posted how that goes.

There was an initial delay to send blood counts and liver tests (all came back fine). They started with two pills of Zofran, an infusion of a half liter saline followed by the IV Emend - by that point my arm was freezing from all the cold fluid so we wrapped it in warm blankets which helped a lot. Then the gowned gloved nurse did the adriamycin push directly from syringes into my IV - my goodness that stuff is RED. And FREAKY looking, especially with the nurse in biohazard apparel. She watched like a hawk to make sure my veins were handling it well. She, my friend, and my husband became a constant chorus of "does it feel alright? no burning? no pain? how you doing? no burning?" Thanks guys, but I'd be the first to shout if it felt wrong!! One small collateral vein high in my forearm turned red, so she stopped the push and called over the nurse specialist to check it out. They flushed it with saline and since the main vein they were using was unaffected, they kept going and finished the push fine. After that they hung the cytoxan which took an hour - during this I got a very odd full heavy feeling in my nose and mild headache. My husband gave me a couple Advil and the headache wore off quickly after the infusion ended. All in all this took 4 hours, but the bloodwork added an hour. In the future I'll be getting bloodwork before I see the MO before infusion, so it should be 3 hours. The last indignity of the day was getting my first Lupron shot in my left buttock - jumped a little at the stick but wasn't sore afterward.

The first night I felt pretty crappy - like sudden onset of flu and extreme fatigue. I took a compazine to try to "get ahead" of the nausea but this was a big mistake - compazine and I do not get along. I got extreme vertigo as though the room was swaying side to side on a ship. Didn't sleep well that first night since had to go to the bathroom literally 7 times with all the fluids to flush out the cytoxan! Day 2 I actually felt fine, very little appetite but only a minimal buzz of background nausea. The evening of Day 2 I took a Claritin and gave myself the Neulasta shot in my belly, which stung quite a bit more than I'd expected! I may not have given it enough time to come up to room temp, which I'll definitely do next time.

Day 3 was the pits. The bone and muscle pain from Neulasta combined with nausea from the Emend fully wearing off left me on the couch all day. I managed to take a 30 minute slow walk but otherwise was down for the count. Zofran did help somewhat, and Ativan helped me sleep well that night.

Day 4 and 5 have been MUCH better!! Very minimal nausea, helped quite a bit by Zofran. I was also having heartburn (which I've never had in my life) but took a generic prilosec last night and feeling well this morning. About to go for a long walk and feeling good! The small vein that turned red now looks brownish, but the main vein they used in the wrist is fine without any lumps or redness (they told me to watch out for phlebitis). No mouth sores yet but I'm on the lookout!

Just wanted to share my first A/C experience for those of you facing it soon! Hugs to all, we can get through this

Hi! Joining the July 2012 chemo thread -althought I had first infusion on 6/27. Had it on a Wednesday - Worked from home Thursday and Friday - took Monday off (I work a 4 day work week). Back to work on Tuesday

Thank you for all the input and suggestions from everyone - every little bit helps!

Had first followup with Onc today 7/6. WBC count is good.

No major SE's... some fatigue day 4-7. No nausea or vomiting - Make sure they infuse with antinausea drugs Emend/Aloxi and dont be afraid to ask..

Did have some diarrhea - nothing major. A little metallic taste in mouth but resolve that with ginger or peppermint candy. Had only 1 day where my lower back hurt - took Ibuprofen and had a massage.  Its day 12 and still have my hair but anticipating that will change over the next few weeks.. Did gain 5 pounds over 1 month - not happy about that!!

I am not an advocate of taking meds - pretty much a holisitic type of gal..  but I took whatever they told me to take to alleviate any symptoms (before, during and after). The only med I did not take (although they kept telling me to) was a sleeping pill. I did not have a problem sleeping so what was the point?

Try to exercise..its hard when you are fatigued, but Im walking, taking yoga and doing water aerobics (not all at the same time--lol! ) at least 4-5 times a week.

Good Luck to all starting in July -Love to all !!

Well girls, had 1st chemo yesterday and I have to say, so far so good.   I am being vigilant about taking my anti-nausea meds and I have not been sick or very nauseous at all.   Woke up at 4am with a little queasiness but i just ate a few crackers and then fell back asleep.  

Went back today for my Neulasta shot.  Not sure when any of those side effects will kick in.  I think nurse said 2-3 days.  But I was told Clariten helps and I've been on that for allergies.

I think the thing that is bothering me most right now is the darn steroid medicine.  I was given IV Dexamethasome prior to the chemo infusion.  And around 2 pm today, my face got all flushed, my legs started feeling like that restless leg syndrome feeling, and I just feel an overall uneasy, nervous energy.  I don't like it.  It's like being on speed but not having the energy to do anything with it.

I've been good about hydrating for the last 3 days and today.  Hopefully that helps as all of the suggestions on here have been so helpful.

Hi guys,

I posted once in here I think.  I'm scheduled to start Adriamycin next Wed.  I'm glad it's a shorter infusion than the Taxotere/Cytoxan was, but man the side effects (heart failure and leukemia) really freak me out.  The other ones I can deal w as I've done them before.  My chemo talk was with a PA I don't like very well- she just doesn't explain things very well or makes things more complicated than they need to be.

Cyano- my one fear is my blood counts will drop= I had a fever 2 nights in a row during the 4th round of the T/C but I never told my doctors until later.  They yelled at me this time to call immediately if I have a fever because I will likely have to come to the ER.  I hope you are feeling better. 

Lauren423- for my last cycle of chemo, my worst cycle was #3, not #4, so I can't explain that.  But I have to say I still have chemo brain and I haven't had chemo since May 23rd.  So these side effects can stick around for a while.  

The hair on my head was beginning to grow back too, as well as on my legs.  I'm still losing hair on one eyebrow and my pubic area-how the hell does that make any sense??  My hair started to grow back on my head before I even finished the last cycle of chemo!  Weird.

I'm hopefull I'll be able to tolerate the SEs better this time simply because I am only getting one drug plus I have experience now dealing with SEs and knowing what to expect. 

Yup,getting my port in on Wed. 7/11/12 and my first chemo treatment will be july 16th. I will be getting adriamycin and cytoxan together for 4 cycles and after that i will be getting 4 cycles of taxotere, followed by radiation 5 days/week for 7 weeks.

Hi everybody, starting TAC 7/19 x 6, then surgery, then radiation. Port put in net week, along with Chemo class. A little nervous because of all of the possible side effects, but I am glad to be here-seems like a great community.

I'm back home!! Neupogen works wonders. My white blood cell count went from 0.2 to 1.0 in a day. They never did find the source of the infection, but I did have a severe colitis flare up 5 days after chemo which may actually have been a gastro illness and not colitis. Little by little I'm learning to take it easy. I'm going to have to lay off running for a while. I'm super tired still and a bit weak after eating nothing but clear liquids for 5 days. Fortunately, I love jello. Hopefully some solids tomorrow. Mouthsores but that's expected with the low counts.  And an anal fissure from the gastro problems. Not looking forward to the next round, but I'm sure my onco will take work to prevent this happening again.

For those who are just starting, my oncologist says that the risk of hospitalization for neutropenia with T/C chemo is <5%.

Planetbananas - My last hurrah before chemo and hair loss is doing a vintage pin-up photo layout. Mostly for me but also because I know it'll make my boyfriend's brain explode.

Hi Everyone...

I had my port put in on July 6th and my chemo will start this Wednesday (7/11).  I'm sitting here in front of the computer drinking my water!  I'm trying to get used to the eight glasses a day!  I just wanted to thank everyone who takes the time to pass along great tips!  

Soltantio-

I met a friend of a friends Mom who is a retired infusion nurse. She had all of the same info to help with SE that we have seen on this board except when it came to the cold caps. When I asked her about it she made a face and said if you take none of my advice please listen to this, don't use one. She said over the years she would see patients who used them back with cancer on their head. I don't know anything about the caps so she could be thinking of the ones from years ago as she is retired. I don't want to scare you but wanted to pass the info along.

Soltantio-

I am also going to be on taxotere and heard that info about permanent hair loss, it scares me as well. But since I am her2 + I am really scared of a recurrence. I just didn't want to have info and not pass it along since everyone has been so wonderful with sharing.