Starting Chemo July 2012

I'm starting chemo July 20th - 4 sessions of AC and another 4 of Taxol

I just had my second round of chemo today (taxotere/Cytoxan), the first round SE were not too bad a few days of flu like systems....so will see what this session will be like......half way there, only two more to go..   My hair started falling out about day 14 and it is almost all gone now.

It seems there are a bunch of us starting next week.

Ellendou--It's good to hear that you didn't have a lot of side effects; that's an encouraging example for those of us who haven't started yet!

Melroserose-- I've heard about icing the nails. I'll discuss it with the doc. I'm sure nail polish is a good idea; I'll have to buy some over the weekend. The doc did mention sucking on ice to help prevent mouth problems.

I hope everyone has a calm weekend. I know I could use a chance to get some extra sleep....

For nail strength, I take 5000 mcg of biotin daily (approved by MO) and also use Nail Magic Nail Strengthener, which you can get at Sally's.  I had nails that peeled, but after using that polish regularly, my nails are really strong!  I hope it helps during treatment too.  If you decide to try it, note that they first and second times you use it, it may burn a little.  It's got some pretty strong ingredients that can cause that - but it goes away and you acclimate to it.  

Well, I had my port placed yesterday afternoon, and the site is very sore.  The little tube from the port runs upward into my neck - that's how my surgeon prefers to do it.  The procedure was a breeze compared to my BMX, and all went well.

Today was my first treatment of Taxol/Herceptin (do I abbreviate to T/H?). It went very well. The nurse used some numbing spray, and it burned a little!  I'm trying Lidocain next time.  I got my pre-meds (anti-nausea and Benadryl) each took about 15 minutes, then I had a 30-minute wait period.  Then she started me on the Herceptin- she took 1 hr 15 min for it.  No SEs, no issues at all.  The came the Taxol - can cause allergic reactions, but I had none.  It was a low dose, so that may have been the reason.  She stretched it to 1 hr 45 min.  I slept through a lot of the tx, and also played Words with Friends and watched soap operas on my cell phone.  I arrived at the office at 7:20 - started with labs, and then a lot of waiting (so sick of waiting rooms!), and was out at like 2 PM.  Right now I feel fine, no SEs or issues to note.  I assume after the steroids fade away, I will have the common side effects I've read about.

Does anyone know, when they say you feel the SEs on "Day 3," does that count treatment day as Day 1?  So for me, treatment day was today (Friday), so my Day 3 would be Sunday?  This is what I hope for, so I can go back to work feeling well on Monday (I work from home for a software company, so not a huge deal, but still, I'd rather feel well and not want to take naps, etc on a work day!). 

Hi everyone I thought I would jump in here .  I started chemo in June just had my 2nd treatment of taxotere and cytoxan of 4.  I asked my onco about cold caps and she said no because she doesn/t agree with it due to the cold slows circulation of the blood in the scalp and she feels this could have an adverse affect of the chemo to head and scalp that could mean any rogue cancer cells might survive. I too took control of losing my hair by shaving.  My hair begano  to fall out on day 14 after first treatment.  My thinking is if this is the worst side effect then I could deal with it.  So far during my chemo I have experienced very little side effects.  I also take claritan for Nulasta shot and take tylenol extra strenght for bone pain.  I have no problems with the shot.  I start my claritan 3 days prior to the shot and stay on the claritan for 10 days.  This helps a great deal.  My chemo is on Tues, I feel great on Wed then slow down on Thurs and Fri and feel fairly well on the weekend.  By seven days following the chemo I feel like my old self and feel good.  My treatments are every three weeks, so two of those weeks are good.  We will all get through this thing if we stay active and remain positive and know this nightmare will be over and will enjoy a long life after.  Hang in there all and prayers to all.

Rita65 - My onc also said no to cold caps. She said there's no proof they actually work since some chemo drugs don't cause hair loss. And she also cited the same reason you mentioned - the cold may prevent chemo drugs from doing their jobs, and I'd rather lose my hair then risk leaving behind some rogue cells.

She also said no to supplements, antioxidants, etc. She said these protect cells, and they may protect bad cells as well as good ones. 

teeballmom - good luck with the hair, I had mine shaved last Saturday,out on the deck, with lots of tears shed....but am adjusting now.   big Hugs

Lauren I get that for a day or two after my Chemo treatment also, had my treatment yesterday and it has happened to me twice today, I was told I could take Antiihistamine..it helped but made me more sleepy.

I a feeling not too bad today, wonder what tomorrow will bring. 

Hi Cyano had a son that lived just outside Calgary, so did spend some time visiting there...usually go down at least once a year for meetings with Hubby.  Where in Ca do you live, we usually talke a trip or two to Palm Springs in the winter, to get away from the white stuff.

Am surprised I am having quite a good day, just lazy and tired but no other SE's today.....hope none show up tomorrow.

I hope everyone's weekend is going well. It was good to log in and see that some folks are managing fine and that others who weren't are recovering. Rita65, thanks for the promising note and wishing you that it remains that way or gets better. :-) 

I just had my port installed on Friday, and I was curious about others who have them.  Where did your surgeon place it, how many "incisions" do you have and where are they located? My BS placed the port under my arm precisely so I wouldn't have another score on my chest, but I also have a bandage beneath my collar bone so I'm wondering why.  Didn't have an opportunity to ask him yet and since I'm having my second AC infusion tomorrow, the onc folks will tend to the followup care. I have the 

The shoulder area is really been the sore spot, not the port itself. Someone posted that it made her arm feel like she had overdone a workout, and I can attest that's exactly what it felt like right after the surgery.  Like I had thrown a thousand pitches the day before lol!   I dug into the rixocet I had left after my UMX and slept on my back that first night. That did the trick. Will ask for numbing spray or lidocaine tomorrow when we break in the port. :-) 

 Hugs to all.  

Sending lots of hugs and tissue