Sept 2012 chemo

Hi Chitown3, your right us Sept girls can do this!!



Amylovesbub, sorry your port placement was rough, sounds like today will be better, I agree bring on the chemo, let's get this over with.

Hi Amy - got my port on Monday. Threw up twice coming home. Second day was worst cause was so sore but now barely notice it. Hope ur feeling better soon

I had my first treatment (TC) today and I was so nervous! For those of you having TC I'm happy to say the treatment wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be. The nurses were great but it was a little scary to see other patients there in very poor health. Have to remember that they treat many different cancers and stages with chemo and that bc is one of the most treatable. I only had an IV so no port to deal with. So sorry to hear that some of you had such an awful experience with that.They gave me cold mitts and booties to wear, and talked me through medication and homecare. I got a pill for nausea. Then they started the Taxotere really slow to see if I reacted to it. Because I didn't they sped it up a bit. When that went ok they started it full speed. The C was faster but I got a weird sinusy headache from that. The nurse said that was common. I drank lots of water and nibbled on plain bisquits throughout. So far I have felt tired but ok this evening but getting a queezy feeling now.

Amy & Jojo, I am glad you are both better.

Neta, I wonder about that, the fact that we will see patients with different cancers at different stages. It's got to be heartbreaking and scary at the same time. Thinking of this thread and being able to come here and talk about with you guys will help. Were the booties and mitts for your nails? How cool that they have a system in place for that! The nurse didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked her if  could do it. I hope you get a good night of sleep tonight and wake up feeling in a least ok shape. You will be in my prayers.

Hello everyone  I'm supposed to start my ACT (A/Cx4, taxol weekly) starting August 29th...if healthy enough.  I started with a dry cough about a week ago, go my port in on the 22nd and cough is now starting to become productive.  Its rather funny that I may not be healthy enough for chemo LOL

I started out with hair down to the middle of my back; cut it to shoulder length, then to a short hair style and then had my brother shave it while we were surrounded by family.  My (almost) bald head is so much easier to care for and helps me cope with my crazy hot flashes (I'm 41, had full hyst and lost HRT due to receptor status).

Looking forward to getting through this next phase, then on to RADs and then on with the rest of my life  

Camillia, yes the cold mitts/booties were for my nails. Lets hope it works. So far I'm doing ok this morning.



It was very strange at the chemo unit seeing the other patients. There was also a lady who rang a bell when she left and the nurse told me it was to mark the end of her chemo treatments. Cant wait to ring it myself!



Amy and Jojo, hope you are both feeling better today.



Laura, I will have Neulasta this evening and the nurse will show me and DH how to do it. I will have to do it myself after the next 3 treatments. Good luck with th PET scan.

Thanks amy!  I think I'm starting to come around the bend with my port as well...I can't believe how much having that sucker placed knocked me on my tush!  LOL

The port is placed first and then a few days later (a full week in my case), chemo is administered.

This section of the site is a set of message boards where you can start topics or comment on topics that other people have created.  I tend to stick to the topics that apply to me and my cancer (ie IDC topics, 2012 ladies, specific age groups, etc).  You can ask questions and receive answers via the 'discussion boards'.  There is also a chat room and you can exchange private messages with people via the site as well.  I haven't used the chat room but the message boards have been incredibly helpful.

HTH a little... 

Wow, that's a long way to travel for treatments!



As you can see by my head, I'm opting not to wear a wig For me, it's because of many things. 1. I get hot flashes and my head sweats; sweaty head= sweaty wig = gross! 2. I don't want to have to fuss with a wig; styling it, brushing, cleaning it, etc. 3. Do I really want to spend that much time getting that good with double sided tape? LOL



I also don't have a traditional job that I need to show up to 5 days a week. My employers are graciously allowing me to telecommute, so that makes me feel like I don't have to look 'normal' for my co-workers.



Plus it's still summer and I like feeling the warmth on my head (when I'm not having a hot flash) and the cool breeze on my head when I AM having a hot flash lol

Good morning and welcome everyone.

I am so surprised to hear how the placement of the port can be quite unpleasant. I hope you are all better now. My onco said we will use my veins, but then again maybe it's because I should only need 4 infusions? I too go back for a neulasta shot, but I am lucky that the cancer center is only 5 minutes away from home. That's nice that you get to at least stay the night at the family lodge, Jojo.

IS everyone else getting scans? My dr didn't order any. I see some of you with no lymph node involvment still going for them. IS it just how your dr's proceed as a standard?

 Neta, I am so glad to hear from you and to see that you are doing well, considering you just had your treatment. You have been in my thoughts. Please get some rest, walk around some (I hear it does wonders!) and let us know how you are doing :-)

Thanks Christina for the encouraging words... any positive comment is more then welcome

I see, thanks for clarifying the scan thing, Jojo.  So I assume you scans and MRi where clear then, right? I had a breast MRI and a chest x-ray before mastectomy and both were showing exactly what the mammo and ultra sound were showing. I was glad... that would have brought some extra worries. I am sorry to hear about your mom :-( I will be doing th BRAC blood test (no family history as far as I know but I want to make sure for my 2 young daughters).

I am not planing on wearing wigs at all either. I got very pretty hats and scarfs. I am thankful that the weather will be cooling down a little in just a few weeks so I can wear them and not sweat too much ;-)

Hi Camillia, I'm getting a PET scan because I've been losing weight and have some other minor symptoms. From what I understand my insurance company would have denied it if I had no symptoms. My nodes were clear and my blood tests were good. My doctor was going to skip it. After talking a bit more she agreed to the scan if for no other reason than my peace of mind. I kind of love her for that. I would have always been wondering otherwise and hyper aware of every possible symptom of mets.



I have a couple of strong maybes for wigs. I have one more shop to check tomorrow. It's likely I won't get hot flashes since I won't be treated with hormones. I hope not anyway. I never wore a wig the last time around. I liked my hats. Now I work in a high school. I don't really want to draw extra attention to myself if I can help it. I feel a little silly in a wig. That's going to take some getting used to.

Jojo sorry to hear about your mother, sounds like your chemo is starting out well.



Patriciahur, my nurse said they would try to get my port in before my first chemo, but they may have to IV the first one if it wasn't done. My chemo starts Sept. 5. I still haven't heard when they are doing that or the mugga scan. Hope it's done bt the 5th. I am going to chemo class on the 31st so expect to find out more then.



I am going to check out about the booties and mitts for the nails.



I am still real nervous about how my body will handle the chemo drugs, they sound so menacing, I cannot stand the thought of my poor liver having to work so hard detoxifying me. GgggRrrr, just no choice though!!



I am getting kind of used to the short hair, not ready to shave it, probably day 3 or 4 after the 1st chemo. I did order a wig, just for downtown. I will wear a toque with it, since winter is coming and it is brutal here. I prefer not to be noticed. At home it will be scarves, buffs and hats.



Everyone take care, and you all seem to be in great spirits....yeah!!