Sept 2012 chemo
Comments
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Hi,
I start in a couple of weeks, so probably mid sept. have to have a port put in as my veins are shot from my chemo with ALL 5 years ago.
Because of my past chemo I have reached 'the life-time limit' of some chemo drugs so I am having 18 treatments of TCH every three weeks- Docetaxel (Taxotere), Carboplatin and Herceptin. Then radiotherapy for 3-6weeks and continuing Herceptin for a year in total.
Good to keep in touch with those going thru the same thing.
I have had enough of this caner business - I am only 31 for goodness sake! -
Welcome Leanne, I am so glad that We all have each other during this time. I am so ready to start my treatment on the 6th of sept and move on with this .
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Glad u found ur way here Cherioo and Leanne. We are all here for each other in our journey to being cancer free. Welcome
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Also welcome Leanne!
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Welcome Cheerio and Leanne. Sorry to find you here but glad we have all found each other. Thanks everyone for your support Im still doing ok but heading towards low bloodcount days now.
Camillia, interesting about the meds/steroids wearing off causing anxiety. I kind of hope that's it and it will go away. I too sleep terribly. I have Zopiclone now, and that works but for the first few months I slept only an our at a time and woke in a full adrenaline panic each time. Horrible!
Laura, hoping your scan was ok. Let us know.
Good luck with the start of treatment everyone. -
Welcome Cherioo,
I was new too..like 2 weeks ago...lol...i start chemo the 15th and i have to get my port on 10th we are all here for you...Jojo i bought a wig today and it looks exactly like my hair....im going out to diner with my hubby and i will wear my wig so i can get use to it!!!! i bought few scarfsssss....i use to wear them any ways so i just have to learn to make those knots....i always have a horrible nightmare!.........i wake up sweating and wonder if its all a dream....but its ok....we will all get through....well my ladies of to dinner and i hope
Amy i will also follow with port .. i know it sounds crazy but i wish i culd start now its driving me crazy that i have this and i still have to get PET scan ECO and port ....do you guys think its taking too long for chemo???
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Okay, so I just balled my eyes out for a solid 10-15 minutes. PET scan was clear! I'm a stage one! It's official!! I had no idea how much anxiety I was holding until I got home after a very looong day and lost it. I've been a basket case all day from the steroids. I'm blaming those pills for making me cry too and turning me in to a mindless crazy lady for the day. I left credit a credit card in the store. I snapped at a co-worker. I can only hope I didn't make any major screw-ups while there. I returned empty dvd cases to the library. I really went off on my mother! Totally unjustified. I have my raging bitch and space case moments, but not so many all in one day!
I'm considering skipping my evening dose of dexamethasone. Has anyone ever done that? Maybe I could compromise and just take a half pill? Dr's office is closed. I'd have to leave an urgent message for the on call doctor to get official permission. I don't want to do that. I meant to ask my doctor when she called, but I was in the library at the time and so happy to get the good news I forgot to ask. I think I'm going for the 1/2 pill...
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Welcome Cheerio and Leanne. This fine group of women has already been so helpful and supportive to me. Leanne, I wanted to mention that I reached my life-time dose of adriamiacin when I had hodgkins a few years back. There is so much information to be found on line comparing drugs and treatments. In my case, T/C is just as effective for treating breast cancer as A/C. Looking into it may give you peace of mind as it did me.
Cammilla, I start tomorrow too. I'm with you regarding steroids. They play major tricks with my emotions!
Thanks everyone for all the PET scan support. I'm so happy to report good news for a change!
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Smile Laura! Happy for u! Patricia what brand wig did u buy? I have looked at alot online
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Hi Ladies. I am glad to have this site. I have such a great support group, but no one understands like someone going through it. My husband seems wore out and we've only just begun! Had my first night mare last night. Hope to sleep better tonight.
Welcome Cherrio and Leanne!
Good luck to all starting tomorrow!!!!!! Little SE 's.
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Went out for spicy wings and beer! Figured wouldnt see that meal again for many months. Good luck for all starting!
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Hello ladies I am Amy I'm 34 a mother of 2 they are 4 and 7... I went for a routine pap in april and my OBGYN wanted me to get a mammo due to family history...(mother is a breast cancer survivor) I jumped right on board why not? good to be safe right? Well they thought they found something and sent me in for an additonal mammo and thank god it came back free and clear... my stress was gone said it was just dense tissue.. but then August hit and physical changes began to become present to the physical eye.. This is not right I said and made another appt to my obgyn, which wanted me to get an ultra sound asap which I did that day. And again I was told by the radiologist he sees nothing and I am just another woman with dense tissue. I was infuriated and said what do you mean you see nothing... I can see it with my own eyes! AHHHHHH I regained my composer and asked to be refered to an specialist... which I was and 1 week later this amazing doctor seen me, did and ultra sound, and had biopsys done all in the same day! WOW shes good! 2 days later August 22 it came back infact I do have cancer Stage 2 infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma 3x's positive. I was so thankful for her in acting quick but beyond pissed at the first team of docs that missed so much.
With that said... I have turned this as postive as possible I am taking a few natural things to help and have started juicing and making smoothies. Ive had a petscan, Catscan, MRI, genetic testing, my port put in yesterday, and will meet with my MO tomorrow to see when chemo starts (which I assume will be right with you all in sept) So far my petscan came back clear and the gentics test came back negative so I am very hopeful that this is just a bump in my road that will make me stronger.
I wanted to share with all of you the natural things I am taking and a poem my husband posted to my FB wall that brought tears to my eyes but plan to read daily as a mental fight...
Cancer I did not give you the right, To invade my body and take a bite. This is my body and with all my might, I will prevail with one hell of a fight. To the cancer inside, I will battle and kill. For this is my body's God given will. To my cancer, these words I do send... Your life is short and soon will end....
Love it!
Okay ladies I take
prenatal vitamin infused with ginger
2 500mg turmeric
2 1000mg fish oil(this helps the turmeric work)
1 5000IU vitamin d3
and 10 mg melatonin at bed this is amazing for cancer and will help you sleep very well...
Keep the faith
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JoJo Yummy... love me some wings!
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Just changed my avatar since I am rockin the short doo... Locks of love just got 15 inches of hair from me..
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Hi Amy - your story of diagnosis is quite similar to mine. I went to dr last August with a sore area and they sent me off to mammogram and ultra sound. Both came back as dense tissue. I also had some discharge which they filled me with antibiotics three diff times for. It wasn't until another GP wanted to really find out what was hard in my breast and the discharge, and sent me to a specialist this may. Specialist thought it was tissue so I was calm. Then he still wasn't convinced so did a random biopsy and found IDC.
Since my mastectomy, pathology found a speck of nasty DCIS. 5 out of 26 nodes affected but I reckon I've kicked cancer before so I definitely do it again!!!!
Good luck to everyone this month! kick butt!!
Laura g - knowing there is someone else on here who has done it before is good to know, I don't feel so alone on that topic! -
Hi Amy glad ur here. Just as a fyi please check with your onc before starting chemo regarding your supplements. I know there are things they will not allow during your cycles. Hugs! btw - I have been reading greats things on Biotin for hair growth post chemo.
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Jojo, Laura and Amy---good luck to you all--you will be in thought and prayers.
Had my 1st treatment Tuesday. Took about 4 hours start to finish. Was worried about an allergic reaction from the Taxotere but dodged that bullet. So far feel ok, have been taking the meds and trying to eat small meals to avoid the nausea. Only slight issue is some sleepiness.
Thansk all for the scarves/wig advise. I think i just need to relax---so what if people figure out I am battling this stuff....and I have always wanted better hair anyway! I have always believed attitude is everything so I am trying to stick with that.
You all are such a source of inspiration!!! thank you.
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JoJo I am going to the MO today and will take my stash of supplements with me for inspection lol My BS said she is okay with it all but Im sure the MO will have the final say.. I will def check out the biotin for after
Hope you all have a great Day! Keep smiling
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Chit - thrilled it went well and praying the se's stay away!
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Hey leanne...welcome im sorry that you have to go throught it ....but we are here for you...young is such a lovely word....lol...i feel 31 all the time and im ONLY 39...
Cherioo we are about to be on it at the same time i have so many questions but i really have to sitdown and get all my thoughts together..
JoJo i purchased the wig at an Ebony store here in miami... i always had dyed my hair blue back so i dont know if that helped ..but it looked great and i added some red hightlighs and a hat to be on style!!! lol.... i hope those wings were great and that beer sounds just about right before this journey....
Laura G im so happy the PET came back negative...i havent had my PET yet and im hoping that i will have the same feeling when its over and comes back negative.....possitive attitude is the key....
Chinatown....im so happy that you are feeling well through your first treatment and about who figures out what you are going through its ok because we can be great advocates to others....is not easy but we are warriors......
Amyloves, your poor hubby dont worry i know how you feel my hubby does at like his burned out but we are in it together...so time will help....
I have been an out going person and full of jokes and laughters. When i was diagnost with BC i was in shock for 2 days but i snapped out of it and now i just feel happy that i will get treatment for it and so what if i lose my hair it will grow back and i hope that all the side efects from chemo goes easy on me and my surgery goes well...i can only keep possitive and be happy that we all have great support from our families and friends...specially here that we can all sit in front of our laptops or computers and know no matter what we are not alone!!!! My husband is great... i love him but im sure he will have his moments and i will always try to cheer him up cause i always making laught...my family thinks im crazy cause im taking it to lightly....but i know it will get dark before light at the end of the tunnel but right now i will keep possitive and make sure that we all support each other i love being here!!! so until later my ladies and i will keep on praying......lets kick some ass ladies.....
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Patricia,
You have a great attitude . I too am handling it like you . The first couple days I was upset then I said to myself I have god and I am turning this over to him . Am I nervous to start chemo yes but that is normal to feel that way . I look forward going through this journey with you and all the other girls -
Cherioo...do you a port on??
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Thank you jojo I am so glad that I found this site. I am so ready to get this chemo started and over . Have you looked online at head covers ? Great wigs and supplies
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Wow what a wonderful group of women to take this journey with! Feel so blessed!
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Patricia I do . When I decided to have a double mastectomy with expanders I had mine put in at the same time . It does not hurt feels weird and the expanders feel like bricks on my chest lol but I can deal with it for four months. You will be fine when you get yours in . It was nothing for me
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Hello ladies, I just read all of your replies; I am sorry and happy for all of you. Sorry for the bad Dr's judgements, the bad dreams, happy for the clear scans and the few side effects from chemo:-D
I had my first treatment today. It did take 4 hours (TC). There were 3 other pouches with steroids, Benadryl and cant remember the third one. There was aslo saline solution to keep me hydrated. Everything went through the same IV (I dont have a port). It was painless, everything went well with no adverse reactions or side effects. I am now back at home and took a pill for nausea just as precaution. Still feeling like myself except for a little bit of dry mouth.
Good luck to the ones starting tomorrow.
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Thank you Camilla. I have had a small grey cloud of fear over me for two days. Have anxiety pills, but trying not to take then. You helped a lot. Keep us posted.
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Hey ladies I meet my Mo today and chemo for me will start mext Thursday! They are giving 2 months of 2 week cycles (dense dose) of AC which is Adriamyacin and Cytoxan Before the chemo I will be given Aloxi and decadron for 20 mins then Emend for 20 mins these are for nausea. Then the day after chemo I will get a shot of Neulasta to keep my white counts in good standing. After the 2 months is up I will be switched to once a week treatments of Taxol which will be for 12 weeks long...
Wish me luck!
Hope all of you are smiling today... Stay positive!
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Camillia glad all went well....whew! Amy I am scheduled for same regimine as you starting tomorrow. Positive thoughts for all!
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Hi Amy,
I start next Thursday as well. Looking forward having you guys to talk to during this . Going tomorrow to cut my hair short then going away with my love for the long weekend without our children so we can relax . I hope you enjoy as well
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