Sept 2012 chemo
Comments
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Jojo good luck tomorrow we will be praying for you that it is easy and you feel good after your treatment
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Camillia I am so glad that all went well for you today. My dr told me to be prepared to be there all day the first chemo because of test and blood work . Was it like that for you.
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Met with my MO again yesterday... She's not happy with how my healing (breast and port) are coming along; I'm still experiencing pain in both sites, especially my port site. She asked how many hours of sleep I'm getting each night...oh between 3 & 5 hours, for the past 3 months! So I'm in a vicious cycle of not sleeping because I'm in pain (and stressed to the max) and I'm in pain because I'm not sleeping and the body heals while it sleeps. So she wants me back on pain meds AND has given me a sleeping pill...and it WORKS! I got 6 hours of sleep last night! YAY!
Final pathology showed that 40% of my mass had a higher grade - oops! So now the AC of my ACT will be every 22 days x 4, neulasta, fluids, etc. the day after and then once that is complete, 12 weeks of taxol (weekly doses). I'll get another 3-4 week rest period and then I'll have 6 weeks of RADS (30 sessions total). That's such a long haul...especially compared to my early goal of being able to wash my hands of this whole mess by the end of the year! hahahaha NOT!
Welcome to all the new ladies
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Thanks for all the well wishes! First chemo treatment went by with no problems! It didn't seem to matter that I cut my steroid dose last night. Took the full dose tonight though. Steroids were easier to handle today than on day one. I'm getting T/C too Camilla, no port. I was there for about four hours. That time included blood test and a doctor visit. Chemo only too 2 hours. I feel pretty good tonight. Lots of energy! Hanging window blinds at 9:45pm. Not my usual night at home. Haha I'll take advantage of the energy while I can!
Tomorrow's challenge is the neulasta shot. This is my first time giving myself a needle. I feel better about it after the nurse showed me how today. I was worried about poking the needle in too far. It's a short needle so there's no chance of that. I'll let you know how it goes.
Leanne, T/C is so much easier to take than the high dose of adriomiacin I got 16 years ago. I imagine the stuff you got was pretty intense too. Are you getting T/C for your breast cancer? I've only got a tiny bit of indigestion tonight. Nothing a tums won't fix. I would have already been throwing up by now last time around. Also unlike last time, I was fine without a port today. I'm a lot further out from my last cancer than you are though. -
Firestorm, I'm so sorry to hear you are in pain. As if you needed one more thing to be burdened by! I'm glad you got a good night's sleep though. Hopefully a few more good nights will help you heal.
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Egads Laura, I do not envy you having to give yourself shots!!! My neulasta will go into my port (along with fluids, etc) and the nurses said that they could leave the needle from my prior day's chemo in my port so that they don't have to 'access' me 2 days in a row. o.O errr ummmm I'm still not sure how I feel about that little tidbit! LOL
Sleeping pills are on board...I'm off for some Zzzzzz
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Laura, I am glad it went well for you too. I am getting ready to go to bed and still feeling pretty good. Some tingling in my feet and hands, but nothing painful. No nausea, but I do take my pills as a measure of precaution.
I was given my Neulasta shot before I letf. I had never heard of it being given the very same day, but they said it was the way they do it. I trust them.
Jojo, good luck tomorrow. Whishing you an easy first treatment.
Firestorm, I hope you get another good night of sleep ;-) Hang in thre, you can do this.
We can all do this! :-D
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Hi everyone, boy I have had a ton of company these last 10 days and to tell you the truth as nice as it was to see everyone I really need some space now...
Leanne Cherioo and Chitown welcome to sept. chemo, Leanne you've been down this road, so you kinda know what to expect. Will you be on different drugs this time? It sure doesn't seem fair that at 31 you have to battle cancer again. We are here for you.
Cherioo I am Sept 5 th, AC. For 4 rounds. Wow Chitown your teens will make you beautiful, it will be a blast.
Neta sounds like your well on your way, hang in there.
Firestorm, hoping things look up for you, 6 hours sleep, let's hope for that again tonight!
Laura, sounds like you are doing well too, Yikes, hope the needle goes in easy!
Camilla hope you continue to have few symptoms...did you ice your nails?
JoJo Good Luck tomorrow!!!
My wig and beanies arrived from Headcovers, I am very happy, I thought the wig would be horrible but I quite like it. I bought 2 McCalls patterns and will be sewing a few scarves for myself. I don't know how often I will wear the wig, but we do get cold winters!
I have bloodwork Friday, a physical with the Onco and then chemo class...did anyone else have a chemo class? I am also doing the feel good look good class on the 10th.
Have a super day girls! -
Amylovesbubby, how is the port going? I went to the library and got a book called The Breast Cancer Husband, by Mark Silver, it is wonderful, my husband decided he wanted to buy it and went to Coles bookstore and bought his own copy.
Amy4978 I start AC on Wednesday so it will be interesting to see what kind of symptoms we have...let's hope for none! Looks like you will be on Herceptin too.
Okay how do you get the avatar up? -
Hello Ladies...
Seems a few of us are on the same regiment FUN FUN!!! Okay maybe not.. but at least we can do it together lol... I am not to happy about losing my hair
but I told my hubby tye first sigh of it thinning and its gone. He get the honors of taking it down to a one guard! My hubby and 2 sons are gonna shave bald aswell so I wont feel alone love love love them.. and yes I will post a pic ha!
But all things aside this is setting in real fast that it is reality, first the port came into play and now I have an actual date for chemo its beyond crazy to think at 34 I am doing this... but they say if god leads you to it he will get you thru it.
My father called me this evening and brought tears to my eyes when he told me that he will be paying for all my medical expence up and above insurance.. Such a huge blessing that words can not express...
To Bearcub I think if i remember you just click on your name and it will take you to settings you can then upload a photo from your computer.
For those of you having trouble sleeping melatonin is amazing... and MO approved lol
Off to bed long day and my melatonin is setting in ha! heres to being cancer free by 2013.......
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Hello, everyone! Just popped in to let you know you can all do this. Finished the big chemo in June, on Herceptin til next February. One thing that is very important-drink, drink, drink. Fluids are important, drink a lot before tx, and keep it up after. Day 5 was when things got bad for me, but everyone is different. You will get through this. Much love.
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Cherioo have fun on your getaway with the hubby!!!!!
Jojo...good luck
Camilla im happy everything went well
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Amy4978...im so anxious to get this chemo started but it seem forever i feel that i am not fighting it but im scheduled for my port on the 10th.....to top it all of i have a toothache for 2 days and im going to the dentist today i couldnt sleep all night long...that is so sweet of your father...my father is coming to stay with me for few month since i am his baby...
....its gonna be nice to have him here........My hubby said the will shave his head 2!!! all the hubbies and kids are so supportive!!!!
So i heard that we need to place our nails into ice water prior and after quemo?? any inputs
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About finger and toe nails. I put sheer polish on mine as someone on one of these discussion boards suggested to strengthen them. When I went for my first t/c treatment yesterday, I asked the nurse if she had a system for icing them. She hadn't heard of any. She suggested I could talk to my dr about it and they'd try a few things out if I'd like. This is a big state of the art cancer center. The nurse said in all her years there, she only knows of one person who lost her nails and has never seen anyone icing them during treatment. She said people used to ice their heads to keep from losing all of their hair years ago. It was cold and uncomfortable and helped to save only some hair. However so much hair was usually lost that the leftover stragglers were eventually shaved anyway. I decided to take my chances and do nothing but polish my nails. I'll let you know how it goes. We can do our own little study.
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I was going to ice my nails, but I was so nervous when I got there, my hands were cold and I just couldn't gather up the energy to set the whole thing up... so I passed. I will keep my nails short and hope for the best. My best friend had BC 4 years ago and she had 6 TC. She said her nail got worse with the last 2 treatments, but didn't loose them.
I am doing tired but well this morning. No pain, no nausea and my anxiety/sleeping pills wre great at keeping me asleep.
Thinking of you Jojo, hope you 1st infusion is well underway and going well.
Neta, how are you?
Cheerio, yes, yesterday was a long day at the dr's office with chemo class, question, blood work, infusions. Go there at 9 and left a 2. But it went well. My mom and husband were with me and everyone there was so nice.
Time to get ready for physical therapy (I love that, I basically get massaged for an hour, LOL!).
Thinking of you ladies :-)
Breacub, chemo class was a breaze. Not much I didn't know. Lasted about 20 minutes.
Patricia, good luck at te dentist. Great idea to have that looked at before chemo starts.
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I have to say I agree with Laura g I am at a comprehensice breast center its the only on in west michigan and I have never heard of icing your nails I have read that it may make them turn a darker color but nothing about falling off.. hmmm I can ask when I go back Tuesday for my mugga scan.
I did have the nurse talk about wearing the cold caps for the hair and she said chemo makes the hair folics open and that is why we loose our hair and that people thought the cold caps would constrict them back smaller but it never really works ...
So I am just gonna roll with it and rock the bald look lol. I do however like to get my nails done with acrilic and plan to keep doing that I am gonna keep some of my femininity right?
Patricia best to get that toothache taken care of right now b4 you start chemo.. So happy your dads coming its nice to have the support! I to am my dads baby so fully understand. If your hubby shaves his head I wanna see pics. I plan to change my avatar to a pic of all of us bald...
Bearcub Yes maam I have to be on herceptin too! and Yes lets hope for no side effects..
Laura G let me know how the shot goes... I live 45 miles from the cancer center so we discussed doing it at home since they want me to do chemo and then drive back the next day to get a shot.. also do you know if I will have to take the shot even when they change my chemo to taxol? Oh and do you inject it into the port?
Enjoy your day Ladies Bright blue skies here in Michigan!
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I have a question and I think I might be crazy....
I had my port put in on tuesday and it went well but ever since I feel like I have something in my lower throat.. not sure if its all in my head or if its related kinda even feels strange when I swallow not like a hurt or soar throat but just strange..
SO my question is am I crazy or have any of you had anything similar....
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Amy, if you were put out for the placement, (I was) you had a tube down your throat, question answered. If not, sorry don't know.
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Amy, I don't have a port. It doesn't look like I'll need one for just four rounds of t/c. My cancer is triple negative so I won't be on taxol, herceptin or anything besides t/c and radiation. I'm also scheduled to get my neulasta shot 24 hours after each chemo. My biggest concern with the shot was accidentally pushing it in too deeply. The needle is short, only about 1/2 inch. So there's no chance of going too deep and hitting muscle. I’ve always been fine with needles and I’m not easily squeamish. I figured diabetics have to do this sort of thing all the time. If they can do it, I can. And I did. No problem!
Still feeling pretty good day after t/c. I needed xanax and ambien to sleep last night. I held out on the ambien until about 1:30am. I slept straight through to 8:30am after I took it. So glad I could skip work today. After taking this morning’s steroids, I feel kind of normal. No need for nausea meds. I’m not that hungry though. My favorite breakfast didn’t taste all that great. I usually like my food! I’m thirsty and drinking lots of water and a ½ bottle of gatorade that I had on hand. Walked about a mile today. Took an alieve just before giving myself the shot, just in case of side effects. Hoping the neulasta won’t leave me too achy. I’ll let you know.
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Amy, I don't have a port. It doesn't look like I'll need one for just four rounds of t/c. My cancer is triple negative so I won't be on taxol, herceptin or anything besides t/c and radiation. I'm also scheduled to get my neulasta shot 24 hours after each chemo. My biggest concern with the shot was accidentally pushing it in too deeply. The needle is short, only about 1/2 inch. So there's no chance of going too deep and hitting muscle. I’ve always been fine with needles and I’m not easily squeamish. I figured diabetics have to do this sort of thing all the time. If they can do it, I can. And I did. No problem!
Still feeling pretty good day after t/c. I needed xanax and ambien to sleep last night. I held out on the ambien until about 1:30am. I slept straight through to 8:30am after I took it. So glad I could skip work today. After taking this morning’s steroids, I feel kind of normal. No need for nausea meds. I’m not that hungry though. My favorite breakfast didn’t taste all that great. I usually like my food! I’m thirsty and drinking lots of water and a ½ bottle of gatorade that I had on hand. Walked about a mile today. Took an alieve just before giving myself the shot, just in case of side effects. Hoping the neulasta won’t leave me too achy. I’ll let you know.
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I took Claritan, not claritanD. I would take it the day of and for at least three days. I took it for five. I didn't the first tme, big mistake. Lots of pain. Not fun. Also day 3 is surprising, and day 5 I got diarrhea. You will find your rhythm. Much love.
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I had a consious sedation so no tube but this feeling is so irritating.. gonna call the docs nurse.
Laura G I am okay with needles to so figured if I can save myself the 80 miles round trip the day after chemo I will. Just waiting on the perscription insurance to call me back and see if I can afford the cost since they charge more when you do it yourself. Dumb as hell since less people will be involved @ie nurses and what not!
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Yeah, I hear the shot is expensive. It was delivered to my door on Tuesday and only cost me $35. Same as my copay to the doctor if I would have gone there to get it. My insurance out of pocket expenses have already been maxed so I'm good through the end of June. It's all free sailing for me until then. I hope it won't be too costly for you. That's a lot of driving to do when you may not be at your best.
Moonflwr, were you taking claritan for the nuelasta side effects?
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Laura and Amy......I heard shot is $3,000-9,000!!!!! I don't have insurance, so much added stress
I have been trying to do a lot of stuff with my son since I start chemo on Tuesday. Hoping for minimal se 's. My port is still causing a weird feeling, nurse said a couple more weeks! Getting pretty nervous now.....time for anxiety pills? -
Hi ladies,
Just wanted to pop in and wish everyone who is having their first chemo luck and hoping that those of you who just had yours get by with a minimum of side effects.
My first chemo (TC) was Friday last week and today was different. Not so achy anymore but a bad headache all day. Still feeling weak. Hoping tomorrow I'll feel stronger.
Here are my two cent. Take your antinausea meds and steroids exactly as prescribed. Drink lots and lots, the day before, the day of and after. Eat something with bread and protein (not fat) a few hours before your treatment. It helps ward off the nausea if your stomach isn't empty going into the chemo. Then keep nibbling bland foods for the next few days. It helps. I took Clarityn the day of the Neulasta shot and 2 days after. I did have some pain but maybe it would have been worse without it. The Neulasta needle is tiny, but I've asked DH to have the nurse show him how to. Here in Ontario the home care nurses do it and they will come until I'm comfortable doing it. Btw I didnt have insurance to cover Neulasta, and it costs $2700 / shot! The manufacturer has a program called the Victory Program that covered half the cost but still!
Good luck everyone. You CAN do this! You are all in my prayers. Xo -
Yes, Claritan was for Nuelasta shot. I found that by the day after tx, everything tasted bad. Bland was good, mashed potato, plain noodles, and mild cheese. I drank weak, unsweetened ice tea by the gallon. Anything red, like spaghetti, or chili was bad. Of course when your white counts are low, you can't eat anything that can't be peeled like like salad, or washed at home, ie, no fruit or salad bars. Not fun but you can do it. Much love.
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Hi there,
I just wanted to pop in and say hi...I'm starting chemo on Friday 9/7. I'll be getting taxol and herceptin weekly for 12 weeks. The PA thinks I can get by without a port...we'll see! I'm hydrating like crazy and doing exercises with the squeezy things.
I hope you all are doing as well as possible, and have a relaxing holiday weekend! -
Good evenning everyone....i hope everyone is feeling better with their treatment...well no wonder i was misarable with my toothache....it had to be removed.....went it rains it pours.....so tired and droozy but at least trying to get everything out the way before chemo.....ladies i dont even know what to tell everyone cause some of you have already started and im still waiting for my port ....whats MUGGA and when are you suppost to use claritin ...will the onco tell you when to use it??...im so lost .....am i not doing my research correctly or i need to wait for it until my class that is the 5th of September????...
I dont even know what to buy to eat anymore im getting anxious, cause i feel that im not eating correctly....
Well i hope Jojo everything went easy on you
I saw a webpage for turbans which i think they are cute... www.headcovers.com i have order some turbans!!! cant wait for them to arrived
Also i wanted to upload some pic so you guys can see the wigs and the scarf that i will be "rocking" i just donk know how to upload images...how about you guys i wanna see the avatar look....i wanna get it !!tooo!!!!!
I hope everyone can enjoy their holiday with the family!!!!!
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Hello sister! I did it. here is my rundown of the experience (so far): first up was the port connection and blood draw. the stick to the port felt the same as the arm but once in i felt nothing. I already like the port better! I waited bout 20 min for lab results which were fine. Then I went to a private room area and they hooked me to the iv. I then took my steriods orally and got Emend via the iv. I felt the Emend made me a little sleepy which was fine. That took about 30 minutes then THE RED MONSTER! They did what she called "pushing it" which means not a drip but via a syringe. She started slowly and waited to see how i felt. Honestly I felt nothing! Got 2 big syringes of the A. Once finished she went straight to the C which is a drip. I felt a slight flushing sensation with that but not bad. Once done I rested and could leave. I ate a lite breakfast before and drank ice water the entire time. Since the treatment, I have had a slight headache and a general groggy feeling but nothing bad. Will take my nausea pill before bed, if i can sleep. The steroids will most likely hinder that. I hope that calms those coming up soon. As we have all read by now, it was really not as bad as I had worked myself up for. Now the next few days, who knows but hoping for the best. Hugs to all my friends here! You are all in my thoughts and prayers
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Amy - my neck and throat felt the same for a few days...it passed
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