Sept 2012 chemo

@runnergirl7. Glad you made it through your first treatment. I honestly think the anticipation is worse than the reality. I felt kinda bad the first couple of days, but after that I felt good for the rest of the cycle. Just tired more than anything else.

Ugh Donna you do have the advantage! I couldnt find anything that didnt look like "Barbie" hair for that price!

@Kstillie I think that is an awesome idea. Now's the time to do something with your hair that you never had the nerve to do before. Everyone has told me that a positive attitude goes such a long way toward a good recovery. You sound like you have a great one. Good luck with your first treatment sweetie. Let us know how it goes.

Hi All,

Had my first regimen of TCH today, and I have to say I'm feeling great.  I just hope this continues!!  It did take quite a while...I was at the infusion center for over 8 hrs.  Between the pre-meds (steriods, anti-nausea, benadryl and stomach liner) and the fact that they infused the chemo drugs slowly to watch for any adverse reactions, it took the entire day.  Better slow and cautious.

They were able to access the port without a problem.  I would highly recommend getting the numbing creme, and asking for the freeze spray.  Between the 2 of them, the initial stick wasnt so bad  (I have to admit I was dreading that, especially since the port area is still sore, having just been put in last Thurs.)

I also agree with all those who say that the anticipation is worse than the actual treatment.   My nerves and anxiety were killing me.  I also recommend taking xanax, at least for the first treatment.  It really takes the edge off the anxiety.  When I told the infusion nurse that I had taken xanax, she said she wished all first timers would take it!!   It makes a very stressful situation way more manageble, after all, that is what xanax is for!!.

 Kstillie, I love your shaving your hair and coloring it idea.  I used to have shoulder length blonde hair, and for the past year, I have dyed about a one inch wide portion behind my left ear blue--just because I like it!!  After my cancer diagnosis, I cut my hair short, so it wouldn't annoy me when I was recovering from my bmx, which was done in late July.  My only regret was that I no longer had my blue stripe.  Since I am told I am going to lose my hair, I had 2 wigs made, and asked the wig person for extra hair so that i could dye it blue and add it to the wigs.  (I actually showed her my old hair, which my hair cut person had rubber banded and given to me)  She thought I was crazy, but gave me the extra hair.  I plan on coloring them blue, but not with permanent dye, so that I can change the color to pink in Oct. for breast cancer awareness month.  Since I won't be washing the wigs daily, the dye doesn't have to be permanent!!

Amy4978, what treatment regimen are you on?  We seem to have similar types of markers.

Anyway, good luck to all.  We can do this.  I wish everyone who is starting soon a good day.  It really wasn't bad at all  

Cheryl 

Forgot to mention...

Did the nail icing regimen, to prevent the harsh nail side effects from taxotere, and posted it on the "anyone icing their nails" thread, so if anyone is interested, check it out. 

Welcome Nicky , glad that you found this site like all of us

I wanted to update you all not sure If I did or not between updates on Fb and here I get lost sometimes. But My MRI came back and I am actually classified as a stage 3

So my tumor dimensions are 7.9cm by 6cm by 3cm that translates to 3 inches by 2 inches by 1 inch

Doesnt really matter to much to me cause Im still gonna kick cancers ass!

Oh my goodness Amy. Those are almost my exact same dimensions. I keep saying I have a Twinkie of cancer in my boob. Lol if you can laugh at it.



My MRI also showed 4+ nodes involved. I had one node that was fine-needle aspirated at the time of my biopsy which was malignant, and they aren't even gonna check any of the others. I have to have them all removed at the time of my mastectomy anyway.



No mets detected at this point, but I have two small spots on my lung they are watching (too small to biopsy), and they just found something on my pituitary gland that needs to be investigated further.



I wonder how old all of you are. I turned 40 this year and have 5 children, 2,4,6,8,10.

Amy , great attitude, yes you are kicking cancers ass!!!!! That is exactly how I feel

Aliasismo- One round down, just 3 more to go.  You might try hydrating/increase your fluid intake the day before your next round.  That may help plump up your veins so they are a little easier to access.  I have a port, and really need to have one since my veins just hide and bury themselves in my arms when they hear anyone, especially nurses get near!!!!  Glad you had an easy time in the chair.  Hopefully, you will have minimal side effects!!!

Patriciahurtado- When I first got my port, I swear I could feel parts of it that I didn't think I would feel.  Eventually that feeling has gone away.  If you are unsure about what your feeling, just call and ask if you are supposed to feel what you are feeling.  Never hurts to ask.

Make sure you ask for a prescription for the EMLA cream (lidocaine cream) so you can use it after the port area has healed.  At your first chemo, you may not be able to use the cream since the EMLA cream can't be used on newly sutured areas.  Again, just ask for some numbing spray or have the area iced if you can't use the cream.  If you got a generic EMLA cream prescription, it does not usually come with special Tagaderm coverings.  You can buy some Tagaderm coverings at CVS.  They are a little expensive (8 in a box for $9).  As an alternative, you can place a 4 inch by 4 inch square of plastic wrap or Press N Seal plastic wrap over the circle of EMLA cream.  Just make sure you don't touch that EMLA cream as tempting as it is to use one of your fingers to spread it around on the port area.  You will end up with a numb finger !!!!

Ladies- Wonderful to hear so many of you are getting yourselves prepped and ready to go for your trips through chemoland.  Yes, the American Cancer Society does offer the Look Good Feel Good program.  I had a one on one session during my first chemo.  I received a free makeup bag filled with great cosmetics plus a free wig.  I haven't worn my wig since it has been way too hot to wear it. 

Wishing easy times in the BGC for those starting chemo this week and minimal side effects to all!!!!  

Such great hope and spirit here - I LOVE IT!  Welcome to all that have found us.

The hair loss has begun - not in clumps just a ton a stray hairs EVERYWHERE. 

 I am going for #2 AC tomorrow so will update all on how #2 goes for me. 

Looking into the Look Good Feel Better - there is one I can got to on Sept 24.  Just waiting to see if I can get in. 

Amy - you go girl!  You don't have any node involvement though?   

Melrose is right add prone or also prone juice your constipation also metamucil is great but always remember run it through your onco...and lots of water.......

Runnergirl: im glad that everything is going smooth im trying to get caught up with everyone here ...i lived in Colorado Sprigngs but i love the sun im here in Miami...my mom just arrived from colorado yesterday....i hope that you continue to feel better!!!

Amy4978...i love the smoothie  that you have posted ..i will try it  i usually Juice every more with the ingridients but i add 1/2 beats to it and ginger ..so ill stop the ginger...how you tryied wheatgrass i heard that boost your immune system but it cannot be mix with anything so i feel like a cow drinking it....lol.... Teens are hard to figure them out and even though the mom is not in the picture and im sure he must be scare to think that he might lose his other mom (I have 2 stepkids too dont live with me but and have questions).....my daughter thought that i was already dying with this diagnost but they need to research and we also have to make we resure them and show them we can fight this and we will win......as many of us ladies here have done....

i just wanted to share with you ladies that Kale  also known as borecole , is one of the healthiest vegetable on the palnet. Eating a diet rich in the powerful antioxidant vitaming K can reduce the overall risk of developing or dying from cancer....ladies please do your research...or maybe has anyone else have tried....