Starting Chemo October 2012

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the newest members of our group (although I'm sorry you've had to join at all).  I am post chemo day 3.....I had Neulasta the day after my chemo.  From what I'm reading....I may need to see about doing it day 3 (thanks Vivian for the heads up!  It is pretty brutal). Holy cow! I woke up yesterday and my neck and shoulders felt like I had rowed a boat across the Atlantic! Today, I still felt sore, and some nausea has set in.  I took some Zofran at lunch to stay ahead of it, and other than a few moments of sweating (I cannot STAND to vomit), I've been ok. Laying down and resting helped. I was out and about all morning and into the afternoon, so it may be because I was too busy.  I've been able to eat ok, just feel like I ate a moose (and I only ate a baked potato). My mouth is a little sore also (but my mouth is VERY sensitive... I get sores really easy & it gets sore w/acidic foods). I've been using Biotene. Very strange also....had a little salad with some french dressing (I thought my usual pomegranate vinegrette may be too much) & it had this oil and sand texture. Wasn't expecting that! ewww!  I've continued to drink, and taking tylenol. Both seems to help.

Halfcan-I hate that you didn't get the full effect of the versed! Yuck!  Going through this, you want things to be as easy as possible & have the least amount of side effect or pain!

Mrscinch- I am glad you're still feeling well! I hope it stays that way!! Keeping my fingers crossed!

 Sere- I was surprised also that they're doing chemo for me 1st. It was a shock. I wondered the exact same thing about staging. I asked the nurse at my MO's office how they stage if they shrink/kill off cells. She said that there are still tumor markers and evidence of the cells in the nodes. I still think I want to know more about that--so I plan to ask my MO directly.

Poke- I'm amazed at how young women are here on this site! I was boo-hooing over my age (42) and to see someone 29 just makes me need to hush. I am glad we can all share our stories! If I hear what others have gone through, I feel a little better about what to expect.

I'll pass on that my new hair came in the mail today! I ordered 2 wigs, a couple hats, and I picked up a pink ribbon scarf at Charming Charlie's (if you have these in your area..you can find cute hats for about $15). I go to my Look Good/Feel Better class Tues.  The wigs look so fake... I really hope I can make it look at least a little realistic. I also made myself a "cancer bag". I got a sparkly pink bag & a pink pill case (along with my scarf) at CC's.  I put my nausea meds and tylenol in the pink pill case (I have a purple one for my back meds), my mask (I bought surgical masks to have on hand in case I get stuck out in public with people hacking & snotting everywhere (since cold/flu season is coming), my hand sanitizer, lip balm, and crackers in it. I carry bigger purses & I made a "chemo" bag. I thought I could carry this back and forth between bags & if I needed something quickly out of it, my husband would recognize it. My chemo bag has my kindle, water, crackers, fluffy socks, magazine, a blanket, word search....etc.  Just thought I'd pass that on if it helps. I hope everyone is well and having a good weekend! Take Carel!!   ~Andrea

I was told the same about Claritin. I started it on Monday (chemo started Wed.), and have taken it every night.  I can't imagine it's helping much....although.....if it is, I'd hate to see how I'd feel without it.   Worth trying though! I'll keep with it just to be sure.

good luck all you guys. you sound like a great group!!! hang in there together. i am usually on a different thread, but i want to encourage you all. had a double mastectomy done almost 12 years ago with chemo and i am still living a very full life. my daughter was 10 when i started my journey and now tomorrow we r going to look for wedding dresses. there is like with cancer. keep going strong and enjoy all your moments. you will have ups and downs, just keep your eyes on those ups..   hugs to all !!!!!

How thoughtful of the veterans to encourage us newbies. Gave me goosebumps, too.



I don't have any kids and I chose not to go thru egg harvest in the midst of all this, but who knows what the future holds - I'll be 35 once chemo and tamoxifen are over and if it's meant to be, then it will be



I love to hear the good stories and thanks also for the Claritin info. Any moments saved from researching one topic are moments I can spend researching some other topic!

Thanks for the welcome into the thread.



Marian, I had a Bard power port put in. Declined the fentanyl, since it makes me itchy, and it wasn't bad. No worse than having wisdom teeth out. Better, I think, actually. It was nice to be able to up and go once finished.



Andrea, my MO chose to do chemo first because according to her studies have shown no difference in long term prognosis, and they want to wait for genetic testing to come back before deciding on surgery.



I transferred care from a smaller local hospital to a cancer hospital so that's still throwing me off a bit. The differences between treatment plans were vast, though the local hospital didn't have as much of the picture yet.



Susan, it's great to hear from those who have endured this journey. I'll look forward to dress shopping with my daughters someday. :')

halfcan... I am also new to this forum. I start Chemo Oct 2nd. Mamo was neg in April '12, sudden lump increasing in size since end of July. Aggressive tumor..now 8cm in size! Had 2 biopsies lymph node involved..so stage 111. Bone scan O.K  chest x-ray O.K.Will have PICC line inserted sometime...but my med. oncologist is not waiting for this to start my chemo! ES &  PR Positive which I was told (by med. oncologist) is a ''good thing''.A couple of MRI'S to come Tiny ''spot'' on the liver to be checked out...& another. Anxious to get started but afraid of side effects..  Went shoppping yest for my ''wig'' & head coverings...trying to cover all bases.Initial Dx was ''inflammatory br. ca''...but may be ''locally (IDC)  advanced ca'' treatment  would be the same..Will receive 8 chemo (4 +4) one every 3 wks over 24 wks. Then surgery...so they have told me it will be a process that will likely take 12 months!!I meet my Radiation Oncologist on Oct.1st. Good luck to all the ladies starting treatment .

Welcome new ones. Sorry you have to be here but here is the best place for you since we are all going through this together.



Day two after fort chemo infusion and I woke up feeling fine. I do find I'm rather tired come 8pm and the Zofran and chemo combo has stopped me up and I can't get "it" going after 4 days of stool softeners and a Dulcolax before bed. Any ideas? I suffer from IBS so not going has always been a problem but I know how painful it is the longer it waits. Help!

MrsCich - I used dried prunes as well as my laxatives and it worked for me.  I know your pain, tho.  The next chemo I started taking the laxatives right away before I needed them and it seemed to help me avoid the problem.

Ok ladies tomorrow is my BIG day!! First day of chemo!! I was doing good until today and I'm a nervous wreck...went to store for some final things...and am trying to relax but my mind is running a million miles a minute. I'm ready but scared!! The unknown I guess....hope everyone else is doing well!

My thoughts are with you!!

The5owens, take a deep breath. I was nervous Thursday (Friday was my first chemo). Once you're in there getting it done, you'll wonder why you were so nervous. At least I did. Granted your getting AC, right? I got TC.



I'm hoping the best for you and wear big pockets because we'll all be there with you. Keep us posted!!!

The5owens...please just breathe! I took a long hot bath with my favorite bath salts & had xanax I could utilize. I hope all goes well for you! Anticipation is the worst! I can understand the nerves, but it was ok for me. I'm so grateful for the pre-meds....they help a lot. I am post-chemo day 4 & I'm feeling better. I slept through my first chemo round! My fingers will be crossed for you & those getting ready to start. Melrose- Thanks for the research! I was hoping that the claritin would help, but not surprised it didn't help me much. I have a lot of autoimmune issues & it doesn't help much with my allergies at all. Hmmm...I use allegra...wonder if that would help? Susan- Thanks for your positive words! My daughter is engaged & one of the first things I thought of was not being there at her wedding. I am inspired by your success! Lou-good luck on Tues & I pray that those tiny spots are absolutely nothing! Marian-I'm glad you had the race to distract you. I'm walking in the Strides Againtst Breast Cancer walk Sunday. It'll be great to see all the women who have conquered this! I just hope my out of shape butt can make it! Hope everyone is well today!

Alcb, how are you feeling? I'm post chemo 2 days.

Smali, I am 33 with 4 kids (15,13, 7, & 4). I don't have to do radiation or Adriamycin. Thankfully.



Good luck Oct 4. We'll be there with you.



I get my first TE fill tomorrow. DON'T KNOW IF IM NERVOUS OR EXCITED. LOL

Celineflower~

please join us!!! We are glad to have you!! How are you feeling? What treatments are you doing?



Welcome to our group!!

the5owens - The anticipation is definitely the worst.  I found the first chemo the hardest because I didn't know exactly what was happening and how long it would go on for.  Once the first one was done, the rest were easier by just knowing what to expect.  For me the worst symptoms lasted about a week.