Starting Chemo October 2012

Well its 230AM here on the Mississippi coast and Im wide awake....been so since before 1. Blah. I think I might see a nap in my plans for the day today.



To you pregnant ladies, my heart aches for you. I cannot imagine having to deal with this shit while being pregnant. You're suppose to be enjoying these 40 weeks while creating life not dealing with a BC roller coaster ride AND You're not allowed to be on roller coasters in your condition!! 😜



Hoping you all have minimal SE's today and can have a good day while being positive. (((((Hugs))))) to you all. 💪 Here's some muscle too. 💘

Best of luck to all the amazing October 2012 women! You are an inspiration! I am hoping chemo will start today. Still have oozing blister - worse after PT session yesterday - and hoping it doesn't slow things down. I'm definitely ready to rock and roll and get this show on the road!

As unfortunate of a situation as we're all in here, I also find comfort in hearing other's experiences with chemo. Most of my anxiety comes from the unknown.



Doing my sentinel lymphnode biopsy this morning and getting the results on chemo day one next week, which got moved to Wednesday.



I feel the need to complain a lot about doing this with two little kids, but I couldn't imagine dealing with cancer/chemo while pregnant. You both sound like you're doing an amazing job doing what you have to in order to be there in the long run for your families!



My heart goes out to all on this journey.

I can't imagine dealing with all of this and a pregnancy or newborn. You ladies are so strong ... Gonna be good mommies for sure 💕

Hi Ladies,

Hope you are all doing well

A big Salute to Marlene18 and fight4two, I wish you all the strength to go over your treatment pretty quickly and start enjoying your little ones.

I have a 9mo old baby and he is the world, my real motive to beat this disease and be there for him as long as I possible

I am day 2 post TCH and all is well. I was more active yesterday, and ended up in office in the afternoon to finish some work, everyone was shocked!   

Today, I am taking it easy, I feel little dizzy nothing more but still able to work from home

Good luck to you all

Just had my first round of AC today -- so glad to get that under my belt!  The only real issue is a horrible headache.  I took three Advil, but it's not touching it. The nurse said they can slow down the Cytoxin next time to help with that.  Anyone else having headaches from the Cytoxin?

Doing four rounds of AC every three weeks followed by 12 weeks of Taxotere every week.  So one down, 15 to go!  Then rads.  The fun is just beginning  

My nurse navigator told me to try taking claritin and that a number of her patients have good results with the claritin and neulasta. I'm going to try it, for sure.



Can't wait to get my first AC over with next

Hi all,

Just back from my first TC infusion. DH and I were the life of the party in the infusion suite with our cold caps! Every nurse in the place came in to see and watch the 'changing of the caps'. They were all wonderfully supportive and kept me supplied with warm blankets. The benadry made me sleepy but they assured me that it would likely wear off just in time for the dexamethasone to keep me awake all night:-) 

 Feeling fine at this point. They encouraged me to take compazine this evening. Will take Claritin in the AM before Neulasta later in the day.

 Hugs to all!

Hope the following info helps with the taking of regular Claritin to help with the Neulasta/Neupogen bone pain.

FOR THOSE GETTING A NEULASTA SHOT AFTER YOUR ROUND OF CHEMO:  You may want to try taking regular 24 hour Claritin to help with the bone pain that may accompany the Neulasta shot.  There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating Claritin to prevent the bone pain.  Here is the link:  (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NC...)

According to the clinical trial, one takes the Claritin (10 mg) once a day for 7 days beginning the day of the Neulasta treatment.

I had my first Neulasta shot after my 3rd round of Cytoxan/Taxotere and took the Claritin in the morning before I had my afternoon Neulasta shot.  I took the Claritin for 9 days in total.  I did not experience any bone pain; however I did still had some muscle aches/joint pain which was from my chemo regimen.  The Claritin doesn't help everyone but it is worth a try since from my understanding the bone pain may be intense.  Just remember to ask your onco about trying the Claritin before you take it.  Wishing the best for all.

I go in for my first infusion (TCH) tomorrow morning. A nurse called in a prescription for me to start tonight, DH had to pick it up because I was at work- it's something like Dexamethasone? I read up on it at work, and it sounds kind of scary- I think maybe I'm taking it to prevent nausea? But it sounds like it lowers immunity, etc. I just got home and took the first 2 pills along with some crackers, we'll see how it goes. I am getting so very nervous!!! I feel completely unprepared- even for the simple basic stuff like getting all my stuff together in the morning, eating a good breakfast, and getting my daughter to preschool on time. It's show and tell tomorrow and she hasn't even picked anything to take yet...can you tell I'm just completely freaking out about everything at this point? Lol.

Hope everyone has a good night/day (we've got people from all around the globe!)

Goldfinch don't worry about the Dexamethasone, it should really help you get through. I also have it prescribed along with several other things though not yet filled as still waiting for the chemo date (24th but they are trying for the 15th).

Jennie93, I am with you, would like to just get this show on the road. 

Oh poor Goldfinch! I hope you wake feeling at least a little rested! I packed a "chemo bag" for each treatment (esp. since I go every week).  I put my blanket in there, my Kindle, a word search, water bottles, crackers/snacks etc... This way I can leave it packed & just grab it and go (one less thing to think about).  The dexamethasone is a steroid. It helps with several things, allergic reaction, inflammation, and nausea.  Steroids aren't great for your body, but invaluable in cases like this.  It may make you very awake. The night of treatment my body was tired,but my mind was clicking a mile a minute & I couldn't sleep.  This is what ridergirl is dealing with (yep the dex is the evil-doer)LOL. Everything will be fine tomorrow and the anticipation part will be relieved. Hopefully after this, you'll feel like a pro (is that a good thing? haha), and maybe not feel so harried.

Smali (and anyone else battling headaches)-the biggest key is to DRINK (and not the good kind LOL)!!! With the reading I've done, we should be drinking (at minimum) 2 qts/day.  Caffinated drinks do not count (caffeine is dehydrating).  BE CAREFUL WITH ADVIL/NAPROXEN!! Chemo causes a decrease in your platelets (what helps your blood to clot).  We're at risk for bleeding & taking NSAIDS can compound that.  By all means consult your physician & take their advice, but please check with them before loading up on advil trying to battle headaches (if taken too much-or if you already have hypertension- it can also raise your BP and that in itself can cause a headache as well). Also, if on Taxotere, you can have issues with fluid retention, NSAIDS can add to this also. My MO has told me that I can only use acetaminophen (Tylenol). (sorry-taking of my nursing cap now) hehehe

As for the Claritin...I was told the 7 day regimen as well. I asked my oncology nurse if it would make a difference if I took it daily (I'm allergic to ragweed and it's that lovely time of year) and she said she didn't think it would help or hurt. So, I'm giving it a whirl. It didn't seem to help with my pain...but holy cow Melissa--you jumped to 40!!  I only went from 6 to 10 and felt crappy! I am thinking you should have awesome numbers through this!

Halfcan- I'm glad you are done with number 1!! Yay!  Even though you're urpy (love that--perfect description of how I felt) keep drinking!  I feel like I'm in college yelling....chug, chug, chug.....except it's water! LOL  I hate that you can't get the EMLA! I got it in generic here and it's just prilocaine & lidocaine.  Can they give you anything similar?  Good idea from Poke on the OTC's just check with your doc (like she suggested) to be sure it's ok. I hope you find something so it doesn't smart so much!!

Sorry for rambling ladies....it's 1:30am here and can't sleep.  Today is the day I'm going in for my GI Jane hair-do. (or as they say here in the south...I'm gonna go and get my hair-did)  I know I shouldn't be so silly about it.  It's just hair, I'm losing it because I'm saving my life, and it'll be a remider for those who see me like that to take better care of themselves.....but then again.....my cancer is no longer hidden.  It's no longer private, and everytime my husband or kids look at me, all they'll see is CANCER screaming at them.  Ugghhhh ridiculous to be crying over hair at this time of the morning, but I can't help it. To sit and cry at the hairdressers today is going to be embarrassing.   You are supposed to leave there feeling better about yourself. Everything about this disease is hateful. It takes so much from you....boobs, hair, femeninity, energy, confidence....life.  My husband says he loves me and not my hair....but you always wonder what they really think.  It's kind of like asking if your jeans make you look fat....what are they supposed to say? They lie (at least mine does-God love him) and they say no...you look fine- I love you the way you look. I have serious self esteem issues WITH hair! OK, that's my pity party for the night.  I'll move along. Sorry so long winded! I need to find a job! Oh! I actually may have! I've applied for a phone triage job where I can work from home! It's part time...but I can make my own schedule to a certain extent! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!   I was up front about the BC, but their company states that it specifically helps nurses who are disabled (not that I'm disabled....but any other employer will see me that way) have a job!

I hope everyone is well today! TGIF!!  ~Andrea

Alcb70.... After my first shot my WBC were in the teens then went to 20's then 35 then 40 after my fourth and last one! I only got the neulesta after the AC treatment. Once I started taxol they went back to normal range and have been between 7-9 every time. I am on my 8th taxol out of 12. My MO said all my counts have been all in the normal range thru taxol so hoping they stay that way. But I have been feeling pretty normal though and that's why she said she understands why my counts are so great.

I really never packed a bag for chemo. My center serves us breakfast and lunch and has a kitchen with anything u want in it. They give u blankets if u want them but I am a person that is never cold lol. And the have books and magazines too. But I say bring whatever makes you comfortable and helps u get thru the treatment!!

The biggest thing with taxol is neuropathy which I am taking b6 for and it seems to be keeping it away pretty much. And my nails discoloration tenderness. My MO said soak in Epsom salts and use tea tree oil for that. I am just trying to avoid my nails coming off :-(.

Hope everyone in treatment has minimal se's and those waiting, after your first it will get easier :-)