Starting Chemo October 2012

Poke - So sorry that you are in the hospital  Hope that they can get everything adjusted and fixed so that you can leave quickly! 

Sonson - Miralax is great, and you can take Colace with it as well.  For other regular stomach issues, I take miralax as needed, but take Magnesium every day as well.  So, a low dose magnesium might be helpful to you also.  None of those 3 things cause cramping by themselves or together that I have found.  Hope that some of this helps!

I went back to the plastic surgeon, and thankfully, he thought the infrection was just about gone and was doing better than expected. As long as things don't take a turn for the worse, he cleared me to go ahead with chemo next week.  That was a pleasant surprise.    My hair has been steadily coming out yesterday & today, but thankfully, it was like extreme shedding.  Only in the last couple of hours have I had true bald spots.  I'm going to have someone come over and shave the last of it in a little bit.  I've done fine with it coming out,but I'm a little worried I might lose it with the clippers. 

nbnotes, your story makes me anxious!  Was there something in your blood work that caused your doctor to do the scans even with your Stage 1a? 

Nbnotes, i am hearing this for the first time and I started to get anxious too, was there any signs that the cancer spread to liver?

PatinNM & Abby20- My bloodwork & liver enzymes were all fine, and I wasn't having any other symptoms. My margins and nodes were both clear, but it goes to the liver through the blood stream.  She just wanted to make sure she had the whole picture before we started chemo.  There were 7-10 spots on both sides of my liver with one being 5.6 cm (3x the size of the ones in my breast). I just feel like I lucked out with a great doctor so that we know they are there.  Even my MO said it isn't the standard protocol to do the scans for stage 1, but she takes a better safe than sorry approach.  My insurance paid for it without a problem.

I do apologize for becoming one of those old-timey walking/talking billboards for PETscans, but I just can't help myself now.  

argharzdfasdfahdrawerohasroaishfad;ghabnaeo;riawe[r!!!  First AC infusion at 2:00 PM today and that is how I am feeling + tired from not sleeping.  Tried to stay away from boards when the rough SE's starting pouring in, but was reading them at 4:00 AM as I finally figured there's no turning back now.  Hope everyone has a good day today!  Poke I hope that your meds get you over this hump and feeling better quickly!

Hi everyone! Poke--I hope you're discharged quickly & get to feeling better!  I sure hope this new med does a lot better!! Keep us posted! Abby- I agree that PET scans are SO important! There's no reason NOT to do one...cancer is sneaky and whether you're a stage I or III....it should be checked. I hate that you have mets! It's what we all fear! I sure hope that since they know about it now (thank goodness), that they are able to get on top of it and get rid of it! Tori- just FYI....my hair REALLY started coming out in the last few days....ended up shaving it down yesterday. Can't even remember what day I'm at....but had my 2nd tx last Thurs.  Well, herceptin is done...so I'm outta here. Feeling sluggish today, but no zofran so far (yay!). Hope everyone is feeling well! And I hope that those who are starting or going for round two...you have no se's!!! Hope all that were feeling crummy are starting to pull out of it! Keeping my fingers crossed for myself...day 6 whew!  

Abby - sadly, I think that it is a cost issue.  I live in the NY NJ metro area and have a top notch MO who I specifically questioned about this topic.  In this area, PET scans are no longer ordered unless speciific reason for one is identified. They "wait" for you to be symptomatic somewhere and then prescribe tests accordingly - i.e. if you get dizzy or pass out, a brain MRI will be prescribed - back pain - x-ray to check bones, etc.  What a great comfort level for a cancer patient - the "wait and see" method!  But like, with everything else, we know what the squeaky wheel gets - so if something doesn't seem or feel right to you, don't ask..........DEMAND.........and don't stop till you get what you want/need.  

Yeah it's been heartbreaking to read what a hard time some ladies are having but, fastforward, I've been one of the lucky ones with very few SEs. I took my decadron for first 4 days after AC round 1 and was easily back at work the next day (day 5) and really, I probably could have gone in a few days earlier but I was being extra cautious about taking good care of myself. I'm at day 10 now and I just have some fatigue but that could be attributable to me being six months pregnant... Just drink, drink, drink those first few days and hopefully you'll luck out too!

Hi Ladies,

A colleague mentioned some interesting preliminary work done on the impact of fasting prior to chemotherapy for breast cancer. This is not something that's ready for prime time but the animal evidence is pretty fascinating. I may talk to my MO about it.

Here's the article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fasting-might-boost-chemo

Ok so yesterday when I got out of the shower I had this weird mark on my poor girl (lumpectomy breast) -- it looks almost like a bite mark (really I'm not kidding). And it's gotten more itchy over the last day. It's not near my port or my radiation site or my surgery site. But definitely looks irritated. Wondering if maybe a delayed reaction to tape from port or... Heck I don't know. So itchy though.

Day 1 after the second session, no more hair all fallen down in the morning shower. It is sad to see it all down the drain. i have already put my wig on



Hope everyone is doing well today

Day 8 post first chemo and am feeling better.  Hands hurt, mouth hurts, food is starting to taste funny, my head is itching and today while washing hair noticed that scalp is getting tender.  But the evil headache and the body aches are pretty much gone, not so tired, and I never did get any of the "big bad" SEs like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.  I realize they might not all go this well, but so far so good!  Hang in there everyone, we will get through this!

I did have a PET scan before my surgery.  I had the feeling that was pretty standard procedure around here.

Trying to come to terms with the imminent hair loss.  My head knows it's inevitable, but my heart hasn't quite accepted it yet.

My onc folks said to massage fingers with coconut oil - they're not sure whether it's the oil or the massage but anecdotal evidence that it can help.

marlene, good for you! I doubt I could have gone back to work and I am not pregnant. S/E other than diarrhea not much - tired but not bad.

halfcan, hope your #2 went well today and that Neupogen helps with the mouth too. I have not had any noticeable S/E from Neupogen, and #5 tonight. Knock on wood, maybe just lucky. #2 is Tuesday for me.

Marian