Starting chemo November 2012

Junebug - I'm happy to hear you've got that Holiday Cheer!!!  Enjoy your trees..

I think I love day 10! I feel great and I am thinking maybe I can do this again on Monday 😃going to try to live normal for the next few days!



Those of you who are working, do you take days off after your treatment? How do you balance the days you work with the days you need to take off? I am currently on short term disability and I'm trying to determine when to go back to work...if my WBC drop to zero each time my MO my not let me go back until I finish my A/C cycle... I am single and have no one else to help financially. Any words of wisdom?



Seize the day!

Dakota, if you started chemo on the 8th, how are you getting 2nd treatment on the 21st?  I thought yours was like mine 21 days...  I started the 6th and get 2nd on the 27th...

Welcome mad hatter -

I was nervous about the shot also had my first one last week. It wasn't too bad. Good luck!!! Keep us posted. We r here for ya!!!

Welcome Mad Hatter!  Cancer & the related treatments are protected under the American with Disabilities Act.  I believe that they have to work with you to allow you time off to go to treatment, doctor visits, etc.    

go to the eeoc's website - www.eeoc.gov/facts/cancer.html

TriciaM Thank you for the service it is the whole famliy that servce....

Yes my doc's want me on all that stuff we bumbed up some of them too.  My calcium levels are always low and so is Iron.  I am board line infusions, anyway I have to be very careful with what I do for eating habits to make sure I eat well balanced.  I try to explain to people it isn't that I don't eat sweets because trust me I do I just eat a piece of fruit pie or sorbet or something like that instead of 6 oreo's.  Now when we take the boat out and are sitting on an Island in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico U can trust I have a Beer in my hand and will grab some junk food that is laying around.  I am lucking enough that we have friends that eat all the same way so there is all so veggies and hummas and other things but after beer i don't know does it really matter.  

Junebug

I itch from all pain meds tape and so on.... It drives me crazy and yes I can say my skin worse from Chemo.  As the week has turned into almost 2 my skin is what is showing the signs.  It first started in my finger tips.  I have the tape on from my port placement that will not let go.  It is day 9 I will beg my husband to remove it tonight as it is getting red under it.  He will tell me know that it will fall off.  The round and round of living with someone in the medical field if he just new less. 

Madhatter

Welcome Junebug is right There leave for this and for our family to be able to take time off the sad thing is they don't have to pay you but SS or other areas may be able to help with this part. 

We are all here for you I hope you have great results.

Sfrey

I am glad U are great I am on day 8 and I had very little down time.  I also work from home with my own CO's  one I can do what I want when I want.  I take clients as I want to.  I Advocate for special needs children.  So I have not been taking many of those case where I have to go into IEP's  The other A friend and I hold events for Non Profits.  Are next one is in March called Perdido SpringFest it is a Fair and the profit goes to 4H.  I am lucky in regards to this expext when I don't work the CO doesn't make money and neather does the NON profits.  I am also not taking the shot I asked and my doc said he is giving me everything I need at the time of the infuision.  I feel great and full of energy no bathroom issues eating and sleeping.  So I am happy at this point.  I didn't like the feeling the night of my chemo steriods were strong.

Elini this is what we were told,  at first when the studies came out they gave it to everyone.   Recently they have done new research (that husband has reviewed we never just trust) that has found that depent on your age type and stage it is not needed as I am pre MP so for me this drug is not needed.  It will not make a difference in my long term life.  I am going to a comprehensive cancer center for my treatments and they said that they have gotten so good with the dosing the WB never get that low also the numbing and things you shouldn't be having this as your feeling may never come back.  I asked about fresh fruits vegs med rare steak and I was told go for it.  No raw fish until right before next treatment....  I have felt great.  I wish I wasn't working so much.  I hope this helps.  There are protacals for the phycians to follow the problem is that such as my old FP they don't all keep up and we are all subjet to them being at the top of their game 110% of the time.  I also that just as their are great  managers, teachers so on there are great medical providers.  We have hundreds of jokes and with my health issues I have been subject to plenty of bad providers.  We count our losses and move on.

Now I'm wondering why do I need a port, I'm only getting 4 treatments, why am I receiving chemo, neulesta, 30+ radiations; then 5 years of hormone blocker therapy!!!  I am already post menopausal and have some bone loss, and my birth certificate shows that I'm 65 years (I just don't want to believe anything anymore )

ER+ >90 PR+>90  Ki67 >20%   Doc addedchemo based on ONCO score of 34%.

What the heck, does this sound right? 

Nana two-



Welcome !!!



Tricia-



I got chemo based on my oncotype also. Pre- menapausal.

Hello ladies,

I just made it! Starting chemo on Nov. 27  I've read through several posts here and it sounds like I've got a bit to learn. Just did my echocardiogram today, pet scan and fill on the 20th, port placement on the 23rd, port ed./flush on the 26th and then chemo the 27th.

I'm also trying to figure out some of the abreviations in this section.. SE?..

I read in a previous msg about bone pain, is this normal? Just wondering since Dr. didn't mention it..

-hugs to you all

Jenifer

Jenifer SE is side effects. If you go to the JUST DIAGNOSED thread, there is a list of abbreviations.



I guess a lot of things cause bone pain, Neulasta, arimidex, for two. Claritin really helps to take the edge off the bone pain. You can go to the dollar stores and get Loratidine. It's the generic for Claritin. The only difference is about $15 in price.



Blessings

Paula

Hi everyone,

I am new to this - a Canadian living/working in a 3rd world country, but being treated in Singapore (easier than being sent home by my employer, it would cost them more). I'm on the cancer whirlwind tour - was diagnosed Oct 21, had surgery in Singapore 4 days later, and three weeks later on Nov 14th I had my 1st chemo (TC). I am supposed to rally forth and get on a plane this afternoon and fly home (3 hour flight). I have three small children, so am anxious to get back home after 3 plus weeks away from them. And be in my own bed. Tomorrow is my first neupogen shot, so want to be home instead of at my sister's house. Interestingly, they are only telling me take 4 shots of neupogen, so hopefully it does the trick and I won't need more. Since I have to fly back to Singapore each chemo, it will really suck to arrive and be told my counts aren't high enough.

Good luck to everyone else out there starting, or in right in it now.

Tricia - I think you are having chemo because you are a stage 3 which is the most aggressive kind of cancer cells. I am surprized that you have a port considering you are only having 4 treatments though. I am having a total of 8 treatments and have no port!!

I have osteoporosis and the oncologist didn't think this was a factor in getting the chemotherapy - although I have read that the corticosteroids are hard on the bones. 

I have considered refusing the chemo, but because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, I think it is the best option. I will also have all of the radiation. 

Hang in there - lots of women have done it before and we can do it too!!

txjunebug - good luck tomorrow. Be sure to tell us all about it.