Starting chemo November 2012

Macyhen111-Sorry you have to be here but know this is a very supportive group and we will be holding your hand along this journey. In addition to the steroid, my MO prescribed zofran, ativan, and compazine for nausea. I was only instructed to take the steroid the night before and morning of chemo. Zofran was administered intravenously prior to chemo going in. Will you be seeing your doctor prior to infusion? She or the infusion nurse should be able to instruct you as to when to take the meds. My first tx, I elected to wait and see with the side effects as I was reluctant to put anymore drugs in my system. (I'm over that now-it's chemo-just get me through it comfortably!) Days 2-4 were a little tough as I had bad stomach cramps which prevented me from eating, drinking, or sleeping very well. I had my second treatment yesterday and decided to try to get ahead of the symptoms. Took steroids, zofran, and an ativan before bed. Will most likely continue the zofran throughout today and see how it goes. Has your MO prescribed neulasta or neupogen shots? Taking non-drowsy 24 hour Claritin before and while doing the shots will help with bones aches.

Keetmom and Maryhall-Hope your day goes well with minimal SE's. I'm feeling great right now so I might try to run some errands before the SE's hit.

ltmguy-You are awesome! Hope your day goes well! We're thinking of you, Luvbugs, Wendi, Marian, Florida, Jenifer!

Soteria-My MO at UCSF cleared a lot of my supplements, but I understand many others will not. Best to check first. I finally got in to see an integrative oncologist at UCSF this Wednesday-have been on his wait list for 2-1/2 months!-so I'm very excited to hear his recommendations.

Txjunebug and Maryah-Tingling and tightness is usually indication hair will be falling out at those spots soon.

Have a great day, Ladies! "I am whole and healing with every breath."

Michelle~I'm glad you're feeling better.



I do plan to stick around. I've learned too much from you girls, and invested too much love for you all to drop out now!



Blessings

Paula

So depressed.....my hair started shedding a couple of days ago but the real falling started yesterday 14 days exactly after first dd of AC. Today if even run my fingers through it I get clumps. I had cut my a few weeks ago from shoulders to a bob hoping it'd help. Also keeping it up in a loose clip so that I'm not tempted to touch. I think I've lost about 30% so far. Is there anything I can do???? Shampoos, herbs, meds, anything??? I'm afraid this will be just as bad as loosing my breast and not being able to finish recon until after chemo. I'm sorry I'm ranting but no one understands and I met with comments lik "it's only hair it'll grow back". NO **** it'll grow back but I want it now! I know I should vain but its so upsetting. A little side note..... This maybe TMI but land hair down there fell out really quick...no waxing is something I can definitely appreciate.

GO girls I put on a cap and tied a scarf o it and have people coming up to me telling me how cute it is we all know it is cold out well in most places so go with it put on a beanie and add tie a thin scarf and call it a fashion statment.... I wish I could add a pic I also bought some caps 7 bucs from walmart with out the hole in the back or buy winter hats.... it all works and looks like u just have short hair.  Buy summer u will have hair.

5LuvBugs- Thank you for your encouragement. I just kep hoping I'd be one of the few that'd get by with minimal hair loss and it doesn't look to be the case. I'm to afraid to as DH to shave I'm afraid it'll make it too real. Yes I'm in denial.



michellej1980- I actually noticed those hairs coming off in abundance before major falling on head. That did bother me as much though bc I've always waxed so its a money saver lol. Although it does server to reinforce what our bodies are going through.



Also I start my period today... It was right on time but I wasn't expecting to have it during chemo. Any thoughts?

Macyhen, you should have had a chemo class by now - it's intimidating but it's things we need to know to keep us infection free, like flushing twice and using that hand sanitizer, when your most at risk, etc. it also prepares you for what may happen. There is a small link on this website you can check it out. When you go to the doctor make sure your husband or daughter take a notebook and write down what was said and any questions you have. That's what I do and I go back and read them time after time - it's important.   Listen, we are all here for you so come back with questions. 

One big hint for everyone.  Prevent mouth sores, don't forget the baking soda water rinse day of chemo and a few days after. (2tbsp baking soda, 1 quart/or liter water, swish 4 x a day.  It will help us. 

Michelle, I haven't lost any hairs "down below yet" but I guess that's next including my eyelashes and eyebrows, yikes....as I said before I already look like my grandmother and she died in 1984!!!!

L, I didn't shave my head, husband was against it - who know maybe I'll get left with a few stray hairs...I was thinking it might be more itchy if I shaved it so I'll just "let it fly"  Chin up girl, were in this together  SMILE

Tina-Welcome! Where are you getting tx? I'm at UCSF.

Macyhen-Taking notes is a great idea. I always understand perfectly when my MO is explaining things to me, then I completely forget everything once I get home! Always helps to have it in writing to refer back to. It's a lot of information to process, but things get easier once you get started.

Although I had no nausea, I took the zofran anyway just to get ahead of the stomach cramps I experienced last go round, and I have felt great all day. Went to lunch with my mom and did a little shopping. So far so good. Gave myself the neupogen shot and hoping the body aches don't hit me like last time. Having a SE-free day! Woohoo! Hope my fellow chemo ladies from yesterday and today are doing just as well.

I posted here early on in the month, but then got caught up in the craziness of doc appointments and trying to figure out my treatment plan.  Looks like I am a December girl too, but you all have way too much fun here so I will continue to follow you all.   I went for a second MO opinion and will begin 6 rounds of TAC beginning on the 13th.  Like a few others on here, I could have started already, but that would have put me at doing round #2 on the 20th, and sick for Christmas.  Bad enough I will be going for cocktail hour on Valentine's day, and my b-day is the next day. 

I'm curious . . . has anyone started loosing eyelashes/brows? Anyone using the Brian Joseph cream and think it may be helping? May be a little early yet to know I guess.  Also maybe too early to see changes in your nails? I just bought a uv light and gel polish and will try doing that to save my nails.  I read someone on another post suggest that.

L421, I am totally with you on people's comments.  The hardest thing for us all is that people on the outside can be sympathetic all they want . . . but they will never really "get it".  This isn't something that goes away after the chemo and when our hair grows back. I'm tired of everyone telling me how strong I am and that I look great.  I just want to say "Well give it about a month".   LOL

For those doing the mouth rinse of baking soda and water, are you also adding salt? I've seen suggestions for doing just the soda/water thing, and others suggesting soda/water/salt. And, are you using filtered water, or that right out of the tap?

And just a tip.  Anyone interested in a free head wrap, check out goodwishesscarves.org. Here is another goodie, check out cleaningforareason.org. In certain areas they offer free house cleaning services. There wasn't a maid service in my area, but one company that works with them has come to clean my carpets for free.  Can't get any better than that when you feel sick and can't clean your house.

Oh, and Tlym thanks for the earlier post with the poem.  I love that! And just when I needed it most. My husband is adamant about needing to not miss more time from work and so won't be going to chemo treatments with me.  Instead I have a girlfriend that has insisted on going to every treatment. I was a little put out thinking that he wasn't showing support, and not that I want him sitting there for half a day with me bored.  But the point is that he should WANT to be there.   Geez, that sounds like a line out of a sitcom.

politicomama, our dx is similar, although I had the full BMX.  My mom was dx at 35 with BC, had BMX, chemo, rads and then mets which eventually took her from us.  I too am BRCA neg.

Sorry for all the additional questions, but for those with expanders I'm just curious if you had them filled to the full potential before chemo. I'm not quite there and wonder whether I should have them completed now. I don't know whether it is necessary or not, as my PS sais I could wait.  But, I don't want my tissue/muscle to not accept bigger squishies when the time comes. We will have to take down one side for rads after chemo.  I have an appt with the PS Thurs. I guess I can see what he says, but I didn't want to take more time off work to go there if I don't need to.  I've had to miss so much work between surgery and all the appointments.  And my boss just keeps laying on the work and increased responsibilities as though nothing is going on.  Ugh! I know that FMLA will protect my job to an extent.  But I'm afraid that if I lay it all down and tell her I can't take on more because of what is going on that it can backfire on me and turn out to be that my performance is an issue.  I think they can fire you for those grounds regardless of what is going on health wise.  Not that she is vendictive, I'm just saying.

I shouldn't stay away for so long.  Looks like I really needed to vent. 

Skimommi- I am at day 25 today. Brows still same, lashes thinning but still there, armpit hair completely gone  , rest of body hair thinned quite a bit but still holding on (TMI, I know). Hair has thinned some, but it's still a full head of hair because I'm doing cold caps. I am using Latisse, but I'm not sure it will really save my brows. If they go, I'm okay; I'll just draw them in and I hear they come back pretty quickly. Doing cold caps, it's a really long day at the hospital-about 8-9 hours. My husband goes for 1/2 day and my best friend for the other 1/2. I have to admit, it is so much better having my GF there. She just intuitively knows what I need and doesn't get flustered like my DH. I love my DH dearly, but I think it's really hard for him to see me so vulnerable and him not able to remedy the situation. Men need to fix things, right? All of it creates too much anxiety for him, so I find having my GF there so much more soothing.

Welcome newcomers and above somewhere I said that I am on all the fall chemo threads. I don't always post but there is good info and sharing on all. 

Adagio since my chemo was not until 4 PM today we went to your recommended butcher - "Pasture de Plate" and I am back on the beef as of tonight after I don't recall how long. Also got back to 1 tbsp of blackstrap molasses that was recommended on one of these threads ages ago but let it slip. 

Got to yoga today too so these late chemo appts. can be a blessing. 

A/C over and done with - #4 today and Taxol Dec. 11 and yes, Christmas Eve day! Oh well better than in my middle of the cycle when I feel blah! And only steroids IV before chemo and none after. 

So, am feeling good now but expect to have my usual sweats and feeling a bit like a zombie in a few hours though I have never had nausea/vomiting. Emend, dex, Zofran pre chemo.

And thank you all for your thoughts after my sad post yesterday.

Marian

Skimommi - i an doing medium/long wigs..One in my natural brown but with bangs and one with a weave front that i love but in a light golden brown ( hubby's glam pick). By summer i may try a weave front in brown for public events so i look more like the old me. Ha. At home i prefer scarves and hats and i mostly work at home so im lucky. Cant imagine dressing for an office a lot now. whew.

Tlym- i hear you about DH. I resented that mine has to travel so much for work right now - he's missing 3 of my 6 tch rounds- but this came up so suddenly and after the first one with a gf i realized how much more fun it was to have another mom who knows how to care for people and can chill n watch Hallmark movies with me...

Xo

Can't sleep, last night without prechemo steroids so need to but worried about why buzzed hair hasnt fallen out, worried about daughter, worried about outofpocket med expenses starting over in Jan, worried about driving to work in rush hour on steroids, worried about taking xanax to not worry, worried about all those mean bosses and neighbors, just plain worried. Don't wanna do this anymore!

What does miolasses do?

Everyone ok from yesterday?

Will try to sleep more...

Beginning ac chemo today, and I am so scared. I don't want to feel sick. My mo has done or said nothing to prepare me for this. The only thing she told me was that it might affect my heart and I will probably need blood transfusions in the foture. She prescribed zofran and phenagren(sp). Should I take one of them before the appointment at 10:30, if I should which one ? and how much in advance of the chemo should I take it? I am a bundle of nerves right now. Should I take my anxiety meds before the appointment? Please somebody help me!!!!!!