Starting Chemo February 2013

Hello J Keller

I'm not starting chemo in February 2013 but I did go through eight rounds of chemo in 2012, starting in March (4 x FEC and 4 x Taxotere).

As you can read, I am alive and kicking. Some people have no or few side-effects, others have more. It may be daunting but it is doable.

I'm the biggest wuss around but if I can do it, anyone can do it!

Best wishes and good luck

Alice

Thank you ladies. I am nervous and woke up crying last night, fearful of 'triple negative' wondering why? Isn't it enough to have bc?

Tomorrow I will try and bravely walk into my hospital and welcome the treatment that will help me save my life. I will welcome all the help of those wonderful people who will be my caregivers, knowing I need their help and expertise. This is something I am not use to-having always been very independent emotionally. I also need and welcome all your positive thoughts and will return when your time comes, good night everyone, Shari

Hi Feb Chemo Friends.  I had lumpie removed Jan 18th (woo hoo) along with ax nodes- drain was removed today!!!  I should be starting chemo by mid-Feb.  I am 40 with no exisiting health issues so i anticiapte (and want) a long, nasty-as-they-can-throw-at-me round of chemo.  With lumpie and the nodes out i consider myself cancer-free (fu bc!!!).  Now we just have to anhiliate any stray cells (i call them insurgents) with chemical and radiological warfare.  Bring on the chemo!  We WILL survive...but we'll also take all the help, love, info and encouragement that the chemo-veterans (and everyone else) can throw our way.  I've been lurking on the January chemo thread- those ladies are a wealth of info, humour and spirit.  Onwards and upwards, ladies!

Hi everyone, thought I would give a quick update. Picc placement was the hardest for me, although it didn't hurt,it just felt very foreign and somewhat uncomfortable. It didn't help that it had to be done two times as my vein kept moving. Of course after he told me he had to do it again, I shed a few tears- but they were so wonderful with me. Chemo was really fine! I wanted to do some meditation but I had so many people talking to me about everything , instructions,side effects, medications,insurance etc. hopefully next time will be a bit calmer. So far side effects are, insomnia (but I really haven't slept well since this started) , a bit of queezieness (which I promptly took anti nausea pill) and a headache. Nothing bad at all. I hope everyone is doing well!

2 stepsons, 12 & 14.  They think the fact that i will have no hair is cool.  No fear, just curiosity and the utter conviction of children that after surgery, chemo & rads, i will be 100%...i LOVE their attitude.  Surgeon just confirmed chemo starts mid-Feb- meet with the MO sometime in the next week.  Got my chemo hats today in the mail (too cute!) got my wig appt (Feb 6th) and got the GREAT news that i am staged as a IIa...i went into surgery knowing i had at least 2 positive nodes...turned out those little beauties (warrior princesses!) did their job and they were only 2 positive nodes of 25!  THANK YOU!  Cat scan came back clear today andn i'm feeling pretty danged fine...we will kick ass, chew bubble gum and ladies, i am all out of bubble gum!  Onwards and upwards! 

Shannon

Hi Everyone! I will be joining this group - going to have 4 treatments 3 weeks apart.. will be meeting with the nurses for consultation and instructions on Monday ..and then will start mid-Feb..I seriously just want treatment over with

I am leaving in one hour to get my port, tomorrow a heart test and I start Chemo Feb 1st. Of course I am SCARED to death but its not forever. I will be doing 6 rounds taking 18 weeks. Not looking forward to the hair loss as hair is my world. I am a hairdresser so that part wont be fun. I ordered a wig and it came in the wrong color so hopefully the next one will come soon and be the right color. Im hoping to go back to work in a few weeks, but right now that seems so unreal with the limit of arm movement I have. I pray every day this year goes by fast for me and for all of us!!

Hello! Just found out today that I'm starting chemo next Tuesday - Feb. 5.

Had hoped to do the I-SPY2TRIAL, but tissue samples didn't cooperate. So, we're back to standard. TCH for 6 rounds, every three weeks.

Got my port last Thurs. feeling much better now!



I'm 37 -also with two young boys, 7 and almost 5.

Im starting on FEb 5, ACT, dose dense for 4 months

I am getting my port on Friday and I start AC-T for 16 weeks on Feb 5th.

Well I was under the impression that I would not be put out for my port, just sedated. Wrong they highly suggested I be put out. I thought I would be in and out of the hospital in a few hours and was there 6 hours. The side they put the port was VERY sore for the first 24 hours. Just lifting a coffee cup hurt. I will say today is starting to feel better. I have a Mugga scan this morning and I am hoping they dont use the port as I can still feel a bit of soreness. I am hoping by my first Chemo tomorrow it will be Ok to use. I do think I have a low pain tolerance so for me this is probably normal. I am praying I have minimal side effect from Chemo. I have heard many positive stories so I am praying I can in the future be a positive story teller too!!!!

Hi

Hildy910: I will be starting the exact same treatment you did. Next week is my first cycle. Dose dense, 8 weeks of AC (4x2) and then 8 weeks (4x2) of Taxol. I will have a port.

Did you get a scalp protector to wear under your wigs/hats? I love hats but will have one real hair wig. No scarves for me. I have to get on this because my chemo starts next week. Any hair/wig advice would be helpful and where you got your stuff?

How was the chemo for you? I am very worried about it. Thanks!

 ywheels22,  Good luck! It sounds like you are ahead of the game at the outset, from being in good shape. I was 49 at diagnosis, and am a runner/skier/hiker, etc., and I think that it helped that I had good energy to start.   I was just thinking about this, as today is the one-year anniversary of my first chemo, and while it is scary to start with, once you get into the routine, it's manageable.  I have a 10 year old and a 12 year old, and for the most part, I was able to shlep them hither and yon per usual, as well as continuing to work. (I work out of my house, which made that much easier.)   

What else? I kept up running and walking, which was hugely important. Even if you totally don't feel like going out for a walk, go anyway.  Also: Lots and lots and lots of water. I am not a big hydrater, but starting the weekend before the next infusion (mine were on Mondays) I would just flood myself. I actually drank a whole lot the entire cycle, just upped the ante prior to that.  

I never got sick, or really felt particularly nauseous, although I did have heartburn and trouble with constipation. If you have a history of that latter problem, best to start treating prior to the infusion. 

As for wigs and stuff, I never wore anything under my wig--for whatever reason, it didn't itch me or bother me very much. I had the one full wig that I got at a local place that specializes in treating women with hair loss for a variety of reasons. I actually went in there right before my hair was scheduled to fall out and had them shave it, as I didn't want to deal with a gradual shedding. It feels so odd and confronting to walk around in a wig those first few weeks, but it passes. 

The other wig I got is what is known as a halo wig;  I think I mentioned before that my daughter gave me her hair, and we sent it here:

http://www.hatswithhair.com/Wig_Made_With_My_Own_Hair1.aspx

Hope that helps! Happy to answer any other questions that may come up.