Starting Chemo February 2013

jkeller3
i had my port placed today- ugh! Still have quite a bit of tenderness and neck pain.



My first chemo is Monday, a little nervous but also ready to feel like I am moving forward in my treatment.
I just turned 40 and have a 8 and 12 year old.

Thank you all for sharing...I start chemo tomorrow...port placed today...will need Herceptin for a year so got a port...ready to get started...waiting sucks! Never knew I could be so impatient! :-\ hugs to you all.

I have my first treatment tomorrow. I guess I will know pretty soon what side effects I will have too. I'm hoping for none. I have probably set the bar way too high. I am so glad to have this board to come to and read everyone else's post. It will make it all easier to take knowing I'm not alone. I don't have a plan for the hair yet. I'm thinking I will leave it down to the last strand. But who knows, that may change when it starts coming out in clumps. I may take pointers from the men out there and do some fantastic "comb overs" for a while. Seriously though, I'm hoping to get through tomorrow without crying during the treatment.

Good luck to you girls starting tomorrow. I have my second round on Friday. First go 'round, I only had one real rough day. So I hope it's the same or better this time....wishful thinking? Shaved my head today. I probably could have held out a few more days, but it was just coming out in handfuls and I didn't see the point in dragging it out. Went out to eat with my family tonight wearing a cap. I didn't have the nerve to leave the house in my wig. I'll try again tomorrow  I wore it around the house a bit tonight and it feels really weird. I did go buy a couple wig liners from the wig shop because I'm super sensitive and I know it will itch.

Hope you are all feeling well!

Day after port and I am sore too. The doc was really nice but had to push so hard to get the port under the skin. I could feel her pushing hard. She said it was because usually people have more fat there to tuck it into. I said she was welcome to borrow some from my backend because there is no shortage there.



Nervous about getting chemo because I can't use the Elma until it's healed.



How long does it take before you don't notice it anymore?



I have now been assimilated...resistance was futile.

Hi Wildlyshel-

My port was placed during my mastectomy because I'm her2+ and knew I'd be on herceptin for a year regardless of whether I'd need chemo. With the overall surgery recovery, I really never noticed the port very much. And now the only time I notice it is when one of my kids pushes against it hard. There really is no pain any other time. I know my experience is different than having it placed separately though. I think the chemo nurses will still be able to spray the lidocaine freeze spray before your infusion. Before my first round, I totally forgot to put the cream on and didn't feel anything with the spray. Be sure to ask them for it! I hope it goes well for you tomorrow.

Hang in there!

Caitlin & Immclure: So happy your SE's are not bad. I had round 2 of AC yesterday. Very tired today and I had a bit more nausea this time at 7 p.m., which did not happen the first time. I took the anti-nausea meds and that seemed to work. I have my Nuelasta shot today and I am dreading it since it knocked me down hard last time. I have pain meds this tims so hoping it's better.

I hope #3 and 4 are a bit better for me.

I had my head shaved yesterday. The hair was coming out, kinda of like shedding so I knew the clumps would soon follow.

For those of you with port pain, I got an RX for a numbing cream. I glob it on about an half hour before treatment and didn't feel a thing. Ask for the cream. it helps.

Good luck everyone!

I had round 2 (AC) yesterday. I experienced a bit more nausea this time. At 7 p.m. it started so I took my pain meds and that helped. I am more tired today too. I have my nuelasta shot today, which I dread because it really kicked my ass last time. I have pain meds this time so I'm hoping it's not as bad, My nurse did say that the tiredness can be cumliitive. Everything else varies  patient to pa tient. In all honesty round 2 seems a bit worse than 1. I sure hope 3 and 4 are not worse each time. I'm not sure how I would get through it if was.

I had my head shaved yesterday. The hair was shedding and it was only a matter of time before the clumps started fallng out. I was also hoping I'd be one of those 2% who didn't lose hair. Ha, no luck!

Meslissa: thank you for your words of encouragment. I envy all of you who seem to be able to do so much. Days 1, 2, 3 and 4 are bad ones for me and I couldn't imagine having to do much of anything. The rest of the days get better but how ya'll do so much is awesome. I wish I could.This is one hard road and knowing so many of you got through it helps!

@ wildlyshel - they told me the same thing about the port, they had difficulty getting it placed and they pushed so hard that I had an awful pain in my upper back. Still feeling pretty sore. Thinking of you today!

Had my port placed Tuesday and they accessed it while I was under, so no pain there. Went straight to chemo. Had Benadryl and Zofran in the Iv, so I dozed through the whole thing. I woke up every time someone came in the room, though. Yesterday was a breeze, I felt great. Today the port site hurts and I'm tired. Taking pain pills that helps a lot, so all in all not too bad so far. Next treatment is next Tuesday. I wish you all a day with no SEs.

Well, I had to do it. I had to shave off what was left of my hair. I couldn't stand the hair being everywhere. I also couldn't stand how itchy it's been-enough to send me over the edge. Oddly, it's a relief. I have a nice, cozy fleece hat on my bare noggin right now & it feels soooooo much better! Now I can focus on the next thing: tx #2 coming up next Wednesday. Positive thoughts to all of you getting yours this week!

Lisa MM - good for you! My head has been itching sooo much - but I was afraid shaving would make it worse!   So, it's really better after shaving?  I may have to find a salon (or get hubby to do it . . . )

Melody46 - I didn't get Neulasta on my first round.  The nurse at my MOs office said lots of "young healthy" ladies don't even need it.  I'm getting it 2nd round since I did have a significant dip in my white blood count, but here's hoping you hang in there without it!!  

Welcome iluv2scrub & Shasha10 - we're on the same chemo cocktail.  My first round wasn't bad for SE - hoping the same for you!

Happy thoughts for DizzyMom tomorrow!! 

So yesterday was the first treatment for me. Before starting, my bloodwork showed I was anemic and that my MPV was already low. I was scheduled to go in today for the Neulsta shot. I've heard and read about the possible SE of the shot. I'm hoping for the best but am trying to also prepare for the pain.



I'm already a little worried because I didn't get the big energy boost from all the steroids that have been dumped into my system since Wednesday. The nurse told me yesterday that I would probably be up for a few days and then crash. I slept like a log all night long except for waking up with terrible night sweats and taking potty breaks. I was glad for the sleep but wondering if I'm headed straight for the exhaustion. I already feel a little achy in my legs.



I wasn't able to use the lidocaine for my port because the incision hadn't completely healed yet but the nurse was so gentle I didn't hardly feel that much pain. I loved her.



The chemo infusion itself was pretty uneventful until the last 1/4 of the bag, I started feeling the burn in my throat and mouth. I kept loading up on ice chips ( great tip I got from the board - thank you ladies) and it wasn't too bad.



Afterwards though we went to eat, I ordered tea, my favorite drink of choice, and it tasted like wet fur to me. Tried a coke next, same thing. Water was what I settled for. I didn't realize that the SE for taste would take effect so soon. I'm going to try the tea again today, I'm hoping that it isn't permanent?



Lastly I bought a wig yesterday. So, now we sit back and wait to see what happens!



Good luck to all!

LW172213 sounds like you did really good ... I started to taste the chemo at the very end too... I thought food didn't taste quite right for a few days but after a week, its improving. As for sleeping, be glad you slept well - I had terrible night sweats for a couple of nights too.. I was unprepared for that.. I rememeber the real exhastion hit ater the Neulasta shot .. but that also when the steriods kicked in and I cuold only sleep for an hour at a time- that last 5 nights until I finally asked for something to sleep and whew, that was the turning corner for me.. I now feel so much better..

hope you continue to do well - during this time I got my wig shaped and ready - no loose hairs yet..

Thanks for the info feeling much better about the shot.  2 days out and aside from some shallow breathing and a little fatigue I feel ok, knock on wood.