Starting Chemo February 2013

My first chemo was actually a bit of fun. My husband and sister were my entourage, so we had some kidded around a lot. We finally convinced my husband to go back to work, so the room was less crowded for the nurse, the pharmacist, the social  worker, the financial consultant and others to come and talk, and talk, and talk. I was worn out by the end not from the chemo but from the endless talking! But that's ok, they were just doing their jobs and they were very friendly and helpful. The nurse explained everything she gave me and I had no pain at all when she inserted the needle into the port. I did use the lidocaine ahead of time, though. I took a Claritin today in preparation for my Neulasta shot tomorrow. Can someone remind me: Do I take that for 4, 5, or 6 days following? Thanks for the good thoughts and good wishes. I am trying to get the March thread going but it doesn't seem like we have many March chemo babes.

I soo hope that I don't have to deal with my period anymore. I haven't waxed my eyebrows lately cause I figured what's the point they're going to fall out soon anyway but now after seeing they may be the last to go, I really need to get busy on them.



My wig arrived today...so bring it! I'm ready now.

I am one of new badies and brand new in this forum.  Diagnosed a month ago with IDC 3cm, looks like lymph nodes are not involved. I am going to have chemotherapy before a lumpectomy. My onc said that i will start with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide once in two weeks. I am a nurse working in a nursing home. I am wondering if I will be able to work.

RdRunner and DiZZyMom - so glad you brought this up! I was wondering, too. I started the same day of my first round and after a "normal" flow, spotted for another week. I charted before I got pregnant, and so far have seen no signs that my body is doing anything "cycle-y", but wondered if it would come back or not.

The PA asked me about it at my pre-chemo visit on Monday, and said not to throw away all the feminine products in the house yet. ;/

Guess when the MO said "menopause" side effects, I just assumed she meant all of them.



And - yes! WHY aren't the leg hairs falling out? Come on!



I'll keep you posted!

going for second round of chemo today. One week behind thanks to by 10 day hospital stay. Will get the shot this time and hope it helps. I think I'm more worried this time then I was the first.  I am taking the steroid drug the day before the day of and the day after and it is causing me extreme insomnia. Last night it was 3:00am before I could sleep. That was after taking an ambian and two hours later taking lorazapam. So I am going into chemo today with very few hours sleep. I took my first 2 at 8:00 am and second 2 at 5:00 yesterday. Maybe I need to bump them up earlier. Any suggestions??

No chemo for me this Wednesday.. infected tooth that has to come out next week. Not sure how far we have to push no.3 back at this point. Really bummed.

 I usually follow and post in January 2013 chemo group, but occasionally look here since I started chemo on January 31st!

melody46 - about a week after AC#2 I noticed a skin rash on my left wrist - no tenderness, no itching. Little bumps appeared next to the first area - it's about two inches long. I also thought it might be due to hand sanitizer - which I'm now trying to cut back on. My oncologist said that it might be a reaction to chemo, but he wasn't sure. At first I put Neosporin on it, but he suggested lotion for that area after he examined my very dry hands -I've had unusually dry hands since starting chemo. Now, two weeks later, the area seems to be drying up!

Best wishes to all, Martha

Hi ladies,  I started my period and my mom is saying I shouldn't use tampons.  Has anyone else heard that?  My MO didn't say anything.

You are getting the same Chemo as me. I got my second round yesterday and got the shot today. Went out for lunch and to walgreens & feel fine. I remember my first one I was Ok the day of Chemo and 3 1/2 days after it hit be. I was in bed about a day and half or two days then came out of it. For me I took a turn for the worst a few days later as I DI NOT get that shot so I ended up in the hospital for 10 day. I hope to not have that happen with this shot this time. Keep a close watch on you temp and call if it gets over a 100. I know my Doc said this is a strong Chemo we are going through but I will take two days in bed versus 10 days in the hospital anytime. Good luck to you! I'm just excited to say I am 1/3 of the way done with the chemo!!

Really not liking thus neulasta ache! Tsking claritin & tylenol 1000 mg as often as possible, heating pad helps too! Not helping that I have to work nightshift this weekend. I will have to work the weekend every other tx, so I might as well pull up the big girl panties & suck it up. Beginning to wonder what it would feel like without the claritin & tylenol-yikes! I just keep trying to think that after this passes I'll only have to do it 4 more times, then I get a nice little vaca before rads! I think I can, I think I can!

LisaMM - Hang in there - it will get better. 

Had my second round of chemo on Wednesday - I got the neulasta shot on Thursday, but the doctor reduced it from 6mg shot to a 3mg.  My bloodwork was good after the first chemo.  I am taking the clarintin and it has been much better - but right now -  I have a lot of fatigue - like I would love to just sleep, of course, no appetite and I feel so depressed.  I wonder if the depression is  worsened with the steroids I take the day before, day of and day after chemo - the little green pills?

I know this sounds strange but besides all the physical SEs, I find myself obsessing over what people would look like if they were bald. I am not really nervous of losing my hair; I already shaved it. But when I watch tv, I find myself thinking, I wonder what she would look like bald. I am a strange girl!

I sometime think we start wondering about things that are a new experience for us as a way of dealing with situations we never had to worry about. When I was first dx I couldn't stop looking at womens breasts on tv and trying to imagine myself without them. It suddenly hit me how our society is so full of boob worship. This passed after I realized I am the same beautiful woman with or without boobs. For me, it's just a way with sorting out my feelings and processing. I went through the same stage with wigs, wondering who had natural hair and who was wearing a wig. I saw a woman at the hospital with the exact same wig as mine (trust me, worse than wearing the same dress lol) and realized that it just looked like hair-not a wig! Now I seem to be thinking about effects of radiation and possible lymphedema but I don't see how I'm going to sort that one out other than reading, and unfortunately I'm not reading too many positive things about this possible SE.

I guess because we didn't have to before but we shall prevail and learn from our new expeiences

Diagnosed in December 2012 following clear mammogram, ultrasound, and micoscopic reivew of drainage in Febuary 2012 of same year. I had a lumpectomy but cells found beyond the margins so one week later left partial radical mastecotmy. Cancer was found in blood vessels and lymph vessels but not to lymph nodes. Radiation only became chemo then radiation. I started chemo beginning of January with plans to take a few days off during chemo then go back to work on flex schedule. Did I say I have the best supervisor in the world? Well, here we are in March. After two debilitating chemo cycles, my chemo protocol was changed. I am now on cytoxin and adriamycin. Side effects were not as severe but I did get a respiratory infection and am still down for the count watching that temp, praying it won't hit 100.5.  So I am like what the H***.  Lost 40 pounds, can't work, can't sleep, toes and now fingertips are numb, no taste, blah, blah, blah. Steroids are making me nuts. And I look like a picasso painting. But I take pride knowing I look like paintings that command record numbers on the auction block