Starting Chemo February 2013

Hi ladies! I'm from March 2013 Chemo group...I'm 27 yrs old and was diagnosed on Jan 23rd with IDC grade 3, stage 2, triple negative . I underwent a bilateral mastectomy on March 1st...I go in on the 22nd to have my port placed, and my chemo treatments start on the 25th. Oncologist ordered 4 rounds is AC followed by 4 rounds of Taxol...I am so nervous to start this chemo and would love if you ladies could give me detailed realistic information on how it affected each of you...and also information on the port placement. I have this obsession with knowing everything possible whether its good or bad...knowing what to expect has helped me so much! I read the good, bad, and ugly about my surgery before having it, and I'm thankful I did because this whole process ended up being a lot easier that I expected...I'm healing well, and doing a lot more than I thought I'd be able to...but please , as much info, good or bad, I'd love to hear all your stories!! Thank you!!!!

Keke713,

I had my port placed late in January.  I was very scared at the mere thought of having it inserted.  As it turned out, the port has been no big deal.  After the procedure, I had a little bit of soreness, but nothing major.  When I go in for the chemo treatments, I have never had any pain when they insert the infusion lines.  Now, I do not even notice it. 

Even though chemo can be a real butt kicker, it is something you will get through.  I am starting chemo #3 on Wednesday, even though I know it will not be a lot of fun, I am looking forward to getting it over with.

Talk with your doctor about taking the nausea medicines, sleep aides, constipation and diarreha meds.  As you will see on these boards - we all drink gobs of water before, during and after chemo.  If you get the neulasta shot, I have taken clarintin to help keep the bone aches at bay. 

Prepare for your hair to go crazy.  Some of us got wigs, use scraves, caps, etc.  When I first started this whole process, it seemed like time stood still.  Now that I have a couple of chemo's behind me, things feel like they are moving along.

These boards are a great support - we all have a similar story, but each story is also unique.  Take care of yourself and also let others help you. 

Good afternoon ladies! Finally got five minutes to check in.



Have my next AC cycle tomorrow. Hope it goes a bit smoother. The first cycle wasn't too bad. I had unreal nausea the first night, some mild headaches and felt like I had the flu. Felt tired, but I'm usually chasing after a wee one all day so didn't feel much different. Hazel is 7 months now and she's crawling and pulling herself up onto things, oh boy haha. Such a chatterbox too!!! I guess the part that's reall bothering me is the hair. Not much left now. I had a total meltdown the other day... I just stared at myself and bawled. I feel better today, I just gotta get over it, accept it for what it is. Sometimes I just feel sad, I just cant shake it. It's like there's a little black rain cloud following me around and I'm Eeyore.



I had to get my drivers license renewed. Of course I couldn't style my wig for the picture and it looks awful. I can work magic into anyone's hair but I can't even make a wig look half decent. I hate it. My birthday is in a few days, so I may just end up buying myself a new wig. Right now I just wear a lot of toques and am glad for all the rain.



I still can't let anyone see my baldness, not even Chris. Heck, he still hasn't seen my foob! I haven't even been close to undressed around him since just before the surgery. I feel like I'm guarding myself, I'm so uneasy with the way I look and now I'm afraid it's going to effect my relationship negatively. Has anyone had intimacy issues?



I'm so glad for these boards. Reading up on everything makes me feels better, and it's nice to read how you ladies are doing.



Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Hi Keke713, sorry you have to be here but you'll find some great help and support from these ladies. You're on a different chemo regimen than I am and even if it were the same, everybody reacts differently. My port was placed at the time of my surgery so I really didn't even notice recovering from that part of it. I really don't notice it anymore unless one of my kids pushes against it.

I feel I've been very fortunate also with the chemo side effects. It's not a walk in the park, but I had psyched myself up for a lot worse. I had my third (of six) treatments Friday. My experience has been that I feel pretty much OK days 1-3. I get more tired and "off" feeling day 4 and day 5 has been ike getting hit by a truck. Flu like is a good way to describe it. Just achy, weird stomach and beyond tired. But then I feel better each day after that. The second and third weeks, I really feel pretty much like myself.

I've had bone pain for up to a week with the neulasta shot. And then there are just several random symptoms. Everybody is different on these but for me, it's been dry mouth, weird tongue (kind of like it's burned or scraped), runny nose, appetite changes and just the loss of taste for certain things.

The hair loss was not so traumatic for me. I know it's temporary. I usually don't wear anything around the house when it's just my family. If somebody comes over, I throw a hat on. I can wear my wig for a couple hours at a time and do usually when I go out. But to work out and drive the kids around, I'll just as often just wear a hat. I'm with Tangles, I'm not trying to hide anything.

Advice I can give is to hydrate as much as possible before and after chemo treatments, rest when you're tired, use the numbing cream on your port before getting infusions, eat something even if you don't have the appetite and try to maintain some level of activity if you were active before. I am no where near my pre-surgery activity level, but doing some sort of exercise a couple times a week really makes me feel better and gives me energy.

I hope you have as easy a time of it as possible and definitely keep looking to these groups for support and help.

Good luck!

I can relate to the black cloud, some-days I feel like there is one following me. I cry and cry and feel so hopeless. Other days like today I feel Ok and just keep thinking temporary temporary....... Im sure because I am 2 wks post chemo that helps. I will probably be a teary after my next chemo session again.

Im with you Lw122713 I think the intimacy bothers me more then my hubby. I have had some issue with vaginal dryness, not sure if its the chemo in general or the chemo throwing me into menopause but it is not a fun side effect. Thank god for a loving and understanding hubby!

with all the other issues, I am finding I couldn't even walk around the whole mall yesterday - I get part way through it and find I am exhasted and don't have the energy to continue.. today we were walkin through Target and it was an effort for me to walk around... this is really discouraging.. my second treatment was 11 days ago but it seems to have sapped my energy. Is anyone else having this problem?

IamNancy & Gina- i have noticed alot more fatigue since last Wednesday. I thought it was maybe because of alot of general things including the time change. Now I'm curious if my hemoglobin is a little low, guess I'll find out tomorrow. TC #3 on Wednesday- means half way done!!!!!



Mirmirpanda & others- if you haven't already gotten a wig or would like another go to www.crickettsanswerforcancer.org. I requested & got a very nice wig from their organization for FREE! You just print out a request form & send it to them. Another resource is the American Cancer Society.



The little gray cloud finds me sometimes too. I think that with everything we deal with, it's inevitable. Not to mention you add in the steroids & chemopause-it's a wonder we all don't end up in the looney bin! I surely think our Husbands deserve alot more credit than we ever thought to give them credit for-mine has been a real trooper too even though I haven't been!

Tangles: sorry I miss-typed. My permanent will be silicone as well. Just not sure which implant it will be. I think if you try to do less saline injections, you will find it will help alot. It did me. I am sorry you are having a hard time with it. Hang in there!

Melody - I do think the neulasta takes alot of your energy.. but I think the chemo just builds up and takes energy also.. I didn't expect it to last this long though..

Hi ladies--

Well, there's just no getting around that chemo sucks. Just had round three of A and C, plus Neulasta shot, and it seems to start the downward drag a little earlier each time. The couch is my friend!



I have learned to just go bald around the house and to wrap a pretty effective scarf around my noggin outside the house. I appreciate the honesty of you all in sharing that this is hard. Accepting it, bearing it, improving, and then voluntarily going back for more.



We will make it through. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you, chemo sisters.

Today was my first full day of wearing a wig. I worked from home last week while my hair fell out and I had a mental meltdown, and then only worked 1/2 days in Thursday & Friday, the day of chemo and the day after. I'm going to have to get used to it. My scalp is still so tender so it hurt and then a few times wanted to just throw it off and scream. I went to the bathroom and soo wanted to just take it off. I'm just not used to having something on my head. I can't imagine if it was hot out too. I get claustrophobic so this could be a hurdle. I work in the corporate world as an accounting manager so I can't show up in a ball cap or a bandanna though that would feel so much better. I have to say it though its me whining again...I REALLY miss my hair.

What is remaining of my stubble is itchy too! I really am sick of that and wish it would just fall out and be done with it! I gave up on the wig, it's just too uncomfortable. But then again, I have been working at home. If I had to go in to the office, I guess I would wear the wig. When I go to the grocery or out and about, I just wear a head cover with some dangly earrings. I have a gotten a few looks, but I really don't care if it screams  cancer patient. I'm tired of being a hermit, although I'm really being careful about where I go right now since I'm in the nadir.

LisaMM- Let us know about the fatigue factor with number 3. I'm wondering how cumulative that SE is.

I'm going to catch a Look Good Feel Better on April 9. Sounds like a really nice thing and I'm going to take advantage of it. The previous ones fell on chemo week for me when I wasn't feeling great.

Geez, I'm glad I haven't needed Neulasta (knock wood). All my Taxotere aches and pains have been relieved with Tylenol. The Taxotere tingle in hand and feet is back on on week 2 post chemo same as last time. Hopefully, it will be gone in time for treatment number 3.

LisaMM - I will be right with you on Wednesday for chemo #3.  I also had a real problem with the fatigue from chemo #2.  Just in the past 2 or 3 days, have I felt somewhat normal.  My tastebuds seem to be halfway normal.

I am already scheduled next Monday for fluids.  For the past 2 chemo's I have found myself at the ER - dehydrated and exhaustive - so for this round, I am being proactive.  My pattern seems to be I hit rock bottom by Monday. 

I have also discovered, a wonderful gem on these message boards.  If you go to the message board for women that started Chemo December 2012.  Some of them are beginning to finish up their chemo treatments and they are overjoyed.  I liked reading about their excitement because I thought that will be all of us in about 2 months.  It gave me lots of hope, I can do this.....

Everybody have a great week with minimal SE's  Spring is Coming!!!

Round three in a few hours ( I need to get to sleep!). But wanted to say hi and give hugs.

Round two was much easier for me - been so busy being Mom that I haven't been online much.



One thought about the wigs - I have one full wig that is rather uncomfortable (granted, it was a free one from ACS, and happened to be a very inexpensive one - the office here in NOVA has some lovely ones - just not many to pick from in my color the day I was there). BUT, some friends got me a gift certificate to headcovers.com and I ordered a headband wig. The styles for these are all short (shoulder or chin length) but if that's a look that will work for you- I highly recommend them. It is sooooo comfortable, super easy to style and accessorize. Since most of what touches your head is the knit headband it doesn't itch me - and isn't as hot as a regular wig. Also - I've used scarves and some cute headbands to accessorize it and have gotten tons of compliments. For less than $150, it's a great buy! Definitely my favorite thing to wear right now!



One more question - for those of you doing Herceptin - any hot flashes? Had some warm moments this afternoon (after my visit with the MO of course). Just trying to figure out if they're starting . . .



Prayers and hugs to you all (especially volleymom - let us know how you're doing).