April 2013 Chemo Group

Hey, girls! Had my first round last Wednesday. That was far easier than I had fantasized. The first couple of days after were not bad - just felt a little"off". But then Saturday that wall jumped up to get me. Lots and lots of sleep: had to- not a choice. But by today I was back at work with not much problem. My MO did not prescribe the Neulasta. I'll have white blood cells checked on Wednesday. If we're okay, I won't have that.



I chewed on ice throughout the Taxotere. Used my right fingertips which kept them very cold. Don't know if it will save the fingernails; but I think it has helped keep tastes. At least, I haven't lost that and from what I have read it's common to lose sense of taste. I did lots of pre medication. Started on steroids the day before. Used Claritin. Started on Colace the day of. Listen, this is no time to be a hero. Take it and be kind to yourself. You can do without later. Using Tylenol PM to sleep. Lots of things look better if you get a good night's sleep.



So I have a day where I feel much better and what do I do? Why, come home and have a good cry, of course. Bwaahaha! Go figure! You girls are my heroes. You're in my prayers.

Question about pre meds-- dexamethasone.. What am I to expect?? How's this going to make me feel?

Pebchristian~ I had the same question but I think I got my answer tonight as my little (after buzz) hairs are definitely still coming out. I wonder if I'm going to be completely smooth and bald or will it be patchy.



I also attend a support group once a month. It is held in the center where I receive treatment. Maybe you could ask if your hospital or treatment center have support groups? I find it very helpful (just like this forum) to be surrounded by women who are going through or have gone through very similar situations.

Erinm216: I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Listen to your body and rest if you need to. Also stay ahead of the nausea and take your meds. Only problem with that is constipation. Take colace and eat prunes if you can. And drink lots of water. You can do it.

Yes I got the acne too! Finally now at 2 weeks out it's clearing up... weirdly I found that moisturizing helped a bit (usually makes breakouts worse for me but this was like MAJOR acne worse than ever!)

I too had some serious pre-chemo jitters. I think it is the unknown: so many scary things might happen. I realized it was similar to when I was first diagnosed, with many unknowns. Once I had some answers, I felt less terrified. To help with the pre-chemo jitters, I just tried to distract myself with other things (from laundry to jigsaw puzzles). Now I know what to expect, round two doesn't seem so frightening (at least, from a week away).

I too had a moment of concern when I saw my MO the day before chemo was scheduled, and she was concerned by the surgery wound not looking healed enough. I panicked and practically turned myself inside-out trying to convince her it was OK (ultimately, she gave it the go ahead). She said that she was careful because one of her patients had not been healed enough and ened up with a nasty infection in her chest wall. It helped to hear that there might be worse consequences than having to delay chemo for a week or two, even though it sounded like the end of the world at that moment. 

Made my first chemo-related impulse buy today. I was out all afternoon and, because of my sore mouth, couldn't eat the food I had brought (need to figure out portable soft foods). Starving, I fell prey to a display of Vitamix blenders (all those lovely pictures of blended-up shakes) and decided it was the answer to all my problems. 

Just a thought for those with anxiety and sleep problems. I've been doing really well with Ativan (Lorzapam). My MO prescribed it for both nausea and sleep. I started taking it a couple of weeks before chemo, and it really helped me feel better to get a good night's sleep (I've just been taking one at night). She also prescribed Celexa, but the Ativan worked so well I haven't needed it. Just that one thing (a good night's sleep) helped so much. For those who are struggling, don't hesitate to ask for what you need.

Morning Everyone - I have my second TCH today and am almost as stressed as for round one.  Have been awake since 2 AM and finally got up to check on all of you.  My SEs with round one were minimal - lots of little stuff that did not last long.  By day 11 I felt like myself again.  Hopefully, this second round will be similar!  You all help me so much.  By reading your posts I feel almost normal or at least am able to realize that my fears are shared by others.  I buzzed my hair a week ago and am sporting a wig when I go out.  Head is very tender to the touch, but has not started to fall out as yet.

Hang in there!  We can do this!!

Tricia81~ I had the exact same thing happen after my 1st chemo! It was awful! Tell your MO about it! My MO gave me a prescription for an antibiotic that cleared it up. I go for my 2nd chemo on Thursday and hope it doesn't happen again. It was painful and ugly!



Pebchristian~we are a day apart and I'm feeling the same way as #2 approaches. Hopefully it won't be too bad and then we'll have 2 down 4 to go!

Just had my "chemo teach" yesterday, and it was not how I expected it.

Sat with doctor and she was going over a few meds, she then said I needed to pick a date to start chemo. So I asked when do I do chemo teach, and she said "this is it". Lol



I saw the room they do chemo in, I guess it is small, there is room for 5, and at times they will bring in an extra chair if needed.



Outside that room is a row of about 30 chairs. I was petrified and asked if that is where we go for treatment after our first one. Apparently those seats were for hospital patients! Relief for me, but feel bad those seats look like an assembly line, very freaky.



Anyhow, I would have started next Tuesday and squeezed into the April chemo group, but they only had a 2:00 slot, my daughter gets off the bus at 3:00, so that was no good.



I am now Monday May 6, but would like to take advantage of all your experience as I have read these boards til my eyes droop, taken notes, and still have not seen an answer (well at least that I wrote down!)



1. Claritin. Is it "d", 12 hour or 24 hour? And when do I start and when do I stop. (The oncologist said she heard of people taking Claritin but doesn't think it's necessary as most don't get bone pain and its "not too bad"-lol, I don't think so!)



2. Icing- yep, she doesn't go with that idea either. So when exactly do you start it, and when to end it?



I am 4 rounds T/C.



The other drugs she wrote for are: (I asked for drug sheets and this is what she gave me)

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Dexamethasone (steroid)

Famotidine (heartburn relief)

Palonosetron aka Aloxi (nausea). I read here this is a "good one"

Neulasta (for white blood cells). I know this is why I will take Claritin.



So my questions about the above: no sleep aid? I hear a lot of talk about that!

The heartburn relief, is anything OTC good? (Have not yet seen if insurance will cover this)

Is there anything else I should be asking for?



Thank you all in advance, I want to get the shopping out of the way while I can!

Wishing you all the best and a successful treatment.

Pat

Thanks indenial,

I thought Aloxi was for home! Lol glad I listed and asked!



I'm going to hit CVS and see what they have for me. I don't think she understood when I said I want a list of drugs I will be using...she gave me the pharmaceutical print outs of the above listed drugs. I only wanted a "simple"list, so I wonder if the nurse got tired of printing (I don't blame her,not here is a lot of pages for these few drugs!)



I'm hoping she doesn't think anti nausea meds are unnecessary too. If that's the case I will use this next week to find somewhere else to go.

Pat

Just want to pop in and say hello. Starting AC/T on the 25th and not looking forward to it one bit. Appreciate all the tips and wrinkles that have ben posted. Game on!

Hi All!

I had my first TC infusion on 4/3, and my second one happens tomorrow. I did not get the neulasta shot with my first infusion, and my nadir neutrophil count was a mere 300. I spent the next several days paranoid about minor injuries and germs and it was pretty depressing, truth be told. My temperatures were always below normal and I felt fine (great, even) from day 6 to today.

I haven't heard yet if I'm going to get neulasta for this go-round or not. I suppose I'll find out tomorrow, but I hate having to wait for anything, especially unpleasant things.

So, I'm wondering... has anybody else *not* gotten the neulasta at first but had it added to subsequent rounds? How does the oncologist determine if you need it or not? I've been googling away at this but have come up with absolutely nothing useful.

Thanks Speedy4! I'll definitely tell my MO about it. It is painful! Especially the ones on my forehead and shoulders.

Indenial,

I picked up my prescriptions at CVS.

I had to ask the pharmacist what was what.

There ARE two nausea meds.

Zofran-which the pharmacist said is stronger. (My plan allowed for 13 pills on one fill, have 2 refills-would need to wait 7 days to refill)

Compazine-which the pharmacist said would cause drowsiness. (Received 30, with 2 refills)



The other was the steroid-dexamethasone 4 mg. take 2 twice a day , day before, day of and day after taxotere.



Would still like to hear about the Claritan if anyone can advise.

Which one is it, and when to start and end it.

Thank you!

Pat

PattySmiles, please feel welcome to the April group, regardless of your actual start date. I haven't heard any hard and fast "rules" about what thread you follow. I think it's about support and what works for you. 

My "Chemo 101" class wasn't anything special. We (hubby and I) had a couple of hours (I ask lots of questions) one-on-one with the nurse navigator. She wen't over a print out of a power point presentation about chemo prep, side effects, and medications, as well as what to look for afterwards. We went over the prescriptions (although she confused me about them more than helped) and that was about it. It was mainly useful for figuring out what questions to ask when I met with my MO the day before chemo. I went with a list of about 20 questions, and we went through them all. I think you can get about the same information by going through the http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/chemotherapy files. 

One thing I am surprised at is that some don't seem to have a solid regime of prescriptions and instructions regarding what to do after the chemo. Everybody will have a different regime and needs, but I thought I'd give you my regime as an example of what kind of information you should have and expect. 

The premeds given through the IV at chemo last until day 4 of chemo (chemo treatment is day one, Tuesday for me, which meant that day 4 was Friday). The MO said that the premeds should take care of any nausea until day 4 (they did), but if I had any problems I could take compazine (sedating). I was also to take Dexa (steroids) twice a day from day 2 to 4 and the Ativan at night. After Friday, the Zofran in the premeds would have worn off, so I could take that first (as it is non-sedating) and alternate it with the compazine. If I was still having nausea, I could add in the Dexa and more Ativan during the day.

If you aren't clear on what to take when, keep asking until you are. If your SE aren't controlled by your current medication schedule, there are many options available that can help. I have four different prescriptions to help with the nausea. Between them I am doing well and have not needed to take any of the sedating ones during the day. 

I'm also wondering, for those who have "stomach cramps", if those aren't just nausea? At first, I though I was having cramps, then I realized it was mild nausea. I kicked in with the Zofran, and things calmed down. I'm not usually one to take pills at the first sign of a problem, but am learning that there's just no reason to put up with something than can be easily remedied. 

Sending strength and hope for all who are having infusions this week.