Chemo May 2013

elkatho- I am doing 4 treatments at three week intervals.

Jenna: I will be doing bloodwork the day before, which is nice since I'll have some notice if I have to put my treatment off. I had scheduled my Onc visit for the same day as my labs for my second infusion, but then I noticed that they went a head and scheduled all my other dr. visits for the day before the labs. So now I have to come in three days in a row. Thank goodness it's barely a 10 minute drive, or I'd be a bit tweaked at that.

Elka: I'm doing 6 infusions as well. When I first discussed Chemo with my Onc he had mentioned the possibility of doing only 4, but that seemed to go out the window pretty quickly. I don't know if it was because I was so against doing Chemo at all at first, or that my oncotype came back high (34), or that the drug trial he had suggested for me was based on T/C with 6 infusions, which, btw, I ended up in the control group. I would have got Herceptin as well if I had been in the other arm, even though I'm HER2 neg.

I have it in the back of my mind that if the chemo becomes too difficult as it goes on, I'm going to readdress the 4 vs. 6 treatments with my doc and see exactly why he changed his tune. If it was just a matter of being in trial, well to hell with that. I'm not getting the extra drug to make it worthwhile for me to stay in the trial, so why should I suffer? For now though, I'm doing ok so I'll just carry on with the current plan.

Oceanwarrior: So sorry you're joing our little "club", but welcome nonetheless. There's definitely a lot of info here! I think I got overloaded on it before my first infusion, but still, too much info is better than not enough.

port**** theresa

Teresa...so sorry to hear about your port placement. I had mine on the right side but they did mention the left side was more difficult.Regardless it is not fair you had to go thru that. Hopefully during chemo the benefits of having it will help you forget the placement. I had mine placed the day before so they put the needle in during placement. One less poke.



Thanks to all the T/C ladies for sharing your chemo schedule ..... I have something to think about. I had a mammaprint which comes back as high low...but I seem to remember 30% mentioned also.

I started chemo on May 15th Although I am taking colace(stool softener) and Miralax constipation started today what to do?

I had to go to ER once when I had mastectomy becuase of constipation it was worst than mastectomy! otherwise feeling good,Nulesta shot makes my back hurt but not anymore than that. It was better than I expected.

Help!

mcgis

my MO said I need to use an ice pack on nails which I did for the first round. But its not FDA approved.

Nails. A nurse told me to keep them moisturizer. I read on another thread to keep them polished with nail strengther. However I worry about polish remover which may dry them out.

Teresa - my port hurt so bad when I had it put in on Monday that I was crying and I took two percoset. It is much better now four days later. Just wanted you to know it does get much better.

Theresa place icepack on port really did help. Did they prescribe emla cream to put on it before going for chemo? I don't feel a thing when they access the port.



Worrywart so sorry you ended up in the hospital. I get neulasta and hopefully that will work better for you.



Kate hope you are feeling better. Please let us know.



Welcome ocean warrior.



As for me I had neulasta shot and fluids today. Had much energy this morning then just crashed at 3. Guess tomorrow day 3 will be a wasted day.

I had to add magnesium oxide to my regimen due to last blood count and that helped my constipation too. I eat regular yogurt n

but maybe activia would help?

Hi, Everyone. I had my chest port placed yesterday and I'm preparing to begin chemo on May 23. I'm very nervous, to say the least. By happenstance, I met a terrific young woman and her family while sitting in a small waiting room at my port placement procedure. When she overheard me sigh to my mother that I hoped the stress of having the port placed would be worth it. She chimed in with a very positive message of reassurance and support. I found out that she's in her early 30s and had to endure a year and a half of chemo. Having a port from which all infusions and blood draws culd be taken eased her anxiety about needles considerably. Hearing about extensive chemo schedule has left me feeling a little silly about fretting over my planned 12 weeks of four TC infusions. With an optimistic attitude, healthly eating and resting habits, and the support of so many wonderful members of the Mass General Cancer Center health care team, I'm sure I'll be fine. Mostly what I find so intriguing at this point in my treatment prcess is how I'll be able to use the knowledge and experience gained now to help and reassure others with similar diagnoses someday.



I'm reading a compelling book on the ecological and psychological elements of healing after environmentally invasive tragedy (Hiroshima Forever, The Ecology of Mourning by Michael Perlman). One of the primary themes of the story explores how deliberate awareness and support of others can sustain the healing process for communities and individuals much more effectively than a view that's restricted only to the self.



I feel that this online discussion and resource sharing forum goes a long way toward offering a "community of practice" venue where those of us affected by breast cancer can deepen our understanding of treatment issues and available resources through reaching outward to tell our stories and, in so doing, offering support and the benefits of a broader knowledge base to each other.

Ipc..

Thanks!

Better today... I think I was just frustrated! Haha

Hope the next few days go well for you...

Funny... Day 3 after my first chemo was when it hit me first... The first couple days I joked with my husband ... Told him that they forgot to put the meds in, cuz I was feeling pretty normal...



Take care everyone!

Hi

I had my chemo teach on Tuesday and my mediport placed yesterday. It was not the funnest thing I've ever done but not the worst either.

I start chemo on 5/28. The day after Memorial Day, 4 rounds of AC every 2 weeks and then 4 rounds of Taxol also every two weeks. I am set to finish the day after Labor day so that's how I'm spending my summer.

I am pretty scared. When the nurse took us through the room, my husband thought it looked nice and was feeling good about it all and then he turned around and saw me crying.

I know this is what I need to do to have the best chance but I am scared.

ItIsWhatItIs: Oh definitely chemo can effect healing. I was under the impression most people start around a month after surgery, mine was delayed and it was over 2 months before I started chemo. I'm surprised to hear you only had two weeks.

So, today I had an appointment for an ultrasound on another questionable spot in my naughty right breast that came up in an MRI I had just prior to my lumpectomy. Because we didn't get the results until just a couple of days before my surgery, and because the surgeon felt that it most likely nothing, we decided to "ignore" it rather than postpone the surgery to do further testing and revisit it after chemo/rads. Well, my Onc didn't agree. He insisted I get an ultrasound now. Of course, things being what they are with scheduling "now" meant I didn't even get the call to make the appointment until after I had my first infusion.

I was dreading this because I just knew they wouldn't leave well enough alone, and sure enough, I ended up having to get a biopsy. Last thing I wanted was another invasive procedure, especially now that I've started chemo with my risk of infection greater than ever.

I can understand getting the ultrasound and establishing a baseline image so that it can be compared to whatever it looks like after chemo, but I just don't see the point of the biopsy at this stage. Nothing is going to change if it's cancerous, at least not until after chemo, so I don't know why we couldn't wait until after chemo to do a biopsy.

So now I'm annoyed, my boob hurts, and I get to be all stressed out waiting for test results yet AGAIN. I hate Friday tests! Why are my tests always on Friday?! </rant>

Ayras....I wish you did not have to join us but I am glad to meet you and you have come to the right place. These ladies are champs, warriors and most importantly compassionate. Please give yourself some time to relax and take it easy. Have family and friends help you with anything they can. It helps you both physically and emotionally. Plus its helps those that love you help you.



Shimmy...so sorry you are going through this waiting period. I agree NO tests on Friday. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Thanks for sharing info about your trial. My MO mentioned to me that their were trials with herceptin with pts that are her2 negative. My tumor was tested multiple times to determine her2 status. Finally determined negative. I am going to try and get more answers why some woman have 4 and others 6 cycles.

Kate sooo glad to hear from you. Was getting worried. Amazing how fast we bond on these boards! Hope you make it through your gig ok then rest and take care of yourself! Can you do the salt water rinse for your mouth yet? My mo gave me script for protonix for heartburn. It has worked wonders!



AryaS I am on same chemo regimen as you. Just did second round on Thursday. Day 3 seems to be my worst. Mostly just too tired to do anything. If they give you neulasta be sure to take claritin for the bone pain. Allergy season here so I take it every day not sure how others take it but it does work. My hair started falling out on day 12 just like clockwork. Was so worked up over it but even that was not as horrid as the anticipation of it! I went to peak in the infusion room a few days before chemo started and cried as soon as I walked in. Receptionist grabbed me hugged me and now she calls me her crybaby. Even though no more tears. A more compassionate group of people I have never met.



Ouch debwarrior I am so sorry about the emla! I would have ignored the burning thinking it meant it was working!



Shimmy I agree Friday tests suck! They really shouldn't do that to anyone. So unfair to have to wait thru weekend with no answers. Hope you can relax.



Delvzy it is good to hear from someone who is over and done with chemo. Thanks for checking in with us!



Lisa