Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Netter be careful with thin skin fruits and wash them thoroughly you could get fungus's from fruit I saw this first hand. Not fun:(

Jjl, call your Dr office day or night they have an on call Dr. They will try a new nausea med. I endured three days of throwing up, some people get sick or do not respond as well to the anti nausea meds.



Dlm425, the feeling of war or battle or the internal build your feeling is a normal reaction. Your body is gearing up to fight the toxins that where just injected into your body. I had the same feelings...all normal. Considering what's happening to your body.

Hi!  I've been reading these forums for awhile and they've been a Godsend!  I've been both comforted and educated!  I had my port placed today and start chemo on Tuesday.  I'm really hoping the anticipation and fear of the unknown is worse than the actual thing.  I'm bracing for the worst.  I have my shopping list ready for this weekend; stool softeners, claritin, head coverings, etc.  I'm hoping to keep working as much as I can and I have 3 kids to keep up with as well.  I'm sure glad you all are here!

Good Morning everyone-  I wanted to report a little about my first chemo day for those of you who might be scared, as I was, about the actual process of receiving your first treatment.  

My husband took me to treatment with our little cooler and chemo bag.  The first thing that happened is that the nurse tested out my port to make sure they could get blood flow back through it and it worked like a charm.  I really hated that thing because it was sore after placement and I hate that you can see it so clearly through my skin.  It looks like an alien about to pop out of my chest.  But, I have to say, once the initial sting was over of them putting the needle into the port, there was no more pain that day.  So, as for now, the port is my friend.  

Then I walked back into the actual treatment room and one of my crazy friends was sitting there in a recliner, hooked up to an iron transfusion that she had needed but postponed until she could have it at the same time as my chemo!  She had saved me a seat and had a little gift bag sitting on it.  What a nice surprise!  I had thought I wanted to go alone because I thought I might be crying, sick, etc.  Just didn't know what to expect and didn't want anyone to see me.  

Well, it turned out to be -  i know this sounds weird-  but an actually pleasant day.  My best friend and I chatted and looked at pictures on my computer, drank lots of drinks, and the super nice nurses just came and changed out my medicines every now and then.  TCH plus Aloxi, Decadron, and Emend.  My husband ran out and got lunch.  Everyone in the room seemed fine-  a few were sleeping, a few brought friends and were talking.  No one was throwing up or crying as I had worried about.  I guess I had built it up in my mind that it was going to be so horrible and it wasn't for me at all.  I know some people do have things go wrong so I don't want to be disrsepectful to that.  Certainly things can and will go wrong.  But for me, everything was easy that first day at least, so if you're just going in for the first time- try not to be afraid.  

The only weird thing that happened was that sometime during the process my face and chest looked a little sunburned.  Not sure what that's about.  

Yesterday was also the opening day of Man of Steel and I am a huge superhero movie fan.  I felt very normal and was able to take my whole family to see the movie (3 kids:  15 (g), 13 (g) and 10 (b)) so I was extremely grateful for that.  

This morning still feel pretty good but I know that a big wave is getting ready to hit me.  That's kind of the scary part-  knowing that it's coming but not knowing when.  When I told my sister about the wave analogy, she said, "and just like a wave, when it comes, you will ride it whichever way it takes you and not be drowned by it."  I like analogies.  Or is that a metaphor?  Either way.  

Hope everyone has a good day today.  

Hope everyone's weekend is off to a good start.

Hubs and I went out for dinner last night at a new restaurant in town!!!  I had a rasperrry martini and a glass of wine.  Felt terrific to do that.  If the first cycle is the hardest to adjust to and even with that I'm feeling great by the end of the following week I'll take it.  Means I can have a good week in between and summer is not a write off. Oh happy day.  I'm on a dose dense protocol of every 2 weeks so not much recovery time in between.  

Rain - you are one pretty lady.  Your short hair looks fantastic. Great transition look. I hope your white count comes up.  Take it easy til then, even if you have to force yourself.  

Maureen - how awesome to have your friend schedule her infusion for the same time as yours.  The actual time in the chair is kind of pleasant.   

Trm, MaineRottweilers, dlm, flaviarose, AMBNH, Tasharka, jjl - you are all just coming through your first round.  Wishing you all well.  Check in when you can.

Hello all brave girls day 2 of first chemo and neulasta shot. Slept pretty good with ativan feel a little sick today but still not so bad. Rain. How long till your wbc are low. And when does the bone pains come from the shot?

Stay strong ladies ttyl sending all good thoughts

Really tired and no appetite today.

Got my Neulasta shot also today.

The thought of having to have chemo, scared the heck out of me. My maternal grandmother passed on because her body could not handle the effects of chemo, same with her daughter, who passed just two years ago. Of course, they had stage iv colorectal cancer. But still, the idea that something that is supposed to help me live longer, could potentially kill me is very scary.  

Had my first Chemo treatment on the 13th. Wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Woke up the next day with mild nausea, but I had been given a shot of something to help with that and some medication to help with it. But not knowing what to expect, I was a bit scared. I am getting Taxotere and Cytoxan, with a day after shot of Neulasta to boost the white blood cell count. So far the only thing I am not overly excited about is the acky feeling I get from the Neulasta. Though I know things will get much worse.

My 17 year old is having some fun with the experience. She dyed my auburn hair blonde, something I have not done since I was in my mid twenties. I also got a haircut so that the impact of losing it will not be so dramatic. I can honestly say that is one thing that scares me, losing my hair, and it changing color when it comes back.

I am finding myself more tired than normal, Friday night I was out like a light by 8:45p. Not normal for me.

Today, despite feeling like the looser in a prize fight, my husband and I took our older daughter to a festival. I regret going because of the aches and pains. But at the same time I am glad I went. Because, other than those complaints, I other wise still have energy to do things, and not knowing how long that will last I want to take advantage of it. 

How did you make out. My chemo was the same day. I huddled in bed for 3 days. I have got to kick my super powers in .

Ginger- I friend requested Ocean on FB. She mentioned fb pictures of food and I was like whaaatttt food!?? Friends indeed! Kitchen Salli is her handle. Love food! Are you on FB?



Ocean- thank you for the compliment, it was tuff cutting my hair, will admit I kinda like the short do guess I've been hiding behind my hair all these years.



Dlm- my bone pain didn't start till last night. I walked a ton yesterday thinking exercise is a contributing factor in bone pain. More you move the more it triggers the blood cell growth in your marrow. This is a good thing!!! Walk and daily exercise is important and will make you feel better.



Ocean- also on Dense Dose, so just like you I was happy to at least have a few good days between treatments summer won't be a complete wash. But becareful girl, your in the nadir zone where we feel fine but your body is not able to fight off anything. Easy easy does it.



Hope everyone's Sunday is starting off to a good one. I miss my morning coffee. :-(

Coffee Taste awful since chemo. Can't eat red meats either. I've got bionic smell and foods taste like metal certain food more so then others.

Hi, I will be starting chemo this Thursday and reading through your post as to what to expect. I've two questions:

In ref to constipation, its mentioned different kinds of laxatives.  Does over the counter, like ExLax, not work?

Also, and I know everyone is different..but wanted some idea..I am off on Friday and Saturdays, so was trying to time this so I wouldn't have to use a lot of my time, so I scheduled on Thursdays.  Should I have scheduled Weds? A bit confused on the day counts that are being mentioned.

Thanks for any help you can give. It seems a long the way, I have had so many decisions to make,,and have made some bad ones..so trying to get the last part right!

lol..I have always been an extremely good pooher...lolol..but lortabs lately have gotten the best of me..exlax. has worked ok. someone told me hummus because of fiber content and thats worked as well, but wasn't sure if this was some kind of Godzilla constipation was about to get hit with..lol..I feel like I'm about to get on a very scary roller coaster..with lots of loops and death defying drops.