Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

BabyRuth I was interested to see that you have had two recurrences.  I too have just been dx with my second.  My initial tumour was back in May 2004 when I had a lumpectomy done, 6 cycles of FEC and 25 sessions of radiotherapy.  I was dx with a recurrence in Dec 2011 for which I received 6 cycles of Taxotere, another lumpectomy and another 20 sessions of radiotherapy.  I have now been dx again with another recurrence - all same breast - near original tumour.  We have so far agreed that a mastectomy is the way to go but they are trying to convince me that having chemo first is the way to go.  I however feel if removing the area complete with the whole breast and if that shows clear margins then I see little point in the chemo, afterall it did bugger all last time.  I have recently had a CT scan and have no signs of it spreading which is a massive relief.   Don't know about you but I feel that I've earned the right to air my views and wishes a bit more this time.   I've bashed this around with a few family members but no one really understands how hideous going through chemo is.   I've done it twice and really don't feel like a third round. 

Val; hear you on the hair..

Is somehow the worst part..

But it's amazing how quickly you get used to it, and how much loved ones accept it.. They love us for being us not for looking a certain way..

Enorta; sorry you are going this again.. Hope BabyRuth is along to give you her views..

Chemo a/c #2 down. Felt fine for 4 hours After chemo.... Home tried to eat dinner. Nope. Not gonna happen. Puking... Drat. Dr changed my meds too. I'll have to deal with it till tomorrow, when I can call the dr.



Ocean?? You out there, how you feeling round 2 down for you, sure hope your doing well.

Rain--- Call the doctor tonight..... no waiting until tomorrow!!!  There is a doctor on call so please call!!!

Sick again....!  Call in to the on call Onc at the hospital.  Not sure what they will advise.  But I'm at least checking with them.  Not wanting to have so many bad days this time.  I guess I'm highly sensitive on the nausea side of things.  Now c'mon doc, return my call quickly please you know how we hate the waiting game...tap tap tap of fingers.  

Have my appt with the onc Tues. getting really nervous to start treatment. She acts like it'll be no big deal, maybe I'll be a little tired. But here everyone sounds sick and miserable. I don't want to be sick and miserable!? Chemo sucks!!

As I recall in one of my appointments with my onco before I started chemo, my onco asked me if I had experienced morning sickness when I was pregnant with my two kids.  I told her no and then she said it was possible that I wouldn't experience the chemo nausea.  Fortunately for me, her words came true for me.  I don't know what the correlation is between the pregnancy morning sickness and the chemo nausea.  Just something to think about.

My port was put in on the 15th and hurt terribly until today.  It was much worse than the lumpectomy and snb and had to be on Vicodin the whole time.  Today it seems as though it is gone, but that could be because I started chemo yesterday.  I was allowed to shower 24 hours later.

For the working women, I went to start chemo at 8 am yesterday (Thursday).  Because they had trouble with my port at first, I was there much longer for scans and stuff.  I went directly to work at 3pm and worked until 8pm.  I did it, but I was definetly wiped out!!  Today I will have nuelasta shot and go in to work 10 hour day.  So excited to be off weekend!  

Rain and Ocean,

My sympathies are with you as well as my prayers!!!!!!  My 2nd round is Wednesday and I am worried, hearing about the both of you.  My doctor said she is afraid I will be in the hospital every time.  I soooooooooooo hope not!!!!!!!  I am almost completly bald!!!!  This better grow back!!!!!!!!!!!!  Found out I have lymphodema.  Ordered 2 sleeves and gauntlets.  Not happy about this at all!!!!!!  Just seems like something new everyday!  Prayers for all of you!!!!!

enorta-I would love to talk to you also-it sounds like we have a lot in common.  I would like to know more about your diagnosis...whether you are triple positive, negative or a mixture.  I always express my views freely with my oncologist and last year went for a second opinion.  I am keeping all my options for treatment open at this point because I feel that for whatever reason I seem to be resistant to a lot of the medications.  I am to start my chemo in July but I am still trying to get the exact lovely cocktail pinned down!  Please feel free to PM me and we can talk more!

Can someone or everyone post what they are taking for anti nausea.. My onco says there's nothing else he can give me ... I'm on emend, kytril, and decadron .... And I can take gravel on top of this but it didn't help.. I never vomited but was extremely nauseous and had the dry heaves 2 nights ... 2nd chemo is coming up Thursday and trying to be proactive !!! Hope everyone is having a good day today 😀

Val-I was given Zofran and compazine for nausea. Have you tried ginger tea?

I had very little nausea. I'm wondering if its because the gave me an IV of fluids before the infusion due to a slight fever. I guess I'll test my theory next week with round #2.

My hair has started shedding also. Not to thrilled with my wig either. I guess hats will have to do.

Have a good day ladies.

Hi everyone - we are in an emergency here in Alberta . Our whole town has flooded from the rains. We had to evacuate the whole town. Don't know if our house flooded or not. Couldn't find my husbands mother for quite a few hours but they picked her up this morning. I'm supposed to go for next treatment on Wednesday also but been having heart palpitations. Was supposed to go for echo on Monday but with the flood that might be cancelled. Don't know what's happening at this point. I still haven't lost my hair yet! Weird!



My sympathies go out to everyone having nausea!

Gingergirl so sad that everything is flooded. Hang in there it will all work its self out.

VAL1966- Have you asked the onco if you can go in the next day after the chemo to get some IV fluids?  Sometimes that helps.