Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Red devil is definite hair loss ladies so its different than other cocktails of chemo

Dreading hair loss. I know its coming. On day 9 now. Trying to stay positive but its hard.

Puppy mamma,

When I saw my oncologist she went over my surgical pathology with me and then gave me that great news of chemo as part of my treatment plan. She also said rads (but then I decided on masectomy in near future and I did not need rads due to location where cancer was removed from.)

She also checked me physically, healing of surgery etc. I had a few "ailments" non cancer related at the time, that I preferred be cleared up. She said to give myself one week and be in for chemo.

She said I didn't need a port due to only 4 treatments.

When I stopped at her receptionist the one week turned to two, due to scheduling.



Anyhow, I booked what was good for me at the time to receive my chemo. Earlier AM so I could get my daughter off the bus. My particular treatment takes about 3 hours...a little longer on the first day as they move slower to check for reactions.



My labs (blood drawn) are done the day before treatment, some places do the the day of treatment, which leads to a longer wait for chemo as the technicians need to run that blood through their testing!



I was given a brief tour of chemo room, she went over chemo drugs and that was called my "chemo teach".



Next time I came in for chemo. I only saw the doctor each time as they did the taxotere drip. That is all.



I did have a bunch of questions that I wanted to ask from things I learned here....

1- would she object to me icing my fingers and toes during taxotere in order to ward off neuropathy (she didn't care, said there was no proof- damn straight I do it!)

2- since I would be getting Neulasta shot day after chemo, (it raises your white blood cells that would be getting destroyed by chemo, increasing risk of infection if you don't get the shot and are exposed to sick people) I asked if it was okay for me to take claritan24 to ward off the bone pain. She said she never heard of it and that not many people get bone pain, and it's not that bad....so again I asked if I could take it and she said she had no problem with it.

I'm sure I had a few other questions but those were my two big ones.



Pat

Hi all,

Had second round today C&T. Was fine with taxotere the first round, but had allergic reaction this time. The nurse I had was so good, she explained perfectly how I would feel if I did have a reaction, and said to speak up straight away.. Words had barely left her lips before it began.. So, she was onto it ASAP, and after extra drugs all was ok. Scary for about 20 seconds.. Then slept nice dozy nap with the drugs...

Now home after getting out with the dog. Have prunes etc at hand, sennacot, Gatorade and anti neausea pills..

Oh the joys..

No talk of neulasta shot; presume that means wbc count ok...

Dlm where's that hotel???? Hope it's got room service...and lots of toilets...

Everyone else; hope you're all doing ok. 2 down and 2 to go for me..

My wig is not bad, looks better than my own hair.. Not that that would be hard, I had fairly fine wispy hair to begin with.. Rain hope its not too traumatic losing yours,..:(

Think I'll go for a kick ass crop next (well, won't have any choice....l) a la Pink..

Haven't iced anything- a couple of women today were having icy poles with treatment though...

Good luck anyone in the chair tmrw.. Sending you my best, you can all do it..... x

Hi! Well it looks like I want be doing June chemo at all. Going to be July. Because of the seroma, Friday had surgery ..surgeon went in and reopened MX site..did cleaning..resewed  and put back in 2 drains..so back to square one.  He kept me in hospital until Sunday afternoon...gave me 9 bags of antibiotics through IV.  This all would not have been hard, however, I have NO VEINS..and after 13 sticks with IV needle this idiot (sorry, but is so) gets all big headed .."says I can get veins when others cant" puts it in my PINKY KNUCKLE side of..I endured that pain , plus hand swollen from all prev sticks that day..for 24 hours..Sat night I told them to get it out or I was taking it out..was KILLING me. So, this nice nurse finally found a vein in my wrist..Jeez..So Im home now but but hand is swelled big time.  He said we had to make sure I was completely infection free and healed before I could do chemo..is just as well..I am very tired..I have had 4 surgeries since 4/18..lumpectomy..5/15..MX..port week and a half ago (that was worse) then this..Also, after this surgery they gave me new pain meds in recovery..they say I quit breathing and they had to "bag me"..whatever that means.  Either way, I am over whole cancer thing and do not want to play anymore!!  .....  lol...although, true..I know I must play..cause Cancer is a Nazi..but I need break to gather my strength again.

Patttysmiles-Once I am able to have chemo..its going to be like yours 4 rounds..same chemo meds..I did have to have port..because of whole vein issue...so if you have them girl ..flaunt them!..lol..hope that brings a smile!

Prayers, hugs and well wishes to all..I've been reading ya'lls post and trying to keep up...feel like I know ya'll..so when my turn came I could jump in..I hope everyone has an easy week!!!

Oh! By the way! I had been looking for a sleep cap for when I lose my hair..something cheap and easy...got great links from a couple of you guys..and ended up getting some cute caps there..but really didn't want to pay a lot for what I sleep in..found on ebay this lady that makes them..5.95 a piece..they are simple in a variety of colors..free shipping..she started making them for a friend going through chemo ..she friend helped her tweak them to make more comfortable with no seams..anyway, if any of ya'll would like the link..http://myworld.ebay.com/englishtraditions/&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2754

just click on "visit my store"

Dim425,

Initial biopsy showed LCIS.

They went in to "place markers" for the surgeon and while there took additional biopsy samples, In those biopsies they found ILC. Surgery plan for lumpectomy...fine by me.



After surgery they found 3 more tumors (though small) than showed in my initial MRI of 3 tumors and they were within the wide margins the doctor had made, so left me a small margin in one side...so they wanted to go back in to make a wider margin. After thinking about it, I was displeased the MRI did not show the additional tumors and felt I couldn't trust it wouldn't happen again. I also have very dense breats, so don't know what else the mammo isn't finding...I thought the MRI would be the "catch all"!, so I decided on masectomy with DIEP reconstruction. Surgeon said chemo first, so that is where I am at.

Pat

Hi All - hoping I can join in. I start chemo tomorrow. The plan is 3 cycles of FEC every 3 weeks then 3 cycles of D. Radiation will happen after chemo. I'm mostly concerned about the side effects but reading through some posts have been re-assuring. I'm actually looking forward to get he process started.

Hi roosterPT

I will be starting on the 2 July, im on the exact same regime, I too can't wait to get tge journey started so we can reach tge end. Let us know how your first session goes and I wish you much luck. X

Im all set for Thursday !! Have to have the first one at the hospital due to some drug sensativity. Got my blood drawn so I dont have to on Thursday also got to ask all my billion questions. I feel as ready as I can be.....oh and very scared !!! Also got my final path report but it's confusing. I also may never be staged.....it's a II or III but since I won't have surgery til after chemo and the tumor was removed with the surgical excision and one lymphnode positive (5 other reactive but not tested). 

I'm having chemo first then surgery !!! I had 6 biopsies allready 2 positive and 4 negative !!! The reactive ones as they say are around the positive one but not sure if they have cancer as well !! 

HAIR HAIR EVERYWHERE!!! Got a pixie cut Thursday, but now have to get a buzz cut ... I'm pissed.. Was hoping to have hair for my nieces wedding in the 13th..

I suppose there are worse things than losing hair 😢

Gearing up for round 2 of FEC on Thursday..hoping for no nausea!! The rest I can handle !

Thanks for letting me vent !! Xox

Hey Tasharka,

I had my first chemo on June 12. I was feeling great 9 days later when they did my blood draw. I

thought I had sailed through first chemo but nope I also have neutropenia. They don't want me going to work and have given me some really strict guidelines for eating, washing hands, being in crowds etc.

Did they tell you any of this? I don't want to be a downer but if your counts are not up you should not be in a public pool.

Did you get the Neulesta shot? My Oncologist wanted me to try the first one without it. I wish I had any idea that I could end up with this and not be able to work. No one seems to know how fast they will come back up. I was told no 2nd chemo until mine where back up.



I hope yours come back up quickly but please check with your doctor before you go to the pool.



Sunny

Going to see my onc tomorrow. Nervous about it but want to get it over with at the same time. Ugh. Received my Good Wishes scarf in the mail today. Gonna buzz my head just before my first treatment. One of the few things I can control through this whole process, when my hair comes out. I'm going to choose. I don't think I can stand to wait for it to fall out in clumps. I already cut it in a short bob which I really like. I have naturally curly hair. Wondering what it will look like when it grows back. More worried about being nauseous and sick the whole time. Sigh... Hate the unknown. Keep me in your prayers and I'm praying for us all.

Dyvgl: The leading up to the chemo is the worse part. You will not be sick the entire time. You will have good days and bad days they too will pass. Don't worry First chemo is usually uneventful. When do you start? Here's to GOOD THOUGHTS and best wishes.....