Starting Chemo July 2013

Mellie289, I am starting chemo on July 22 and would be glad to have some company! Deciding to go ahead with the chemo has been hard.  I seem to be in a "grey" area according to my MO (Oncotype 19, grade 2) and could probably find a second opinion that would say rads only.  But I do want to do everything I can to prevent a recurrence so I am going with chemo and rads.  The chemo will be starting a full 12 weeks after my surgery because the lymph node incision is not completely healed yet (most likely related to my diabetes). That seems like a really long time to me but the doctor seems to be ok with it.

Like you, I was glad to have hair for my birthday last week (my 60th!) and more importantly for my son's wedding next week.  I have an appointment with a friend to go wig shopping, but I'm still a little freaked out about being bald. I guess it's just another part of this roller coaster ride where I have absolutely no control!

I will have 4 cycles of Cytoxan and Taxotere (no port) then 6 weeks of rads.  I'm comfortable with that, but I'm glad you're getting a second opinion.  You should also be able to feel that your treatment makes sense to you.  Good luck!

Anyone else starting chemo in July?

kickinitgood - I just spent the last several hours reading through the posts on the TC thread.  Tons of great information and some really nice ladies.  No need to start from scratch.  Check it out!

i'm starting on tuesday, too, anniej76... i'll be sending good vibes your way! JeriGrace, i found lots of info by trolling old TC threads, too... but i'm still thinking of starting a new thread ("TC Starting July 2013") for those of us going thru same type of chemo at the same time so we can share our experiences... stay tuned. i'm staying up late nearly every night these days... reading everything i can so i know what to expect (and how to prepare!). good luck, friends!

Hi all, 

    I unfortunately too am joining the July "Firecracker" chemo boat(sounds like a Dairy Queen treat).  I am getting my port on July 2nd and my chemo to start shortly thereafter.  Like all of you, I am NOT looking forward to it!  I am not going to sugar coat it, I am scared, but am more scared not to take the treatment.  I also think of a family friend who has just been diagnosed with esophogil cancer and  is terminal.  I am sure he would love the chance to be given a treatment option.  That is what keeps me going. We all have a choice and a chance, where so many don't.

 I had very long hair and have slowly been cutting it slowly since my diagnosis.  Today I cut 6 inches and am close to chin length.  It was really hard to see all that hair on the floor, but better than falling out in clumps.  Its only hair and it will grow back. I thought about using the cold cap, but plan to embrace my baldness. We are all beautiful hair or no hair.  God be with all of us on this jouney with little or no side effects........PLEASE???

Looks like I am falling into this group.  Chemo is scheduled to start July 12.

I was hoping since my cancer was caught so small and no + nodes,  I could escape chemo, but Oncotype DX was 34.  I am terrified, but we all will get through this with the help and prayers of you brave ladies !   Guess I'll be wig shopping this weekend, Hope I can find one to fit my big noggin.

Keeping you all in my thoughts

Hi Ladies,

I'm katie and i think i will be part of your group.  I am really not confident on my decision to do chemo -- my cancer is a reoccurance of mucinous carcinoma and the original tumour had an oncotype of 11!!  so i'm really bummed to find myself here, with a recoccurance, facing chemo.  

I was given two choices TC (4 session over 3 months) or FEC-D (3 times every 3 weeks for 5 months.  The most frustrating part of making this choice is that there is so little data on re-occurance.  No one can tell me anything about results of either version of chemo or the relative success of one over the other.

I am terrified of permanent cancer brain.  A few weeks before my reoccurance diagnosis, my husband left me, so i need to be able to work and support myself.  (I was fired a few days after my husband left me so i need to find a new job and prove myself, meaning i need my brain to WORK).

Moreover, I have just worked so hard to lose 50lbs.  I am not looking forward to gaining weight from the steriods.

This really sucks but I am glad to be among you and sharing this ordeal together.

Katie-I am SO sorry to hear of your reoccurence.   I too was given two choices of treatment for my BC.  4xAC every two weeks followed by 12x taxol weekly or 6xCT every three weeks.  Its so hard to know which one will be the best for reoccurence. Even though I don't want to do either one,  I am thinking I will take the strongest form to prevent the chance of reoccurance.  I don't want to go through this again! Sometimes things happen for a reason and we have to go through hell sometimes to get to heaven.  

Kay- I am scared too.  I think we all are.  Its been a long time to stress over surgeries, diagnosis and now treatment.  I think the stress/anxiety has been the worst(at least I hope).  How did your port placement go? I get mine on July 2.  There is alot of great forums here and I have been reading them for several weeks now.  There are alot of great tips and suggestions.  I keep all the suggestions in a journal just in case I need them during chemo.  

Gma-I also got the Brian Josephs.  Hopefully it will work.  We will have to keep in touch and swap stories.  I was also sad to see my hair go, but there are so many other things to worry about that my hair was the least of my worries.  I want to concentrate on my body and getting it healthy again.  The rest will follow.  I had long hair my entire life. and have been cutting it shorter and shorter for several weeks(sob), but I have found alot of great wigs and ball caps to put over the wigs.  Surprisingly, its very cute.  Tender Loving Care has some very cute wigs, turbans, and scarves.  Also Halo Wigs.  Lets all keep in touch and may God guide our journey during the next several months.  Keep the faith ladies!!!!

katie-Did your onco Dr give you a choice of CT or AC?  How many treatments will you be receiving?

Hey Everyone,  I should be joining your group too.  I will most likely be starting 4xTC , but then my Onc decided to do an Oncotype test, so I have to wait about another 2 weeks before I know for sure.  The waiting is driving me crazy, and my surgeon had told me I would be def having chemo so I also have already begun to purchase all the many many things that are supposed to help with chemo. I even got a special basket to put everythig in.  I know most of you say you are scared to get chemo, but I know it sounds crazy but I am so scared my Onc is going to say no chemo.  Honestly I don't think I will be able to sleep at night if I don't.  I am so worried about mets and since it was not in my nodes they have not done an MRI or any scans they are just assming I am clean.  So I definitely think you each have made the right deciscion to go ahead with chemo, if you were given the choice.

And Hannariggs, I know what you mean it seems so strange to seem perfectly healthy and I will be making myself so sick!  It is so funny I run into friends and they all say Your looking really good, and I think yeah I am just fine now, no reason to look any different than usual.  Not sure what they were expecting.  Of course give me a couple months I might not be looking so good, lol.

I also have been staying up late at night reading and researching ever since I was diagnosed. I have learned so much more from these discussion boards than anything else.

Hello Ladies,



So many women on this thread, it breaks my heart. I participated in a treatment thread on youngsurvival.org starting April 2007 and those women were such a great support. I've met all of them in person and we keep up by Facebook these days. I'm the only one of that group to face cancer a second time. We found a new primary on my annual MRI in March. I had a double mastectomy with immediate DIEP reconstruction 8 weeks ago. I had planned to start chemo 4 weeks post surgery, but during my surgery I had a stroke to my optic nerve and lost vision in one of my eyes. I've been on a heavy dose of prednisone and waiting for the swelling to go down, and I am now coming off of that and adjusting to the change in my vision.



I'll be starting TCH on July 10, and going every 3 weeks for 6 treatments, then continue the Herceptin for a year.



I see there are several of us on this thread doing chemo for the second time. Gosh this sucks doesn't it? Sometimes I feel like I can handle this because I've done it before. I know how to navigate this. But now I know so much more, and the fear of all the things that can go wrong is causing me great anxiety about my decision. I had a very rare surgery complication, so its not so hard to believe I could be the rare minority that goes into heart failure or any number of outcomes. I also worry the emotional fallout ahead. I'm trying to take really good care of myself in every way I can.



I'm not even afraid of the cancer. I've been through being afraid of that for a long while. I just want my life back and I'm pissed that it has been derailed like this again.



I'm 43, single, and I have an 8 year old son.

Hi Marsha, 

   I am so sorry to hear of your reoccurance.  You certainly have been through it all.  But your still here and am glad you decided to join the July "Firecrackers" thread.  We can all lean on each other and will come through with a bang.  I will be starting my chemo within the next week also.  I do not have the exact date, as the Dr. is leaving it up to me as to what treatment I receive.  Needless to say there are alot of sleepless nights.  I know what you mean about your life being derailed.  Its seems like it has been so long already and the journey has barely begun.  How was your life after your 1st treatment.  Did it ever get back to "normal"?  Your hair looks gorgeous.  Was that taken after your treatments?  You give us all strength.   God Bless us all

Hannahriggs-what a cute name July "firecrackers".   I think we will all "sparkle" like sparklers!  When I see the fireworks this week I will think of you all here.  I guess if I have to be in a chemo group I am glad to be in the firecracker one!

I can tell you a little about my chemo experience from 4 years ago.  I was really scared when I went in for my first treatment, so much that I burst into tears in my oncologist office.  She had never even seen me cry but said that was a common reaction because we are so afraid of the unknown.  I never got sick but I was very tired.   Chemo brain was a big problem for me.  I could not remember anything and had to make list of things.  I do not know how many times I left my keys in the car.   I had a really great natural hair wig that I got from a lady that has a boutique here in Atlanta.  She matches it to your current hairstyle and color before you lose your hair.  It looked perfect and there were many people that had no idea I had lost my hair.  I only wore it to work and if I was out with my kids.  At home I just went natural. Let me tell you, bald does not look good on me!

I was very tired and would go home and take a nap everyday after work.  Then I would make myself get up and take a walk.  Believe it or not the walking helped so much.  The whole chemo process can seem so overwhelming.  Even though I have been through it before I am still scared this time around. I am doing a different chemo this time so I have no idea how it will affect me. This is my second recurrence and I am starting to wonder what is the point?   I am glad we have a group to support us here even though I wish none of us had to be here for this reason. 

Marsha- so sorry you are facing this again.  I can relate to you saying you want your life back.  I feel like I am being held hostage by this cancer. 

Karen     

Hello everyone.  My name is Melissa and it looks like I get to join the chemo in July club  July 12 is my start date.  We will be placing a port soon. I have a severe fear of needles and told the onco, that if he wanted me drugged up on Ativan for the next 20 weeks.. please do the port.  He agreed with me.  I will be about 6 weeks since my surgery.  I am so scared to do this, but I want to kick cancer's butt and not have anything left.  The only reason I am now doing the chemo is because it snuck into the nodes.  Otherwise, it would have been just surgery.  I will be doing 4 bi-weekly treatments of AC then 12 weekly of T.  I look forward to the wonderful support of you all, as well as being able to be of some support.  If anyone wants to catch me on facebook, I look forward to meeting you there as well.  just PM me and I will send you my fb link.  love n hugs to everyone. 

I started AC this morning..worst part was being bored.  Go back for a shot tomorrow.  I was hungry when we left but food does not taste good at all, kind of like I was sucking on pennies  Met a lot of nice people while I was there..Good luck to all that are just starting too