Starting Chemo July 2013

Hi SweetheartinTX, and everyone else

Made it through port placement surgery fine. Glad you did as well! Yes, I'm sore too - now on both sides (lol). It wasn't too bad, but I took one half a pain pill so I could rest, once again on my wedge pillow! Glad they did it this week so I'll have a little time to heal.

Thanks for checking </p>

Just noticed you start chemo tomorrow, SweetheartinTX !!! Here's to getting started kicking some BC butt you'll do great!

its you and me tomorrow sweetheartin!  I am excited to get started but apprehensive at the same time.  Praying we both have an easy infusion with minimal side effects.  Good luck sister...

Thank you Hanna and Soriya123! Good luck to you as well!

I'm a member of this group too. I found out on Monday that I will have chemo (AC/T) before surgery and then rads. I had a pet/cat scan today and it changed my diagnosis from IIb to IIIa. A little larger and 3 nodes that they weren't expecting. Fri July 12 I get my port in the morning (really small veins, it usually takes three or four tries to get a vein) and chemo starts at 2:00.  Need to figure the wig thing out soon. Don't think I want strangers staring at me at the grocery store. I have a hair apt. in the morning and will ask what options there are locally. I know I will get through this but still have crying episodes a couple of times a day - mostly feeling sorry for myself. I hate the thought of being unwell and unable to do what I want to do when I want to do it. I am a fighter and will come out the other side OK. Fighting cancer just wasn't on my bucket list and now it's my number one priority. Enough pity and on to the battle! I'm glad I found this group and a place to give and get support.

Hello ladies,

New to this in terms of posting but on it since diagnosis back in may 2013. I start my chemo A/c treatment this Thursday and it finally hit me that this is real and is happening to ME and no I am not going to wake up from a bad dream. I am so scared behind belief so i can use any help/advice i can get from you all. I know together we will get through this, maybe it doesnt seem too doable at this time but i know the more we know the more prepared we are to fight this beast.  Waiting to hear from you ....

Diagnosed 5/2013 DIC 11positive lymph nodes out of 17, tumor 2cm, stage III breast cancer, Her2+ ER PR+ lumpectomy 6/2013

Ladies, do they numb you first before they put that port in? Please tell me Yes.

Hannariggs and sweetheart, best of luck with the infusion today.

I had my Neulasta yesterday. Took claritin in the morning, and it seemed to be working. Heard that SE tend to come a couple of days after the chemo, so i'm waiting for the shoe to drop. Plan on shaving my hair this weekend or next. It's getting hot, so no hair isn't going to be too bad.

HoneyBunny - I concur with the emotional nature of the port!!!  I was JUST getting a good range of motion back on my right side from mx, now THIS on the left - sigh - just another hurdle!  A good friend last night helped me put it in perspective, as one more step in the trek to beat this cancer's butt ;-)

Michelle - "Welcome" is probably not what you want to hear right now, but this site and these ladies have been extremely helpful to me since I joined.  I'll be praying for you with your first chemo tomorrow - I start A/C next Wednesday.  Check out this set of posts regarding what to expect, side effects, suggestions, etc.: 

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/785189?page=1#idx_1

{hugs}

Hi Michelle69

I too start chemo tmrw

Took my dexamethasone tonight. So far no ill effects. We went out for a meal to celebrate my last day of normal taste buds !!

Willykers ..I am on TC x4. seems to be a standard protocol in AUS due to adriamycin SEs with heart etc

Have stocked up on Emla patches to numb hand prior to cannula Hope my vein holds up. Port was never a choice given to me

How did you go today Hannariggs and sweetheart??

NC x

This is such a scary time for all of us.  Chemo affects each person differently, in varying degrees.  We don't know if we'll be one of the lucky ones who has very few to no side effects or if we'll have almost every one on the list.  All we can do is be prepared for all of them.  We feel helpless; we feel like we have no control over our lives or our health.  But the truth is, we DO have control!  Each of us has taken the most important step into healing our bodies - we have chosen to battle cancer head-on! 

Did you know that there are a lot of people who just bury their heads in the sand and refuse treatment because they can't accept the diagnosis?  The feeling is understandable; this is terrifying.  Choosing to ignore the truth doesn't make it any less true, though.  YOU didn't do that...YOU chose to fight.  Just remember that one thing.  If you are feeling scared, lost, helpless...that is normal.  Just remember that you are strong and the proof of that is when you are sitting in the chemo chair or on the rads table or taking your Tamoxifen or AI pill every morning.  THAT is how YOU are fighting and being an active participant in your fight for health.

We are all sisters.  We will support each other with love, kindness, and understanding.  I'm so grateful for BCO and all the ladies here who have made me feel not so alone.  Bless us all!

Wyllikers

Hi all!

Sorry we're late to the game with this info, but we wanted to provide some helpful links, starting with the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Chemotherapy, including info on what to expect, types of chemo meds, and side effect management.

There are some really helpful key threads here in the Chemo forum too!

Great tips and practical advice on the following discussion board threads:

• Tips for getting through chemotherapy
• More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
• PORT PLACEMENT: Detailed description of process
• Head Covering Options for Hair Loss
• wig advice
• Cold Cap Users Past and Present, to Save Hair

Also, Last Month's Chemo thread might be informative!

Hope you find this helpful!

--Your Mods

My hairdresser was very helpfull today. The nearest wig shop is almost an hour away but she says they are good at fitting and then she can style it. And no Soriya123, I don't think you're being too picky. We just want what we want.  I spent a bunch at the grocery store today trying to stock up for the next week. Never bought so many health care items at one time before. 

I woke up Tues morning with hives all over my body - too much stress I guess. I've never had them before. I was thinking that the antihistamines in Claritin might help calm them down as long as it's alright to take them right before chemo? Sounds like I can. I'm dreading Fri. but also wish it were here already. This waiting is for the birds.  Pulling up my big girl panties and getting ready to battle. Time to pack my bag of goodies to take with me.

LanaM and Sweetheartin TX - Looks like 5/24/13 was not a good day for any of us! I was at Cracker Barrel when I got the call. We were celebrating Kindergarten graduation. It's petty and senseless but I will never eat at Cracker Barrel again. lol I just picture myself pacing outside the building hearing "It's cancer" and have sworn the place off!



My port isn't really bothering me but where my lymph nodes were taken, it still is numb but also weirdly hurty. How are other people feeling where there nodes were removed? My surgery was June 20th and by the end of the day at work, I'm in pain.

Hi All, 

  Just got back from my first infusion, and it went very well.  Long day, but still did a little shopping and took my dogs for a short walk.  I drank over a gallon of water yesterday and today.  Hopefully that will help.  In fact the nurses told me I may be urinating red for a few days.  My first one was red and now its clear.  I am sure the water is helping.  My onco also prescribed me a cream that I rub on my wrists in the case of nausea instead of a suppository.  Along with other pills.  I also ate ice chips during the ac infusion. That helped as well.  As strange as it sounds it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders to actually start my treatment.  I was making myself sick with worry, stress and anxiety on what MIGHT happen.  Now i will know and deal with it when it happens.   I went to the treatment center happy and jovial because there is an end but we have to start at the beginning to get there. I am excited to get to number 2.  I will continue to pray for minimal side effects for all of us.  Try not to worry sisters....

Wylikkers-LOVED your post.  It is so true and inspirational.  

Has anyone heard from sweetheartin?