Starting Chemo July 2013

Ok girls, strange, troubling symptom! My ankles and lower legs are swelling (edema). Of course I was on my feet much of the day, but...

Soaking in the tub right now (yes, with my iPad - "Danger, Will Robinson, danger!"), then to bed with my feet propped above my heart. If it's not better in the morning I guess I'll make a phone call



On a brighter note, got my Neulasta shot this afternoon and haven't had the slightest sensation of bone or muscle pain! Hoping it's the Claratin at work



BabyRuth, hate you're having to delay your treatment! But it's important you're treated with the best possible drugs snd regimen - hang in there!!! I understand though, since patience is NOT one of my virtues ;-)

Hi everyone. My 1st chemo was 7/11. The hardest part has been fatigue. Days 2 & 3 I hardly got off the couch. After that it got slowly better, but even by day 7 I needed to rest after being out doing errands for just an hour. If the fatigue gets worse with each treatment I'm worried that I wont have any good days between treatments! I'm curious to hear if side effects after the second treatment are similar or worse than the first.



Even though I had some nausea and constipation it didn't get too bad before the meds did their job. I had no appetite for a few days, but made sure I ate a little every couple of hours and drinking lots of fluids. The only real surprise has been a yeast infection. A friend suggested starting a probiotic to help with all the digestive issues. Sounds like a good idea. Has anyone tried that?

I would love to have some input about working during chemo. I start Monday with TC - 4 cycles every 3 weeks. I am a 3rd grade teacher and usually by this time in the summer I start going in to get my classroom ready. The students return on August 13th; my 2nd treatment is August 12th. I am extremely fortunate to work in a district that has unlimited sick leave. I was off all of the month of May for my surgery, returning only on the last day to say goodbye to my class. I could get a long-term sub and take off until my chemo treatment is finished if I felt I needed to. Everyone keeps telling me I should take care of myself and not worry about working. Just not sure if I can do this. The first few weeks are so important in a classroom as far as establishing routines and expectations and developing relationships. I can't imagine not being there. But I am also no spring chicken (60 years old) and teaching on a regular day can be so exhausting, let alone adding in chemo fatigue. I could also do an on and off schedule like 2 weeks off and one week on.



I know that I will know more about how I'll feel physically in the next two weeks but I need to start making arrangements. This is really weighing on me. If you had the luxury of not working during chemo, would you do it?

Hi Lark - I think it's different for everyone, and while I've heard each treatment gets a bit tougher, it's also been suggested to me to get up and move, even with the fatigue (take a short walk and get some fresh air, do small chores, etc.). Tomorrow is day #3 for me, and so far I've had minimal SEs - except now I've got swollen ankles and lower legs!!! Maybe from being out and about on my feet all day??? Hang in there



Jnprsn - I, too, was shocked by he weirdness of he port placement. For the first few days, every time I laughed or made a face that required my neck to stretch I felt it in my upper incision . I was upset b/c I was doing so well with my post-mx range of motion, and felt it was a set back! Much better now, a week out, but I still have pain over the top of my actual port when I stretch my chest too much!



JeriGrace - I think working or not through this is a very personal decision. I agree with Marsha's advice to take care of you first, but I know several teacher friends who've not missed a day, and who've said working kept them sane and took their minds off being "sick" (one was a h.s. teacher, and one 5th grade). The one thing I'd be wary of is the high potential for infection, especially during your nadir for WBCs. I've just switched from h.s. to college, and my onco said he'd rather I NOT go into the schools and supervise middle grades student teachers - part of my new job I was looking forward to! So I'd suggest you put a cleanliness plan in pace, with lots of handwashing, sanitizer bottles, tissues, etc., and mnimize bodily contact with the little ones (SO tough to do!). I AM going to try to teach my classes as best I can, and my first day with students is also day 2 after a treatment. I'm fortunate, like you, to have been offered some flexibility, but DON'T have the luxury of sick days now (left behind over 60 of them when I switched careers). Maybe you could think about working part-time? If your school can get a long-term in and you can go in 2-3 days a week to get to know your kids for when you return??? Again though, it's important to do what makes YOU happy, and NOT stressed out during chemo

Thank you Rambo50 , it wasn't as bad as I thought . Feeling foggy , fatigued , and have terrible headache. Today I use the neulasta inj , was told to take advil only prior . This is not easy but I pray we win this war with minimal SE and no permanent reaction .

Wishing you breeze through this !

Soriya , I had an IV 1st time port sore and very bruised . Took 3 nurses and 4 sticks to access . Wishing you health!

Mellie289 thank you , my thought and prayers go out to all of you .

Nocompromises - I went in yesterday for my "nurse check"  (it was day 7 after my 1st A/C cycle).  My white blood cells were 0.2 also.  And I had the Neulasta shot the day after my 1st cycle.  She said it's perfectly normal, but to wash even more frequently, use sanitizer, and avoid crowds/sick people/grocery carts, etc...  I told her I live with 2 petri dishes - my daughters who are 6 and 2 1/2 years old!  It's hard to avoid them   I've felt healthy and strong all week.  It was a bummer to hear news that something was low.  It's hard to hear there isn't anything you can do to be proactive to boost it up either.  She said the Neulasta should take care of it - but why hasn't it in 7 days?!  I just don't want one round delayed.  I want this over ASAP.

I'm a week out from my port placement and first chemo. The port was sore for the first four days and then I realized it was the bandaging doing a lot of the pulling. I took them off and found out I had an allergic reaction to the tape and was breaking out in blisters. I put some cortisone cream on the patches and that helped immensely. I was pretty fatigued the first three days with a sore throat and chills one day but am getting around a lot better now. The nausea is still hanging in there. I was started on compazine and that just didn't cut it. When I switched to zofran it was a lot better but I still get nauseated after I eat or drink. It's getting better day by day.  I have a weak stomach in the best of times. I go Mon. for my first blood test.

I just found out that I'm scheduled for a meeting with the PS after my next chemo. I haven't even decided whether I'm having a lumpectomy, mx or dmx. How did you decide what to do? My CS says its up to me. I thought I'd have more time and maybe this is just a meeting to lay out the options. Help!

Mellie289, for me it was hard to say which days in the first week were better/worse since different issues came up and it depends on how well i slept the night before. If it were me, I probably would prefer to rest the day on and after the treatment, as i slept quite a bit those days (the steroid didn't affect my sleep too much either). Maybe you can check with your MO if you start on, say Friday, and see how things go for you, and then if needed switch to a Monday or Wednesday, would that be a big problem -- that will give you some flexibility in figuring out what your own responses are like.

Sweetheartin TX, hope everything is fine. My heart racing only happens a few times randomly, and seems to have gone these days (knock on wood).

Grace, I would think it will be a meeting to discuss different surgical options.  At this point, there is no way to know just how successful your chemo will be.  My chemo (a/c x 4 @ 3 wk intervals) almost totally wiped out the two large tumors I had, leaving mostly just a need for mopping up.  So my surgeon just did a lumpectomy, took samples to run through pathology, checked the margins where the tumors had been, and pulled out that lonely little 3mm residual cancer bit from what had been the larger of the two tumors.  Also, a SLNB biopsy was clear.  The mastectomy option was dropped. I'm at the last of my rads now, just 4 boosts to go, and I will be turned loose for a month or two (which in itself is scary).

Good luck in your treatment.  You can beat this.

Carol

I received a call back from my nurse and she told me to start doing the salt and baking soda rinses but she is also calling in a prescription rinse for me. So hopefully this will be the end to sore throat for me.



Thanks for all the input ladies.



I am a week and 2 days past my first chemo and I actually feel pretty good today. I had enough energy to go through my pantry and get rid of all unwanted/expired stuff.



Oh and yesterday I went to my plastic surgeon and got expanded another 120cc's. For a grand total of 240cc's so far. I actually look like I have boobies again.

Nocomprimises,



i too wish i would have done the same with mine. I had one removed about 3 years ago but i still have the one on the left side of my mouth. And it isn't bothering me right now but no one ever told me i should have gotten my teeth looked at before chemo. I hope it doesn't decide to start bothering me within the next 6 months.

Just wanted to touch base and say my 1st chemo today went well - no SE's yet (knock on wood!). I did have a blood clot in the port again so they had to clear that again. I was a little worried with a blood clot in it just 2 days ago & another already today, but the chemo nurse didn't seem worried at all. I go in Monday for my shot & I'm going to start Claritan tonight due to all the suggestions on that. And keeping track of the meds oh my - I feel like a pharmacy! LOL I thought I was going to have a real issue @ pharmacy because we went 2 pick up several prescriptions and he said they couldn't fill one of them until Monday and of course it was the Emend - I said that's not acceptable I need that one for nausea! 2 or 3 discussions later & after having my onco nurse talk to pharmacist they called around & found a place with 2 pills for me for the weekend! Hoping everyone is doing well!

I feel exactly every thing you said thank you so much for your encouragement.



Gma04

Lark after my first treatment I got a yeast infection. I never used the MEDS they sent me because I started rinsing with a squirt bottle every time I used the potty. It worked .Also get on probiotics 50 million one a day it works for indigestion. I will have my next and 2nd infusion

WED. WILL LET YOU KNOW. How it goes.

Hugs from TEXAS

GMA04