Starting Chemo June 2013!?!?!

Annika, that's great news! I start round 1 DD AC tomorrow. Nervous and ready to get rolling.

Anyone have words of advice before I get rolling?

Hi all, 

I've not been posting much but I'm around.  Gearing up for my final AC on Thursday.  Yes, I do find emotions can swing to the depressed side leading up to it.  We JUST start to feel better and then boom back on the train.  I try to remind myself that it is short term - even though it feels like a very long journey.  So, this Thurs will be 1/2 way thru chemo for me and we are doing same thing as last time so that mean nausea beast has been beaten to submission and I am in control.  Next is 4 rounds of Paxitaxcil (sp?).  

We can do this.  I try to only take on as much info as I need at one time.  Today I talked to the Onc about side effects for next round.  Just wasn't ready to hear it or think about it too much prior to now.  

Annika - great news, nice to hear.

Dyvgrl - best of luck tomorrow.  I wish you an easy time with few and manageable side effects.  Just go with the day, the nurses will be great and before you know it you will be back home.

Making a bunch of individual pizza's for dinner.  A few will go in the freezer for hubs for next week.  Must get myself into the kitchen.  

Best to all of you.

I would suggest very very freak went smaller meals. Im not sure it controls the chemo nausea but sure is helping me tolerate the nausea meds much better.

Praying for no storms for you Dyvgrl. Had major nausea puke day today....oh well cancer feels worse!!!

I just got home from my 3rd infusion.  I have been falling for no reason, dizzy, low blood pressure and onco was worried.  Said she would cut infusion way down.  Right after infusion started I got throat tightening, hot, red face, low back pain and blood pressure 80/50.  Nurse asked if I was okay and I said, "not sure".  She shut it off and went to talk to onco, while another nurse stayed with me.  Nurse came back in and said, "you are finished with chemo!!!"  No more!!!!!!!!!  I will see her in 3 weeks and later will be starting radiation.  Nurse said I could have been in serious trouble if they hadn't caught it immediately.

Scary Netter Glad they saw it and stopped!!! Feel better, will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!

Did Round 3 of AC on Tuesday, then came home and collapsed.  Went back in on Wednesday for a liter of fluids and some zolfran.  Felt pretty good til about 2:00 this morning.  Have been exhausted ALL day today.  Finally made it my little boys championship baseball game tonight (and they won!).  But I'm headed for bed now cuz I still have to try to work tomorrow.  Ugh!  One more AC and I pray the Taxol is easier! 

Netter - that is so scarey!  My blood pressure has a tendency to tank too but usually a couple days after tx. 

Dyvgrl - strange that you passed out.  Hope things get better.  Eat a lot of protein, drink a lot of water!

Chemo sucks so does radiation. Well as of this week we don't have to buy the Emend because they now put it in the iv instead. Also the dexadron pills but have to say round 3 has been very hard for me from day 1 feel so nauseous and tired. I keep saying I don't want to do this anyomore. My nails are turning dark at the cuticles. When the tuck can they come up with something that kills cancer and not kill everything. Else in our bodies everyone says you cant quit you only have 5 left well I'm just so sick of feeling sick for a person who never was sick in my life. Now I'm truly ill. Feel well to all have to go her neulasta shot now. Netter hope you feel week. Dvygrl Emend.

Hey katiak that's exactly how I feel im trying.so hard to keep.from vomiting. I took Emend decadron and smoked a little the burning king my chest and throat and stomach is so intense have any ideas I keep crying for no reason too. I don't want to do this anymore feels like forever.

Just keep reminding yourself that this temporary regimen of chemo is necessary to prevent the cancer from spreading.  Once cancer has spread chemo becomes, more or less, a permanent way of life.  I'm in that boat now and have to accept chemo as a way to stay alive.  I hope that everyone here gets through their treatments and never have to fight this demon again.  Hang in there! 

Netter, will you be doing hormone therapy? I think that will cover you just as well. It will starve out the cancer instead of destroying everything.

Anyone have any tips for the bone pain? I'm taking Claritin but its not helping. My hips and my legs are killin me!

It seems like each AC tx is a little bit worse, but I'm definitely feeling better today.  I can only take 1/2 dose of the decadron or I spin in place.  By evening I'm taking .25 mg xanax to hold still anyway.  Tonight I may take .25 mg more with Compazine.  I'm trying to eat good and exercise when I can but the oncs are inducing so much misery that by damn I'm going to make it as easy on myself as possible.  We'll deal with the repercussions to that when I'm healthy again.  Ice cream is my friend - but I do throw it in a milkshake with fruits and vegies and ground flax seed to ease my guilt.  I'm dreading the final AC and looking forward to it being the last one.  I've read that Taxol is easier and I've read that Taxol is worse.  I've read that taking B6, B12 and alpha lipoic acid helps with the neuropathy.  Can't hurt right?  Vitamin B is water soluble.  I am pretty nervous about a new set of SE's.

dim425 - I've thought about how easy it would be to quit now.  Don't do it.  You have to know you did everything you could do kick this cancer in the ass.  I think about that C&W song "in my next 30 years".  Haha!  I also think about the moldy oldy "Go Ask Alice" cuz some pills make you tall and some pills make you small.  (Sorry - I love music and can relate so well!)  Anyway. . . I want to know I've done my best.  I still have three kids to raise.  I don't want them to grow up without their Momma.

dyvgrl - Hang on girl!  You sound like a strong woman so find your nitch and get in it.  Do what you have to do to survive for now, then back on track when it's more feasible.  I should take my own advice.   

I swear it feels like they're trying to kill me - but so far I've come back so . . . good luck with that!  Alaskan summer's are fleeting and this has been a rare nice one so I'm feeling a little cheated.  And I never look forward to Thanksgiving in July but this year I am cuz then I'm done with chemo and rads.  I'm hoping for hair (peach fuzz?) by Christmas.

Chins up everybody!  Hope you have a good weekend and minimal SE's.  Prayers for everybody!

Good morning ladies I still feel so wiped out I slept all day. So nauseous dry heaving. Ativan makes me shaky decadron too. So miserable but I really do appreciate all your advice " aaoaao your.my hero". And I too cannot wait for thanksgiving and Christmas And mostly to get rid of 2013. 2014 will be better. 13 is not a good number for.me my husband died on April 13. I keep sing the Kelly clarkson song "what doesn't kill you.makes you stronger. And Netter maybe its time you try western medicine get the book knockout and see if that helps there are no other eastern meds except radation. I have the book and its very impowering. Does compazine make you loopy

Day four, round 1. Feeling ok except for the bone pain. Moving seems to help. The more I lay around the more it hurts. Need to get moving and get some housework done. Gonna shave my head tomorrow. Let the kids have their way with it. Any ideas on how to make this fun? Really wish a few bottles of wine were on the agenda!