August 2013 Chemo Sisters

Hi Cutiecool, I am sorry that this is happening to you, but you have found the best place you can be for help and support, I can not speak to a lot of your questions as I too am starting chemo on 8/15. I share a lot of your fears, and the fear of the unknown I have found to be one of the worst. Threre are a lot of fantastic women here that will help you And I and a lot of others navigate this SCARY time in our lives. Have a nice vacation, try to relax some and keep us posted.



Shary🌞

Welcome Lily!  

Hi everyone.  I know today is July 30th but so close to August.  I had my first chemo today one of 4  every 3 weeks  t/c.  I see alot of you . fearful and I think its more so because of the unknown.  At least it was for me.  Each step I felt better.  As you read and talk and learn more you will be calmer.  Make a list of things you want to do and check them off  it kinda makes your head stop swimming so much.

I love what hvv posted, so encourageing.  even if i had a year to live i would not want it to be in fear.  Although sometimes fear is hard to overcome we know you can do it.  When its over you will be so much stronger.

I will keep you posted on my progress and maybe it will help someone.   The chemo treatment went very well. So far 6 hrs later i still feel fine  maybe a little fuzzy haha

Stay strong you can do it!!

I have been posting in the July group. I was supposed to start my chemo on July 18th but it was delayed due to some additional testing. Just found out today that I am starting my chemo on August 1st. This is my second recurrence and my second go round with chemo but this is a much different chemo "cocktail" so I am a little nervous. I look forward to getting to know you all over the next months and hope that we can help each other as we go through chemo.

Hi Ladies, been posting the July 2013 chemo thread, but I kinda fit here too, my second treatment with be Aug. 2.

To the ladies that are startin on the first and 2nd, try not to worry.  It's a long boring day, but it's not painful or even scary really.  It's like a jacked up spa day.  You lay in a recliner with warm blankets, watch tv, read, play on your laptop or whatever.  After my first treatment, I felt great (thanks to the streriods) went out to lunch, every night I'd go to bed scared I was going to wake up and the chemo had kicked in and it would be just awful...I've never been sick. Just a little tired and constipation that was pretty bad, but know what to do now so that doesn't happen.  My mo said they can control 95% of side effects, so don't suffer with any, call your mo right away.

Best of luck to all you ladies.  I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks Jelly !! 

Lily-f

I did chemo in 2009 and I was able to continue working during treatment.  I have a desk job so it may be different if your job is one where you are on the go alot.  Also, everyone does react differently to chemo so it is hard to know until you get started with your plan.  I will be starting a new chemo treatment plan tomorrow and while I am optimistic that I will feel the same as I did four years ago, I really do not have any idea.  I plan on working but if I can not for some reason, I will not hesitate to take time off.  It really is about taking the time to heal yourself.  

babyruth said it well from what I read on the july chemo thread, you really dont know how you will feel day to day or treatment to treatment.  I work in a hospital so I took the time off.  right now i feel good enough to work but never know what later will bring.  As alot of women have said if you can take time off...its time to take of yourself.  I do have to talk myself out of feeling bad for not going to work but I have to realize its ok.

welcome lily,  i had the oncotype test done (determines percent for recurrance) also came back high, hence chemo was added to the treatment plan but anything to not have it come back.

Rayna- thanks for sharing ur story. Glad to read that you're doing ok.



Lily- I'll be working, but I have a wonderful boss who is very accommodating....so I will plan to be remote and whenever I feel up to it...I will then go in to the office



HVV- sorry to hear you are sore from the port but it should be better shortly. I had my surgery on 7/22 and now it feels ok, but was sore the first few nights when trying to sleep. I call my bump "Al" as it feels like an alien just below my shoulder.



If anyone needs a laugh, I will try to accommodate...

Tomorrow is my first treatment, so I guess I needed this...here goes-

I was supposed to have my wig fitting tonight, so I arranged for my hubby and friend to meet me there. We arrive and they say the spa is closed, and I mention that I had an appt at 6p. Turns out the girl called in sick that day and I didn't get the message of the cancellation. Later learned they called my house and left the MSG there.



So, we decide to go out for dinner. The waitress knocks my glass over and the full glass of tea falls right in my lap. I laugh uncontrollably because otherwise we would have to cry, right? Then, she comes back later and looks frazzled again...she lost our order ticket...probably got soaked while performing cleanup of the wet table. We laugh again. If I wasn't stressed, I may have gotten irritated but we laughed it off and tried to make the waitress feel better.



Both places provided some "perks" to make up for the shortfalls, but I must say...I was slightly concerned about driving home given my recent luck. Lol



Anyway, the point is things wont always be rosy, but let's try to get a laugh in even if it might be at our own expense. We're going to win this battle yet!



Hugs to you all! Let's all hope for minimal to no nausea.

Yes it is taxol. Getting lots of anti Nausea meds. Steroids. Hubby and I are going to Washington for my step daughters wedding. Aug 10. So I will start chemo the 19 th. I'm freaked to start it. Anyone have advice on hair loss? I have mid length hair. Should I cut it after or before the first treatment? Any one have to take anxiety meds too? I feel like I. Losing my mind. Not only can't I think straight, I can't talk straight....ughhhh

Cutiekool:

I was terrified to start chemo and am still a little worried about my second one on Aug. 13. But I think as I started reading what others had been through really helped take some anxiety away, I asked everyone what I needed to know for the first treatment and appreciated their imput. I wore comfy clothes, they say to take along a couple small ice packs if you have any otherwise the nurse should have some, you will wrap them around your hands and feet while they are administering the chemo, it is suppose to slow the blood in your hands and feet and prevent neuropathy from happening, I have since bought some for home and each day use them myself. Take along a book, Ipad, music, earbuds, some favorite cookies or crackers, crosswords. I didn't use any of it for the first treatment there just seemed like a lot going on around me and then when I had the reaction they gave me a big dose of Benadryl and that made me really sleepy so I kept dozing off. I think for the rest of the treatments I will use some of that stuff, it goes by actually quite quickly about 3 hours.

I had long hair and a week ago I put my head upside down and combed it into a ponytail on the top (not crown) of my head then checked to see if it was combed smoothly then cut it off at the ponytail, (i cut off over a foot of hair). I had to touch it up a bit and had my husband straighten out the back but it turned out quite amazing, all layered. I wanted to be in control of losing my hair and not the cancer. They say your head will start to tingle a few days before it falls out so I'm just waiting for that feeling and then I will shave my own head (again I get to be in control). I think the shaving will be pretty traumatic and I'm sure I will cry, we don't look sick until our hair falls out and we lose our natural skin glow because we get all pale. I think that is a hard part. Oh, the reason I cut my own hair and didn't go to a stylist is because we were camping and I couldn't make appointment for before chemo started. Hope this helps. Yes, I did take some Ativan before chemo and the nurse gave me some more when I got there, ask they will give you what ever you need to make this as bearable as possible. I also know what you mean about wanting to start and not wanting to start. I think when it gets close we just want to get on with it. You'll do great, we all will kick this cancers ASS!!!

Love, Rayna