September 2013 Chemo Group

Alfranco I'm giving myself shots of the neupogen - they teach you how and then send you home with them.

Lovewins if you can eat lean protein eat it!  I couldn't eat anything of substance for around 5-7 days because of the nausea, but I found I HAD to put something in my mouth every 2 hours on the clock, even if it was an instant breakfast or a few crackers.  Also, the weird taste in your mouth will make most things taste differently than you're used to, so this is the perfect time to try something you wouldn't normally - I've discovered V-8 tastes awesome when normally I can't stand it.

As for the fat, I still can't really do much, although I successfully ate a brautworst (sp) today, lol.  I got a weird craving for Ding Dongs (I swear chemo is more like pregnancy than pregnancy itself), and even though the nausea has subsided, that didn't sit well in my belly at all.  So eat what sounds good, just keep it to small portions so your digestive system can handle it.

Good luck to everyone starting your treatments, you've got this :-)

Thank you bearcub!!!

Hi Baby Ruth and all the best to you. I have been lurking since my diagnosis but thought it time to register and participate. This is overall a wonderful forum. I do research in ovarian cancer and have no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, but mu DH and I lost our oldest son to hepatoblastoma when he was three years old, some 21 years ago. This was a whole new learning curve for me to have been diagnosed with breast cancer! I have had a right sided mastectomy, one drain, and started adjuvant dose dense AC last Tuesday (September 3). This will be followed by T plus Herceptin since HER2 was amplified. ER and PR were negative. The doctor also requested HER1 (EGFR) and I am curious why this was done if there are no particularly effective means to target this protein? Anyone else have experience with EGFR testing and how that info is used?



One other question - anyone have trouble with balancing while on Adivan? I have also emailed my MO about this but hoping you all might provide a quicker reply 😉. Thanks so much to all you amazing women for sharing your experiences - reading these forums is a source of inspiration, reality, and provides a sense of belonging, although I suspect none if us really wants to belong here...

bearcub - thank you for your post.  I have learned so much from all of the women who have "been there, done that" before me, and although I hate that anyone else has to go through this, it is so meaningful to read posts like yours!

lovewins - honestly, I found that I could eat pretty much whatever tastes good.  I have the most awful taste in my mouth, so finding something that actually fits that description is difficult!  But I've been able to eat soup, chicken, grilled cheese, mashed potatoes (yum!), crackers, cereal, popcorn, etc.  Drinks are the worst for me.  Everything tastes oily and blah except for Sprite or lemonade.  At least for this first cycle I think I was lucky... I was only SICK to my stomach the first two days, and even then I was still able to eat.

Jelly - I am constantly comparing chemo to pregnancy!! It's crazy....having to eat all the time, being SO darn tired, the weird cravings, the emotions... ugh.  I guess instead of a cute little baby we get to look forward to a clean bill of health at the end, huh?

My latest obsession?  Cinnamon red hots!  It's the ONLY thing that gets rid of the yuck taste.

thanks lhl...i am eating a small scoop of mashed potatoes and rotissier chicken right...could hold off the protein any longer!  it does seem like i want to eat more often...never been pregnant!  Have a wonderful day!

What is it about mashed potatoes?  That's one of my go-to's too :-)  I'm totally trying the red hots...

Positivenegative, you should post a picture once your head is clean - I've managed to keep my full head of hair so far (I'm on day 10), but once it goes and I buzz it I'll post a pic.  The August ladies have been doing that and I think it helps - part of me wants to run from that but the other part knows it will be easier once I'm used to it.

Welcome to the ladies posting for the first time!

Thanks JellyK my PS decided to not even begin the fills until I have completed chemo and radiation...ugh so I'm thinking r u telling me I have to keep these rocks in my chest for 5-6 months before we begin fills and hope the radiation does not damage my tissue on that side. Does this sound right to any of u ladies on this thread. The expander was put in August 7 2013 immediately following my mastectomy.

Thanks babyruth I wish I could get some expansion. I will be a month out from surgery with recon on the 7th of September my PS wants to delay fills until after chemo and radiation I don't know if its due to the radiation that may damage tissue

My first post on the site although like many people, I have been lurking for awhile.  I was diagnosed in June and had surgery in mid July.  I delayed chemo in order to do fertility preservation treatment which I just completed.  I am scheduled for my port on Monday and chemo (TCx6) for Thursday the 12th.  Crazy anxious but I have done so much research that I feel so much better than I did a month ago.  I am going to be on Lupron at the same time as my onc thinks it will protect my ovaries from some of the effects of the chemo.  Supposed to give me menopause like symptoms so on top of chemo...woohoo.  My mom will be flying in for the surgery and for almost a week after my infusion so I have a lot of help for the first go round.  At least I will know (mostly) how I react and can then plan accordingly (I am a big planner).  My fiancee is amazingly supportive and I am so grateful for his presence.  I also have a 20 month old daughter and am glad that at least she is at the age that I don't have to worry about what to say and how to explain this to her.  But I do have a cute story....

I told her after my surgery that mommy has an owie and showed her where, she now gives me a hug and pulls my shirt to see my armpit, points and says owie, and kisses it....what else do I need really.....

Otherwise sad that any of us have to be here but I see this as a wake up call to treat myself better and to Be Present.     Wishing all of us an 'easy' chemo.

ddfw, I was was also given TCH - H for a year, then rads. Have you heard of cold cap therapy? I used cold caps and kept my hair. My onc had never heard of them, but researched them and wished me luck.

Chemo class done. Really could have found a better way to spend an afternoon but I guess rules are rules lol

Alfranco I picked up the vials at the pharmacy and have a nurse coming in the two days after chemo for injection lessons. I have a good drug plan thank goodness because 1100 dollars for a prescription is crazy...and this is the cheap one. Don't think I am going to enjoy injecting my abdomen but guess I'll get used to it

getting tired of all this water.  It is very frustrating.  My head is shaved now and I did it in front of my kids especially my 6 yr old. Did not want him or me to feel scared when my hair started falling out. I got my EMLA so hopefully I wont feel the needle going in no more.  Been naping more, don't know if it's good or not. When did you guys start getting nauseus, after the first chemo? Best of luck to all, God Bless.

My nausea hit about 3 hours after I got home from chemo #1!  They told me originally to start taking my anti-nausea meds at dinnertime, but since it hit me so quick, they suggested next time I take them before I even get home.

Really not firing on all cylinders...Alfranco when you said you were tired of all the water I thought you meant you were in a flooded area...didn't clue in about the water retention lol