September 2013 Chemo Group

Alfranco I was nauseous in the car on the way home, lol.

I had an interesting adventure today - my mom and I both had some errands to run, so we went together.  As I got out of the car at the grocery store my chest hurt - it made me lean over and I almost wanted to sit down.  Have you ever run much much farther than you should to where each heartbeat hurts and it burns to breathe?  That's what it felt like, but just for a few seconds.  It went away, so even though I was freaked out we went in.  Then it happened again when I jogged a few steps to catch up to my mom at one point.  We went to Kaiser to get my lab work (I needed to get a CBC so the onco pharmacists can see how the neupogen is working) and it happened AGAIN as I got up to the counter, so after they stuck me I went to the main check-in area to see if a nurse could just check my vitals or something.  HOLY MOLY if you ever want a LOT of attention all at once, tell someone at a medical facility that you're having chest pains.  She leaned in to me and said, "things are going to get pretty nuts, I just want to warn you", and then announces over the loud speaker, "Adult Emergency Situation, Adult Emergency Situation".  I wanted to die.  Something like 10 people in scrubs all show up from every direction, and I'm lead into an exam room with my entourage, lol.  Long story short, my EKG was normal, and after the on-call doctor called my oncologist they decided that it was just my neupogen making my chest hurt and I could go home.  Meanwhile the main nurse brought in another nurse to see my port, because they're training in how to access ports but they hadn't actually seen a real one yet.  So freaking funny.  Lesson learned, always get chest pain checked, but be ready for a big reaction!

Josgirl I LOVE that story about your little one kissing your owie!  It brings tears to my eyes that's so sweet.  My 3 year old warmed my heart just in that she learned how to slow down before she got to me so I could hug her without being slammed, lol.  She still asks almost every day when I will have nipples.

Jelly - How scary! But funny.  LOL  Reminds me of when my husband cut himself at work and had to go to the ER.  It wasn't bad, but definitely bad enough to need stitches.  Anyway, he said one way to get in to the ER QUICK is to show up covered in blood.  

So glad the hear your wife s doing so well.

So glad the hear your wife is doing so well.

Thank you BabyRuth

From my understanding Art it's relatively good news - if they know what feeds the cancer then they can treat it and prevent a recurrance much better.  The ladies who are triple negative (not responsive to progesterone, estrogen or HER2) have a much harder time of it, so take it as good news at this point.  That said, it must be frustrating to have new information at this point - the whole thing can be so overwhelming!

Jelly,



Thanks, I guess I'm just frustrated at something new being added to an already complex equation. (We found out about the cancer 3 weeks before our wedding and had to cancel our european honeymoon) But I'm glad they figured it out early. It seems herceptin targets these particular cancer cells which is good.

I did read it requires a year of treatment, which would mean more if this after surgery months from now. That is what is disheartening.

Hi Everyone, saw my Oc out in town (outside of the military), he is my second opionion and is considered one of the best on the island. Guess what he offered me? I could rent a pegium ICE cap, gloves, or booties from him? I would have to get dry ice the day of chemo. Of course insurance wouldnt cover it, but learned information that I wanted to share. In Europe it is common practice to use pegium "ice" caps and its covered by their insurance. It is common practice for their patients and there is a place in San Fransico that uses pegium caps. My Oc went there to visit and the place has a nurse that specializes on just treating the patients with pegium caps. To avoid ice burn on your head he shared to cut a sanitary pad in half and place it on the front of your head. Im not sure if Im going to do it, but thought of everyone on here who said they had dr & nurses who were skeptics. So for those ladies who are using the ice caps- keep going.

Hi lovely ladies of our Sept 2013 group. I am honoured to join you brave women as I know I will need your support and courage to get through this journey. I start Sept 17th for 4 rounds of Cytoxan and Taxotere. I am terrified and will hopefully be part of a trial for the cold cap machines. I would love all of your advice and to hear about your experiences through this time and offer all my love and support to help in any way I can contribute as well. Quite simply thank you. K

ML40 they told me not to fast because I would get headaches, but that depends on what they are giving you and your MO reason for that.

Several of you have mentioned taking control of the hair loss thing and shaving you head. I am beginning to agree with that path especially to hear about the whole group at work shaving their heads and the children to wear bandanas. Im thinking maybe an auction amoung familt and friends who will pay the most to shave my head....lol.  Thanks for helping me along in accepting or at least the ability to think about it without losing it.

I had a lumpectomy and I notice that I swell or am retaining fluid throughout the day and by afternoon I am pretty sore. I ice it and that really seems to help reduce the swelling and relieve the soreness. I do have what I can twinges of pain....a stabbing pain that subsides pretty quickly but enough to make you stop moving for a moment.

My first chemo treatment was postponed and now I start on Monday. 6 cycs TCH evy 3 wks - Herceptin - 1 yr - radiation....blah blah blah. One thing at a time...I am not a multi tasker even though I think I put that on my last resume....lol

Hope those of you that are feeling bad - feel better VERY soon!

Wishing all of you better days ahead - we can do this!

Hey all! I'm happy to have taken the time search for this

I had my first AC the 4th and the last few days have been ok I guess. My hot flashes from surgi-pause got more frequent and I just started zoloft to possibly help with those. (They make me woozy too)

I have such a mixture of meds and its like I don't know which one is giving me what side effect but I figure I follow orders of the professionals and nag them when it all doesn't help

I gave my self the booster the day after (nuepogen?) and that went well.

2 of my pills were only for three days and one stopped yesterday the other stops today Emmend and the hexodecodron (?) ... I was anxious thinking once their done does it go down hill?

I have nausea meds I'm keeping with me just in case.

Thanks for starting this feed, and I read a comment about wigs and hats in the winter and I totally agree it would have been added misery if I started chemo going into the summer. I'm on the East Coast and I'm a heater to begin with plus hot flashes... I'd wanna rip my wig off and strip down in public the way they hit me



Wishing you all happy thoughts and positives tudes

For everyone whose treatments are underway, I wish you a side effect free weekend.



I have unruly frizzy/wavy hair, and I used a straightening iron on it for about a half hour this morning. I need to get used to the straight hair look since they don't make frizzy, out of control hair wigs! I have always wanted straight hair, but I need to get used to it since, if my wig arrives in time, I will shave my head at a party next weekend (after a few pina coladas to ease the pain). I will start chemo on the 20th. I know myself well enough to know that stressing over when my hair loss will occur would in and of itself cause me to vomit, so I need to take care of it ahead of time so that my full focus can be on keeping healthy and warding off side effects.



My MO gave me his e-mail address, so I sent him a message yesterday asking if it was ok for me to take B6 and B12 vitamins, and also to ice my hands and feet to try and ward off neuropathy, and he actually replied. He gave me the green light for both. I am relieved, because neuropathy could very much adversely affect my work as a paramedic...I need to be able to palpate IV sites, and unlike in a hospital, I don't have others to ask for help. I was even more impressed that he took the time to reply on a weekend!



I was really down in the dumps last night because it should have been a shift night for me at work, and I am just on light duty now for several months. I love, love, love my job and miss it already. I am coming around today, feeling more positive, which is more the norm for me.