October 2013 Chemotherapy

Hi Lonnie,

I am currently on ACT. I know I receive 2 antiemetics and 1 steroid IV. I'm going to get my second infusion tomorrow and will write down the names. I can't remember the names off the top of my head.

Thank you everyone for all the kind words I have been reading. It really helps to read this board. I am hoping that we all can pull through this difficult time with the love and support of all our loved ones including all of you brave beautiful women.

I am sitting in the barber shop right now waiting to shave off my hair. Just hope when it grows back the grays won't!! I'm so anxious

Tomorrow infusion #2 then 6 to go afterwards.

smrlvr, welcome!

I joined this blog because of all the information shared and because I feel it is a nice 'sisterhood', we are all in this journey and we are not alone!

As for advice, I can tell you what a friend of mine shared with me and it is helping:

- Buy a three ring file and print a calendar with enough space to write down day by day your temperature, the days you will be in Nadir, what you eat, how you feel, side effects and medication you take, if any. In the same folder I have included my insurance paperwork, my work letters from HR, and tabs reading chemo 1, 2 etc. i already had the first one and I out the printouts of all medicine pre and chemo that they gave me.

- the more you get prepared to you chemo day the better, less stress involved in the unknown.

- find a large tote bag and build your 'chemo bag' with salty crackers or pretzels, ginger snaps, water, walking socks to use then while you are sitting in the infusion center, ipad or any magazines and music, bring headsets, two blankets, one for you and one for your driver. Yes, you will need one. You don't want to feel alone that day.

- the week before the chemo start drinking at least eight bottles of water, stopped drinking coffee or any caffeinated product, don't drink alcohol because it doesn't help with the side effects, it makes it worse. No fried or heavy food. Make it easy for your system (liver, kidneys and stomach)

- buy: claritinD, Imodium AdvilPM or whatever your doctor told you you might need for the days after the chemo. Only take medicines your doctor prescribes.

- buy a scarf(ves) or find it in your house and have it reachable, or wig(s), hats, Dove soap or Aveeno, whatever soap is soft on your skin and moisturizes it. neutrogena body oil (light sesame formula) Biotene mouth wash to prevent mouth sores.

Once you get inside the infusion center, in the area designated for you, check if they have any curtains or separators from the other ones and close them. I was so nervous that I forgot to even think about that and a person in a much worse condition than me (a port in her brain) came and I saw the whole thing and made me cry non stop. I am not used to hospitals and made me very nervous. You don't want for you to get nervous, so close everything and use your own stuff, your blanket, pillow, etc.

I hope this help. I think it has helped me so far.

Build your body to fight and win!

good luck Kiko. I hope it goes ok for you. Will be thinking of you

Kiko -- prayers and hugs!!! Hope it goes better this time, now that you and the docs are better prepared as to how you might react. You will be in my thoughts over the next several days, brave sister!

Wishing you all the best Kiko for your big day tomorrow.

Kiko, Will be think about you tomorrow and praying!!!!

Vivian

Good morning ladies- The wait is over.... I finally received the call late yesterday afternoon I will be starting treatment this am. I have been on the wait list since 10/09. I was instructed to start taking immediately dexamethasone (anti-nausea ) and be at the cancer clinic by 8:15 am for blood test following with chemo treatment 2 hrs later. Needless, to say it has been a sleepless night with a lot of crying with a pounding headache. Reading the posts has helped to cope immensely. I admire each and everyone of you with your courage and determination to get through this nightmare & bring moral support . Thank you!

Hang in there Nicole...you will be fine. That strength is in all of us.

Thinking of you KIko

.mfm48. I can't remember when I had a milkshake last. I guess that is something to look forward to.

Infusion center told me my veins are horrible, which I knew, so I have to decide between a port and a picc lne. Any one have a picc line? How annoying is it?. Does it intefere with anything?

Good Luck Nicole

You are strong and will be able to do this with the help of all these wonderful women who are also helping me get through this journey. My thoughts are with you!

Thinking about you Nicole and hoping it goes smoothly for you today with few/no side effects. Hopefully you will sleep well tonight.

Got back from my first treatment follow up. MO said white counts are down but they should pick up in the next couple days. She said that the SE aren't cumulative and I should expect the same SE after the next treatment only that I may be more tired. I always heard that they are cumulative and it gets worse down the road. What was it like for you girls after the second treatment? She did say that the horrible cramps I had weren't the norm and to take tylenol 3. Looking forward to four days with no Dr.'s appointments, before it starts again.

P.S.  Did lose 9 pounds since last week.  I had gained 17 since this started.

good luck Nicole!

@schoolcounselor - I have a port and kinda love it now that it's healed. I don't feel my treatments at all.

I've been wondering about the cumulative effect, too. I've had 3 tx so far (taxol) and the headaches are wicked, but the only real thing I feel getting worse is the fatigue. I'm just plain ol worn out. Also getting pretty sensitive to smells and sounds but that might be the headaches, too. I'm not nauseous but my stomach is....off. I get hungry, so I eat, but then I feel sick

Thinking of all you Wednesday ladies today and wishing you an easy day and good nights sleep

Side effects are not cumulative in the sense of nausea on tx#1 and worse nausea on tx#2 - it is cumulative fatigue and the aggregate malaise of blood counts that are lower each time, thus causing more fatigue and weakened muscles. I disagree that the SE are not cumulative - I don't know anyone on these boards, and I have been here for 3 years, that felt as good after their last chemo as they did after their first. Just sayin' ...