Starting Chemo in December 2013

I am having my port placed on NOv 27th and having chemo the same day but it isn't at the same location. I hope the grogginess makes me not so nervous. I am had my first fill during my Bilateral Mast. My second fill is Dec 2. Did anyone get a prescription to numb the port before hand? I don't have one yet and I am learning I have to ask for everything. I am so happy to have found this site. I am going to put smiley faces all around my house. I am happy that I have options but I am grumpy. I finally feel better from the surgery and on to chemo. Does anyone else feel like they want to break a window? ugh. I dont want to be that person. I am grateful but bitchy.

Thank You Special K. I would have never known to have asked. I was so naive, i didn't realize that I would have chemo at a different location. WHen do they give me the prescripriton for Emia? I would have thought they would have had me take care of this beforehand. I feel like I dont even know what to ask when I do go to the doctor. I really like him but I am lost. just lost. Any questions that I should ask him on Monday would be so helpful. I appreciate it. I cried and I didn't think clearly. I gp every other week for four weeks for adrimyxin and Cytoxin then have a two week break then they change medicines to a Taxol and that will take 4 hours. When I call to ask questions, my calls get returned when I am picking up kids from school and I have to pull over and write stuff down. Any info is appreciated. Thanks again.

good morning ladies:)

Lorreymom I'm glad your treatment went well. I have the same treatment as you the FEC part and I'm starting on Wednesday so to hear that it's do able from someone else makes me less nervous. How long is the infusion for? And were you able to eat to same day?

Hope everybody is having a nice Sunday !

emq - thank you! Yes, your port can be accessed for blood work as well. That can be very beneficial if both your arms are compromised by having had sentinel node biopsy, or nodes removed. At my center they can access the port prior to chemo and do the blood draw, then leave the access so the oncology nurses can hook up your IV. I was also nervous about the Taxotere permanent hair loss, have you considered cold caps - they are supposed to work well with taxane chemo. My onc said that in 15 years he has only had one patient end up with permanent hair loss - but I wouldn't want to be that one! There is a thread on this site with posts from ladies who were on Taxotere who now have hair issues, so it def happens. I do not know very many people who have used CMF, methotrexate is a drug that has been in use for a long time, but that regimen is often referred to as "chemo lite" so it is worth discussing effectiveness on grade 3, node positive cancer versus TC. I would also ask about using Taxol, it is also a taxane but does not seem to have the permanent hair loss problem.

CMF is referred to this way because it is regarded by some as a milder chemo - although probably not by those on it, it has been around as a chemo regimen for a long time - more than 20 years. There is a thread on this site for those receiving it:

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=6&id=243424&page=1

Brioche78... Yes, very do-able so far. I was very nervous, but it wasnt that bad. My arm ached a bit during the push drugs & I felt very tired during the infusion of the C. I had no restrictions on eating...you can even eat during the process if you like. I took ginger snaps with me. I wondered about a coffee that morning & erred on the side of caution & skipped my morning coffee. But I asked the chemo nurse & she said it would have been fine. Drink lots of fluids. I did & my urine was clear of the red stuff (E) by 24 hours. I also didnt have any burning or irritation when I urinated. I made sure to empty my bladder as often as I could.

The whole chemo process took about 2 hours total.

I ate a light supper (soup) that night after chemo.

Goldie,

Don't forget that what we are going through is extremely difficult ,be kind to your self you have the right to fell sad and grouchy you have to live through those emotions completely so that you can let them go... And we are here whenever you need to vent. Stay strong

Goldie, those emotions are totally normal and will wax and wane. Order in Thanksgiving! This is ONE Thanksgiving during a very trying time in your life and if you wanted to serve hotdogs and Poptarts you'd be totally justified. What helps me is to go to my favorite place outside and just sit in my car and be still. Looking at the mountains in solitude is very restorative. Sometimes I have very dark days but I know they will pass. The very worst days of our lives still only have a maximum lifespan of 24 hours before we get to begin again. ❤

Hi ladies, I start my AC treatment on Dec. 5th. (4 doses), followed by Taxol (4 doses). Originally, I was supposed to have the weekly Taxol doses, but my onc. changed her mind. I will be getting the Neulasta shot the day after each treatment. Looking forward to getting rid of any rogue cancer cells in my body, but not looking forward to the treatment. I find that I am getting really grumpy thinking that my life will be on hold for awhile, but then I feel guilty for thinking this way because I am alive. I will also have 6 1/2 weeks of radiation after the chemo.

Lorreymom - I am pretty freaked out about the Neulasta shot - I have read that this can be a tough one. The chemo. class nurse said that usually the first one is the worst. Have you been told this?

SpecialK - Thanks, I will do that. I see her on the day before chemo.

Kim

kjfromca-the Neulasta is very doable too. I was a bit achy & tired & headachy, but it didnt even last 48 hours. I am better now. I just took tramaset or extra strength tylenol. I slept well last night. Just get lots of rest. If the first one is the worst, then I am laughing!!!! . It isnt too bad.

As for grumpiness...Don't stress over it. What is the point. If your grumpy, so be it. We are going through a life event (life trauma, if you will). Family & friends need to learn to deal with it too. Your emotions are your own & completely understandable. We all have our own way to cope. Me? I try to focus on the positive (hey, I won't need to shave my legs for awhile & I get to wear some funky headwear). I go for walks with my favvourite upbeat music in my earbuds. And I meditate. I have learned mindful meditation which has allowed me to keep my sanity!

hi KLI, you are in the right spot. We are all about to start this part of our fight together.

hello,

Starting FEC tomorrow very nervous, i couldn't sleep a all last night. I just want to start so I can stop imagining the worse...

Brioche- you got this! You can do it!!! . PM me if you want to chat...our diagnosis & treatments are so similar!!

Flu shot-check, dental cleaning-check, hair cut-check, wig ordered-check, pre-meds-check. Let's get this party started!:) (JK-I know it's not a party, but it sounds better than what it really is!)

KLI, I am doing  4 rds of TC starting Dec. 3rd. I have heard that cold caps work for some. I think the challenge can be having the help to keep them cold and in place, etc... I wish you the best of luck if you go that route! My fear with TC is neuropathy.

Brioche, best of luck with your upcoming treatment. In your pockets! (I am nervous, too.) My MO said the majority of her patients said they of course,  would not want to go thru chemo again, but it was not as bad as they had anticipated...

lorreymom, nice to hear about your experience with the neulasta shot. Thanks for sharing.

goldie, I have found that since I have been DX'd, my emotions are all over the place...and anger has def been part of them. I have to remind myself, that it's okay-its' about you and not how everyone is going to react to you right now. I hope you can come to terms with what you are feeling. You have a right to be "grumpy":). I think as women, we get caught up in being the better person, nurturing and caring for others ..now the roles are reversed and sometimes it's hard to accept. 

I am looking forward to getting to know you great ladies while we go thru chemoland together.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

((HUGS))