Starting Chemo in December 2013

Kim: I am scheduled for the port placement on Thursday. I will let you know how it goes.

Amy: I hear ya on the hugs and shaking hands. I work with children and lord knows they are a bunch of "petri dishes" especially this time of year; so yea..I have the same concern.

I spoke to a friend who lost her partner to cancer 9 months ago (not breast cancer). Nonetheless she told me to take the Zofran as directed and to take it for 3 days after infusion EVEN IF I DO NOT FEEL SICK. My problem is my insurance only covered 8 pills for 30 days. I get my 1st infusion on Friday, then the second on the 13th. It's not enough to last me. If I take it as directed - every 8 hours for 3 days, it's just enough to get through the first round. I was also prescribed Compazine to take in between but understand they both work differently? Any thoughts or insight anyone?

Lastly, is the water intake. Is drinking a 32 ounce gatorade and 32 ounces of water enough?

Hang in there my December Sisters.

Liz

There are no wig shops near me, so I ordered mine from voguewigs.com. I liked that site because they have pictures in the feedback section where people post pictures of themselves in the wigs. That really helped me choose, rather than just seeing it on a model. They also ship fast. I love my wig. My favorite wig cap is from headcovers.com. I got skullcaps from bandanaworld.com. I wear these around the house all the time.

Good luck to you December gals, from a September gal.

at hospital waiting for my CT scan...bored.

Wicked joint pain today. It is snowing & cold, maybe that has something to do with it. I was good yesterday...best day since chemo actually. Guess there will be good days & bad days!!

Emq- sorry to here about the lack of meds. 2 things I thought of...1) Ginger. I read a study that taking ginger can enhance the effects of antinaisea meds. I'll see if I can find the link. 2) Ask your doc to see if there is funding for more...samples? Or company sponsored funding. I was offered this if my insurance wouldnt cover it all. We actually have a person hired at our Cancer Center dedicated to finding money to pay for meds not covered by insurance. Maybe you do to??

Well....better get up & walk around...my back is killing me today...Oye!!

KLI: Thank you for the reassurance that I will be drinking enough water/Gatorade.

Dear DLD-TNBC, I start chemo tomorrow- TC. I have been looking at wigs and have spoken with survivors who have had both synthetic and real hair. I am told to stick with synthetic, as long as well made. It is, reportedly, easier to take care of and less expensive and can look very nice. I began by looking on sites like TLC and just kept exploring, but am going to try a few on locally so I can see how they look. Your hairdresser would, in all likelihood, be able to trim and shape it. I did buy some scarves at the Faith and Hope shop so that, again, I could see them before ordering. I suspect I will primarily wear the scarves. I was told that cotton is best, will not slip off, and is less scratchy, though I will know more soon enough. I definitely went for pre-tied scarves that slip on the head like a cap. I actually purchased two really pretty headscarves. I think I will learn more in the treatment room, tomorrow, where I will probably talk to others also there for chemo.

The day before- today- I am on high doses of steroids so expect to be cleaning up a storm or something in the middle of the night. I will know more about TC tomorrow and am happy to share information with you.

I am not as young as you, so the menopausal symptoms that may kick in for you will probably not be bothersome to me. Been there, done that.

I notice that there are support groups for Younger women facing bc. Perhaps, you could find that in your area. Please ask me anything. Amy

Here we go, first treatment is on the 6th....yikes

Lorreymom:

As I am sure you are in the midst of your "nappy", still, once again...thank you for the ginger advice. I will go to my health food store and get what I can. Any little bit helps.

I was a bit discouraged today, as I called the number my OC gave me if I had questions for the infusion nurses who work for her. I called early this AM and again at 3:45PM. NO RESPONSE. I hope this isn't a testament of how "non-existent" they will be if I need them as I move forward.

Kimee: I am scheduled to begin on the 6th also. 9:00 AM check in. I will be thinking of you and a few others on Friday.

Momat: I am a mental health clinician working with children. The school is on the grounds. I have spoken to the cleaning women and asked if they would take extra care with disinfecting my office. I run two groups a week (in my office) and hold my sessions in there as well...so...I am a little concerned about germs and my immune system.

Had my first appointment with my oncologist yesterday and I will be starting chemo on the 12th of December. I am TN, although I have not had a node biopsy there is a huge mass under my arm. My tx plan is 8 rounds of A/C combo then Taxol. All of this is still so foreign to me since I was just diagnosed Oct/Nov. After chemo then I will have surgery followed by radiation. I have so many appointments before the 12, a breast MRI, a PET/Cat scan, port insertion and a Muga scan. I really connected with my oncologist but the chemo room seemed so impersonal and not very welcoming...just a bunch of chairs and IV poles lined up along the wall and done the other side. Told my sister that at least I can pass the time "redecorating" it in my head. I have read so many posts and I know chemo is going to be a long hard road but from many of you I get that it is doable. I just hope my muga scan is normal enough to tolerate tx and nothing shows up on the pet/cat scan. Not sure what some of the topics here are about such as oncotype score??? Just glad there is a sisterhood here starting in the same month as I am.

feeling better. Tylenol & napping does wonders. Could very well be the Neulasta. I didn't take Claritan, no. I will ask my oncologist for next time. I had pain for 2 days after...mostly headache & neck. I thought I was recovered from that side effect. But I hear there can be delayed side effects with that. So maybe. But it was also cold, snowy & humid today...so maybe that contributed to the new pain...which was mostly back & legs this time. Well, what ever the cause...I seem to be better for now. Fingers crossed.

The pizza was a big hit. We don't splurge on take out very often. I just had a nice warm mug of cream of tomato soup...I wasn't feeling like pizza & needed warm liquidy comfort food tonight.

Hi there! I'm new here too and feel exactly like you do! I start my chemo (same as yours) on the 13th. I just keep thinking I can't believe my life has changed so drastically since September when I found out. I've already had my bilateral mastectomy and the following month had the expanders put in. So I'm starting chemo 8 weeks out. Honestly I can't wait until is is over!

Had 2nd mtg with MO today. Sent right to chemo class was supposed to start tomorrow morning. Tried to flush port for blood draw...not working. Sent to surgeon's office that implanted port, waited 2 hours past appt time. Told they don't unclog ports in the office, need to go to outpatient for that. Too late at this time to get it fixed, now no chemo tomorrow, outpatient tomorrow to check and try to fix port. Not sure what this is going to do to my chemo schedule now. Totally pissed off and frustrated. The hospital screwed up the port the night I stayed over for the install and MX. They accessed it less than 12 hours after it was placed, it somehow leaked fluids under my skin and was never touched/flushed or followed up on.

so sorry for your troubles Robin! I was thinking of getting a port for when chemo goes weekly. I ALWAYS need 2 catheter attempts before they get one working. And only have one usable arm. Getting tired of IVs and needle sticks. Will look more seriously at this option...including what can go wrong.

Welcome newbies! Gosh, gone for one day and so much going on. Had my first treatment today. My dear friend took me. She is such a blessing. The chemo room wasn't too bad. Everyone was pretty friendly and made me feel welcome. I know they were thinking, poor thing-you just don't know what you have gotten yourself into! Haha! Many wonderful people there, most of them  going thru a lot worse than myself and all very upbeat. Luckily, had easy access to my port. The (experienced) nurse put lidocaine on the port, told me to turn my  head while she sprayed it and 5 secs later felt the needle! But it was like getting a small shot, no big deal. Blood draw, then Chemo and  flushed port. They had snacks but I took some and drank 3 bottled waters while I was there. I think it took me about 5 1/2 hrs including blood draw and Dr visit, nurse going over meds and chemo also. So, next time she said about 3 hrs. Next infusion Dec 26th. Go to Dr for follow up in a wk. Neulasta shot tomorrow. Have nasal spray for my allergies also and fluoride tray for my teeth from my dentist....on and on. I found a little chart online to keep track of my meds. I'm sure when chemo brain sets in, I will be forgetting what I took when.

Right now, no nausea, face flushed a bit after steroid, but gone now. Ate lunch after. Dr said nausea meds in chemo should last a couple of days, so I am going to see wait til tomorrow before I start my RX, I guess. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Robin, sry you are having problems with your port and it is causing a delay. Try to remember, sometimes things happen for a reason and we may not see it now, but it will become clear later...hopefully that is the case! When you are all geared up to begin and then have that let down, it has to be hard, regardless. The emotional roller coaster that is BC.

didn't intend for this to be sooo long! I hope anyone starting soon will have as an easy first day as I did.

((HUGS)) y'all~

Robin that is terrible it is hard enough without things that could be controlled going wrong!

Lorreymom I get a pick line today will let you know how that goes if you want other options.

We will all be in the thick of it soon...

emq2, will be thinking of you today. I hope all goes well:). I didn't sleep last night-steriods, I guess. I will be taking benadryl tonight, if my Zofran isn't needed, so I can rest. Was up peeing all night, but I guess that's okay. Have my Neulasta shot later today. No nausea, just a little gassy and some burping, so far. I hope that's not TMI!

Robin, good luck with getting your port fixed and chemo started. Where are you in Arizona? My Mom lives in Tuscon. I am trying to go out there in Feb for her 80th b-day, God and chemo willing.

KLI, good luck on your picc line today as well.

Welcome Suess-please keep us posted on your progress.

lorreymom, glad your pain is subsiding. I will be taking my Claritin today before shot and then for a few days after. I hope it helps.

((HUGS))