Starting Chemo in December 2013

keepthefaith et al--thanks for the advice! I am in the chair now. Did my premeds--Aloxi, steroids and Ativan. Now the Taxotere is dripping. Another hour and then the Cytoxan. So far so good. Will keep everyone updated. Nurse is good and very informative. Hoping SE's are doable! We missed the ice storm here in Central Virginia. Rain all day.

More later.

amy, I bought a wig just bc I will want to wear if for work. I am not much of a hat, scarf person, but have some for the store, house, etc. Try not to worry about what others think. Be as comfortable as possible; you are beautfiul either way! I wish our society were more accepting of bald heads on women, but just give the on-lookers a big smile if you can conjure one up!:)

You  might want to get a RX from your MO and see if insurance will cover the cost of a wig. Mine said they wouldn't, but I am going to turn it in anyway and see. A local chapter of the ACS sometimes have wigs also, for free.

Hi y'all, I think I will be in this group. Just waiting on MRI results and a final mammogram before the treatment plan is finalized. Assuming no surprises on the test results (big assumption since I feel like the last month has been nothing but surprises!), I will be doing 6 cycles of TCH + Perjeta every 3 weeks. MO said they are ready to start as soon as I make the decision on treatment. I'll get a port since I will continue with the Herceptin for the rest of the year (and I have small veins to boot).

I went to the dentist today for a cleaning & check-up. (I played the cancer card for the first time to get on the schedule quickly - the receptionist got me in first thing next day ). Dentist prescribed a toothpaste called PreviDent for Dry Mouth. It has higher fluoride content (you cannot eat/drink for 30 min afterward) and should help prevent cavities from developing during chemo. Thought I'd mention since I haven't read about this before.

I'm going to a LGFB session on Thursday. I am definitely freaked about the impending hair loss and effect on my appearance. I didn't realize that I was such a vain person LOL. Maybe it's early to go to an LGFB session but I think it helps me to feel "prepared" for the impending changes. The ladies answering the phones at the hospital where I am having the session couldn't have been nicer. This is an awful disease but some life-affirming in the way it brings out the best in some people in the way they react to you.

I hope all those experiencing SEs are feeling some improvements soon.

I am going to make some of this "chemo moonshine" to try! It can't hurt.

http://momofftrack.com/2013/08/chemo-moonshine/

wow seems like many of us have hit some bumps. I was all set to sleep took a Benadryl woke up at 12:30 very sick. Decided to go back in today got hydration and discussed changing nausea meds. If you are suffering let your onc know it seems different meds work for different people. Still feeling queasy but hoping this has to get better soon. My two young kids acting out and very anxious and yes hard to keep it together emotionally. Pretty sure none of us have been trained to cope with this kind of event ..... One day at a time.

It helps to know others are going through similar things the not knowing what is possible is scary.

Hang on....

As if right now, I just want to sleep until chemo 6 SEs and emotions/anxiety are done. Just did chemo 1 on Thursday. Rotten attitude I know....

Have hit an emotional wall....

First attempt at superwoman= epic fail! LOL!

Odd reaction??? Hysterical maybe??? Laughing my head off in the shower tonight...pulling handfuls of hair out of my head...literally handfuls. I must have lost over 1/3 of my hair on my head. What a mess! It really was amazing. It won't be long to finally see what I will look like bald. I am curious!

Foggy was my brain today too. I feel like the first trimester of pregnancy, sick if I don't eat and can only eat certain things. I will be asking for different meds for my next round. I stopped taking meds. on Sunday, I couldn't get out of bed on Saturday... too tired. I will be asking for Ativan instead of Zofran.

Lorreymom - Good for you, we need to find laughter in all this crap.

Kim

KLI - kids & cats. your home sounds like mine. I was wondering if anyone else was going through this with children still in the house. We're parenting a little late (adopted, we have 9- and 13-yr old girls) and cancer a little early (just turned 49) and the mix is hard. I wish for them I was going through this as an empty nester, and not thinking of things like school and kid germs. Heck, I wish this for ME too, so I wasn't worrying about all the things they'll need to miss to avoid germs this winter. We've been a home school family - my 13-yr old went into a good school last month, my 9-yr old is still home with me.

Home is in sunny AZ, but my 13-yr old just came home sick from a snowy weekend in higher elevation. Husband went into overtime trying to prep the house for one sickie, and one who's not supposed to get sick. This adds some stress I would have liked to avoid this first time around. Still nauseous and bones/joints aching, not sleeping, temp hovering at 100 today after meds, and wondering what it would be like to add cold or flu to this.

Thought I was prepared, but this is harder than I expected.

Better days around the corner, right, Dec group?

Amy--hope it subsides soon! Check with the doc about pain. Also, I am awake bc of the steroids--had my first treatment yesterday. Nurse gave me a prescript for Ativan. Will pick that up today. Took some yesterday during treatment--it helps!

Have a good day. No real SE yet.

Joan

sorry you ladies are having pain, etc. I woke up this morning for the first time without a headache and was ready to get out of bed without having to coax myself....there is light at the end of the tunnel! I have found that the more I move around the less pain I seem to have. Still trying to figure out how to get 8 hrs of uninteruppted sleep, but all else is good.

Sometimes, we wonder why things are happening now, but in reality, is there ever a good time to have BC? I am now single and was worried about taking care of myself, but my friends and kids have stepped up to help. My 8 1/2 mo pregnant daughter  drove from her home an hr away and  brought me chicken and dumplings yesterday! I am feeling grateful and blessed for the most part..not that I don't have my down days. I hope that you all can find the love and support you need to get you through these hard days. This forum is also such a wonderful place to come to!

amy, hope you feel better soon.

joan, wishing you no SE's!

((HUGS))

Lorreymom - I am getting a very short and sassy haircut next week before my next chemo treatment. My hair is already looking sad. This way when it does fall out in chunks, I will take my son's clippers and buzz away.

Today is day 6 after chemo, still feel pregnant, but less foggy, I will hopefully have a productive day today.

Count it all joy - I hope you feel better. I don't have young kids at home, my youngest is 16, but there seems to always be somebody in my household with a cold this time of year. Take care of yourself.

Kim

hugs to all of you struggling through the rough nights those somehow seem the hardest.

Day 6 for me head much clearer still that pregnancy queasy you are right. Mouth dry taste yucky but a clearer head really helps the outlook.

My youngest are 8 and 6 I just turned 44. They are worried, hope I will be feeling up to doing more with them soon. Also worried about all the winter germs.

I wonder if we will be any better prepared for round 2. Had a few days this time I was not sure I could keep doing it feeling more possible now.

Lorreymom you are the ultimate cheerleader!! Go get um.

moma927, hi i read your posts and boy felt the same way after my first AC chemo, all the emotions u feel are normal its all part of chemo brain! After every treatment in the first weekwhich was the worse i was a basket case, when my girls and hubby left for work, i would cry almost a weird howl, thus perking up my husky's ears then i would laugh, so yes chemodoes some strange things to us, its a controlled poison, i had hallucinations in the beginning, felt like i just dropped lsd. Lol yes grew up in the 70s? I had 4 treatments and fi ished AC, i started weekly taxol last week, still have nasty taste in my mouth and my energy is low.

A few tips i learned, keep hydrated, also drink gatorade to keep your electrolytes up especially first week after treatment , get some popsicles when your mouth is yuk, protein shakes, rinse mouth with club soda or salt water, rest, rest as you receive more treatments your body is weakened big time

I shaved my head after my first treatment and bought a wig which bothers me, oh well i fo wear it sometimes. Get a good nody lotion, cause your skin sooooooooo dry, yes we look like the walking dead, but ladies we can do this. Xoxo

Quick update...all blood tests normal. Doc says I have tolerated my first round well. Second round is a go on Friday. Still have hair, but thinning very quickly. Wearing hats in public & hair net around house. Considering buzzing it.

May your side effects be minimal & your days filled with joy!