Starting Chemo in December 2013

yep. Downed my Carbiplatin and Finishing up my Herceptin now.  And then getting a cold cap change and headed home.  2 down --- 4 to go!

Here's to zero SEs for us both. Cheers!

hello ladies,

I am so happy to have located such a wonderful group.  Looking for and needing all the support I can get. You seem to have a great handle on things.  I just received my first infusion of the red devil this past Monday.  Nelsusta shot on Tuesday and have been so sick since then.  Taking compazzine  emmend and zofran to fight nausea  but it has been a losing battle.  Can't eat. Trying to drink but hard holding anything down.  I have 4 -6 infusions of AC before switching to Th for another 12weeks.  It seems so far out.  How will I ever survive this? Will it stay this bad? Do you have any recommendations?  Hope I don't come across whinny ..you al. Sound so strong.  I want to feel strong but right now I feel scared lost and s sad.

Haven't started to deal with the hair loss yet but know I need to.

Anyone have some thoughts or advice. It is greatly appreciated. Beths

• 11/17/2013, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (edit)
• Public (Change to Private)

jackieak. I am amazed -at your energy and spirit.  I am going through the same course and feel shaky drained and so weak.  Do you take steroids with each infusion?  Does that help with nausea/ energy or both. Maybe I am missing something.

• 11/17/2013, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIa, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (edit)
• Public (Change to Private)

hang in there, Beth!  I'm doing TC and days 4-6 were wretched but it steadily improved after that barring a late in the game weird rash.  It gets better!!

beths1 - hang in there!  I'm doing the red devil too - and while my first round was just awful and landed me in the hospital with a neutropenic fever, etc, this second round so far is encouraging.  I'm only starting day 3, so there are difficulties to come yet, but I'm at a better place than I was last time around.  You'll keep getting tricks under your belt that make you feel a little more in control of the side effects, and your body is supposed to adjust to the neulasta effect better after this first time.  I would talk with your MO about steroids the day before/of/after chemo.  Although it steals my sleep, I do think it makes the first days easier.  Also, the Clariton/Alleve the day before/of/after the neulasta shot is helpful - at least it seems to be this time around.  My first time I was up crying on the couch a couple nights while my bones were stretching inside.  My heart goes out to you, this can be really hard.  It will pass, and you'll be amazed to find your energy and mood rebound, and you will feel like yourself again.  Think of this as a really bad flu, drink LOTS of water to flush this out, walk whenever you can make yourself (helps with the bone pain), even if it's only up the block and back to the house.  Let people love on you, and don't say no to anything they're willing to do for you.     You deserve to be coddled through this.  

Mary

Beths1, I'm sorry you feel so bad after your first round of AC.  Definitely call your MO.  The first few days after my first AC was also horrible.  My MO changed my meds and it got much better and my second round was easier then the first.  Different meds work for different people and it turned out for me that the Compazine was knocking me out and not helping with the Nausea.  Hang in there!

Those of you that are doing acupuncture for the nausea do you notice that it's working?  I think I may try it for my third round.

beths1

Everyone tolerates the chemo differently and from what I am reading each cycle can be different and for you hopefully better.  You should definitely   be in touch with your MO if you are still nauseated and should call today since it has been 4 days. Either your doc or a covering doc can help you.  Do not feel like you are bothering them. Just call!

Steroids may help, Ativan, a mild tranquilizer, can also help both by cutting your anxiety and it has some anti nausea effects on its own.  I have found it is a Godsend for getting a full night's  sleep.  Without it I was waking up at 2-3 AM and not getting back to sleep due to my mind just thinking about all this too much. 

Please call your doctor today and get some relief. 

Barbara

didn't sleep real well, the Ativan gets me to sleep just doesn't keep me asleep.  Woke up with a headache and tummy rumbling....and when laying on my side the heart felt it was racing, which made me nervous so I laid on my back and took many deep breaths and it went away....maybe my anxiety of it all.  Feel tired today and sluggish, took my steroid and Claritin and Tylenol for the headache...hoping it gets better through the day, will try to do a short walk today and drink some ginger tea, cause my morning coffee is gagging me today...and I so love my coffee.

feeling good on day 2, but getting sleepy. I am hoping my steroids wear off soon so I can get some good sleep. I only took one steroid last night instead of the two I was supposed to. Nothing seems to help...no achiness yet. Taking claritin. I still have some hair!:)

Have a good week-end ladies!

becca, beths, jackie, hope you all feel  better soon! stay on top of the SE's so they don't get the best of you.

yes, I think I will do two Ativan tonight, I need better sleep.  I've been doing laundry and putzing around the house, the steroid does give you a boost.  Tried a scrambled egg, and oatmeal....few bites went ok, I made jello which I'm craving now.   I have to say I do not have the fog head (yet) like I did with round two, and nor the nausea...the side effects so far are better than round one.

Just made my head shave appointment for 10am 12/31, taking the hair off in 2013 so I can be born again for 2014.  I hope my stylist can trim my wig to where I like my bangs...plan an early New Year's Eve dinner with the new doo.

hi everyone, day 1 and 2 felt much better now on day 3 hit a wall of exhaustion like I have never felt. First day off steroids maybe. Feel like I am moving through lead. Think I am starting to feel achey from neulasta does that make you tired as well?  Hoping I actually sleep at night and don't feel like this tomorrow....

Paloverde, I am also still getting my TEs filled during chemo.  At first my PS was pushing for bigger fills to get the exchange surgery done faster, but once we found out I needed chemo, she actually slowed them down.  I cannot have the exchange until 4-6 weeks after my last chemo, so she told me to go slower and ease the pain.  I am getting 30cc fills.  I was going every week, but took two weeks off for christmas and new years.  My PS said there is no real risk for the fills during chemo.  I did end up back at the drs last week, about 2 weeks after my first TC dose with a 103 fever.  Neutophils 0.3, so they started me on an antibiotic and I have to start the nuelasta shot after this weeks chemo.  I asked the MO specifically if there would be any risk for getting the fills and he said no, to continue like I am.  He does check and feel the expander ever visit for any sign of infection.  I like getting just the 30cc fills, its sore for a day or two but not intolerable.  I take 1/2 a valium before I go for the fill to loosen the muscles first.  My PS told me most people take the percocet and valium for the entire time the expander is in place, even after she has reached my total fill.  It is still pretty uncomfortable to me first thing in the morning and when I am trying to sleep.

I didn't have much nausea with first round, but the compazine gave me a horrible feeling in my head.  Has anyone had that reaction to the zofran? My MO warned me that the SE generally get a little worse with each round and want to have something on hand if I need it, but I don't think I can handle the foggy feeling from the compazine again.

My hair is gone, started shedding day 14, clumps of hair everywhere.  Waited till the day after christmas and buzzed it off myself with #3.  Tiny hairs everywhere whenever I shower, I think I will be happy when it is all gone.  Still not comfortable with anyone seeing me without the wig.  My kids saw it once and told me always wear the wig (9 and 5 year olds are so honest). Hard to get used to the itchness of the wig though.  I have some knit hats I am hoping I can start wearing around the house without freaking the little ones out too much.

First Neulasta shot coming Tuesday. I have the claritan ready, but really nervous about the bone pain.  Neutrophils dropped so far after round one, I don't have much of a choice.  And I am a nurse who works in the hospital.  Prime place to pick up any infection, so I guess a little discomfort is worth the extra protection.

jackieak - I had the same issue with heart racing and there were a few days I seemed stuck at 125 bpm.  I also got out of breath very quickly.  I've heard that can be one of the SE.  But both passed after a few days.

Nursemom - I'm at the same point with my hair. Ready to be full on bald than the prickly bits.  When I had debilitating bond pain I ended up on prescription pain killers alternating with 800 mg of ibuprofen.  It worked so if it gets bad, be sure to call your MO or whoever is on call.

One more thing, I also had issues with my heart racing, feeling anxious, and insomnia.  My Dr. had me reduce my steroids to one pill in the morning for days 2, 3, & 4 post chemo, then I'm off them again until the next chemo tx.  That seemed to help a ton!

One of my friends sent me this link, and it made me cry, smile, and understand a little more about having cancer, so I figured I would share it with you. The Things I wish I Were Told When I Was Diagnosed With Cancer