Starting Chemo January 6, 2014

Barbara, when I went to Look Good Feel Better the cosmetologist who led it said, it's a great idea to shampoo & condition our bald heads with the same products we used on our hair. It will be good for when the hair returns.

Ladies remember, the baldness is a very temporary situation. The hair always comes back. It's a small price to pay for saving your life.

There are great wigs out there, but I hated wearing one, so I bought lots of hats, and pretty scarves that I learned to tie like turbans. I loved tee shirt wraps too. They're easy, cheap, and come in all colors.

Paula

Pnak....I wish you all the best tomorrow...I'm scheduled to start Tuesday. Feeling nervous and scared too. Hopefully it won't be as bad as we expect. 

hi all, A/C #2 for me tomorrow, and whilst I'm nervous, I am looking forward to crossing another treatment off. I plan to have chemo in the morning and return to work the next day. My oncologist and I have agreed to reduce the dex this cycle so I am not so "speedy", doc even suggested that if this is successful we may be able to remove dex from my regime completely! 

I hope you are all well

LIL

I look forward to each new chemo.  I know at some point I may become incredibly sick.  So far I have been very blessed.  But right now I see these trips as steps to take in kicking cancers ass.  My tumor has completely mushified in my breast. My MO said it was a good sign to see it respond so early one.

Hi Ladies,

I'm starting chemo on Friday January 31st. My port will be placed on the 30th. I'm scheduled to do 4 to 6 rounds of TC.  To say that I am scares is an understatement!  I need all the support that I can get and I hope that you don't mind if I lean on each and every one of you.  

For the ones that are new to the chemo, just to repeat---water, water, water.  It will help.  Also if you can muster it, any type of exercise will make you feel better--sometimes that is easier said than done

My 2nd treatment is on thursday, I'm having a weird mixture of dread and bring it on!!  

I plan on sticking to this thread as I continue.

This is the video for tee shirt wraps....I hope it comes through.

Notice the look on the young woman's face. I think she's probably in the middle of chemo fog, and her mouth is very parched. I remember that feeling well.

http://radiationsucks.info/easy-t-shirt-head-wrap-...

katiegrey---my port seems to have become more prominent since my first treatment--like the skin is more stretched out and it sits up more-it's kind of like the alien spider on my chest, but the odd feeling has finally left after 3 weeks.  My head understands why we have chemo and the benefit, but the thought that at 10 am I start the transfusion then I get to have the flu like side effects for a few days is just a lot of dread.  I'm thinking the ativan may help.  

Just wandering about chemo before surgery-I didn't find out my cancer was so large(9+cm) until final path--are they going to be doing scans to see how effective the chemo is before your surgery?

I'll be thinking of you too, it appears a few of us are on the every other Thursday routine.

I am having the chemo IV through my veins. My MO though it would be fine since it's a double vs. triple chemo for 'only' 4 treatments. My first infusion is tomorrow so I'll see.

my regime is 4x A/C and 11 taxol, hope the veins hold up!

Wow I love how our little group is getting so much traffic! I haven't had time to read all of today's and yesterday's posts but wanted to check in.

Just back from my 2nd AC. My WBC is down WAY down at .97 but they said I was still OK for chemo so we went ahead.

I will, however, have to give myself a Neulasta shot tomorrow . I 've never had to do the shots before, my levels never got low with my last chemo regimen. Not looking forward to it but I just took a Claritin and will take another tomorrow and the next day. I've read that it can help with the bone pain. Let's hope so. If not, I've got plenty of narcs.

I also got results from an MRI I had on Fri due to severe back pain radiating to my ribs and armpit. Of course I was thinking the worst ~ that I had another tumor in my back, but NO! I have a fracture of T4. This is actually good news, and I will be scheduled for a kyphoplasty approx 2 weeks from now if my platelets look good. Phew..... I never would have imagined that a spinal fracture would be good news lol but I'm finding a whole new perspective to go along with my new *normal*.

I'm going to hit the couch after I shave off my beloved mohawk. I lost half of it down the shower drain this morning and it's coming out in CLUMPS now.

Rest easy everyone ~ ♥

Wendy

Belleb - good luck with your first round of side effects. I found that staying on top of the anti-nausea meds was key, and getting regular exercise (2-3 mile walks every day) helped quite a bit too. And water and rest. Lots of water, lots of rest.  

Tekwriter - glad to hear that your tumor is "mushifying"!!! It is so nice to be able to tell that these horrible nasty drugs are working!  I am waiting (not-so-patiently) for my own tumor mushifying, and I think it may be starting to happen.  If nothing else, I'm feeling some pain at the tumor site, which I hope means that things are dying in there.  Did you feel any pain at the site?

My round 2 was almost easier than round 1, with a bit less queasiness and a bit more exhaustion.  Starting to come out of the chemo funk, and looking forward to the upcoming week of feeling (mostly) good.  I'm 18 days out from treatment #1, and also excited to still have my hair.  Crossing fingers that the (horrible terrible awful) cold caps have done the trick.  

I decided to make an appointment with a therapist to talk through things, and I'm glad that I did.  Even though it is just one more thing to add to the list, I've come to the conclusion that for me at least, mental health is going to be as important as physical health when it comes to getting through this.  

Hope everyone is doing well with minimal side effects!  We can do this, ladies!!

#2  from Velvet;  I was admitted at 1am this last Friday and discharged Sunday afternoon. 

I got stomatosis,  couldn't swallow or eat.  Told that my entire alimentary canal was very red and irritated. 

Nausea control was easier given IV but eating was very hard.

This morning (Monday)  was the first day I felt like me.  However I also woke up with a cold and  back I went to my doc.  It's a mild virus and all my systems are good.

   They will modify my therapy and I have now gone to the top of their 'problem' list..... What a way to get attention.  My daughter has also been thru hell - she is now into her control personality but it helps handle her fear.  Now my kitchen is full of prepared meals in small amts and I am keeping a fluid, food and medication log which she does check. 

           I have finally learned that being a stoic person is not a complete positive....I will reconnect my mind to my body and never go thru this exact hell again!!

Thanks Lawyergirl - I will be doing all those things. It's 8:00 my time and so far I'm just a little foggy-headed and tired. I had a pang of nausea that made me immediately reach for the Zofran, but other than that, I've been ok. I think most people are in the hours after the infusion since all the meds are still in your system, though, right?

rabbitvelvet - That is awful!! I hope the worst is behind you!

sunshower, you sound all ready. You may be surprised at how well the actual chemo goes.  Very scary to think about what is going into you, but the infusion centers  have  is all set up to go smoothly. Great long acting premeds. Keeping also positive attitude helps you get through this and any, hopefully mild, SEs.  Push water and depending on what you are getting consider taking something like senna pills daily for a few days to prevent constipation at the earliest sign of that. I waited 4 days and had a bad time trying to catch up. Second round I started the day after chemo to prevent it.  Ask you MO if constipation will be a SE of what you are getting. 

For those having a lot of emotional swings. Consider a short course of an antidepressant. I was always a very anti pill person. Only took vit D before all this. I had a real problem with anxiety and  depressed mood for 2-3 weeks after diagnosis to the point of anorexia( losing some weight was actually a plus).  Started on a low dose of generic lexapro and now I feel so much better. Positive attitude all the way now. I will cont the meds until finishing up all my treatments and wean off  in the summer. 

Best to all having chemo this week, last dose of AC on Thurs for me. 

Barbara