February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

FOR THOSE HAVING FIRST TREATMENTS of CYTOXAN/TAXOTERE:  Hope this helps.  The first treatment may take longer because you are still learning the infusion center procedure.  You will probably get weighed and then your blood work may be taken to determine if your WBC is high enough for the treatment.  I also see my onco the day of my treatment and before I have my treatment.  So be prepared for things to take a little longer.  You may want to take some snacks/sandwich because you may get hungry.  You may also want to take a blanket/jacket to keep you warm during the treatment unless the infusion center has warmed blankets for its patients.  I'm lucky that mine does.  I usually wear the same outfit--- leggings & long sleeve knit shirt & men's undershirt--- so I can tell if I've gained weight between treatments.  I had my Taxotere infusion first and then have the Cytoxan infusion second.  Make sure you drink water/eat ice during the treatment to help prevent mouth sores and to start flushing that chemo through your body.  You will sit the entire time during the Taxotere infusion if  you are icing your nails ( finger and toe nails).  However you definitely can get up and walk around with your IV pole during the Cytoxan.  That means don't curtail your fluid intake thinking that you can't use the restroom because you can definitely get up to take a walk or go to the restroom!!!!  Just ask the infusion nurse to unplug your IV pole from the electric plug.  My onco ordered Ativan in my IV along with the usual IV meds which helps me keep calm during my treatments.

·  After the first treatment, keep drinking the fluids to help flush the chemo out of your body.  I know you may not feel like eating but try to eat 5-6 small meals every day.  A fed tummy is a happy tummy.  If your side effects start to escalate, call your onco to get some help asap.  Doesn't matter what time of day it is or what day of the week it is, just call.  They really want to help you get side effects under control and expect you to call. 

·  GOOD LUCK ON THE FIRST TREATMENT!!!  WISHING MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS FOR ALL!!!!  YOU CAN DO THIS.  Once you get through the first one, you need to say out loud " I AM DOING THIS!!!!"

Hi All - I'm glad to hear a lot of you are recovering from your first round. My first AC is on Friday - yikes! 

Just wanted to remind you in addition to the water, drink something with electrolytes also. I don't like the taste of gatorade, so I loaded up on vitamin water.

Question - any suggestions for eyebrows/eyelashes? Are any of you getting glue-on eyebrows or eyelashes?

Will keep you all posted on how things go or if I hear any other tips!

h0pe my DH (dear husband) gave me my shot at home. You will be keeping the Nuelasta in the fridge but I recommend letting it sit out for about 20 minutes before you inject. It stings when it's cold. 

For eyebrows I used (and still do to fill in) Anastasia Brow Duo. I bought my at Ulta (I use the Ebony duo) but any major department store should have it. Sephora does but they might not have all the colors. It's a  powder and looks very natural. I even got my mom to use it. The do have stencils if you need it. You will need a small slanted eyebrow brush too.

My eyebrows and lashes never fell out completely. Also I wear eyeliner so no one really notices the missing lashes that much. I also have big eyes so that helped to.

Also soup counts as fluids just don't eat real salty stuff. Soup will help not mess up electrolytes

Thank you, Lago & Melrose!

Forgot to also mention, I got introduced to the Lindi skincare line, which is made for chemo patients. It is supposed to be extra rich, moisturizing. Will let you know if I try and if it works! Good night!

I just wore clear so they wouldn't chip. If you decide to get your fingers manicured on chemo bring your own tools... but to be honest I would stay away from those places. It's a germ spa over there.

Your nails become brittle so it helps them from chipping/breaking. Also some say using black polish helps them from lifting... I found it did not but if you choose to do that I recommend putting a clear base coat because the black is really hard to get off nails that have been dried out from chemo.

Thank you for the uplifting well wishes!  I did it.  Had my first TCHP regimen yesterday.  I was there 9:30am until 6pm.  I started the day in tears, with major anxiety about the chemo, the drugs for the SE's (I did not think that they were the right ones for me), and totally wired from the Dex steriod - no sleep the night before chemo despite Ambien and Ativan...  I was in my doctor's office.  Poor staff having to deal with hysterical me.  My port was new.  It is really bruised and was really sore even through the Lidocaine.  My chemo nurse gave me the option of using my good arm instead, but I opted for the port (might as well get mileage out of it since I went to the trouble of putting it in (and yes, mine has hard tubing above it too.  I can't yet tell what sticks out because I am still to swollen.)  I luckily was given a private infusion room - likely they didn't want me to upset the other patients.  Also, in order to access my port, I had to undo my post mastectomy binder bra.  It was too tight over the painful new port to rehook it with the IV plugged into it and they needed the access open to monitor the flow and change out the tubing for the different agents.  So, I had my breast showing a lot.  I particularly did not want the 70 yr. old men in the infusion area to stare at my chest all day!

We started with saline, Benedryl, Tylenol and Aloxi (anti-nausea).  I got the Herceptin first, Perjeta second - they worked me into it.  This surprised me - I had thought that they would come last.  Then the Taxotere came.  I had the weirdest reaction - my ice water felt cold in my hand and mouth, but when I swallowed it, it was hot going down.  They had to look up that SE - rare.  It went away a few minutes later.  Then my throat started constricting, so they had to stop the infusion for awhile, have the doctor look at me, and resume it slower.  They said that this is common and the Dex steroid and Benedryl help.  The Carboplatin went last.  It was scary looking up and seeing these bags of toxin pouring into my heart.  I kept trying to think about it chasing down my cancer cells and killing them.  I've been watching Dexter on Netflix lately - kind of made my mental imaging a bit graphic - but whatever I could grab onto...

I arrived home exhausted.  Bought an eyebrow pencil for the first time while waiting for Rx on the way home.  Have no idea how to use it - might try the stencil idea to avoid looking like Oscar the Grouch.  I was told to expect flu like symptoms from the loading dose of the Herceptin.  I think that they are coming today.  Nausea has been pretty good so far.  The Aloxi is supposed to last 3 days.  I'm eating small snacks to stay ahead of the nausea as well.  So far so good.  Last night I had another allergic rxn.  My cheeks and upper chest turned bright red and were hot to the touch (with a below norm temp - though I'm taking Percocet so the Tylenol in that might be erasing some fever).  My throat started closing up.  I was alone with my 8 yr. old daughter, and was afraid to go to sleep, because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to call for help if it got worse.  I called the onco on call at the hospital.  He had me take more of the steroid and more Benedryl.  It helped.  I took an Ambien and finally slept around 3:30am until 6am.  I'm hoping someone can stay with us tonight.

Today I'm really dizzy and just feel plain weird.  I can tell that my body has no idea what to do with this stuff in it and is trying to metabolize it.  I'm starting to bloat a lot (I really hope that this goes away) and think that the flu like symptoms are coming.  Ready with the Immodium.  I'm also really brain foggy.  Might be from the lack of sleep lately, but who knows at this point with all the new substances running around in me.

But I did it.  I have to be proud of that.  It seems surreal saying "I had chemo."  Can this really be me?  Can this really be my new reality? 

formydaughter sorry you had such a rough time. Yes usually when someone's throat closes up they do more Benadryl. I too bloated big time. For most its the decradon that does it. For me just the opposite. I blew up when I went off the decradon. Most of us do put on 8-25lbs on chemo treatment for breast cancer. Yay we got to be fat and bald but it all does go away. I never had any flu-like symptoms so I hope you don't either. I didn't think Herceptin would be the culprit. I would think more the taxotere or carbo.

Trick to using a brow pencil. short little strokes like you are drawing back the little hairs. This is why I prefer powder. You just pat the brush stroke on instead of drag.

They don't call Adrymicin the red devil for nothing. I didn't get AC but I have that it can really make you tired. You may be sleeping a lot for a few days. It passes from what I hear but it can really wipe some people out.

The first time I met with my MO everyone I was the youngest in the waiting room, that made me feel sick too.

Ya'll are so brave and real....and I love it. Thanks for sharing. I've been full of nervous energy tonight, did some cleaning, made a Valentine's Day box for my 4 year old's party on Thursday. I'm trying to stay busy, Thursday is almost here though.

"Now the big question.... Nuelasta shot tomorrow at 3. Do I take Claritin tonight or in the am. And then how long afterwards and is it always at the same time? Mo said it was ok, just didn't give me a dosage."

I took my Claritin a minimum of 15 minutes prior to my first injection...but if you can take it in the morning several hours before your shot, that will be better, IMO.  You want to make sure it has enough time in your system to start working before the injection.  I would take it about the same time every day after that for the 7 days following. 

Njmom3-  If you are taking Zofran, you may want to try to stay ahead of the possible constipation from the Zofran.  Keep drinking plenty of fluids, and try to have a diet of high bulk foods.  I used to eat Sunsweet Ones prunes that are individually wrapped.  I would eat a one or two after every meal.  That seemed to help keep me regular.  I know.... the mere thought of prunes and eating them wasn't what I wanted to do but they are sweet and moist.  You can also drink a mix of apple juice and prune juice. 

Wishing easy times in the BGC and minimal side effects for all!!!!

Thanks Karen,

Went to the class today and I will be taking Cytoxan and Taxotere. I did get a script for the Elma.

I go into the Dr office and tell them I need this or that and tell them my sister warriors say this will help. :-)

I hope I can ease the fears of the ladies that need help after me as much as everyone has helped me.

Only someone that has been through this can ever know how we feel.  Thank you so much, Penny

Wow! cool story abt Kevin Bacon!

Tomorrow is the big day, I'm settling in on the couch tonight. Just ate my favorite ice cream and I am just trying to relax. I went and picked up some scripts tonight and they forgot the stinking Zofran!! DH will have to pick it up for me tomorrow for sure.