Starting Chemo in March 2014

I'm back from chemo #1.  It went very well; the nurse was VERY nice.....back in the hotel after having some mac & cheese for lunch; on second bottle of water; running to the bathroom often already.  Hmm........not feeling nausea yet....but may take pill tonight depending on how it goes.  I was really pleased (as you all know!) with the smoothness of things today.  The nurse said the first time isn't too bad until day 3-5 but all in all the first time not too bad.   I did chew on ice chips during the tax but she said I should not get mouth sores the first time.  Just lying around the hotel today taking it easy (and running to the bathroom).  Tomorrow I go for my shot and then home health care is coming Saturday to show me how to take care of the PICC line and talk about changing the dressing.

I'm glad you are starting to feel better, kiwilady!  I hope you enjoy the walk. 

I hope all my fellow first-timers end up feeling good today after it's over!

Hi, all.  I'm new to this forum.  I was just on Xeloda and now have to go on Taxol and Carobplatin.  Please, someone weigh in and tell me how it is and what to bring to the treatment room.  This is my first real chemo, so I'm pretty scared.  Appointment is next Thursday.  Thanks!

I'm glad both of your chemos went well. 

Hi Ladies.  Just popped in to see how everyone is doing.  I finished my "active" treatment Jan 3rd.  I had lumpectomy in Aug.  4 rounds of t/c then 16 rads.  My best advice for chemo is, take your anti-nausea pills starting when you get home . Continue taking for at least 4 days.  Try to eat a little something every 2 hours. I did not have any nausea throughout my entire chemo. I found the first  hard as they were a bit too strong.  Please fill out your side effect sheets, be honest, that way they can adjust for your next treatments.  Remember everyone is different.  Feel free to ask me anything

I had the Neuprogen shot which is fast acting. Started on Tuesday, had one yesterday then another today. I had no bone pain (thought I was in the clear) until today. My lower back aches terribly, but other than that nothing else really hurts.

Rockinlife, welcome to the group. If you go back through this thread and read all of the comments, it will help you a lot. I would definitely bring a blanket, because a lot of people (including myself) get cold. Water bottle and plenty of water if they don't have a cooler. And something to entertain yourself. I would also pack light snacks to much through the treatment. Good luck and don't be scared, there is really nothing to the actual treatment except sitting in a recliner. You just have to prepare for the side effects if you have any. Some don't, some do. 

did your liver enzymes go up?

Hi all. I had my first DD AC on Tuesday and am doing OK. Wednesday was better than today, but I can't complain. The nausea is under control for the most part (until I got a little cocky and sloppy with my pill schedule last night). Paid for it today with mild queasiness. I'm a bit achy from yesterday's Neulasta shot, but not constipated (hooray) or seriously nauseated. Went wig shopping on Friday and came home with something my stylist can work with. It's a good thing I took my BFF along or one of two nasty things would have happened: a curly red wig that would make me look worse than chemo will, or no wig at all and a major case of depression. As it is, we made a day of it: wig shopping, lunch, and farewell mani-pedis. 

Does anything know anything about Friends Are by Your Side? http://friendsarebyyourside.com/  They appear to partner with salons all over the country and give wigs away. I plan to give them a call tomorrow and will report back if they're for real. 

Taking it one day at a time. And if a day seems like too much, taking it 15 minutes at a time. Hope you're all doing well.

good for you, Susie!! I am so glad things are going good (for these circumstances)!

Rockinlife, WELCOME!! ((Hugs))) Besides preparing for boredom tx is not that bad. Def wear comfy clothes. Blanket to stay warm, gum (I chew to kill the taste), puzzles, tablet/laptop, notebook, pen, hard candies, plenty of water and I am bringing Popsicles. Good luck!!

Good luck, Genny! ((Hugs to you to)). This time I am doing 3 tx have baby then 3 more. Last time I had 4 AC bilateral mast. Then 4 taxol. I am thinking it has to fo with dx, staging, positive lymph nodes and such. 

Wow, lgoldie, #2 done and you are doing so good!! YAY for good news on the ultrasound!!

Thank you so much, 70charger!

For all that have treatment today (((hugs)) and lets go out there and kick some cancer butt!!

Genny, I think standard protocol for TC is four rounds but sometimes they do six. I also don't know for sure if I'm getting four or six. I have two different opinions from two different docs. Just make sure the options are laid out clearly and get them to explain the reasoning behind it.  I'll be talking to my doc about it this week. 

Jmg, you sound so much better. Congratulations on making it through round one!

I am glad to hear you are doing well.   WATER is your best friend, or just fluids.  do not get dehydrated.   Watch for diarrhea.  Even a little several times.  Send me a message if you have any problems.   Im going for a head shave and Neulasta at 11

Keep me informed on your Taxol.  That is next for me and I will be glad to get off the AC.   Leah

Congrats on getting #2 done, lgoldie!

Rockinlife, welcome to the group, there's lots of great info in here. Let us know if there's anything else we can advise on. Another month or so and we'll all be pro's at this - something I never thought I'd say!

Hellloooooooo all you beautiful Marchers!!!

Whoa, yesterday (first day following chemo #1) was a total waste. I felt so, so icky. Tired, nauseous, zero focus, zero appetite. I finally called it a day at about 7 pm and just went to sleep. Still wobbly this morning, but at least I can sit up and focus, which is a definite improvement!

What have I missed? Hello and welcome to all the newbies - WifeWBC, you're lovely to be here and supporting your wife. With regard to the Neulasta, my chemo nurse and I had a little chat about it when I went to get my shot yesterday. She said that if bone pain occurs, it will occur about 7 - 10 days AFTER chemo, because that's when the white blood cell count tanks and the neulasta starts screaming at the bones to produce more of it in a hurry. So there's no real sense in taking Claritin or Benadryl or Aleve before that point. She said that the pain generally occurs in the big bones first - the thigh, the hips, and the sternum. One of her patients said it felt like there was a volcano in the middle of her chest, and a lot of people are afraid they're having a heart attack when they feel it there. It's all normal, apparently (whatever "normal" means in our current circumstances, lol). So that's the word from my nurse. She also said you should definitely be taking Vitamin D, because it helps support the bones. 

Susie, definitely go check out the friendsarebyyourside salons! The guy who started the program is the guy who developed the Coppola Keratin Complex line, which is awesome (I've been using that shampoo and conditioner for about seven years now). He's incredibly involved in the program and is constantly fundraising to make sure that women get the support they need to feel good about themselves during the chemo process.

Congrats to you, lgoldie!!! Two down!!!

To everyone going for treatment today, pack my best wishes for an easy day into your bag to take with you. And for everyone in various stages of post-chemo funk, I feel you. I do. We'll survive it, so just do what you can and leave the rest for another day. xoxo

Sorry, my last post was for WifeWBC