Starting Chemo October 2014

Speedcat, I'm going to do a combo of putting tea tree oil on my nails  (what my Onco recommended to prevent chemo nails) and I've made a makeshift chemo gloves and socks. I plan to make more and give a few of them out for feedback on how it works but for now I'm the guinea pig. I basically created pockets to snap on top of cotton gloves and socks and made icy gel packs to put in them. We'll see how they hold up on Fri.

Speed Cat, I am sending you positive happy loving thoughts right now and hope you are feeling great. I'm going to get the tea tree oil too. I had read about the ice pack for the hands and feet. I wasn't quite sure how to do them but with all of these great suggestion I think I'm just going to take the baggies and dish pans first time and see what happens next time.

just finished my second dose of the dexamethasone. No side effects noted. But it is just day one. I don't go in for my infusion tomorrow until a215 and I guess I will give you a heads up as to how things went. I'll be taking my claritin and my anti nausea med around 1,  I guess.

Hi Ladies.  BIG HUGS to all.  I'm almost 1 yr since last Chemo.  I did 4 x TC ( Sept-Nov) every 3 weeks then 16 rads.

Your 1st infusion is the longest, After that mine were 3hrs long.  It is just like getting a bag of saline. At least for me, no port, just IV. Please make sure to get a side effects sheet, sometimes they forget.  This sheet you rate your side effects on a scale from 1-10.  You give it back to them before your next infusion.  They use this info to adjust the meds.  So if you have a bad side effect after the 1st one, don't panic.  Just make sure that sheet is filled out.  It makes a world of diff when things get adjusted. If your center doesn't do this sheet make a list & give to them a couple of days before next one. I lost all hair on my head, most on body. I lost eyelashes but only half of one eyebrow.  Like I cared at that time.  Least of my worries.  Good news is  .. It's Winter, everyone is wearing hats, they'll never know. lol  Unless you live somewhere warm.

I did not ice hands & feet but did chew ice.  Some women take a cooler with bags of frozen peas, just shove hands/feet in them.  At least you wouldn't have to worry about ice melting. Chewing ice was really helpful, I didn't do it 1 st round & suffered. Time goes by fast & you will all be done this s##$T in no time.  It is doable.  Any questions please feel free to ask.

Tree tea oil is avail at pharmacy or natural store.

Take care all.

hi all!   I wanted to stop in and let you all know you can do this!   

I had dose dense ACT which began May 1. It was a long summer but I worked 8 of every 10 day each cycle and managed to have fun with family and friends.  Even a short vacation to the desert in June.  

You'll find strength and it will be done before you know it. Try to find small things throughout that you can look forward to, it'll help. 

Sending love and light and healing energy to each of you.  

Thanks 70charger (love the pic).  I forgot to look for teatree oil when I picked up my Zofran.  Good to see you made it through, too Prncesmommy.  My hubby was also there with me and took care of everything I asked, including getting more ice for me as it melted.  WendeeB the ziploc bags for my hands worked great, the dishpan was a little big and their ice melted too quickly.  Take a hand towel or 2.  That was the last med I got and took the longest because they titrated it.  I had my fingers and toes in ice for an hour and a half with time out to thaw.  They were freezing, but so far I've felt some minor tingling no numbness or change in my nails.  I've got 3 weeks to find a better way for my feet.  My hubby suggested freezing wet hand towels and they could be bent around hands and toes with no melting ice.  He's just cooked me some scrambled eggs and grits, having problems with a mouth sore that was healing before the chemo.  Magic mouthwash helps.  I think the adriamycin aggravated it.  I kept ice on it, but its still a bit painful.

I had all my meds by IV.  Nurse was great even though she had to stick twice.  She told me that the vein had bruised (it didn't blow) and normally they would have used it anyway, except for the first med going in, the adriamycin.  Well the second one was a go.  First came the premeds then the adriamycin.  Nurse Leigh sat right by my side slowly pushing 3 large syringes colored red into the IV (I was already peeing red before I left the chemo room).  Never felt a thing.  Then more nausea meds, a little Benadryl followed by Cytoxin.  No problems with that one either.  Some flushing, some fluids, then the last, Taxotere.  They used the generic for me since it has just been approved.  Other than freezing fingers and toes no problems from that one either.  Finish the fluids, remove the IV, and go home.  It took 4 hours.  

I stopped to pick-up Zofran.  Then stopped to check on my parents, both in their 80's.  I had called my father to let him know that I was okay, but he needed to see me for himself.  Headed home after that.  About halfway my stomach felt "unsettled" and I took a Zofran.  Not nausea, just unsettled.  Nothing so far except a minor headache.  I'm a little tired, but I had to let ya'll know how it went. 

Hugs to all.   

Thanks speedcat88.  Here is the baby of our stable. You into cars?

Glad to hear from you Speedcat and Prncesmommy!  One down!!!  Effeur - hope you are doing well, too.

Wendee, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow!

I think I've seen tea tree oil at the Body Shop, too.  Are nail problems primarily a side effect with Taxotere?  My MO didn't mention anything... I'll be on Taxol (down the road doing AC->T).

Dear Journal, I enjoyed watching the KC Royals get into the pre-season last night for the first time in 29 years. The game lasted until well after mid-night which kept me from worrying about my first chemo treatment today. Today I met with my doctor who answered all my questions, got to sit in a comfy recliner ,was taken care of by competent nurses, and had 5 1/2 hours of TCH infusions while I used my laptop to catch up on work. At the end of the day, I feel woozy-almost like a cheap drunk.  My tastes are a little blurred and I'm tired.  But no nausea. I'm not ready to kick up my heels but I am planning on my 2 mile walk in the morning. I know it will get a little worse each treatment but there are only 5 more of the long day treatments to go. My goals for the next 18 weeks are to do something normal everyday, to appreciate something new every day and to read the breastcancer.org forum every night.  Key word read not monopolize!! I'm already loving everything about these special ladies. Ellie

Welcome trekgirl, so sorry you have to join this club and losing your husband, but there are such wonderful caring ladies on here that is here for you.

 I got my tea tree oil (Jason's)off Amazon since I have Amazon prime, but Kerensa I've seen it at Safeway too (at least the one off petrovisky). If you could find a nail polish with the tea tree oil in its better, but I have yet to find a nail polish that does or that doesn't cost $25 for it.

My portacath wasn't bad at all, I tend to fall asleep with the twilight sedations so I basically fell asleep looking at the vitals on the big monitors waiting as they were prepping for surgery and the next thing I know I'm being woken up. I will say that now that I'm home the area where the port is, is very tender and sore. The tagederm they used is so taut against my neck I had to pull the top part a bit off as it was pulling my skin so much I could barely move my neck. Otherwise not too shabby. I'm getting a final me day tomorrow with a mani/pedi and I'm taking my tea tree oil and asking them to put it in before they apply the polish to my nails and toes. 

Good luck hyphencollins and wendee tomorrow!

Speedcat, I've heard some people freezing a wet sponge in a ziplock or freezing dishwashing soap (this is more pliable since it doesn't freeze into a block)in a ziplock (since that is liquid I would double bag it in case of leaks)

Hi everyone.  I'm here and in the chair.  I've ordered my lunch but havent started tx yet.  You know, taking care of the important things.  Still have hair:).

Best of luck hyphencollins.  You're going to do great.  Told my hair yesterday morning that it was going to start dying today, but better you than me:).  Took a Promethazine this morning around 12:05 and slept pretty good.  Haven't taken anything for nausea since getting out of bed this morning, but I took my Omeprazole, Dexamethasone (just a little jittery feeling), and Loratadine (for today's Neulasta shot).  Oddly enough had a little reflux last night before I went to bed even though I am taking Omeprazole.  What's bothering me the most today is the mouth sore, which was already there before the chemo yesterday.  Got a call in to my MO to see if it's okay for me to use Colgate Orabase paste along with the Magic Mouthwash.  It was working really well in covering the spot and staying put. 

Oh!  My fingernails and toenails look good and no tingling or numbness noted.  I will pickup some tea tree oil today.  Mulligan the sponge idea is great.  We have a lot of sponge material that we get packed around some of the outboard motors coming in from the factory.  I think they might be perfect.  Thinking about you Wendee.  Trekgirl, glad you're here.  We're all in this together and you will never be alone.  Extra prayers and hugs for you having such a devastating summer.  Make sure you are comfortable with your MO and try to take notes if you need to.  

See you all later this being one of the highlights of my day.  Hugs to everyone.

@kersenia75  you can see my tx below and my MO told me my hair should be mostly gone before tx 2!  I'm furiously knitting!

@ml143333  welcome! Sorry you're here, but it's a great site.

@Jules, that really bites about how they didn't listen and now you have to suffer.  I hope they calmed your allergies down.

Had my 1st infusion today.  Originally scheduled for 1415, but got called to come in at noon because they didn't realize it was my first and it would possibly take longer.   So, I had to cancel *my* patients.  On the bright side, I got to see hubby and 2 of my 3 kids again before I headed out.  Got there, they took me back, weighed me, vitals, cbc, sent me with 3 vials to the chemo room (kinda antsy for a second walking in there) where one RN started my IV.  Ugh, she sucked.  I almost passed out!  Got it in, back to my room to talk to the MO.  I ♡♡ her.  She talks to me...not at me...not over me...TO me.  Get done with her (the se, sex, etc convo) head back to the infusion room, sit in my chair.  2 hours later I got up and went home.  THANK YOU speedCat about mentionimg taking your zofran.  I wasnt nauseous,  but my tummy felt gurgly.  The zofran settled it down.

Drove home, stopped at the library to pick up my sons Minecraft book, came home, ate some lentils with green beans,  onions, and garlic.  Cooked the kids dinner.  Figured I should update. 

Blessings to all my sisters here. We're here for a reason.