Starting Chemo January 2015

Hi everyone!

I am new to this thread but not new to breast cancer.  I first had breast cancer back in 2008.  Went thru double mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction.  In addition, I took aromasin for five years.  At year six, my cancer came back!  I was one of the 1% that has recurrence after a DM.  It was in my chest wall.  I had surgery to remove it and will start chemo on January 21.  I will have a port placed this Thursday, the 15th. 

I was completely numb when I found out about the recurrence!  I thought certainly that the lump I felt was scar tissue!  What 1%?!!  Me??!!  Not sure I completely accept it yet.  I guess because of this, I really have told only a few close friends and, of course, my family.  The look on my older daughter's face when I told her was heartbreaking.  Truly everyone was shocked.  Even though I have known about this for a couple of months I still can't bring myself to tell friends.

Anyway, back to present day.  I am gearing up for the weeks ahead and would love to join your group of warrior women.  Good luck to us all!

Hugs, Kathy

kbram, you are absolutely welcomed to join this thread. I am so sorry you have to deal with this again. Did you find the lump yourself or was it found on tests?

fyre999, I'm so glad you have a chemo start date now. I know I felt loads better once the plan was in place and I hope you do too. Good luck with Chemo#1 tomorrow. Happy Anniversary as well!!!

hopefulmomof3 - Hope your port surgery goes real well. I am getting a little anxious about getting mine done on the 14th. I was thinking last night that I will likely have to learn another way of sleeping again. That has been one of the tougher things to deal with for me!

Wishing everyone a great day!

Kathy, thanks for sharing that information. I thought it more likely you found it and I'm glad that you did. 4mm is small so finding it is pretty impressive. It does prove also that we have to be vigilant about checking and knowing our bodies.

Hi Cherylfg, glad you feel better! I also had the bone pain with Neulasta, but it was more pronounced with Taxol rather than the AC. What really hurt was my brain when I saw the bill for Neulasta! Wow! I took tylenol and Claritin with the AC, but switched to Tylenol with codeine when I had to with Taxol. When I had the last of 4 Taxol, we reduced the Neulasta to 1/2 dose to cut the pain. But everyone reacts differently.

Mac and cheese was my best friend, I love the one they have at Trader Joe's. I also craved mandarin oranges, 100% grape juice, cold water, celery with ranch, and bananas. Weird to me, but the nurses were happy I didn't drop weight eating such a diet. I just added to it when I felt better. Toast and soup, grilled cheese, and baked potatoes. But I got through all of the treatment. I usually ate during chemo so my stomach wasn't empty. Jello, vanilla pudding, and pretzel sticks, fruit. Small amounts but it worked well for me.If you are nauseous maybe you need a different drug? I took it every morning/as needed for 4 to 5 days after chemo. My nurses told me to take them as soon as it started, and not wait. Since I hate that feeling, I just had a regular schedule and followed it to keep the SE's away.

I'm doing well, just waiting for the Doc to call so I know if I have chemo again first or rads first. The waiting game begins..........

HI all,

Oncology appointment went well, so now I am just trying to process everything. I should be starting chemo late next week, provided my incision from my surgery finishes healing this week. I am doing 4 cycles of AC followed by 12 weeks of Taxol, followed by 5 years of Tamoxifin. 6 weeks after finishing I am going to have my double mastectomy and reconstruction and it is looking like I will be doing some radiation, likely under the arm 6 weeks after that. I had already decided to have the double mastectomy, but the doctor today said that if I wasn't she would be recommending at least a single mastectomy because of how close my margins were (one was only .5 mm). I may have to travel to Vancouver for a PET scan to have a closer look at the 'spot' on my bone scan.

Got a whole slew of prescriptions for anti-nausea meds today and had my first bloodwork done. I also decided to have a port, which they are hoping to put in sometimes next week. It shouldn't interfere with Dance so that's a great plus!

Just waiting to hear when my appointments will be to get started. Should see the doc first thing next week to get my CT results, and see if my incision is healed enough to start. Had a look at head coverings today and really like the turbans, that is probably how I am going to go.

Really glad to have an idea now of what to expect! CT scan tomorrow, and I hope that goes really well!

day 3 of chemo I'm very weak. It could have came from my shot on Saturday. (Neulasta)...So far, it hasn't been too bad. My taste buds are still there, but I can tell a change in some taste. I did go back to work, but I know my body and know when I need to sit down and rest. My bowel movements have been normal and no nausea yet (thank God

tennisfan- love your post! Great advice.

Mommacat4- I am planning to work 3-4 days/week but it's still too early to tell if this is realistic for me. I'm trying to delegate which I've never been too good at so we'll see!

A question For Jan sisters on THP: are you experiencing face "flushing"? My cheeks get bright red (this started a day or so after treatment) and are really hot to the touch. I don't have a temp, don't get sweaty, don't get hot anywhere else ... so not sure if this is a hot flash ... I feel a little silly/naive asking ..but you ladies don't judge 😊

thanks Beachbum. Helps to know I am not alone

I didn't try Claritin before the shot, but I do feel better, just a little week.no nausea or other side effects though, thank God

Hello ladies, it is great to read all the posts and see all the positive energy here. It keeps my spirits up. I am getting tired of all this hurry up and wait stuff. The anticipation of the treatment and cancer and outcome and end dates are very taxing on me. Maybe I should try taking it one day at a time.

To all you new ladies, glad to have you here as new friends.

Justkeepswimming, you and I have very similar diagnosis and treatment. I have delayed my first treatment which was supposed to be last Wednesday so now my first treatment will be this Wednesday. I don't know if I am scared or looking forward to it. I know the sooner I start the sooner I can finish.

The exercise idea is a good one. I need to begin an exercise regimen but don't seem to find the time. I just need to make the time I guess. Your input gives me hope and encouragement. Thank you.

I have already went shopping for a wig. I found one. But I will only wear it out. The rest of the time I think I will wear a scarf or hat. I did get a little head cover for when I am sleeping because I have always had long hair. I just recently cut it and donated it to locks of love. That is a company who makes wigs for children. I figured I would donate my hair so someone else can get some use of it before I tainted it with chemotherapy. My 15 year old daughter also donated her hair. Her hair was down to her waist and now it is up to her shoulders. My other 2 daughters are going to cut their hair but theirs is not long enough to donate. And my son wants to also shave his head. I told them to wait until I loose my hair.

Ladies, the tips about controlling constipation are all great tips. I will consider all of them. Lol. I forgot that anesthesia makes me constipated. When I had my port put in I didn't think about it. Usually I take a stool softner but by day 4 or 5 I figured it out and drank extra coffee... coffee is a natural diretic. But I have been told that caffeine will not be a good combination with chemo.

Thank you ladies for sharing your progress.

• Good morning Dstar. Thanks for asking. I made it through first chemo. Very long day 8 to 5. Met with MO and she said I am getting Perjeta along with Taxotere, Herceptin and Carboplatin. If my SE are bad at all meaning Diarrhea. She is taking me off She said my lymph nodes are negative so it would be okay. Thoughts? Just taking me off Perjeta only if bad SE.

Mommacat4. I had same constipation issues last week due to pain meds with port last week. I went 2 days and then drank Senna tea. It got everything moving pronto.

They gave me Benadryl, Aloxi and Emend as pre chemo yesterday. Right now I am not nauseous. I am drinking my coffee. I got some Gin Gins and sucked on that before I got out of bed. I am not taking the rest of my steroids. Do not like. I was given 1 prescription for nausea if needed. Proclorapherazine.

i am astounded at the amount of drugs pumped into me, oral meds and vitamins I am supposed to take. Ugg I have never in my life taken so many pills. The ND I saw prescribed a bunch of stuff too. It was approved by MO.

Tennisfan glad your colo went fine. I had one of those a few years back and I agree it was a walk in the park.

My goal today is drive 30 miles by myself to get my Neulasta shot. Not have nausea and enjoy the hair on my head. It's days are limited. 🙆 my wig is coming soon. I ordered a cap with hair too. Oh and a sleep cap. I am not a scarf person.

Ladies keep on keeping on. This is our new normal but not forever.

Thanks for all the tips. Thank you to Special K. She is a great advocate for all of us.

PMR53

Just call me Patty

Ps my nurse yesterday had what is called compassion fatigue. She just ripped the bandage off a fresh surgical site to deaccess port. I said ouch. She didn't even say sorry. She did not use alcohol wipes when she hooked on each different bag to current tubing either.

lakeside no flushing yet!! We have similar diagnosis. Mines bigger though. Haha.

Patty

Hi ladies ... sorry I haven't been round much. I am finding things quite tough going at the moment, but must admit that reading all your posts and seeing how well you are coping with the chemo is inspirational. I've had two false starts now and it looks like I may have to opt for surgery first and chemo later if my liver doesn't settle down.

I was due to start chemo last Tuesday (the 8th) but my liver enzymes were on the high side and the oncologist postponed it to Sunday this week. When I had the blood work done my liver enzymes were off the chart - more than 5 times what they should be so no chemo again. My oncologist referred me back to my rheumatologist (I have Ankylosing Spondylitis) who referred me to a liver specialist. He seems to be concerned that the cancer cells may be infiltrating my liver which and ordered an ultrasound yesterday. The ultrasound showed that my liver is slightly enlarged and the specialist then ordered a whole load more blood tests and a CT scan. I had the CT scan today and am now anxiously waiting for the results.

Both the oncologist and the breast surgeon are in agreement that the chemo cannot go ahead until my enzymes come right down and it may be that have the surgery next week and the chemo later. The other alternative, if the enzymes start coming down is to start with the Taxol component of the chemo first and follow it with the AC component but my oncologist says there has to be a huge improvement in the enzyme levels before she will even consider that.

When I was first diagnosed, my initial reaction was that I wanted a mastectomy immediately but then when my surgeon told me that there was a good chance we could shrink the tumour with chemo and just do a lumpectomy, I was very happy. All of sudden, the thought of having a mastectomy again terrifies me.

My oncologist keeps on telling me to focus on the positives but at the moment I am really struggling with this. Sorry to be such a moaner today but I just needed to vent. Hopefully, I'll feel a little more positive tomorrow.

Hope you all have a wonderful day xx

Hi Cherylfg, I am glad you are feeling better after the AC. I used the nausea meds for 4 to 5 days after so I could eat. I usually felt ok after that. My MO suggested that I use Senokot or Senokot S for the constipation issues. I took it the night before chemo and for the next 4 days depending on how I felt. I tried to eat foods that would help keep it all going so to speak. I was good with water, beans, fruit, and pork and sauerkraut. I know, weird! But it worked so I just kept it going.

I had my head shaved before it started to fall out. It was my choice, I picked the day, and felt so much better after it. I put on my wig and walked into my new life. I guess we all pick the battles to win the war, but I won the hair issue. So I felt very free and relieved, and I love my wig. It's so easy to do, and takes less than a minute to put on and go. So even if I feel crappy, I have great hair and that makes me feel better. I had my wig made with bangs so I didn't have to worry about eyebrows, I do them with make up and the bangs hide them. The good news - my hair started to grow back after the second Taxol treatment. My hair is now about a 1/2 inch long!!!! My eyelashes and eyebrows are growing back also. So that is something to look forward to!!

Try the spice aisle, I used a lot of lemon pepper to add flavor to veggies and chicken. Try eating with plastic forks and spoons. I also used paper plates, and solo cups. I tried anything until I found the combo that worked! And no dishes to wash - bonus! Feel better.

pmr53,

I would love your croc pot recipe.

Thank you