Starting Chemo February 2015

yes my nodes are negative thank God.. I have access to all of my records and results thru the hospital's iPhone app. Prolly the grade 3 for sure being more aggressive. And you're correct- no radiation needed with mastectomy. I would've gotten a double but couldn't afford the recupe time. I can opt to do it later. Also her2 status can also impact chemo protocol. I just get curious bec stage is determined by drs which seems like could be subjective. Grade is diff. Thanks for feedback

I start my treatment on February 9. I'm sorry to have to meet all of you because of this but I am looking forward to helping one another along this journey.

CarolynAnne, I had my port inserted on 1/29. I am also experiencing a lot of discomfort from it. Especially when I am laying down or if I lean forward. I can raise my arm but I am experiencing shoulder pain. I wasn't expecting any side effects from the port - although I guess I should of.... After all it is a foreign object in my body. A co-worker assures me I will get use to it and will not even notice it. Right now I am doubtful. Tylenol does help I just hate taking it so often. I have my first chemo treatment on Thursday the fifth. I'm nervous about the side effects but ready to get started (so it will be over sooner). I will have 4 treatments of adriamycin & cytoxan every other week followed by 12 weekly treatments of taxol. I am hopeful I can complete the 16 treatments in the 20 weeks.

Hello, all.

^{I've been looking at this site a lot since my cancer journey began in late November, and it looks like it's time to join a group -- this looks like it's the right one. It's been quite a roller coaster so far, and it's only the beginning.}

^{After I developed a crease in my right breast in late November (at the beginning of a two week vacation out of the country), I contacted my PCP on December 6. He made arrangements to see me the following day, and when he had a look, he had his office manager call imaging labs the next morning to find a place for mammogram/ultrasound the next afternoon. I wasn't out of the lab for 20 minutes before my PCP phoned me, telling me that I would need surgery, and I met my surgeon the following week, and had an excision biopsy on December 23. On January 7, the some of the pathology was back, and I was diagnosed with IDC, 4.5 cm, with extensive DCIS. The margins were not clear, and to add to it all, it's triple negative. I had a unilateral mastectomy and ALND the following week, and my surgeon was very distressed to tell me that there was a very large bed of abnormal tissue in the breast, and that all of my lymph nodes appeared to be involved. Bad news on top of bad news, on top of bad news! I was advised to make my leave of absence from work "indefinite".}

^{Things got a loooooot better when the mastectomy pathology report came back last week. ALL of the abnormal tissue in the mastectomy breast tissue is DCIS! Never thought I'd be glad to hear that, but there you go. All margins clear! Also on the good news front, ALL of my lymph nodes were negative for malignancy! 12/12 were enlarged, but that seems to have been related to the lumpectomy. Had a bone scan last week; waiting to talk to my surgeon about results.}

^{I live in a rural area, but there is a community cancer treatment centre about 45 minutes from my home. I've met the community treatment centre oncologist, but will meet with the "big city" cancer centre oncologist on the 17th. I'll likely need to have my first chemo infusion in the city (about 1.5 hours away from home), but as long as I don't have a really bad reaction, I'll be able to do the rest of my chemo closer to home. I've been told to expect it to start almost immediately, so the February group seems right to me, if you'll have me.}

^{Where I live, the usual chemo for triple negative bc is aggressive - likely dose dense AC, followed by dose dense paclitaxel. I'm worried, and scared, and relieved, all at the same time.}

Had my infusion Monday and followup nuelasta Tuesday. No real side effects from either so far. Also took the Claritan the morning of nuelasta and will do so for the next two days. Was guaranteed I would not suffer from nausea! Still given a prescription for it to take every six hours as needed . Everyone at the infusion was incredibly nice and I came home with so many nice freebies! It was a LONG day. There at 8:30 and left at 4:50. Actual infusion total time was five hours, but they were late getting me started and lab results took about 1.5 hours. Infusions will be shorter the next time and I have the option to walk in and have blood drawn for the lab work the Friday before infusion. I will do this next time to shave more time. Boyfriend was great and stayed the entire time, even while I slept. They gave me the Benadryl IV and it WORKED for a couple of hours. Plus I didn't sleep much the night prior. I felt so fine afterwards that I agreed to keep my sisters' five year old twins along with my 4 year old son... alone. She's the one that gave birth on Sunday. Boyfriend (though having to leave himself) wasn't hapoy but I figured it made things easier in that my son was preoccupied and entertained by his cousins. I can feel the dry mouth coming on. Why is it so hard to find sugar free hard candy??? I took to Amazon. Hopefully it will arrive Wednesday. I have also felt minor and occasional tingling in my fingers and feet. Nothing major however. I made it to the hospital to see my new nephew today and then went by their house as for the evening.

Oh! Got my hair cut very short today. Talking to the barber, take off my wig, and here "my name" from the corner of the room! Look around confused, don't recognize anyone, and asked the barber if someone called my name. Again "My Name" and then "My WHOLE Name". It was a high school class mate of mine I haven't seen since high school! After awhile he walks over and says "you're cutting ALL your hair off?" I wasn't, but compared to what it was... I then explained to him what I was doing and we had a very nice conversation. You see, I just moved to this town and didn't expect to run into anyone I knew at the barber shop! Funny! Especially since he made me feel very comfortable about the whole thing.

I am scheduled to start chemo tomorrow and I am scared to death. Any advice? I have 3 children with 2 under the age of 4 and am worried about how I am going to care for them while undergoing treatments.

I am a few days out from getting my port placed, and it is feeling much better. The first day I could barely turn my head from side to side because of the muscle soreness. My first round of chemo will be weekly Taxol and Carboplatinum. Then, I will do dose dense AC. I'm still unclear as to whether I will get both Taxol and Carbo each week or Taxol weekly with Carbo on the 3rd week. I haven't seen anyone else post the same regimen as me. Momof32015, I right there with you with having little kids around. I have 4 children. One is off to college, one in high school, and then I have a 5yo and a 2yo. I think that I am most worried about caring for the little ones during this. I am a stay at home mom, so they will be with me all the time. My mom is close by and will come and help with them when needed, and my husband can take of work on my bad days as well. I guess only time will tell how much help I am going to need. Anyone else with tips on caring for little ones during this?

Hello, I will be starting Feb.10th. Adriamycin/Cytoxan every other weeks. 4 treatments, then weekly Taxol for 5 months.

Looks like there were quite a few people who started chemo this week. I had my infusion (AC) on Wednesday followed by a Neulasta shot on Thursday. Feeling a little queasy in the stomach and sleeping a lot. Trying to get some fresh air every day by going for strolls (in spite of the cold and snow!). Waiting for the 'wall' to hit. This is my second diagnosis BC. First time was TC x 4 and I felt the worst on the third day. Don't know how this will affect me. It's going to be much harder this time since the doses are more frequent and this will be going on until June. I've already been through the hair loss once and at least am mentally prepared for that.

How is everybody else doing? Is anybody trying to work through this? I did last time and am hoping to do it again. Keeps my mind busy and gives me some social contact since I just live by myself with two cats.

Had my TCHP on Monday and Nuelasta on Tuesday. Today (Friday) may have been my worst day, but not terribly bad. More aches, queasiness, headaches, and diarrhea kicked in after 3 days of borderline constipation. I was out today, however, visiting my sis and the new baby. Energy levels WAY down when I went too long before eating. Energy spiked with food but was short lived.

I work from home when not traveling. Won't be traveling in the near future; so it's email and telephone pretty much. Boss visited from out of town today. I know I lokked better than I felt. I hope that doesn't create unrealistic expectations.

Hi ladies. I am happy to have found this group. Found out in November I had ILC in my right Breast and chose to have a nipple sparing bilateral w reconstruction. Prior to my surgery My MrI didn't show any lymph involvement. However when I woke up my BS tole me I had micro metastasis in 2 nodes so she removed them all on that side. I start chemo on February 23 four treatments of TC scheduled three weeks apart. I am having my port put in on February 19 nervous about that. I am a 43-year-old mom with a 10-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old daughter. Worried that I have to take my daughter to a dance competition two days after having my port put in and I'm wondering how I am going to feel. And need to get a wig

Dear Cher - Welcome to the BCO community. We hope you find support and information from our members who can offer their experiences and the wisdom and compassion that comes from shared situations. Here is a link to Information for those starting chemo that includes another link to detailed explanation of the port placement process. Keep us posted. The Mods