Starting Chemo March 2015

rleepac - My port's name is Penelope, aka Penny the Port. So it was probably me that you remembered saying they named their port. A friend helped me come up with it. I figured since it's going to be in there for a while, might as well get comfortable with it. My surgeon that placed it did an amazing job with the incision - it's very thin and is actually already fading. I'm requesting him for when they remove it, too. It's finally not bruised and the swelling has gone down after three weeks, so it doesn't look as big as it did the first week.

I've developed the mouth sores that they warn you about, so been doing a lot of rinsing with the baking soda/salt concoction. Brushing with a soft brush and Biotene toothpaste. So far coffee is the only thing that's lost its flavor to me, which is sad. My taste buds feel like they're burned almost.

I've also been worried about the chemo infusions building on each other, with each one's side effects becoming increasingly impacting than the last. It has me worried about functioning at work, and possibly losing the new job I just acquired. But, if I do, then it wasn't the right job for me, and my health comes first. I'm waiting to see how I feel after infusion #2 before I say anything to them, if at all, and then decide if I can keep working through the fog. I think it might be hard with the fact that I'm exhausted and all I want to do is sleep, and they all say to rest when tired. I can't exactly sleep at my desk during training...

It's SO HARD to drink so many fluids. I've been drinking so much water and gatorade I don't sleep through the night because I constantly have to pee. I've also heard that if you feel dehydrated for ANY reason, your MO should be able to set you up with an appointment in the infusion center to get a bag of fluids, which should help with dehydration. Might as well make use of this damn port...

I'm doing the cold caps, and so far no shedding, but that'll come next week, which I'm worried about but trying not to think about. The not washing is driving me so nuts that I almost want to just say SCREW IT and shave my head and get that wig!

Boobie Betrayal (welcome! Luv the name!) and Princess Meh, I never really seriously considered the cold cap option. I know it's s fantastic option for some people. For me, the idea of trying and it failing, with me in the shower and clumps coming out..... I couldn't have handled it. At all. I felt so strongly to keep things as simple as possible, with as few pitfalls as possible. I shaved six days ago. I love my hats, never shed a tear, and even took my hat off in public today. I'm not trying to prove a point. I'm not trying to be a hero. I'm just trying to use my limited emotional resources (and they are SOOOO limited) to manage SEs and try to be healthy. There is only so much capacity for me to handle the seemingly endless variables.

I applaud all of us who make the right decisions for ourselves. Nobody else.

wpmoon- try Popsicles or jello. That counts as fluid.

Migrant-so sorry you feel crappy. Someone told me for headache two very strong cups of coffee, a dark chocolate bar and OTC something like Advil (I can't tske Tylenol but that could work. Try nibbling on a saltine. Not eating and hydrating is a viscious cycle and nausea gets worse. Do you have Zofrin or Compazine? Take it even if it's not that bad. Just like pain, you HAVE to stay ahead of it. Thinking of you and hugs

jackbirdie- i love your pic! going to use your smiling face as an inspiration today.

i'm allergic to caffeine, so no coffee or chocolate for me. i've been able to eat some sea salt crackers and drink bits of water. have taken zofrin - and that's kind of helping. mostly i'm just feeling down (haven't gotten great answers from the Onco Nurse about my itchiness or being flushed in the face and chest- no temperature, just flushed), and im tired. really really tired. ..and crabby. super crabby. ...hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Wow I have never heard of a caffeine allergy. That's a bummer.

Bekah: What's a PA-C?

Jack: You look great! Congrats to you and Jack!

Congrats on the therapy dog certification!

Caffeine? Oh my, don't say it. I switched to decaf this morning to keep my hydration up and miss my coffee horribly. I mean, I was one of those people who ground the beans...Coffee and I have been in a devoted relationship for 30 years. *sobs*

I will be getting my port on 3/16 and first chemo 3/26. Getting AC for every other week for 8 wks then taxol and herceptin. I hate all of this and wish it would all go away but I will do it and get through it. I am not going to work as I am a nurse and am terrified of catching something. I told my mom that today and she told me "all the ladies on TV work with breast cancer". I told her too bad. They aren't going to get TB on TV. Trying to stay positive but so far am just positive that cancer sucks!

I'm warming up to the idea of naming my port - thanks for starting the trend Wpmoon!

I'm thinking Snoopy, because he's my favorite. Also, my chemo nurse's scrubs have Snoopy on them, and once my chemo is done, she sticks a band-aid with Snoopy onto my port. All signs point to Snoopy.

Shaz- bummer about the thrush. I feel like my mouth's s bit sore but not extreme. Keep using oasis, brushing tongue (and rest) and swishing baking soda.

I've been thinking it's very unnatural that I haven't had too many complaints. Today is day 7. First day I didn't take Claritan. Then BAM! This afternoon lower back spasms. Anyone else? It just might be i am doing too much and did walk and stand much longer today due to Jack's Eval. It could be anything. It hurts. Doing heat. Might try some ice. If all else fails I get a blood draw tomorrow and I can ask the nurses. I just wondered I anyone else ??

Wpmoon, I think you were the one with a sudden onset of a bad acne/rash?

I have it now, it seems to have been spreading throughout the day, my face hurts. My husband thinks it's the side effect of the steroids. I'll have to call the MO tomorrow. I hope they'll give me something for it

amazing you are IC! I probably did overdo. I had to pick Jack up a lot so the residents could feel his soft ears and I'm not used to that. It was a slow road healing from the mx. I am on the ice pack now, alternating with heat. Might take an oxy. Super tired. Trying to stay awake as long as I can so I sleep past 3am. Arrrgghhhhhhh.

But like I said before, I feel like I had LIFE today. Not "life with BC". Big diff.

thanks so much for the v-hug, IC. I have clonazepam, and I took one.,it has a longer half life than some of the others in that category, but it should help. I just feel like I'm pouring stuff down my gullet at an alarming rate. I have had elevated liver enzymes off an on for a year or so. It doesn't seem to be related to bc, but I worry

I'm listening to some music now, and turning off the screens.

The song on my playlist that just came on I dedicate to my March chemo sisters:

Brandi Carlilsle ( live acoustic ) IF THERE WAS NO YOU. and I mean it. Good night all.

Hi ladies,

I'm from the August 2014 chemo group and popping in to say good luck to all of you. I finished TCHP chemo at the end of November, and finishing radiation next week. It seems like forever but once it's done you will be surprised how quick it went.

I also wanted to let you all know that while I did have unpleasant side effects, they were not nearly as bad as I had imagined going into this. My biggest side effects were fatigue during days 3-5, which kept getting longer with each treatment, and heartburn and bad taste in mouth during the first 7-10 days. Best thing you can do for yourselves is to protect from germs as much as possible (using basic common sense nothing extreme is needed unless you have very low wbc count) to avoid illnesses that can cause delays in your treatments.

I will also mention some vanity points for those of you who may be interested

I wasn't recommended the cold capping by several docs so didn't do it. If you are self conscious about scarves like me, what helped me a lot was a full lace human hair wig. It was very comfortable, easy to maintain, and I looked and felt as normal as I could be under the circumstances. People didn't realize I was wearing a wig even though they knew I was getting chemo, they are very natural looking. Anyway, I have half an inch of hair now and still wearing it until I get another inch or two.

Nails, mine started getting lines with each chemo infusion but I did not have any other issues until after chemo was done and went without nailpolish. Few weeks after being done several of them lifted and look half normal and half white now. I wear nailpolish to cover it up, and hear that it can take a while to return back to normal. I did not ice them.

Bloat/weight gain - my chemo caused bloating, specifically taxotere. I would fluctuate 8-10 pounds every 3 weeks with lowest being after steroids and would gradually creep back up until the next chemo. While steroids make you gain weight, they actually help keep the bloat from chemo down during that first week. Anyway I ended up at about 10 pounds heavier. I also started showing water retention around my legs and ankles, sometimes even around my belly and hands, after the 4th one. It took about two months to resolve itself and I did not believe it wouldbut the water dropped off and I got left with 3 pounds of fat which I am still carrying as I have not dieted or exercised much yet. Don't worry if you gain weight as well, you need all the food you can manage to eat. Most of the weight will be water and will come off eventually.

Feel free to PM me if you have questions. Again, wish you all the best of luck and minimal side effects. Take care.