Starting Chemo March 2015

Well I found out today I will be starting chemo on March 31.. 2 days after my birthday. I'm still a lil shocked. I may need to let it settle for a few days.

StacyMc - sorry you have to join us but welcome. You will go through several phases before it settles in your mind. Just know that we are here for you and you can do this. Everyone says I'm strong but I FEEL weak and fragile. And yet...here I just finished round 2 of AC (50% done with that cocktail) woohoo!

and thanks, Kbeee, for stopping in to say hey. I hope that if you start March 31(or even if not), you stay with us, as I think your experience would be of invaluable support to us here, and hopefully we could return the favor. At the minimum,I am hoping for a "cameo" (had to watch Mr. Spell check in that one, har) appearance in our midst on a regular basis

2nd round of AC is definitely better SO FAR. Worst thing is a little nausea and headache. Just took drugs and I'm headed to bed.

Found out that one of our BC chemo sisters lives right down the highway from me and has the same MO and will probably be doing surgery at UCSF like me. I think she's shy and mostly reads here (actually, she's probably in the Jan or Feb group forums) but I was happy to get a private message from her and start building a relationship

Also supernannymom and I are about an hour away. I think we will try to meet halfway on a day that works for both of us - love putting faces and real hugs (virtual hugs are cool but not the same) to match the username!

I encourage using private messaging to build local relationships. They can be quite valuable. Or joining a local supports group.

I'm still catching up on old posts that came in while I was 'checked out'. Someone (sorry, can't remember who) asked about blood work). When I went in today for treatment they stuck my finger and ran it right there before starting. They said if anything was abnormal on that, they would draw from the port and run a full panel. So I don't know my baby WBC number because that has to be done on a microscope but since all the other numbers looked good up guess they weren't worried about it.

Oh and my weight is pretty stable. I had lost 7# after 1st treatment but that was mostly dehydration. It looks like I gained back 4 of the 7 and they were pleased with that.

One little funny for the night. My DH posted a scary pic on FB and said that if the mood swings kick in he's just gonna get me an eye patch and say I'm converting to a new fad called 'pirate ism". Whatever...I still love him

Good night all!

Bekah

Hello all. I had my first dose of Taxol in the 17th. It went okay. I am having a little difficulty sleeping but I think it is from the steroids. I was a tiny bit nauseated at the very end and my mouth felt a little funny, but other than than it was okay. The next morning I woke up with a sunburn looking face, took some Benadryl and drank a lot of juice and water and felt okay. Day 3 no redness at all. Just my mouth feels like I burned it on hot coffee. And a little tired today. I go for preop info, EKG, labs, prior to port placement on Monday. I wish everyone a great weekend, and hang in there!!!!!

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I have not named my port, but if I do, I believe it'll be Scooby. Because, why not? If not Scooby, then Horace...for absolutely no reason. LOL

Well I guess this is my group. I started chemo on March 12th. Was terrified and found it to be pretty easy (I slept through it). I'm on AC (the red devil) and at some point I will switch over to Taxol. Absolutely no nausea. I think that is only because I was entered into a clinical study for anti-nausea medicine. I'm pretty sure I did not receive the sugar pill. My taste buds went yesterday. I'm very disturbed by this development, but I can deal with it. I have not lost a strand of hair since chemo. I actually lost more hair daily before chemo than I have since I started. Though I am prepared for when it does start to fall out (Friends, bottle of Prosecco and a stylist on speed dial).

Regarding blood tests, I get mine done right before my appointments. They speed test my blood.

I just wanted to introduce myself. See below for my stats (I guess I have three strikes, but the game is not over...not by a long shot)

With all the port issues I've been having I guess I'll call mine "Pesky".

I'm working from home today. I'm a little tired but OK enough to work, but I don't feel well enough to walk around the office. Especially considering how far the bathroom is from my desk and I've been drinking A LOT of water and snacking a lot to keep the nausea at bay.

Princess -- so sorry to hear about your co-worker. Whenever I'm tempted to complain about what I'm going through I remind myself that we're here, and others didn't get that chance.

I've been sharing information on my blog. Just to let people I know how I'm doing. In the world of social media, if my friends and family don't see anything from me I'm sure that they'll wonder if I'm OK.

I have my Neulasta shot today. And I'm mentally preparing myself for being completely useless tomorrow!

SC and Leigh (welcome! and welcome to ninja too -- fantastic username, btw, LOL), I've been pretty open about what's going on with me on personal social media, a very Disney version anyway. Keeping it light and upbeat, but really, that's not difficult. I'm an upbeat sort to start with. And everyone has been fabulously supportive! The problem with me is I'm not just the one person. I'm two. The personal me and the professional me. Even with the modern trend of authors being all-out on social media, I'm still rather reserved. I value my privacy and guard it jealously. (I owe readers a good story, not a floor show.) Still, I'll have to say something soon as the professional me. I had a war plan for 2015 that didn't count on my regularly losing workdays. Even on my good days, I'm not as productive. So the 2015 war plan had to change. While I'm positive fans and readers will be supportive, the idea of going through the telling a second time exhausts me. Plus...The professional me still gets to be normal. Short of a few colleagues, nobody knows I lost my hair or spends a solitary moment worrying if I'm okay. I still get to be my old self. Once that's gone, I'll miss it. Dearly.

Btw, in case any of you are wondering, no, you haven't heard of the professional me. LOL. I make a living writing, but I'm not NYT bestseller material, never have been, never will be. I enjoy what I do and I'm good at it, though, which is just ducky with me.

Hi - me again - I appreciate the kind welcome. My post-surgical exam and MD team meeting to discuss treatment recommendations is not until 4/6, so I don't think I'll be starting chemo until well into April. It's hard to tell - it seem some of you have had things move right along, and other have had tests - BW, MRI, etc., and port placement, which seems like it could take weeks for me. I have joined the April group with Kbee.

Anyway, I had another question - I haven't seen one person mention medical marijuana for SE, even those who are in states where it is totally legal. Is it taboo? (to mention, not to have it) Or are all your MO not recommending it? Just curious - no reason ;-)

Stacy, your stats look very similar to mine except that you had 2 nodes removed - I only had the 1. But, you are way ahead of me - I won't even have treatment plan until 4/6. I did have a 2nd surgery on 13th, so that is why scheduler would not give me earlier appointment (had to be 4-6 weeks after surgery), but I didn't think that mattered for chemo. I just want to get started so I can get it over with sooner.

-Lynne

I'd love to try medical marijuana and it's legal in my state. However, I'm a licensed healthcare provider and I would lose my license, plus I work on a Federal facility so it's prohibited there too. Maybe if I go out on disability I can try it

Hello lovely new breast friends! I am a little shy and don't usually post—but after reading through all the bright and brave women going through chemotherapy starting this month I decided to jump in. My first chemo "cocktail" (ha) was on March 6^th. The actual process of getting the chemo was much easier than I thought it would be. I am scheduled for another 3 rounds with the next infusion scheduled for the 25^th. I am actually a little more anxious about this second round than I was about the first. I managed to come up with a pretty tough reaction to the Neulasta shot which landed me in the ER and some blurry vision which prevented me from driving for several days. I am feeling much better now of course, but those reactions got to me a bit. Anyway, I just wanted to reach out and connect and I hope that everyone is having a lovely day.

my husband bought a Vape unit and I have a medical marijuana card just in case. A Vape unit uses boiling water to create the "smoke" so I think it is less toxic on your lungs etc. kind of like an old fashioned bong but without fire. I hope I won't have to ever use it, but he wanted to be prepared for any type of outcome.

When my sister was dying, marijuana was the only thing that allowed her to eat and get the nausea under control. She lived in Illinois and this was in 1997, so I'm sure the purchasing and using it was completely illegal. But my mom didn't care, she was willing to do whatever was necessary. She didn't die of breast cancer, but the application is the same - reduce nausea and stimulate appetite.

There are a lot of things I said I would never do, and I'm sure chemo was one of them. So I have learned to quit using the word never.

Our neighbors are a group of college students so I think if I'd like to give marijuana a try I could just catch them outside on their next party night when they are lighting up!

Kachincolor - I'm a shy gal, too. It isn't easy for me to get on sites like these and put myself out there. I always second guess what I have written or how I have responded to someone. I see you are from the Minneapolis area. I grew up right near Minneapolis! Lived there for 20 years or so. I miss the Midwest but not the mosquitoes! I still have family that live there and get back there about once a year.

Okay, anyone else having issues with their port feeling like it has shifted? Mine seems to be riding higher and is feeling slightly uncomfortable. I woke up the other night and I was laying directly on it. Also, when have you all been able to go off of the anti-emetics after your infusion? I am on my 4th day out from chemo and still feel dizzy/icky without it (and even a little dizzy/icky with it).

A friend of mine is heading over in a bit to go for a walk and then to do some wig shopping with me. I know I wouldn't be brave enough to go on my own and she is one of those friends who can make anything fun so I am actually looking forward to it!

Have a good day everyone!