April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!

I'll be joining you...my first round of chemo is set for April 2nd. This has been a long drawn out process for me. I received my dx on 10/17, met with the surgeon on 10/21, met with the onco a week later, then did not have my BMX until 1/5/15! Now not starting chemo until 4/2.

I feel as if I've had to drive this whole wagon train...kept making calls to the offices and insisted on another appointment with each before my surgery.

I am read to get going on chemo. It will be 4 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere. I have my hats all ready and I'm gathering up things for my chemo bag and for SE's. Along with chemo, we will be dealing with working on/moving into a different home we are buying AND my farmer-husband will be starting spring field work and planting! I am also employed outside the home. This could be a crazy few months!

Laura

Hi - I'm Lynne and I think I'll be starting chemo in April. I haven't had my meeting with the multidisciplinary team yet (either the 23rd or 30th), but from what they have told me, and what I have read, it sounds like they will be recommending chemo, and then I would be starting that as soon as all the preflight checklist items can be accomplished. I came here to see what to expect - the general information on the internet is very generic, I wanted to hear from people who had gone or were going through it. I read all of the "starting in March" thread.

x1mel - I am also concerned about work. I want to continue to work, but I don't see how it is going to work. I have a desk job, and I will have the flexibility to work from home, but it sounds like SE could take you out, and how do you plan around that? I am a project manager for IT projects, I have to attend status meetings and deliverables are very date driven. I'm trying to not spend too much time worrying about it until I know exactly what my schedule will be.

I was diagnosed via a routine mammogram, did not feel anything. I have very dense/fibrous breast tissue. I had been called back for retakes before, so I wasn't concerned at all - pretty shocked when the director of the department came into the US and said they saw something "probably cancer" - she said that twice. I was surprised that she'd deliver the news like that, but she obviously knew her stuff, I had a biopsy 2 days later, then got confirmation the next day. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel biopsy on 2/25 and results showed it was larger than originally thought (grade 3), and I had positive lymph invasion and metastasis in lymph node. To boot, they had not gotten a clear margin on one side, so I had to go back just last week, 3/13, for re-excision (not lumpectomy as it says in sig).

I live about 37 miles from Boston, so have the best medical care in the world near by, and I had my surgery performed by a wonderful surgeon at MGH, and they will give me my recommended treatment plan. But, I really don't want to drive to Boston for treatment, it would add so much stress and time to the process. I'm hoping that they will be able to work with one of the community centers, and I'd only have to go to Boston 1x a month or something like that.

I guess that's enough about me. Looking forward to hearing from others gearing up for treatment in April.

-Lynne

Hi Karen, I heard from the scheduler today - she left me a message with an appointment for 4/13! I called back - why so long? She said that they wait 4-6 weeks for healing (because BS will also examine my incision at the same time). I got her to move it until 4/6, but it will be a long wait. I'm thinking of trying to throw together a getaway. I just have to figure out what to do with my kids. I have 3 children, a son - age 18 - he is at college; a daughter, 13, who has type 1 diabetes; and another daughter, 9, who keeps me on my toes, but she was diagnosed with PHACE(s) association shortly after she was born - she has been absolutely fine, but it is now causing her problems with academics. So, I have hands full - especially with full-time job.

A friend of a co-worker was able to have dose dense chemo for 6 weeks - I am hoping for something like that, it would be great to have it done. Also, if I had a defined period like that, I'd take a short-term LOA. When I hear 6 and 8 rounds with a round being 3 weeks, I just can't picture trying to keep up my job with that. I would like to try to keep working for my own mental health, but not at the expense of my co-workers having to pick up the slack - that wouldn't be fair.

You must be starting to feel healed by now? I know I was healing up nicely from 2/25 when I went back in last Friday. This time there is more pain. Last time, I swear I was still numb a week later, but this time I don't think they put in as much pain meds or whatever they used - more achy and sharp pains. Also, nipple feels chaffed - almost like if you went braless and running or dancing (I did that once - danced all night in a backless dress so no bra - ouch).

-Lynne

Hi April Ladies! I just wanted to drop in and wish you all a comfortable journey. I finished AC/T on 11/25. And I did work 42 hours a week all they way through chemo. I had a flex schedule so by working every weekend I got it done. Rough but I made it.

My schedule was Mon. 10 to 8, Chemo Tues. and work 3 to 8, Wed. 10 to 8, off Thursday and Friday, Sat. 10 to 6, and Sun. 11 to 5. Not fun but I managed. You can do this!

Good Luck! I am going to be hanging up my wig soon, and you will too!

Hi Karen - question for you since you have BTDT - would you plan a vacation during chemo? I mean of course not when you would be having infusion and the ~5-7 days after due to SE, but would it be a bad idea to go away somewhere on days 8-15 or 20 (depending on how long your cycles are)? Would you still potentially not be feeling well or are you taking a risk that you could get sick, then you wouldn't be near doctors?

Here's why I'm asking - I would love to take my daughters somewhere - maybe just Florida - during part of April school vacation, but I'm concerned that if I had my first treatment before (at least a week, of course), that I may regret it.

Just wondering.

-Lynne

I don't know yet, that's part of the problem. I won't know until I meet with team on 4/6 - which would be too late to book tickets, so if I book it now (for around 4/18), I will either have to have 1st infusion by 4/10 or wait until I get back.

I have a 2 week vacation booked for end of June/1st week July already - it's not so far that I couldn't drive to hospital if I had to (I actually had to do it last vacation because my husband was in ICU for the 2 weeks we were there), but I'm hoping I could do a treatment before - even if I feel crappy on vacation - feeling crappy by the ocean is better than feeling crappy at home.

Lynne

Sorry, forgot to say thanks for the advice, that helps. I think I'll have to bag the trip to FL. Maybe we can spend a night or two at a hotel not too far that has a pool.

Lynne

hi! I start 4/6 4 cycles of AC.

Hi April chemo crew...I just found out I will probably be starting dense dose chemo on April 1 or shortly thereafter. Already had my surgery and am trying to heal up enough from that. I'm a 34 year old TN and I had a double mastectomy two weeks ago and another surgery for complications on Monday. I'm so anxious to get chemo started and put this behind me...but I still feel so weak from loss of blood. I'm so glad I found you all, it's been really hard to go this alone. All the best!

Wom, Tanisha, PG and BC? I don't even know what to say - sorry doesn't cover it. I assume you are in your later trimester? When are you due?

Lynne

kbta - I'm the one that KBeee is referencing! I will send you a PM. Would love to support you through this journey! (I live in the Bay Area, not too far from you too!

wow you are amazing! Hugs!