April 2015 Chemo Crew... Starting in April? Please join us!
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Good morning! Today is my first day...My paperwork says Taxol/Carbo. Not sure if I am also getting Herceptin today as well.
Getting a little freaked out on it, but, my husband says today is the day we start the battle to get rid of it!
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Hey Sprite, good luck today in the chair. I'll be sending good vibes your way from my chair. Here's to no or at the very least, few SE's.
Hi God1st! Welcome, glad that you joined us. It''a great bunch of ladies and a lot of caring.I'm glad that your first chemo went well. I pray that side effects are few to none.
Sonia, glad to hear you found some relief from your headache.Potatoes!?! Ha!That's a new one for me! I can see how it would work though... I have one of those herb filled bags that can be frozen for a cool pack or microwaved if you want heat. It's very soothing when I have headaches. Hope you stay well.
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Ankledolphin, welcome! Hope all goes great today!
God1st, Welcome! We are doing the same regimen, but I have AC first. We'll be able to let each other know what to expect as far as side effects!
Ssonia, I hope you get relief from the headache and sinus trouble. Tha sounds annoying and very uncomfortable. If it continues, call MO; that's what they are there for.
Sprite, Supernanny, Sheshe, and Ankledolphin, By the end of the day, you'll have one in your rear view mirror...one step closer to the finish line. Wising you maximum cancer killing and minimum side effects
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Hi ankledolphin.. Best wishes to you today for a smooth infusion. Several of us will be getting our first chemo today. You won't be alone. Good thoughts coming your way!
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Hi Ladies,
I found a lump in my right breast in October 2014. After a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, needle-core biopsy, MRI, chest x-ray, EKG, genetic testing, lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy/removal, CT scan, echocardiogram, bone scan and port placement I'm finally starting chemo on Monday, April 6th. I'm thankful for finding all of you!
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Today is my first day! I'm hooked up and on my anti-nausea and steroids...
I'm a little nervous but it seems to be going fine.
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How did all of you do that started today? My infusions went well. No bad allergic reactions. I was a little nervous about that so I was thankful if didn't happen. It didn't hurt when they accessed my port for the first time.
They gave me benedryl and Tylenol to start. Plus my Oral dexamethasone I took yesterday and today. Herceptin came first for 90 minutes. Taxotere second for 60 minutes and carboplatin last for 60 minutes. During the first 15 minute of T and C I had a heartburn sensation and was relieved by belching. They flushed my port with heparin at the end and I was on my way.
I had soup when I got home and then went for a walk which felt great. Heartburn for a little bad which the nurse said may happen so I took a zantac. The nurse said that I should feel ok until about Saturday or Sunday and then I may feel like I was hit by a bus.
Hope everyone else's treatment went well today!
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HI All,
I am home from round 1 of AC. I feel...well weird...probably from the steroid/zofran they gave me. I keep drinking lots and lots of water - but other than being a bit woozy and foggy...so far, I am ok, it has only been a couple of hours - but still!
Time for a nap!
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Hi
day 3 post first cycle. Not too great of a day. Slept most of it away and still can't shake the headaches. Starting to get some sores in my mouth and don't want to eat really. Need to deal with this looming hair issue. Not sure when to just do it.
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My day was not a success! Within two minutes of starting Taxotere, I had a full-blown allergic reaction! Just as I told the nurse I felt a little short of breath, it started...face felt red hot and like it was blowing up, couldn't breathe well, tongue felt thick, eyes were swelling shut...nurses suddenly appeared out of nowhere putting oxygen on me, checking bp, pulse, etc.
on to Plan B!
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Oh no Vanmama..... did they stop the infusion all together? Hope you're feeling better now!
Are you allergic to anything else?
Take care!
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SuperNannyMom, Thank you for the links!
Vanmama, I'm so sorry. I had a similar reaction, but they were able to get it under control enough to continue my treatment. What is plan B?
StacyMC, I'm still kind of wondering what to do about my hair, too.
This is my 2nd day after my first treatment & I haven't really noticed any side effects. I'm really thirsty & I think that the tip of my tongue is starting to get a little sore. So I may need to watch out for that getting worse.
I hope every one is hanging in there ok. All this waiting is so hard.
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Treatment was stopped immediately and they worked to reverse the reaction. Doctor said to stop for the day and see him on Day 8 which is the 8th. We will have to rethink the treatment. He'll probably take it to committee this week.
Plan B will be whatever is decided on.
I do have some allergies but nothing this severe. We were concerned about my allergy to alder and beech trees that just surfaced a couple of years ago, but even that wasn't this bad. I have a few other allergies but they weren't a factor in this.
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Welcome to all the newcomers!!
vanmama I'm so sorry to hear about your experience today, I'm glad they got things under control, but how scary!!
x1mel, I'm in the Anniston area, about 2 hrs from T-Town! Glad you're having no SE!!!
StacyMc I hope you're soon feeling better. I've read that sucking on ice chips before, during and after treatment can prevent mouth sores....have you tried it? Just wondering if it does help or not.... I'm planning on trying it!
Kbee I love your wig, my favorite pick so far is very similar!
Allicat, your infusion center sounds very nice and peaceful. A view of the river would be lovely! I'm sorry for all you are going through with your job and friends, my goodness, you wonder why people do the things they do!
Hope that everyone else is doing well, it was a busy day for our group!!! I appreciate all of you posting your experiences, with every one I learn something!
I see the oncologist on 4/7 and should find out then when my start date is .I had consult with the surgeon today and my port will be put in on 4/8. I still haven't had my chemo training either, I look forward to meeting the nurses and getting an idea of what to expect.
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Vanmama, I'm sorry you had a reaction. That must have been scary and frustrating. I hope the Plan B is better for you.
StacyMc - sorry you're having a hard day.
Hope everyone had a good day tomorrow.
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Vanmama I am glad they got it under control. How scary for you. I cut my hair being that I start on the 7th. Top is before. I am making a goofy face. Below is after.
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SpriteB - if you dont mind me asking...where do you go for treatments? seems like we both started almost the same thing on the same day! I had Pertuzumab Trastuzumab Docetaxel Carboplatin along with Emend, zofran, decadion, benadryl, pepcid and atvan given to me. I have to go back on saturday for a neulasta which i didn't know about!
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Hi stargirl, welcome this group. So glad you found us, you will find lots of support and caring here.
Vanmama wow what a scarey thing to happen! I'm glad they got it under control. How are you feeling now? IM so sorry you had to go through that!
Sprite, heartburn, ugh! Hope the zantac is helping. Wishing you much better than the "bus thing" for this weekend!
Supernanny, glad you did well with minimal se's!
StaceyMc, sorry your day wasn't great yesterday. Hoping better for you today.
X1mel, glad you're doing well even after the close call during chemo.
I also had my chemo yesterday. It went quite smoothly and I came home feeling pretty normal. But by the eve, my tongue was starting to feel funny like how it feels when I scald it kinda. Hmmm, maybe I didn't eat enough ice chips. Is it too late I wonder? Right now it's 5:00am here on the west coast and I' very been up since 3:30 with a migraine. Don't if it was triggered by yesterday's chemo, since I get them anyway. I hope not! Already have enough triggers that I can't control!
Rockerwife, I really love your short do! Maybe if you get a wig it can be close to that. Very cute! My hair is just off the shoulder and when I choose a wig I thought I would go quite short so that when my own grows back I'll feel comfortable with it that much sooner. Okay.. for me it's back to my recliner to nurse my headache. Hoping I feel halfway human by the time I've gotta go for my neulasta shot this morning.
Hope you all have an SE-less day!
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Oh yeah.... I forgot to mention on Wednesday I did genetic counseling/testing. I should have those results in 2-4weeks.
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Hi everyone - it sounds like most starters are doing ok so far - except for Vanmama - that must have been very scary! I hope you all continue to have manageable SE through the weekend.
How do you feel about sharing real names? I am going to make a cheat sheet so that I can keep everyone straight, and I'd like to use given name (if I can remember!). My name is in signature (and part of screen name), and I try to sign my posts.
Rocker - the cut looks awesome! You look younger. Have you ever had your hair short before?
SheShe - good luck with genetic counseling, let us know when you get results.
Anyone doing anything for the weekend? I am having my family over for spring (Easter) breakfast/brunch on Sunday. My company used to give today as a holiday, but changed it to an optional/floater today, and so I took it off. Kids all have the day off (including college), so I'm trying to put them to work.
Well, have to go get busy, I probably won't be back on again - maybe not until after my appointment on Monday. It seems like it's been forever coming, and now that it's a few days away, I'm nervous. I felt this way before I got the path results from my lumpectomy - I can just pretend like it's all good until I know better. As soon as I sit down with them and they start telling me about treatment and odds of recurrence, etc., it will be more than real. I'm not a worrier, but I can't seem to stop thinking about other cancer. I feel like this was such a surprise - never expected to be diagnosed with BC (of course, who does? But, some people have family history or risk factors, etc.), that I wonder what else my body is hiding. I worry that I'm one of those "full of cancer" people that they just close up during surgery because there's no hope. I want to be positive, but these are the thoughts that haunt me. I keep telling myself, "don't pay interest on money you haven't borrowed". But, it doesn't stop the thoughts from coming.
Lynne
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Hi - I went through the old posts and made a list of who we have (24 so far) and names where people added them. I put it on a google doc if you want to see it or update it. If you don't want your name on the google doc, just let me know. Only people with this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Goesf6x_13...
can get to it. Only first name on the list - please do not add your last name.
Lynne
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Thank you Lynne! I'm Allison and added my name to the google doc.
My two college kids are in for the weekend. It was so great to have both under same roof last night. Last time was Christmas and won't happen again till Thanksgiving! I'm just trying to soak up their love and presence while I can!
Rockerwife: LOVE your new 'do! I'm going to have to do something similar.
Sheshe: Can I ask what prompted the genetics testing? My doc hadn't offered but there isn't any history in my family. I do have a daughter though and am wondering if its something I should do for her and encourage her to do the same at some point. She turns 20 tomorrow.
Anyway, hugs to all! Praying for few side effects for all of us!
Allison/allicat
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Lynne - my name is Stephanie. And I can't figure out how to add it to the document. Could chemo brain be setting in already? :-) Could you please add it for me?
Ankledolphin - My BS and first MO were through Rochester General/Lipson Cancer Center. the MO referred me to Clifton Springs oncology since it's closer to me and they are now affiliated with RGH. They were great there for my first day.
Rocker wife - your new harirdo is rockin!!
Sheshe - my tongue also started feeling funny last night, like I burned it or something. But today if feels better. My Cancer center told Me to mix 1 tsp salt water in a quart of water. Just gargle throughout the day(about 4 times) especially after eating to help prevent mouth issues. I have also seen a lot of ladies gargle with salt and baking Soda so I added 1 tsp baking said to the water too. Also, I had genetic testing too as I'm adopted and have no family history. They tested Me for 26 different genes and they all came back negative. That was good news!
I woke up feeling okay today. I started getting an allergy cold the day before chemo and I'm definitely feeling that a little bit. The heartburn seems to have stopped for now. Now just waiting to see when my "bad days" are going to be and hoping that maybe they won't be so bad. You always have to have hope!! Have a great day ladies!!! :-)
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Rockerwife, love the pix!
Vanmamma, Sorry about the reaction; how scary! The reactions to Taxotere and Taxol are typically due to the inert ingredients. Most women who react to them do okay with Abraxane, from what I have read. It is a Taxane, but uses other fillers, inert things.
Will hopefully have more time to write later. Wishing everyone a great day. So far, Imam still doign well, and crossing fingers it continues. Off to meet my friend for a 3 mile walk!
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Allison, I have quite a strong cancer presence in my close family - my mother had bc, one of my sisters survives ovarian cancer, and another succumbed to colon cancer. I am on my 2 breast cancer - not recurrence, but new primary. I have a daughter and a granddaughter that need to have this information as much as I do. I would love for the tests to be negative and not have to know that I passed this on to my loved ones. The impression I got is that w/o substantial reasons, its hard to get insurance to pay for it, and apparently is not a cheap test. Possibly at so.e poi t your daughter could do it since she'll have your case as reason...
Stephanie, my tongue is still not good and my taste is starting to go.This morning my raisin bran tasted like sawdust flakes with little rubber raisins.😝 I also have been using the salt/soda rinse and then today I picked up some Biotene mouthwash to see if it works better for me.
Lynn, thanks for making the list for first names! My name is Sheila and I would appreciate you adding it. I tried, but couldn't get it.
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Hi everyone, I've just started my first round of A/C this past Monday, I'll have 4 rounds of this every 2 weeks followed by 4 rounds of Taxol. The first few days were ok, feeling pretty normal, but the sleep deprivation after all those meds and Neulasta are bringing me down. I'm hoping that tonight will be a better sleep. I'm so glad that we'll have each other for support.
xox
Cheryl
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Hey Cheryl, I started the same time and same treatment as you, hope all is wee. No nausea for me, just this headache , my oncologists said it could be the Neulasta injection plus maybe a sinus infection on top of that, he told me to take benadryl and sleep it off. Did I feel foggy but no headache . Oh i want to thank the other ladies for the survival bag items for chemo day
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Thank you for all the positive comments about my hair. I haven't had it this short since the 80's when I was in high school. Going on a camping trip this weekend as a my last hurrah before chemo on thie 7th. My last day of schol was today and it was a tearjerker. The parents made a video full of pictures of my kids and me. They put it to the music "Hero" by Whitney Houston. It was so special. Have a great Easter weekend ladies.
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Hi. I start ac (4 rounds) on April 7th. I'm a little...ok a lot nervous! Followed by t&h for 12 weeks then just h every 3weeks for a year. I had NO idea it would be this long. Maybe i had myself convinced it would only be a few months. I would LOVE pointers and tips from anyone who had taken the same treatment. And i fully understand everyone is different...just looking for ballpark. thanks ladies
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Hi mamajencoz, welcome to the group! Well I already finished AC/T on 11/25 but I drop in to visit and help if I can. I survived AC and you will too! Any questions, just ask. Start drinking a lot of water, it will be very helpful during chemo. I drank 4 to 5 bottles a day, and still do. Check back on the March chemo thread, there is a lot of info there, and many other AC Ladies as well. There are a lot of tips to pack a chemo bag, as well as hair and wig tips, skin issues, and side effects. But I must say a positive in it to win it attitude will help. But bad days are allowed as well. You do whatever you need to do when you feel like it. We all get it, and we even poke fun at the ridiculous side of this crazy disease. I wish you well, you never walk alone here. I'll be waiting at the finish line. Take Care. Cheryl
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