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

Sleep helped a ton. Of coarse i got up every 2 hours to go to the bathroom.  I think the nausea was more related to my head being swimmy. It would come in waves.  I ate ice chips and applesauce everytime I woke up and only took 1 anti nausea med last night.  We shall see where today goes. Thank you ladies for the 

Hi all, I am new to the group. I actually started my first chemo on March 6 (TC x 4). But just before my 2nd chemo session, I had a panic attack and decided to change to a more aggressive treatment (which was also on the table when I was making the decision). Now I am doing dose-dense AC-T (4 biweekly AC and 4 biweekly Taxol). My first AC was on April 1, so I consider myself starting in April

Compared with TC, AC is a lot harder. I almost didn't feel anything with TC, just a bit tired and short of breath for 2-3 days and that was it. But with AC, I started feeling it right away. I was really nauseous and sleepy for 3-4 days. Now it's been a week, the nausea is much better but I still have a poor appetite. I am already dreading my second AC next week.

Good luck to us all with getting through the chemo!

-- Lemonade

Hi Karen, I am doing my 2nd AC next Wednesday, so one day after you. Are you doing the dose-dense (every two weeks) AC as well? And are you doing the biweekly or weekly Taxol?

Had my first TC yesterday, April 7th. Doing okay so far. Keeping on top of nausea by taking of zofran on time. Last day of steroids is today. I have always had a little acid reflux and that is acting up so I am taking Zantac. Also taking a probiotic to keep my gut in order. Oh yea, I took miralax the night before chemo and the night of. So far still constipated from Zofran. I am keeping a journal and wrote down a lot of notes. It was a long process yesterday.

hi there-

I am going to be doing the 2 weekly AC x 4 and then weekly taxol x12 - just about to check in for port placement - I still can't believe I am here - it's almost surreal . So glad to have found you all to do this with- it's a scary places on R on your own

After 4 AC (every two weeks) i wil do 12 weekly taxol too plus herceptin . Then after taxol over , herceptin every 3 weeks for the rest of the year

mamajen, so glad you're feeling better today!! I'm scheduled for the exact same treatments you are, I start 4/13.

Karen, hope all goes well with your part placement!! I had mine this morning and so far so good. I'm woozy and My neck is sore but not terribly so. I know just what you mean about ths being surreal...iit still hasn't totally sunk in for me either.....

Good luck to you today as well Allison, let us know how it went!!

Rockerwife, so glad you are doing well so far!!

Thanks Lynne and KB for the info...I'll be sure to check my insurance coverage on the injector!!

port in and it's a little uncomfortable but not terrible- had consult with wig man- so in May 1 st - before shedding startshe will shave my head in the morning, I will have chemo mid day and on my way home I will pick up my wig made with my very own hair- style will be the same as it is now - i know people say they are itchy etc but apparently this wig maker is awesome and woman have been really happy - we will see!

Hello I was diagnosed with Idc march 17th after being told by my gynecologist it 2.5 months earlier that it was just a cyst and I'm too young for cancer still makes me upset! I'm 29 with a 5 year old and 1 year old my mom was diagnosed with bc in situ last February had lumpectomy and radiation and doing great now. I was not so lucky my cancer is grade 3 and her 2 positive so chemo is first for me. I have my chemo teach tomorrow and I had my port inserted today as well as a pet scan it was not a fun day at all! I'm surprised some of you are getting chemo the same day as your port I was told I have to wait at least 5 days because it's too sensitive. Anyways I will be receiving tch with perjeta I am very anxious about my pet scan results my drs think I'm stage 1 but I need to know for sure. For now I have been taking a half a Xanax at night to help me sleep from all the anxiety (my grandma have it to me it helps her get through those grueling detroit lions football games)..reading everybody else's comments on here makes me feel not so alone I will be back often on my chemo journey for the next 4.5 months

Stephmoen - sorry you have to be here but glad you found us. I was diagnosed at age 37 with IDC, grade 3, her2+ in February. My Obgyn is actually the one that felt the lump and thankfully agreed to send me to have a mammogram and ultrasound. I can tell you that this testing and waiting part is beyond stressful. I had to have a CT and bone scan because they thought I may have mets in my clavicle but it ended up being an old injury. I too started taking xanax and it did help on those days when I couldn't shake the anxiety. I haven't needed it as much lately, thankfully. Keep coming back here. These boards are full of wonderful supportive people.

Lynne - I orally take dexamethasone the day before, day of and day after chemo. I was told it was to help lessen the chance of allergic reaction. I also think it helps with pain because it decreases inflammation. They only Meds I got at the Office on infusion day were my chemo and aloxi for nasuea and orally they gave me Tylenol and benedryl.

Update on my first day:

Went to the gym at 545a, entered the center at 720 with my son. They accessed my port without any problems and I did not feel anything (I was worried about not having the Emla but no issues). Met with the team to review blood work and some last minute instructions. Went to the chemo room. My nurse started the emend and I had oral decadron and zofran. Then she pushed the adriamycin while I chewed on some ice. She was really great at engaging me in conversation to distract me from what was happening. Then she hung the cytoxan infusion. Again, no issues. I was done and out the door by noon. Ate PHO soup for lunch. I figured if its good for a hangover, It might be good for chemo SE. Walked a little in the neighborhood this evening. Then watched a couple of movies with my son.

Neulasta tomorrow. I've been taking the claritin for the past couple of days.

Upped my fiber, kept well hydrated and ate small meals all day. Hope I can manage any constipation. I plan to go to the gym and to work tomorrow barring any acute issues tonight.

I was really worried about this day, not being physically able to handle it and to be emotionally a wreck. I hope the upcoming days will be as easy peazy as today was but might be a little too rainbows and unicorns for me.

So today's quote for me at least is from a movie I have seen with my kids at least 30 times:

Dr. Peter Venkman: We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.

Greetings all. I had my first of 4 TC infusions last week. Not too bad, though I'm happy work is flexible.