Starting Chemo May 2015

is it too late to join the convo? I had my first Cisplatin May 13 and it has really whipped my butt! I still don't feel right. Had nausea the first two days then BAM day three wiped me out! Ever since I've been forcing myself to eat and drink and it's been working. Never threw up, thank goodness. I just have that yucky blah feeling. Is that descriptive enough? LOL! Just feel like sleeping. Started taking Ativan so that might be why. Anyone else using that for nausea? Thanks for letting me vent :

Possible delay to the start of my chemo. My lump biopsy came back clean so my surgeon didn't do a sentinel node biopsy. Now my MO may delay my chemo until that happens to know for sure if the sentinels have cancer. I'm annoyed about the delay and the possible impact on my short term disability qualification for starting today.

Shanann, congrats on your first treatment down! Gotta love that bright red stuff

I am prepping for AC #2 tomorrow...water water everywhere! Anyone else in the chair tomorrow too?

Day 0… .7.5 hrs which included lab, discussion,  premed, TCH and 30 min post observation for #1 of 6. Scans were clear no hernia just seroma. No nausea. I forgot my snacks thought there was a proteinbar but it was a tube of toothpaste lol. 

Tossed and turned due to steroids on 2 hrs of sleep,  dozed during treatment and another 90 min.Didn't think to take pix. There were 20+ chairs in room so lots going on. 2 of the RN's had helped with my husband's chemo 15yrs ago,  he succumbed to colorectal ca,  they spoke highly of him. Not a day goes by without thinking of him. He is with me. I try to make poeple understand that it is easier on this side of cancer than being the spouse/caregiver/friend or at least I have made peace with things. So when I say 'it is what it is' it's not a sign of resignation but a sign of acceptance.

Hello, my first post to this forum. I will start chemo May 28. Chemo class is tomorrow.

I will have FEC-D. A lot to learn and prepare for in the next week

little-k -- you will be with me, starting the 28th. I'm getting more anxious as it approaches but this forum is helping a lot.

rosesrx--thanks for the report. My condolences on the loss of your husband. Cancer is an evil bitch. My mother has lost all seven of her siblings, 5 to cancer. My dad had prostate cancer 12 years ago and has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

shanann -- great job on the water! Holy cow, I don't know if I could have waited until the drip was finished to go with all that water onboard.

klanders -- thanks for creating the spread sheet. Being one of those starting at the back end of the month, it was a lot easier to read instead of having to page through all the previous posts.

Linda, I always put a larger ice block on the back of my neck during the infusion to stop the headache. That worked for me. Have you tried aromatherapy? I also had lavender beads to sniff. And I had my iPod with babbling brooks, waves, and birds on it that seemed to help. I ate a lot of popsicles when I got home, the cold seemed to help my queasy stomach. I hope something helps soon! Cheryl

Welcome to the group...the dreadful wait is the worst. I am on a different set of drugs but here are some answers that may help. The drinking is huge, it took me about 10 days to build up to 100 oz. I am 10 days post 1st round and I still have my hair? My oncology nurse said clear polish on my nails. I have lost about 10 lbs, but that seems to be from eating light and 6-8 times a day to conteract nausea and heartburn which I haven't had an issue with since day 2. I have very dry mouth, no sores. I rinse with salt water at least 3 times a day. The Biotene rinse and toothpaste are grest for the dry mouth. Constipation was huge issue the first 4 days, I used Senekot and now stool softener and am much better....small meals help with that to. You have a very full family plate. Ask for help from friends if you need it. Accept help and meals if offered. I was tired day 1-3, lots of bone pain day 4-5, needed vicodin, and better after that. Good luck we have a good group here.

Kinda t

Linda two -, I would take the Zofran for possible nausea. Stay ahead of it. It did not cause ,headaches for me. Just be sure to take laxitives! It does cause constipation!!!!

JenJenJen:

I was told to wait three days before I took off the port bandage and got the area wet.

I did not have tape or dressings after my port was put in, skin doesn't like adhesives so they used glue. I had to wait 12 hours. As far as nausea I had 1 day it was slight and I had to take a pill. I did have zolfran at the infusion and 2 days after. I can't speak to morning sickness...I was blessed not to get it.

Steflove-Your experience sounds exactly like mine!! I was told to keep the area dry for one week, and to change the dressing every two days. I was told to cover the area with saran wrap while taking a shower, and to not let water pour over the area, and the reason, I think, is to keep it from getting infected. The bandage is covering sutures that will fall off naturally. My nurse explained to me that some doctors put the sutures where the port needs to be accessed and that is really annoying. She peeled the sutures halfway to expose the area where she needed to access my port, and she put the numbing stuff on it; we let it sit for about half an hour. I got nausea late in the afternoon after the first dose, and just wanted to sleep (nothing that wasn't tolerable, just like morning sickness). I have a touch of indigestion today, and I NEVER get indigestion. I went to work. I walk all day, and carry heavy books and boxes. I began to feel nauseous at the same time this afternoon, so I took a pill. I've lost my appetite. I just want crackers and apples. I hope I loose weight as I've gained 16 lbs since Christmas. I packed on a few pounds before chemo treatment as well (binge eating). I have not had a bowel movement, and I have taken stool softeners to no avail. I think I'll feel much better after I'm able to go. I got the biotene mouthwash and toothpaste too! We shall see...

To answer some of your questions--

What I've done:

• Bilateral mastectomy (+ 3 SNL, one positive), plus chest port.
• I've had 3 of 4 TCs.
• I received Aloxi and Emend as drips, plus dexometasone tablets the day before, of and the day after chemo, plus Claritin and Benadryl the night before, of, and 3 nights after chemo.
• I have not been constipated, I have had some diarrhea, but more than that, what I'll call "poorly formed stool." With MO's assent, I've had Imodium after diarrhea and that's taken care of the problem.
• I've softened my soft-bristle toothbrush with hot water and brushed my teeth, including nights with Clinpro (prescription fluoride paste), 2-3 times a day.
• I've rinsed my mouth and gargled with baking soda and salt in warm water, and with Biotene, and with L-glutamine, 2-3 times a day.I take one sugar-free Tums at night.
• I've been very careful to use moisturizer with a high SPF sunscreen when I'm going outside.
• I've kept very my whole body moisturized, generally with a light non-comedogenic moisturizer (Cetaphil), except my mastectomy and drain and port insertion scars, which get a rotation of light moisturizer, calendula moisturizer, vitamin E/aloe moisturizer, and occasionally almond oil (vitamin E) or calendula oil when I want to massage them lightly to stretch the scars.
• I've put a tea tree nail treatment on my toenails once a day, and my finger nails every other day. I've moisturized my hands and feet every evening, and have put bag balm on my feet when they've been very dry.
• I buzzed my hair and shampoo with baby shampoo twice a week.
• I sometimes throw a little coconut oil in my bath (be careful of the slippery surface).
• I've done the American Cancer Society's anti-lymphedema exercises, plus some I found online, at least once a day.
• I've changed my socks and underwear at least once a day. I'm sleeping in footies to avoid snagging my toenails.
• I've drunk 80-120 oz of fluid (water, sugar-free Gatorade, iced tea, tea) every day.
• Since my eyes got dry, I've been instilling drops every 4-6 hours and wearing sunglasses outside.
• I eat protein, kale, and yogurt every day.
• I take a D vitamin and CoQ10 (the only supplements my MO permits), non-soy fiber when needed (like during/right after the steroid), my normal Metformin for diabetes and HZTZ for blood pressure, and a potassium supplement.
• I walk 1-3 hours every day whether I want to or not.

What I didn't do:

• Cold caps, icing of nails, cold drinks during infusion.
• Wig.
• Reconstruction.
• Pain relievers other than lorazepam (my MO doesn't allow them, though my BS will probably put me on an aspirin a day after I'm one with my treatments and back to my normal supplements and supports).

My side effects thus far, from the top down, which are probably partially my circumstances and body, and (I hope and believe) partly all of that time-consuming stuff I just listed:

• I do not have chemo brain. I sometimes feel unattentive, and I'm having a little word-finding trouble, but that's been true since the first biopsy.
• My hair began loosening before TC #2, and more dropped after #2 and #3. I still have fuzz, and it grows slightly between treatments. Sometimes my scalp aces, so it's easier to sleep with a satin pillowcase or a soft cap. My eyebrows are sparser. My eyelashes are not (yet) affected.
• My eyes became dry after #2. For some women, this presents as watering. The air here is full of pollen, so I've been washing my face frequently and blotting dry lightly.
• Right after Neulasta, my teeth and jaw, as well as the back of my neck, are achy. I've had a headache once (from the steroid, I think).
• My mouth, tongue, and throat are somewhat sore/tender and my mouth tastes rather metallic. No sores. My sense of taste is dull or off at times.
• My nose is a bit runny.
• My neck, shoulder, and area around the port, as well as my BMX and drain scars, plus anywhere I've ever had an injury, feel achy after the Neulasta. The port has never felt comfortable. I'll be delighted to get it out.
• I don't appear to have lymphedema. I can't quite stand to get a consult yet. I may need PT due to a little cording, maybe, in my right arm. My triceps are not a thing of beauty. I choose to interpret the cottage cheese look as meaning that I did a really good job of not lifting or using my arms when I wasn't allowed to.
• My range of motion is getting pretty good, though the port interferes, and I still feel tight along my scars. I have some numb/painful spots on my back that my partner is massaging for me.
• My hands are colder than before surgery.
• My body hair is slightly sparser and loose at times, but hasn't dropped much.
• I have had no nausea or vomiting. Hallelujah!
• I haven't had much heartburn. My digestion has been good.
• I had a little cardiac irregularity, but a repeat ECG and echo came back unchanged.
• I haven't menstruated since I stopped BCPs. I have had some hot flashes.
• I had what felt like the beginning of a vaginal yeast infection, so I increased my live active culture yogurt consumption and did a few rounds sitting in the tub with topical yogurt, which took care of it.
• My elimination is more loose than constipated.
• The longer bones ached after #1 and #2. Claritin and warm bathes helped.
• Some of my fingernails are a little red at the base, and my big toe nails look pretty bruised. I'm keeping them clipped short and being careful to wear shoes or protective slippers when I'm up, and footies when I sleep.
• I've had a very small amount of lower leg edema. Putting my feet up took care of it.
• Some of my veins protrude more after chemo, and some of the spider veins on my legs are more accentuated. No pain.
• My skin is mostly clear, though I do have the occasional weird bump, pimple, discoloration others have mentioned on my face and hands.
• A little neuropathic pain in fingers and toes. I get this sometimes from diabetes, so it's hard to sort out.
• I run a slight temperature (up to 99.4) after chemo/Neulasta. In a few days, that stops and I fluctuate in my normal range.
• I have some sleep disturbance, but it's better than when I was so agitated before the surgery and chemo starting. It's worse with steroids.
• I have increasing but manageable fatigue. It's actually making it easier to sleep.
• I've got a flexible job and I've worked all the way through. I don't like asking for help, but I have.

I hope that's useful as you all start your chemo. I will go on to radiation and Tamoxifen.

Having issues with IV's. My MO wants me to get a pick line. I only have 3 more treatments.....plus about 12 blood tests, so she said I did not need a port. I have been reading not so goog things about pick lines. My options are getting fewer. ANYONE who can offer information about pick lines

My sunshine,  PICC (percutaneous indwelling central catheter) is inserted under fluoroscope in the radiology deptartment using sterile technique. It is usually placed in the arm and may have one or more lumens (ports) which feed into a vein near the heart that has rapid blood flow; to dilute and carry the drugs throughout the body. 

They are intended for short term use (less than 90 days) surprisingly they are removed much like drains (just pulled.) They are usually just flushed out with saline before and after drug infusion. It can be used for blood draws,  chemo, antibiotics  or other meds. These are usually drugs that can cause pain when just given like you had been through the iv started. 

The tails are capped off and have valves so blood will not come out. Mine was on the inside of my arm at bicep level. So that the tails wouldn't get caught when changing,  I put a wrist band..ok a sock with foot cut off.  I had to get Vancomycin twice daily for 6 weeks a few years ago. 

It was not painful,  they do numb you for insertion of the PICC line. I hope this answers some of your questions. 

Jen, jen is right about them being more prone to infection but with proper care you should only need one. Unused lumen have to be flushed with saline more frequently.