Chemo in June 2015

Hello Ladies! I just got up the nerve to join you. I start chemo (taxotere + cytoxan) on the 18th. It has been a roller coaster ride. I was geared up for six weeks of radiation starting early June when we (my MO, DH and I) decided to get an Oncotype dx. Came back with a score of 23. My MO said he would be pushing for chemo if it was his wife or daughter, so here I am!

Crazy busy "getting ready". I've been to Chemo Ed, picked up all my prescriptions and had an awesome consultation with a lady about a wig yesterday. I've been adamant that I wasn't going to walk around like a cancer victim in a scarf. Well, she sent me home with a video she made on different head dress ideas and I spent some time last night sipping on a glass of wine, watching the video and experimenting with different scarves. Who knows, I may embrace the scarf thing yet! (I still ordered the wig!)

I appreciate all the wonderful comments and advice I have seen on this Board. I've decided, based on comments here, that I should stock up on some Claritin to combat the Neulasta SEs. I'm curious to hear from those a little bit ahead of me about how working through treatment is working out. My employer has been very supportive and I am being set up with a home office. I manage a line of business in a bank and I couldn't imagine sitting on the sidelines for a few months. I'm already developing strategies to journal my decision making incase I develop Chemo brain!

Keep up the positive thoughts and as they say "Fake it until you make it!"

hello all. I started in March, and I have one treatment left. Just a few tips.

Exercise if you can, even if it is just short walks. I think it really helps. I have continued to ride my bike all through treatment, and it has really helped me.

Keep a little something in your stomach, even if it is just crackers or a bit of yogurt or something small. I felt that not having an empty stomach helped with nausea, and I never took anything other than what they gave me the day of infusion.

If you get burning stomach and/or esophagus, take Pepcid or some other similar thing, or ask oncologist for something by prescription, I got burning stomach after rounds 4 and 5, and Pepcid really helped.

Drink and keep hydrated.

I took Claritin day of Neulasta shot, at least an hour before, and for about 7 days after. I have had no bone pain, so either it worked or I have been incredibly lucky.

Tell your oncologist right away if you have any burning, tingling, or numbness in hands or feet since that is the first sign of neuropathy. It didn't hit me until after round 5, and I think they are cutting out the taxotere next week and only giving me carboplatin and Herceptin.

Magnesium totally worked for me for constipation. If you are on Perjeta, diarrhea may happen.

When my hair fell out, I got folliculitis, and my oncologist gave me topical Clyndamycin to help with the folliculitis.

I buzzed my hair to about an inch, oncologist said shaving causes more folliculitis.

You can do this. It won't be easy, but the time goes by, and here I am, part of the March group and only one more left.

Fatigue can accumulate the more rounds you do, so be kind to yourself and don't be a super hero. Rest when you need it.

Big hugs to all, and keeping fingers crossed you make it through okay!

I'll be having a port placed on June 24 and chemo starts on June 30, so I guess I just squeak into this group.

Hello all! I'm glad I found you!

I am new here, just diagnosed last month, I feel like I should set up a tent in the hospital parking lot I'm there so often for testing. I sort of hate my VAP, which everyone seems to think is so great to have. My heart beats weird every time I turn in bed, and my chest hurts when I take a deep breath or I laugh? No laughing allowed! Spent hours today in ER so they could xray checking placement, lungs, EKG, all seemed ok. I just had it put in Wednesday, first Chemo A&C is starting this Thursday...I'm pretty freaked out. And as if this isn't enough fun stuff, my aspie 17 yr old son is having a minor surgery this tuesday. Ummm...I am a bit stressed!

I see SO many people mentioning Neulasta, but my MO hasn't said anything about it. Is it only given IF you develop a white blood cell problem?

Hello ,

welcome brightsideplease you can do this and welcome my sunshine, good tip about slower drip ty.

like justmaximom and cheesquake i have not had neulasta, only finished round 1 so far, i thought i did not get it ,because im not having adriamycin but i see thats wrong from reading justmaximoms cocktail. so good question cheesquake hope someone can set us straight.

so day 15, some hair has parted from my head but not all of it yet. im so glad its taking hours, not minutes. i had visions of it going puff gone, while i was cooking or some such activity .

hugs to all !!!!

Cheesequake, Justmaximom, and Daylily,

Not sure what the Neulasta protocol is. My MO has me scheduled to come in the day after each of my chemo treatments (4x T&C) for a Neulasta shot.

I don't have any pre-meds to take. Apparently I'll get nausea meds and steroids in my IV. I have a couple of anti nausea prescriptions to take as needed. Anxious to get this started and get a better idea how this is all going to go.

Hi all. I decided to stop lurking and jump in. At least this once.

My chemo is scheduled to start June 23 and my schedule between now and then looks crazy. Echocardiogram and PET/CT scans later this week. I'm really anxious about the echo because my MO hasn't decided on my regimen yet -- TC or AC-T. My HER-2 was "equivocal" on the first test and barely negative on the second. The decision rides on a pathology review tomorrow and the results of the echo.

I'm actually trying not to read too much here. So afraid of seeing something I don't want to see or that conflicts with what my doctors tell me.

Oh, I should clarify. The path review tomorrow is just between my MO and a group of pathologists trying to decide about my HER-2. I won't be there. But thanks for the encouragement.

Some people may want to check out this great list of Chemo hints .. it was a great read and very helpful,, https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/... Hope everyone is feeling good today.

Day 14 for me today and as I was typing and feeling pretty good, I ran my fingers through my hair ( which i mostly cut off and donated)and came out with a bunch.. so i guess it starts

KH04: i am the same, i knew it was coming but I felt a little emotional whenit started this morning. My appetite is good but taste is off and I am so glad you mentioned the eyes I was not sure if this was expected or not.. i am with you .. hope it is fast and as smooth as possible!

Thanks my sunshine48, I did buy an inexpensive eBay wig, and some hats...my husband's big reunion is 17 days in so I'm sure to be shiny headed.

Thank you justmaximom for posting the comfort kit info, and Natejordlee for the tips link! Going out to do blood work for Thursday's big day....still trying to be calm, but inside I feel a bit crazy.

I applied for free headscarves from a couple of different places but I haven't heard anything back from them and it sounds like I'm only 2-3 weeks away from hair loss. The MD at my infusion center who did my chemo education said they don't suggest running out and getting a buzz but maybe she just meant until it starts coming out. When it does, I plan on taking control.

headscarves.com has several that I like on sale so I'm thinking about placing an order but I don't even know how many I need. I currently have 9 in my shopping cart and the total is $78 (free shipping). I feel guilty spending that much on myself but I think the prices are pretty low and I will need them - right?

Thanks Princess. The reason I was going for scarves instead of wigs was because I figured they were cooler, are you saying they are all hot?

I'm in St. Louis so not tropical but yes it gets pretty hot here and I am VERY hot natured anyway. I do work in an office and when the a/c is actually working it's pretty chilly in here. My plan was scarves for the office and either nothing or just something super comfy at home.

Thanks for the advice, maybe I'll wait until my free scarves arrive and see how I like them before ordering anything.