Starting Chemo in October 2015

Hi Jackalyn3, I am starting the 29th of September, hope that counts! Anyway, this is my second go round, I am stage 4. My chemo is to be Kadcyla. You're doing Taxol? Hopefully someone will be along soon (wish it were not so) that will be doing the same. Questions? My sister did Taxol a couple years ago., tolerated well. (((hugs)))

Moni

This is my first post. I am going to see if this works. haha

I am supposed to start chemo October 7.

My port went fine. They put me completely under for it. No stitches. Just lots of glue. It's healed up really well after one week. The procedure took about 35 minutes. The longest part was getting ready (iv and millions of questions) and waking up and waiting for discharge stuff. It took about 4 more days to get my energy back though.

Glad to hear that your port went fine. Sounds like me and you are going to get the same chemo treatment around the same time. Wish you the very best.

Hi - THANK YOU for starting this thread, Jackalyn3!

My port went in Sept. 18, MaggieMae123, absolutely no problems. They put me under, was in and out of the hospital in about 5 hours, but most of the time was in pre-op and in the recovery room. After I was discharged, my husband took me shopping and out for lunch, home for a nap, then we went to our neighbor's and played cards all evening. I took a couple of extra strength tylenol when I got home, and an ES tylenol and ES tylenol PM at bedtime, but I didn't need anything stronger than that. I was worried about how I'd sleep afterwards - I'm a side sleeper and wasn't ready to sleep on my left side because of the lumpectomy, but wasn't sure if I'd be able to sleep on my right side because of the port -- but it's fine. The night of the surgery I slept in the recliner, but the 2nd night I was in bed on my right side with no pain at all.

I'm scheduled for an ECHO this Thurs, hoping to start chemo next Thurs, 10/8. I'm scared, but ready to get started. Seems every time I think I'll get a chemo schedule, the MO orders ANOTHER test! The plus side is that the PET scan, bone scan and MRI showed clear lungs, liver and bones, praise be to God!!

Chemo playlist, check. Kindle books, check. Prayer warriors, check. Freezer full of easy food, check. Wig, check.

LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!

Kathy

Interesting. No gauze or tape for me. Just tons of glue. Which is now starting to come up, but the nurse when I checked in for the port placement was all "don't pick at it when it starts to come up." So I am leaving it alone.

BellaV, so sorry you had problems with your port. Prayers for smoother sailing from here on out. Assuming things go as planned, you and I will have similar treatments - you'll be a couple of days ahead of me.

rose50, I didn't have an oncotype either - not sure why. I can never think to ask the right questions in the MO's office. My head just spins. All I hear is "blah, blah, blah, breast cancer, blah, blah, blah". I just can't focus.

Prayers for everyone - we're going to make it through this!

Kathy

I met with my surgeon. No infection, so that's good. I can stop the oral antibiotic. I go back to see him in a couple weeks. He said to let him know if it gets bigger or gets angry looking. He thinks the MO will be fine with it and chemo should be on for tomorrow. So just antibiotic ointment and keep it covered with a bandage, which were his instructions yesterday. But then he wanted to see it, so he double booked himself to get me in.

Jumping in from the April group to wish you ladies all the best - the groups are so wonderful and you can find so much good information!

Andra - I exercised all the way through AC and Taxol - you can and you should if you can - I think it really helped keep the SEs down and my attitude up - and now that chemo is over I'm not starting off having not exercised for 5 months. I was able to run 4+ miles 4 times a week during AC (just not on days 1-3 - those I walked). Taxol because it's weekly, hit my exercise harder and I went down to 3 miles 3 times a week, with a couple fast walking breaks in it. I did manage to throw in a couple of light bootcamps also! But lots of ladies just do long daily walks and those help too! Just move! Get that oxygen flowing through those red blood cells!

Good luck, I wish you an easy couple of months!

So sorry about the delay. Mine got delayed for a week for additional biopsy result. Then I was given the choice to wait and let a wound heal and do chemo early next week or just go ahead today with chemo knowing it has a few more risks. I opted to go ahead today and the oncologist was fine with that decision.

To peculiar girl, Glad that your port went fine and hope you get to start chemo Thursday. It is hard waiting for things to get started. Best of luck to you when you do start. Sounds like you are well prepared. I just went wig shopping today and had a hard time finding anything that didn't look weird on me:) Take care, Maggie

I'm in the Sept chemo thread thinking chemo was going to happen then but delayed first with drains in for 5 weeks post op and then infection on my right tissue expander area. Tried Amoxicillin for 10 days and nada. Last Thurs was admitted to the hospital for picc line IV abx. Was just released Tues with a home set up IV and to administer abx myself for at least another week. So I anticipate unless this goes on the whole month of Oct that I should definitely be an Oct start chemo pt. Sx was 8/6 so it feels like I'm behind. All others who had sx around the time I did are in chemo. So I definitely want to be added to the list here and will provide a date once I get it. Thanks! xo

Dear Community Members,

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We do however have one Theradome helmet that the company kindly donated to BCO, so we are happy to pass this along to someone who is experiencing hair loss, and would like to give it a try - and then urge you to pass it down to other members when your treatments are completed!We only have one so the first person to make the request will receive the helmet.

Take a look and let us, or the company, know what you think,

Thanks,

The BCO Team

Glad to hear your procedure went fine. I went and saw my surgeon earlier this week and after he gave the okay to pick at it, my 7-year-old piped up at home later that night that she didn't think picking at it was a good idea.