January 2016 Chemo!

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MissBee123
MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
edited May 2020 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hello all,

As we approach the end of 2015 I wondered if anyone was set to begin chemo in January? It may be a little early but I thought I would check.

I will be having chemo for a second time next month. This past July I began with a plan for 6 rounds of Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin, and Perjeta (TCHP). Just before my 4th round my MRI and PET scan revealed that my tumor had not responded so I was instead sent for surgery November 2nd (bilateral mastectomy, DIEP/PAP flap). Based upon my pathology results, my oncologist feels I did not have enough treatment prior to surgery and he will now be treating me with a new regimen. I will have 4 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan followed by 12 rounds of Taxol (AC+T). Herceptin will continue for a full year.

So, having been through this once already, but new to the regimen I will be receiving, consider me both your chemo guru and newbie!

Looking forward to getting to know you and welcome to you all.

MissBee


As of 2/18/16 here are treatments by group and in order of start date. Any changes/updates just let me know!

*Note: A few of you seemed unsure whether you would be starting this month or even if you would have chemo, so I have held off on posting your stats until you have more information. Once you either have a starting date or regimen, I'll update. If you have posted and don't see yourself on here, my apologies. I try to check every day! Please just message me if I missed you.



AC+T

Jinx27: AC+T (1/4/16)

Zinny: AC+T (1/4/16)

FlyTheW: AC+T (1/5/16)

daisymay55: AC+T and Herceptin (1/5/16)

sonyaryan: AC+T (1/5/16)

Valstim52: AC (1/7/16)

fightergirl711: THP/AC (1/7/15)

Lolliipop: AC+T (1/7/16)

Veronica31: AC+T (1/8/16)

MissBee: AC+T and Herceptin (1/11/16)

gardengypsy: AC+T (1/11/16)

Songbird72: AC+T (1/12/16)

EmilyJane7505: AC+T (1/13/16)

Cancerpickedthewrongone: AC+T (1/14/16)

Sally22: AC+T (1/14/16)

LoveMyVizla: AC+T (1/15/16)

forspdn: AC+T (1/19/16)

DoxieMomof3: AC+T (1/21/16)

onehumpedcamel: AC+T (1/21/16)

buttaflydiva: AC+T and Herceptin (1/22/16)

LifeAloft: AC+T (1/25/16)

SusieM49: A+T (1/25/16)

Honesty2021: AC+T (1/25/16)

Citrinetiff: AC+T (1/27/16)

Nalagirl: AC+T (1/27/16)

Krimson19: AC+T (1/29/16)

Mikie1956: AC+T (TBA)

stotamom: AC+T and Herceptin/Perjeta (TBA)

DFWFLYGIRL: AC+T (TBA)


TC

FLBuckeye93: TC (12/31/16)

robyn31024: TC (1/6/16)

dAd: TC (1/6/16)

jensgotthis: TC (1/6/16)

KimmieM: TC (1/8/16)

Thundergal: TC (1/8/16)

Paulinek: TC (1/8/16)

teacher30plus: TC (1/11/16)

wendiwithani: TC (1/13/16)

Ivegotthis: TC (1/13/16)

sarah_sunflower: TC (1/13/16)

Cathytoo: TC (1/20/16)

YoungBRCAgal: TC (1/21/16)

Thr_Yet: TC (1/22/16)

Shiningstars: TC (1/22/16)

Paxton29: TC (1/22/16)

Sheri64: TC (1/26/16)

Quixhobbit: TC (1/28/16)

Samcpa: TC (1/28/16)


Taxol

Geeper: Taxol (1/11/16)

ladyhumps: Taxol and Herceptin (1/13/16)

JCC4488: Taxol + Herceptin (TBA)

Praline: Taxol (TBA)


TCHP

rockstarteach: TCHP (1/5/16)

Delight55: TCH (1/13/16)

Kdettwiller: TCHP (1/14/16)

Char1110: TCH (1/18/16)

Mena4911: TCHP (1/19/16)

Coloradomom: TCHP (1/28/16)

JEBA: TCHP (2/2/16)

Myraknits: TCHP (2/9/16)

Planet: TCH (TBA)


FEC-D

LovesToFly: FEC-D (1/6/16)


To Be Announced:

Judy6: TBA (12/30/15)

keepsake: TBA (1/7/16)

fitnessflagstaff: TBA (12/17/16)

Eliz1973: TBA (2/3/16)


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Comments

  • Wildflower2015
    Wildflower2015 Member Posts: 279
    edited December 2015

    Wow, MissBee, sorry you are having to go through a second round of chemo. Wishing you the best!

    (and your avatar picture looks great :-)

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2015

    Hi MissBee and thank you for starting the January '16 thread!

    While it might be a *tad* early, we're sure others will be making chemo plans soon and joining you here. So, we wanted to provide some helpful links, starting with the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Chemotherapy, including info on what to expect with chemo, types of chemo meds, and side effect management. Also, the Treatment Side Effects section is a great resource for tips to help manage any side effects you may experience.

    There are some really helpful key threads here in the Chemo forum too! Great tips and practical advice on the following discussion board threads:

    Also, December 2015's Chemo thread might be informative!

    Hope you find this helpful!

    --Your Mods

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited December 2015

    Thank you Mods! Sorry if I jumped the gun...I've always been an overachiever (I blame being an only child).

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  • Judy6
    Judy6 Member Posts: 54
    edited December 2015

    Hi Miss Bee,

    I will be joining your group. I have had a recurrence and will start chemo on December 30. I know, it's December but I thought I could sneak over to this group since it's the end of the month.

    I get my port placed on December the 9th and that is scaring me a bit. I have to do 4 rounds of chemo, and 66 rads, I think. I could be wrong on the Rads as my head is spinning.

    Anyway, it's nice to "meet" you and am happy to have new friends who understand this journey.

    Judy

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    Barring any re-excissions or a mastectomy, I should be starting chemo in January. I've only met with my MO once, but her plan for me was AC-T(paclitaxel). I have an auto immune condition which has me with leukopenia and neutropenia before I even start chemo. Because of that, she expects it to take up to 6 months to get me through it. Ugh!

    And then there's radiation. Kicking it all off with surgery next week. Wish me luck

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited December 2015

    Welcome Judy and LoveMyVizsla!

    Judy, port placement is pretty easy! I felt not so great right when I woke up, just due to incision pain, but it healed quickly and now I don't even notice it. Two tips: buy some silicone strips to put over the incision once it's healed (helps with scarring), and ask your medical oncologist to give you a prescription for lidocaine cream (Emla). Put the cream on about 60 minutes before chemo and you won't feel the needle go in at all!
    LoveMyVizla     good luck with surgery next week, we'll be thinking of you. Six months is a long time, but it's doable. As many people say, think of this as a one year break from your life and then back to routine. It's long, but it won't be forever.
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  • stotamom
    stotamom Member Posts: 41
    edited December 2015

    I'll be joining this group as well. I'm having my port placed Monday and also not looking forward to it. Really wish they had done it during my DMX surgery like they had planned. I see my chemo tech on the 10th and will receive my chemo dates. MissBee, I'm receiving the same exact treatment plus perjeta.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    MissBee, can you explain to me why they put a port in if it still hurts to use it? Why not just use a regular vein?

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited December 2015

    Welcome stotamom! Good luck with the port surgery. I promise it's not too bad. I walked myself out of surgery and to the car after about 45 minutes to recover and felt normal within 10 days.

    LoveMyVizsla as my oncologist explained to me, a port is the safest way for patients to receive chemo, especially if they will be receiving it for an extended period of time. Veins in your arms can deteriorate over time and often collapse. Our chemo meds are so potent that if they make their way into any part of your body except the bloodstream (your muscles, skin, tissue, etc) they can be quite damaging. Having a port is the best way to ensure the medicine is delivered directly to your bloodstream and eliminates the risk of veins collapsing. The pain-free aspect is more of a side benefit. If you choose not to use cream it does pinch when the needle goes in, but you'll still never again have a nurse digging around under your skin to find a vein or endure being poked multiple times.

    After everything I've had done to me, I honestly don't even notice my port anymore. I've read about other women who choose not to get it out after surgery. When I initially heard that I thought it was ridiculous, but now I'm starting to have the same sentiment. It just makes everything so easy!

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  • robyn31024
    robyn31024 Member Posts: 51
    edited December 2015

    Hi miss bee unfortunately i will be joining this group also. So not looking forward to this and am so sorry you have to go through chemo again! I will be doing TC regime starting jan 7th. My MO agreed was ok to wait until after the holidays since is more "preventive". So glad we at least get to have nice holidays with family and friends at least! My radiation onc is still debating if i need radiation and he wants to consult with another "breast specialist" first. ughh. So still don't know full treatment plan but am glad they are carefully weighing options! I am just going to use my veins for IV since only 4 rounds but was going to do a port if had been more.

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  • Tesla
    Tesla Member Posts: 53
    edited December 2015

    Since some mentioned the scars with port. It's a tiny incision usually closed with dissolvable sutures. I'm Asian and we get hypertrophic scar quite easily. My breast plastic surgeon closed my mastectomies incisions with prolene suture (non dissolvable). Reason for that is the dissolvable suture tend to give hypertrophic scars because the inflammatory response your body does to the dissolvable sutures.

    it seems like it's standard practice to use non dissolvable sutures if your body form scars or keloid easily than others. You just have to go back to the office to get it removed.

    Just a thought! I have a abdominal scars closed by dissolvable sutures gave me bad keloids by another plastic surgeon. So I believe it's a good prove/comparison.

    Also, I requested my surgical oncologist to close my port with non dissolvable sutures and so far the incision appears pretty flat.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    thanks for the answer

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  • Frill
    Frill Member Posts: 311
    edited December 2015

    MISS BEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My fave girl!!!!!!!!!! I wanna be brave enough to have an avatar pic like yours. You have totally been my inspo through all this.

    Yeah, I know I wasn't supposed to have to run this gauntlet. I'm throwing in early and getting to know everyone. I get my port inserted on Dec. 10, see the surgeon for a follow up on Dec. 28, so I'm guessing nothing starts before January. Regardless, I wanted to say hi to everyone.

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  • JCC4488
    JCC4488 Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2015

    I'll be joining you as well ~ 12 weeks Taxol and Herceptin for a year. Looking forward to hearing how it's going for everyone.


    Judy

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited December 2015

    Welcome to robyn, Frill, and Judy! It's never fun to meet under these circumstances, but I'm glad we have a community of support.

    Tesla, thank you for the scar information. Are you just popping in with advice or will you be having chemo as well?

    I'll wait a few more days and then update my original post to include all of us here and our treatments.

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  • Jinx27
    Jinx27 Member Posts: 238
    edited December 2015

    Hello Ladies!!

    I'm three weeks post op from reconstruction, I have two drains left (out of six) and have opted to begin chemo in Jan 2016. My oncologist wanted to begin the week of Christmas and I strongly doubt that I will do that.

    From what I remember from my chemo consult I should be having AC/T for four months, once every other week. My meeting with the oncologist is next week, I'll iron out all of the details then.

    Nice to see everyone!

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2015

    I will be finishing chemo in Jan 2016 but jumping in here to share and support.

    Hugs all.

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  • robyn31024
    robyn31024 Member Posts: 51
    edited December 2015

    Thanks for the welcome miss bee. Hi to all the other january group! I actually went wig shopping with a friend today and found actually a couple i really liked. I went ahead and got one and am happy to have found out my insurance paid for 75% cost. Just glad that found one that looks good so won't have to worry about that part. Love your pic but i doubt i will be brave enough to do it without my wig. So ready to get done with all this!!!

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  • Mikie1956
    Mikie1956 Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2015

    hi all.. Feels like I found a group where I am on nearly the same track or time line..port installed early December, not a big thing other than a bit of a tug at the base of my neck, changed to new oncologist because the first facility does not have the freezers to support cold capping. Will begin chemo after appt on Monday the 14th. Don't know exact schedule but will have 4 rounds of A&C every two weeks thne 4 rounds of T every two weeks, then surgery ( hopefully chemo will shrink tumor so I can have lumpectomy) then radiation.

    Am kind of freaked out about the while process, scared of mastectomy, hope cold capping works and generally anxious but ready to fight as I need to, not willing to shrink away. Ready to attack this as I must, try to continue with as many daily activities as possible and look forward to support on this site.

    Thanks, Carra. (Aka mikie1956)

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    Carra! You were diagnosed on my birthday and we are both triple negative! I had two small tumors so I had surgery first, just 4 days ago. Hang in there and keep us posted.

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2015

    Welcome to the thread Mikie1956

    Hope your first infusion goes well and you have minimal side effects.

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  • Thundergal
    Thundergal Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2015
    Hi ladies! I was part of the November 2015 surgery thread. I'm joining in here since I'll be starting chemo on January 8 -C/T for 12 weeks. Met with oncologist yesterday to set up the schedule. He wants to try and do this through my veins and not go the port route. Since nodes were removed from under my right arm during bilateral mastectomy in late November, the only option is my left arm. His nurses looked for possible vein sites and were skeptical the 2 they saw would work. Oncologist suggests trying vein with the first round and seeing how it goes. I'm wondering if it would be better to just go ahead and have a port put in now? Also, he is ordering Neulasta, which is a whopping $6k per injection! My insurance has initially refused to pay, so am appealing. Has anyone dealt with this? Tomorrow will be my 4 week post mastectomy mark and I'm feeling pretty good. Had a setback 10 days ago when I spiked a fever of 103 and landed back in the hospital. Had to have surgery to remove my left tissue expander because of infection. So, my right "breast" looks ok, but the left is ridiculously folded in and looks creepy. Plastic surgeon will not replace TE until several months after chemo. Glad to be a part of our group!
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  • Veronica31
    Veronica31 Member Posts: 97
    edited December 2015

    Thank you for starting this group! I kept checking to see if someone started a January2016 group. I must have missed it . I'm so sorry that you have to go through this again MissBee, but I'm glad that someone who's been through it is here for guidance! I start January 4th and I'm so nervous

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  • Truffles1968
    Truffles1968 Member Posts: 33
    edited December 2015

    I am sorry you have to do this twice MissBee, hoping this is your last time ever. Thank you for starting this thread I know I will need the support :-). I will meet the oncologist for the first time tomorrow after my 12/4 BMX. I switched from Her2- to Her2+ on final pathology so it was a bit of a surprise that I need chemo and I am quite overwhelmed. I am trying to navigate getting chemo locally with a primary oncologist 5 hours away at Hopkins.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited December 2015

    p.s. you didn't jump the gun. Great that you started this thread!

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited December 2015

    Hello everyone! I updated my original post today to reflect what I believe are the treatments for everyone who has posted them. If you want to send me any updated details (exact dates/treatments), just let me know and I'll fix yours. Alternatively, if you don't wish to have your details posted I will take them down, not a problem.

    Hello Jinx! You'll be kicking things off for us, so we'll all be thinking of you!

    Smurfette, thanks for saying hi!

    Welcome Carra. I'm 7 weeks out of my double mastectomy as of yesterday and am truly back to myself. The only small thing I can't do yet is sleep on my stomach. If you end up going that route there are great forums here, but my personal advice is aim to start PT as soon as they will allow. I started after 2 weeks and I think it made a huge difference with recovery.

    Welcome, Thundergal! I remember you from the November surgery thread. Here we go together again!

    Thank you, Veronica and Truffles; we're glad you're here! Truffles, let us know your treatment plan, if you like, and I'll post it. Frill, same for you!

    I'm guessing things might slow down a bit with the holidays, but I'll keep checking here as often as I can. Merry Christmas, Happy belated Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Seasons greetings, and everything else!

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2015

    Good to be here MissBee123. Hoping my "experience" as limited as it is may help some of the ladies starting chemo in January.

    Thundergal I just had treatment number 3 of Taxotere and Cytoxan yesterday. No port and they have been having trouble with veins. Mine are fine and deep. Numbers 1 and 3 were given into the back of my hand but that's not ideal. Was all we could get and have to work what we have. Number 2 they managed a vein up the side of my arm but took almost an hour to get that. I always end up sporting some "nice" bruises. Like you they will only use my left arm as my right side was my mastectomy and SNB side. No needles, IV's, blood pressure cuffs etc on my right arm ever I'm told. Even with the issues I'm still glad I didn't have a port put in for just 4 treatments but that's just me. You may feel differently.

    Make sure you are very well hydrated on infusion day. Drink, drink, drink.

    And another tip from my breast nurse; paint your finger and toe nails with a VERY dark nail polish before infusions to help protect the nail bed. I have had no nail issues. Mine are very strong.

    Also make sure you wear frozen mitts if they are provided during the Taxotere infusion. If no mitts, ice packs or bags of ice on your fingers and toes work just as well. Helps to prevent neuropathy. Sucking on ice chips may also help prevent mouth sores.

    I didn't receive a Neulasta injection after my first treatment as here in Australia it is not automatically covered by our Medicare system unless you "crash" and end up very ill, which I did. My neutrophils bottomed out at 0.0 and I ended up in hospital for 4 days on IV antibiotics which made me eligible for Neulasta after subsequent chemos. The breast nurse come to my house and administered a Neulasta shot after chemo 2 and I was much more well. I did run a low grade fever the middle and last week of the cycle but nothing that landed me in hospital. Have my Neulasta in the fridge and the nurse will be here at 1.30pm today to administer. Hoping it keeps me as well as last round. I'd say keep fighting your insurance to get it. Terrible that you have to but it did make a huge difference to me. My neutrophils were 6.8 when I had chemo yesterday.

    If I had of had a spare $3,500 I could have paid for it first round. Unfortunately I didn't. That's the cost here in Aus. Now I'm eligible to have it covered; well mostly covered by Medicare I only have to pay $38 which is more than reasonable though I haven't received an account yet. We are so very fortunate here. The social worker at the hospital has linked me up with a cancer charity called Can-Assist and they have been covering the small gaps I have had to pay for medications or pathology bills. I never asked for this help but so very grateful for it. We have one of the biggest breast cancer foundations in the world, The Jane McGrath Foundation, and all these services are very well linked and co-ordinated and very available. The support is nothing short of amazing.

    Sorry for the long post but hope some of the info helps Thundergal.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    Got a call from my mO's office this morning. I meet with her for an hour on the 8th. They are scheduling the port placement and MUGA heart scan for another day that week. I assume chemo will start the second week of January.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited December 2015

    Smurfette, how does painting your nails a dark color protect them

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  • Smurfette26
    Smurfette26 Member Posts: 730
    edited December 2015

    My breast nurse says it helps protect the nail bed. Can help prevent ridges, discolouration, nails splitting or lifting. Not sure exactly how or why it works but I have done it every infusion and have had absolutely no nail issues. It's simple. inexpensive and won't do me any harm so why not, though painted nails are really not me. Some of the ladies here have posted of problems with their nails.

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