Starting Chemo December 2015

Hi all,

I am supposed to start chemo in late December. Thought I would seek feedback on a few issues:

1) Wondering if having a shower stool/chair would be helpful in case I feel bad/tired/need to conserve energy.. Anyone done this?

2) I am having a difficult time scheduling my chemo sessions. Evidently, the infusion center is just over-booked. The prospect of this had crossed my mind, but I didn't really think it would be an issue. At this point it will delay the start of chemo by 2 weeks. That does not seem like very good practice. I am wondering if future sessions will be an issue, too. When I asked about that, the staff would only say that they can't predict the future. I have a call in to my oncologist. Anyone else encountered this issue? dealt (successfully) with scheduling challenges?

3) I "only" had a sentinel node out but I have really painful and visibly pronounced cording. I am about 4 weeks out from my original lumpectomy and 2+ weeks from my re-excision. So far my docs are dismissing it and saying it will get better but if something needs to be done now to avoid long-term problems, I want to be pro-active/get on top of it. Anyone out there have docs that have been more proactive about recommending treatment?

Thanks much!

Hello December chemo ladies. 1st was yesterday and so far so good but I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was given Taxotere & cytoxan with some pre-meds. I also asked for Benedryl and I highly recommend it if your anxious it put me right out!

Any advice on keeping the nausea at other than the drugs would be helpful. I did drink coffee this morning and ate pretty normal

Interesting reading how people are nervous about starting chemo. I wasn't nervous about starting or my first treatment. I am nervous about 3-5 weeks in when the hair loss starts happening, fatigue, and other more severe side effects. Ironically, they started me on Taxol with pre-meds on 12/1. But 30 minutes into treatment, I started having trouble breathing (and yes, they gave me Benedryl). They immediately stopped and gave me more Benedryl, steroids, and oxygen. One hour later, I finally was stablizied enough to start on the herceptin. This week, they are going to try Taxotere. My oncologist made a comment "I hope one day they do studies with just herceptin." She thinks that the other stuff is less effective and one day, other women won't have to go through the hair loss. Fight on women!

I had my first round last Thursday and felt pretty good at first. Yesterday afternoon I started getting some neuropathy in my legs and feet and now it's pretty much constant. I hope this will fade after a day or two

I was diagnosed at the end of September, I;ve had surgery but don't even get to see the oncologist until !6th December. I'm frustrated and feel its been too long to wait. It's also worrying!

I'm assuming this will be my chemo group. I see my oncologist tomorrow, so I'll find out then when everything is going to start. My surgery was easy - biggest pain has been the lymph node dissection. My greatest fear before I was ever diagnosed with BC was chemo, and now I'm staring it in the face. I appreciate all of your postings about what is going on with you as you travel this road. I'll keep posting as well, plus I also write a blog (which needs updating right now.) Positive thoughts to all!

Hey All. Just checking in to let y'all know that I'm still feeling well. This week I felt better than my first week. I had my port surgery on Monday. The procedure went extremely well. Immediately after the surgery, my voice was hoarse and I kinda felt like I had a lump in my throat. It doesn't feel like that anymore. I started to feel mild pain once the local anesthetic wore off but two Tylenol helped for the rest of the evening. I didn't need to take any more medications for pain. It was left ready or "accessed" for my second chemo infusion the next day and that went well too.

The port feels a little itchy right now. It may be because I over did some chores at home since I was troubleshooting my Christmas tree that had an upper section where all the lights were blown.

Tomorrow will be wig trying day! I had my hair cut from shoulder length to longish pixie before my first chemo treatment. A hair salon at the local mall provides free wigs for cancer patients, so hopefully I can find something that matches my wavy pixie before it all comes out. My friends think the short hair looks better on me. I like it too and may remain this short once chemo is over. Tuesday will be chemo #3.

Hi Kris, I'm doing Taxol first, not exactly sure for how many weeks, and then AC. Thank you and good luck to you too. I like the idea of having something that deals with difficulty with sleeping and nausea and anxiety. Will definitely make a note of it! I've been doing some exercise and building some muscles before chemo starts. Will need to dust off the old treadmill.

Hi Mikie, I've been trying to not think too far ahead also, as it freaks me out. I'm working on just thinking about food, exercise, and other little details of life instead of the future big things. (Well, when I'm able.) Good luck! I'm sure others will come along to chime in and offer encouragement. We're all here together.

Goodluck Nebraska917!!! You got this!! Keep us posted! I go for 2nd treatment on the 23rd. Let's kick cancers butt!!!!

Twirp26, I think we are on the same schedule. I go again for round #2 the 23rd as well. Knock on wood, so far, not too bad. I just wish I could get my feelings in check. I think the evenings are my hardest. My husband works late, everything is done for the day and my thoughts take off! I need a distraction!!

Nebraska917 thinking about you! Hope you are feeling ok!

So I got set up for chemo today. I get my port next week, and the first infusion is Dec.. 28th. On the positive side, I only have to have four infusions,, so if everything goes well, my last chemo will be Feb. 29 - Leap Day!

I had my port accessed for the first time today to take blood, it all worked! Thank goodness.

First chemo on Thursday. There was still one nurse there from five years ago, and she remembered me! I think having a seizure at my first chemo treatment was pretty memorable for a lot of them lol

I was so terrified of chemo - it was a stress induced seizure. Went back two days later and it all went well.

I was supposed to have chemo education before the first treatment, but the nurses agreed I probably didn't need the full thing, so it will be a short "refresher" course (as if I'd forget) and then onto the first treatment.

(((hugs))) to you all - I do jigsaw puzzles on the ipad to keep my brain active and busy at night, so I don't think so much.

Trish

xoxo

Hi everyone. I hope you are all doing well. I was looking at some of the your posts. I had chemo (THCP) on Dec3rd. I felt pretty good for about 5 days except for extreme exhaustion. Then everyday a little annoying SE. I must say though I had built it up so much in my head that it was not as bad as I had imagined. That being said I still have not gone back to work. I still have a lot of exhaustion. I'm hoping my second round will be a little better, MO said that the first round was a loading dose so hopefully I'll feel some more energy second time around. I've developed rashes anywhere a adhesive was placed, never had a problem with that before. I had the port put in two days before chemo and the area still has a rash and also a small rash where are they fill up the expanders and placed a bandage. I'm also having some annoying joint pain but only when I'm trying to go to sleep, go figure. Anyone else experiencing joint pain?

Hello my December Chemo sisters, sounds like most are off to a good start or about to start. I go for my 3rd neoadjuvant Taxol treatment tomorrow. They stopped giving me Benadryl as a pre-infusion drug because it was making me light headed so I went without it the 2nd time and will do the same moving forward unless an allergic reaction. It actually makes for a pretty short infusion time--about 90 minutes.Still have about 95% of my previous energy level, work full-time albeit 3 days from home, and hit the gym 3 to 5 days a week. However, I can't stop snacking and have gained 5 lbs--not sure this is related to chemo. But it is unacceptable since I lost 60lbs 3 years ago that I can't afford to gain back. Oh well, I am blessed to still feel pretty good.

Sending all of you positive vibes for treatment without SEs

Welcome to the community puremalarkey,

We are glad that you officially joined and we hope that you will find good information and support in this caring forum. Glad to hear too that chemo started today. Keep us posted on how things go for you. The Mods