January 2016 Chemo!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited January 2016

    MB, that is from surgery. You can peel it off.

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  • teacher30plus
    teacher30plus Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2016

    Thank you so much Miss Bee for the advice on the water. I wrote this down in my little "pink" book! I will definitely do the overnight water in my big cup so that I will get started right away. We live an hour away from the cancer center, so I will have time to get that 2nd 24oz before my appointment at 8:30. I hate that you have to be our resident expert here, and that you are doing this for the second time, but I am glad to have your experience and advice. Wishing all of us a Healthy New Year! Most of us have the next few months planned for us, but what is a few months in a whole lifetime?

    I have spent the last couple of days crocheting some cotton beanies. I have an assortment of cute hats and scarves. I bought some of the supplies that many of you have mentioned. Trying hard to get a better attitude!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited January 2016

    I'm working on my attitude too, T3P. I'm looking at more than a few months though.

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  • Rockstarteach
    Rockstarteach Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2016

    Hello! I am new to the group. I was diagnosed December 18th and begin chemo on January 5. It has been a whirl wind of tests. I'm not sure I really know how I feel and Ihaven't had much time to think about it all. You all seem so knowledgeable already!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    i rockstarteach! It certainly is a whirlwind, isn't it? Do you know what kind of chemo you will be doing? Are you doing chemo before surgery?

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  • Rockstarteach
    Rockstarteach Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2016

    My plan for chemotherapy ( taxotere, carboplatin) along with 2 anti her 2neu blocking agents called pertuzumab and herceptin. Yes I am having chemo before surgery because the lump is too big right now. I just had my port put in on Wednesday. Has anyone else had this? How long were you sore?

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    I'm sorry I don't have a port, but I've heard it feels better pretty quickly. My client (I'm a social worker with kidsin foster care, client is more intimate than it sounds) was sore for less than a week. Good luck!!!

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited January 2016

    rockstarteach, I had TCHP, like you, and Char1110 is starting it on 1/18. I called it Perjeta, but that's the brand name for pertuzumab. Several of us are on Herceptin, you can see them listed in the original post.

    I had my port in and I was sore for probably about 10-14 days. I've had it since July now and I don't even notice it anymore. I have veins that are rather difficult so, for me, I am very grateful to have it. It makes treatment so much easier. Plus, if you're having Herceptin, I assume you'll have it for a year, long after your dose dense TCHP sessions.

    You might consider asking your oncologist for an Emla/lidocaine prescription (a numbing cream), which is good to put on about an hour before your chemo infusions so the needle doesn't hurt.

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Hi rockstarteach. So sorry you find yourself here! This is all very new and overwhelming to me as well but everyone seems to be so supportive. Miss Bee thank you so much for starting this group. I appreciate your advice with the water and I will definitely be looking to you as I try to make it through chemo. I am praying for limited side effects as I have twin girls (11 going on 12) that are very active. I don't want to miss theirsoccer games or gymnastics meets. I am quite active myself and I hope I can continue to workout even if it is on a limited basis. I don't know if I'm in denial or just hopeful. I am young in terms of breast cancer (40 years old) but like everyone else I just want things to be as normal as possible. For all the ladies that are starting chemotherapy this week, I wanted to say good luck! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    hi Char! I too am younger than many with BC, 42, with a 12-year-old and 6-year-old daughter! I am really hopeful that I can remain active through most of my treatment, both for myself and for my kids. I lost 50 pounds in 2010, I don't want to gain it all back or lose my current level of fitness! Well, I don't mind gaining a little weight and I know I'm got not going to be as fit as I am, but I don't want to come out of treatment with a whole new battle! I'm starting chemo on Wednesday and I will let you know how it goes.

    Not going to lie, I am very, very nervous right now. A bit of a wreck! But I try to remember how many women, men, and even children have gone through chemotherapy before me, and I know I can do this!

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited January 2016

    Hello


    I start chemo 1/7 dose dense AC. Any good helpful hints are appreciated.

    I've reviewed most of the threads, and my chemo bag is packed. 

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Hi Jill! You are right. We can do it! I keep reminding myself of that. Maybe we can keep each other motivated through this process so we don't lose our fitness level too much. I have chemo counseling tomorrow so I will see what she has to say. Maybe she can offer some suggestions or at the very least when to expect my energy to start to decline. I know eveyone is different but I heard round 4,5 and 6 fatigue starts to set in. I'm going to do all I can while I can. I'll be thinking about you on Thursday. Please let us know how it goes.


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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    Char do you have a fit bit? I do and I plan to keep wearing it!

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Yes I do. Good idea! I haven't started wearing it yet but I am going to start this week

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  • Martini
    Martini Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2016

    Thanks for starting this thread Miss Bee but so sorry you are going through this again!

    I've met with the oncologist on December 31. He wanted to put a pic in this week and start chemo next week (yikes!) but I asked for the Oncotype test. So hoping it comes back with a low score but if not chemo middle to end of January.

    My regiment is the same as LovesToFly so yes, must be a Canadian thing.

    Thanks to all for posting their experiences and advice, I'm still terrified but take strength and courage from all that have walked before or are walking it now.

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  • Martini
    Martini Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2016

    LovesToFly, was sooo happy to see your post! I had been reading the diagnoses, stages, lymph involvement and did not see anyone that was having the same chemo regiment as me... feeling relieved. Are they giving you the Nueblasta shot after each treatment as well?

    Good luck on Tuesday!



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  • MB12
    MB12 Member Posts: 79
    edited January 2016

    Happy New Year Ladies!


    Missbee123 - Thank you for the info. It started to come up on a corner and I couldn't help but wonder if it was stitched in or what?! 😁

    I am going to do IV C therapy w chemo and Meyers cocktail. I'm wondering if anybody else has done this or even heard of the benefits from it?

    Also, putting a holistic team together and talking to my doctors about this. I am going to find out who exactly is on the oncology team besides the usual. There should be nutritionist, acupuncturist, dentist, holistic Doctor, etc. I'm going to use frankenfirt and muhr (spelled wrong, I'm sure)oil along with others.


    Cheers,

    Michelle

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    Hi Martini, yes they are!! I'll update later in the week!!

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  • MissBee123
    MissBee123 Member Posts: 186
    edited January 2016

    Jinx27, Zinny, Veronica31: GOOD LUCK TODAY!

    Char and Loves to Fly, we are all in that younger group (I'm 32). I can only speak for my experience, but here's how my TCHP treatments went (TCHP is usually given every 3 weeks, unlike AC+T every 2):

    Infusion day: Normal
    Day 1: Normal (except the very first time)
    Day 2: Normal
    Days 3-7: Terrible
    Days 8-9: Poor, but better than before
    Days 10-21: Normal but mild-moderate fatigue

    Char, my side effects were different each round, but I was able to exercise, go to work, and eat normally for the first few days and then again the last week and a half. I did find it harder to digest meat and dairy, and I relied on probiotics to help my stomach. I did get a horrible rash from Perjeta, but was told that was very rare, and it disappeared by round 3. Taste was affected the first round, but after that it was normal for me. The worst part was diarrhea/constipation. I had what I call "pendulum" side effects for bowel movements and either had diarrhea or constipation. I couldn't seem to ever just be in the middle and feel normal. Hoping AC+T is different!

    In terms of weight gain, I've gained about 8 pounds since I started treatment. I think it's almost completely due to steroids so I try not to be too hard on myself, but it's still not something that makes me happy to see.

    Welcome Valistim52. Best of luck with AC! My advice to everyone is water, water, water! Drink half your bodyweight in ounces. My doctor warned me that lack of water was the fastest way to end up in the hospital. I drank a solid 70 oz per day and I really do feel it helped. That and exercise. I made both a priority and it was much better than laying on the couch (not that I didn't do plenty of that, too). I might recommend signing up for fitness classes, as motivation can be low to do it yourself, but it's easier when someone else tells you what to do!

    Welcome Martini! Glad you are here.

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    thanks missbee. I'm really hoping to be off days 1-6, then work days 721...but we'll see.

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  • Jinx27
    Jinx27 Member Posts: 238
    edited January 2016

    Hey ladies!!

    I'm in the waiting room at the infusion center now. My white blood cell count is being measured to see if I'm ready, I have an appointment with the Onco NP and infusion at 1pm. Hopefully I'm good and we can get the ball rolling.

    I will be managing side effects with acupuncture and the anti-nausea meds.

    I will update you all.

    BIG HUGS TO EVERYONE BEGINNING THIS MONTH!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    good luck jinx!!!!

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Good luck

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  • Cancerpickedthewrongone
    Cancerpickedthewrongone Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2016

    MissBee! I am doing good.. PT starts next week 1/11)..along w chemo that starts 1/14 which will be 4 rounds of AC+ T.

    My port goes in on 1/13 so I guess I have a busy week ahead. I am pretty much set up, based on all the feedback from this site, I have an Arsenal of goodies to combat most of the Side effects.

    Let's pray I can keep most of the side effects at bay!

    Allie

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Thank Miss B! It sounds like you were able to still do quite a bit even though you had some crappy days. Definitely going to drink lots of water and stick with my trainer to motivate me to make it back in the gym. The PA told me to expect to be able to do about 75-80 percent of what Im used to doing on a good day. Hopefully I will be able to anticipate my bad days like you

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  • Nebraska917
    Nebraska917 Member Posts: 64
    edited January 2016

    Hi there -

    I figured I would pipe in - I started on December 14th - having TC every 3 weeks until February. I just had my second treatment today.

    I think someone mentioned the veins with chemo - my veins are quite tiny as well and I only have one good arm, so I had a picc line put in since I only have 4 treatments, I figured it would be a little less of an invasive procedure (the day before that I just had egg retrieval surgery) so I really wasn't ready for another outpatient procedure at the time for a port. The picc line has been okay - it just needs to be covered when showering - and we bought a cover off of amazon that works great.

    I had a bilateral mastectomy at the end of October - i have tissue expanders in currently. I am ER/PR positive and HER2 negative. I am 29 years old - my gyno found the lump the day after my 29th birthday - no family history. My oncotype score came back at a 23 or 24 (i dont remember which one) - which is why we decided to do treatment. They wanted me to do AC, but after a second opinion and more research, we decided the best decision to make me feel comfortable with treatment was TC.

    My first treatment went well - I had about a week of side effects- mainly tired, fatigue - almost flu like feeling, joint pain, a day of upset stomach, a little heartburn - but nothing that couldn't be tolerated. After about that first week, I felt like my normal self for the next two weeks - minus the hair falling out. My hair was holding strong on the 10th day, but by day 12 it started to just slowly shed and on day 14 I had it buzzed off- now it's just a short GI Jane look, they say not to razor it close because of cuts and infections and hair follicle infections. So it will start to become a little bit of a "patchy baldness." At least my leg hair and lady area hair stopped growing!

    I did get the neulasta shot the first round - my joints hurt pretty bad - I take clariton and tried tylenol, but a heating pad seemed to help the most.

    I'm hoping for another round of minimal or at least tolerable side effects this time and hopefully back to myself next week again. Fingers crossed.

    Good luck to all starting in January!


    Dena

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  • FlyTheW
    FlyTheW Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2016

    AC+T (1/5/16)

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited January 2016

    thank you for sharing Nebraska! I hope things continue to be tolerable for you

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  • robyn31024
    robyn31024 Member Posts: 51
    edited January 2016

    Hi everyone. Hope everyone is doing well. My chemo actually got moved up to wed the 6th instead of 7th. Getting a bit nervous. Has anyone else ever skipped the neulasta and just monitored labs and get if needed? That's what i am planning but just wondering how that went with anyone else? Hoping for minimum side effects so i can still work full-time, except for chemo week. Only working 2 and 1/2 days this week.

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  • Martini
    Martini Member Posts: 30
    edited January 2016

    Great info/timeline on possibly what to expect Missbee. I'm hoping to continue to work as well...but must admit I am incapable of anything when nauseated. Would rather have a broken arm!

    Great question Robyn31024. I too wonder about the neulasta. My onc said, in the past, they only gave it the last 3 treatments but now after each treatment.


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