January 2016 Chemo!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2016

    FlytheW-

    Welcome to BCO! We hope you find support here as you begin your treatment!

    The Mods

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  • Veronica31
    Veronica31 Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2016

    MissBee thanks for the well wishes yesterday, but I start AC + T on Friday now. A CT scan showed some spots on my spine and now I have to do a bone scan before I start.

    I am also in the young club at 32. My doctor kept doubting that I had cancer because I was too young for cancer. 😡


    Thanks again for being so helpful to everyone in here. Love the guidance from you and everyone else!


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

    good luck Veronica. I did a bone scan...it was not too bad. I hope the spots are nothing. Fingers crossed for you.

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  • fightergirl711
    fightergirl711 Member Posts: 300
    edited January 2016

    So still waiting - got my second opinion yesterday from a major research facility (one of the best in the world) for AC+TH. My first opinion provided locally was for TCHP (if P was covered by insurance.) There were many, many other differences in recommendations for surgery including removing nodes. Although it's going to be a hassle, I decided I'll be traveling 1.5 hours one way for treatments, as a result of the second opinion. Luckily I grew up and have family near there. The other extremely important thing - the oncologist said something along the lines of "I can't guarantee this won't come back, but we can take care of this now." I don't want to regret five years from now that I didn't go with the super cancer pros, whether if it comes back or not. Anyway, my situation is being presented to the tumor board for review and will have a schedule for treatment soon.

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited January 2016

    I travel that distance too. I just didn't trust the local guy who treats all types of cancers.

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  • daisymay55
    daisymay55 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2016

    Hi MissBee:

    I am starting my first round of chemo today. AC-T followed with one year of herceptin. Stage 11A, no limph node involvement - HER2 positive. Have been a very healthy person - take the occasional pill for a headache. So having to take pills for nausea and constipation and any other side effect that may occur is all very overwhelming and making me feel very anxious. I am sure you and the others posting here can relate. I will check back tonight or tomorrow to let you know how it went.

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  • ThePrincess
    ThePrincess Member Posts: 424
    edited January 2016

    Ladies of January! I am so sorry you are here! But I'm dropping in from March/April 2015 to tell you that you can do this! I did AC+T(+HP) all spring and summer - then a lumpectomy and radiation. Yes it kind of sucks, but no it isn't unbearable. Just be kind to yourself and rest and most importantly - EXERCISE. Starting now may be hard, starting when you're done is going to be 10 times harder. And it will make you feel better, I PROMISE! At just over 4 months PFC I no longer wear a hat and it just looks like I chose poorly at the salon ;-)

    Good luck, you're in a great support place - feel free to PM me with questions or if I can help in any way!

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  • dAd
    dAd Member Posts: 94
    edited January 2016

    Hi Miss Bee and many thanks for this thread. I start chemo - TC - tomorrow after having surgery (lumpectomy and sentinel nodes) in November. More surgery coming after chemo to be followed by radiation. All of this has completely unnerved me and I'm so thankful for all the great advice and information you and others have provided.

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  • Jinx27
    Jinx27 Member Posts: 238
    edited January 2016

    As promised, I came to give you all an update. Day one, wasn't too bad. My white blood cell count was good enough for chemo so we began with flushing my port and then nausea medicine. Then came the red devil doxyrubican, then adriamyacin. It took a total of two hours. I felt tired during the end of chemo, but got my energy together in order to head home.

    Then at night came the mild nausea, headache and fatigue. I had compazine and some peppermint tea went to bed and woke up a bit better. Had Neulasta today and it wasn't bad, the nurse taught me how to administer it to myself. I'm gonna have it delivered to my house and administer it to myself.

    I'm gonna rest and try to go to acupunture this week.

    @dAd, your excersize advice is so great, I've been tired but I will attempt to do something after Wed.

    I'm soo happy this thread exists! Love to all of you ladies, we can do it through fatigue and pain!!

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  • Kdettwiller
    Kdettwiller Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2016

    im starting 1/14/16 with hereceptin/perjeta along with two other meds...i will find out more at the teachi g class next Wednesday

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  • robyn31024
    robyn31024 Member Posts: 51
    edited January 2016

    Hugs jinx! hope you are doing well!

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Hi jinx! I'm glad day 1 wasn't too bad. Hugs!

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

    thanks for the update char, glad things seem to be OK. I also want them to teach me how to do the Neulasta myself.

    I'm next, did my blood work today. I will update when I can.

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Good luck Jill. I hope everything goes well

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  • daisymay55
    daisymay55 Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2016

    Hi Jinx:

    I too just finished Day 1 and seem to have similar results. Tired and a little lightheaded but overall not too bad. Nausea meds seem to be working. I did manage a short walk with the dog, but will try more exercise. Hope your Day 2 is okay.

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  • fightergirl711
    fightergirl711 Member Posts: 300
    edited January 2016

    It's official, I start tomorrow.

    First course: Taxol X 12, Herceptin and Perjeta X4. Second course: AC X4. After that it is surgery, radiation, more herceptin. It's reversed from what I generally see, but my case was brought to the tumor board, and I have complete trust in what's going on. So let's get to it!

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  • LoveMyVizsla
    LoveMyVizsla Member Posts: 813
    edited January 2016

    Port placement was yesterday. I got myself all worked up prior. The doc and nurse were great. We explained that I always have nausea issues with anesthesia. They agreed to use very little and even tracked down a scopolamine patch for me. I was awake during the entire procedure and it was easy. There was some pushing and tugging, but nothing to make me want to be knocked out.

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

    I had my first chemotherapy today, so far it was pretty noneventful. Took the steroids and nausea medication, pushed the chemo, and sent me on my way. Met the pharmacist who went over all the medication, and what to do about for their side effects. Right now I feel a bit weird, kind of wired and weak at the same time, like I had too much coffee on an empty stomach! One thing that was nice was the woman sitting next to me was my age, had done the same protocol as me, and had actually worked on the same schedule I'm planning to work. ( she was done the chemo and radiation, and was doing the Herceptin). She gave me a lot of good information about her experience, and it was quite encouraging to hear about somebody who had been able to work for the most part through the chemo.

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  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 769
    edited January 2016

    gardengypsy is beginning AC x4 and then Taxol x4 on January 11. - every other week.

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  • Kimmer33
    Kimmer33 Member Posts: 386
    edited January 2016

    Hi Ladies!

    Like Smurfette, I have one more chemo infusion in January, and then finished, but would also love to shed information for those ladies just starting.

    Kim

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Hi Jill. I am glad you first chemotherapy infusion was uneventful and how nice that you met someone who had just completed your regimen! I hope you continue to feel well! Hugs!!!

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

    I'm feeling pretty awful right now, weak and queasy and achy. I'm going to take the PRN anti nauseant in a minute then go to bed.

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  • KimmieM
    KimmieM Member Posts: 9
    edited January 2016

    Good evening ladies. I am glad everyone is hanging in there and sharing advice and experiences. My chemo has been delayed because my port was not placed until today. Chemo starts tomorrow. I am more than ready to get this party started. Sending positive light and love to all my chemo buddies.

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

    good luck Kimmie. The only advice I have after my first day as if they give you in Antioch nausea and say to take it only if you need it, take it the minute you start feeling queasy. I waited and I ended up feeling absolutely awful. I feel much better now just half an hour after taking it. I am going back tomorrow, for my Neulasta shot, and I plan to speak to the pharmacist and find out exactly how to does the "optional" antinauseant if I want to stay on top of it (I mean how to dose it with the emend and the steroids. I feel like I started getting queasy about 5hours after I had my steroids/emend in the hospital (which was 20 minutes before chemo), so I'm wondering if that's when I would start taking it. I believe I am supposed to limit them to three a day, so I don't want to waste them when the other meds are going to be doing their job anyway)

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  • Thundergal
    Thundergal Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2016

    I had my port placed on Tuesday. Not a pleasant experience. They placed it on the upper inside of my left arm. I thought it would go under my left clavicle. Crazy stinging pain started late that night, with a large bruise and redness. Called the interventional radiologist who placed it and he said this happens in about 20% of port placements. With strong pain melds yesterday and Tylenol last night, it's much less painful, but really tender. Am supposed to get my first chemo infusion tomorrow through it, so I hope it works. I have my Claritin ready to go and have made some soup from the Cancer Fighting Kitchen cookbook for when I get home.

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  • Char1110
    Char1110 Member Posts: 61
    edited January 2016

    Good luck today Kimmie! I hope you are feeling better this morning Jill. You too Thdergal! Hugs to all!


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

    thanks Char, I am feeling much better this morning! I assumed I would wake up feeling really queasy since everything has worn off, but I woke up just feeling a bit weak and shaky…not really different from a normal morning, sort of like waking up when I have a cold or a mild flu after a particularly bad sleep. I had no problem having my breakfast or coffee, and took all my meds. My oncologist called me this morning to check on me, I told her what happened yesterday, and she gave me shit for not taking the optional antinauseant as soon as I felt queasy. She said I need to be on top of that, and don't have to suffer with even queasiness and she said not to worry about how many I take a day, as long as they are dosed four hours apart. Since I took the steroids and the not so optional antinauseant this morning, I'm not queasy again yet but keeping a careful eye on it.


    Good luck Kimmie! I actually found the first day of chemo to be OK, there was no time to get bored because they were talking to me and giving me so much information. Is the blog post I did yesterday:

    https://fancypansy.wordpress.com/2016/01/06/not-a-chemo-virgin-anymore/

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

    good luck thundergal! I took my Claritin this morning, and get my first Neulasta shot this afternoon. I will let you know how that goes. Hope that port starts feeling more comfortable soon. I have never heard of one inside the arm.

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  • Jinx27
    Jinx27 Member Posts: 238
    edited January 2016

    @Thundergal, I'm sorry your port placement was a bit painful, I also had pain the day after and thought maybe the surgeon had made a mistake. I couldn't believe how turning, sleeping and lifting my arm hurt. I'm trying to understand why they placed it in your arm and not under the clavicle ? It just seems less painful. Take your pain meds and I promise you that it will subside. If it really bothers you, speak up.

    @Lovestofly, I'm happy you feel good! Our first week is almost over :) As for meds I was prescribed Decradon steroids. I'm supposed to take two daily am and pm with food for three days after chemo and then Zofran for nausea as needed. Good luck with Neulasta it was uneventful and you probably can do it alone at home.

    I must admit , I'm really scared of the Zofran. I've been drinking ginger tea and doing breathing exercises. Felt some achiness from the Neulasta . I also got on the floor in my living room and stretched/yoga and some lymphodema prevention excercises. This helped alot. My tummy is settled but I have had a tension headache since monday, maybe I will try the zofran. I can't wait to get control of these side effects. I still feel a bit slower than usual but much better than Monday night.

    Love and light ladies!!!!

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

    my meds are completely different than yours. I'm supposed to take emend for the first three mornings, and dexamethasone (steroid) for the first 4 mornings. Proclorazine (stemetil) if required for breakthrough nausea. I had some queasiness yesterday, and tried to get through it without the stemetil (same ways you did) but I was so glad when I finally took it. It worked very quickly.

    Leaving soon for Neulasta. I've heard it should be easy to injecting myself, so I'm certainly hoping to do that after this time

    I did drive myself to and from chemo yesterday. My husband was with me, but I generally prefer to do the driving if I am up to it ( find I get carsick when I am a passenger) and I did. I am also feeling well enough to take myself to and from my shot today. My hospital is about 20 minutes away.

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