Starting Chemo December 2015

Lyra10, I applied online and they sent me a step 2 to get a doctors note. It might work for me in the Pensacola FL area. Thanks for the tip!! I'll take what ever benefits I can get for going through this shit

Pezgal, so sorry. Keep us updated and hope it's a short stay!

Proctor, thanks for sharing that story, needed it today. It was beautiful.

Twirp, love that shirt and always love your attitude!

Noni, take care of yourself and hoping that cough will leave you.

Karenbo, sorry to hear about your counts and delay. That is the last thing any of us want, to make this longer than needed.

I worked 3 days in the office this week and really tired today. Hate that it seems we never get to enjoy our weekends asthey are only for resting up for the next week.

Hi, I have a question for those of you that have already started chemo. I am starting on Jan 21, 4x AC and 4x T, every 2 weeks and I am wondering of you ladies that did this regiment what days where you sickest? I am trying to figure out what days I am going to need off of work. I know that when I did TC with my first diagnosis days 3 and 4 were my worst. And did you have to take that shot for your white blood count(I forget the name of it 😳)

I appreciate it so much!!

Toni

Hang in there ladies. This will all be in your rearview mirror soon. I finished everything --lx, chemo, rads, started meds -- in Dec. It's doable. I just want to give you encouragement because I know I needed it when I was in the thick of things. Hugs.

Thanks for the encouragement Sloan15! Glad you are doing so well!

doxiemom - I got my 3rd AC treatment on Wednesday. For me, the worse days are days 2-3. There is no chance I could work on those days. As karenbo suggested, you might consider getting your treatments on Thursdays or Fridays. My side effects have bee pretty manageable. I hope it's the same for you.

Doxiemom, I've just done treatment 2 of 3 AC and my worst days the first time around were 4 and 5. We are all different. You won't know your bad days till you've done a cycle. I have more anti nausea meds for days 4 and 5 this time to see how I go.

All the best xoxo

proctor1725 - Thanks for the touching story.

Twirp26 - Awesome shirt as always. Keep 'em coming.

PezGal - Hope you're doing ok.

Karenbo - Hope you are good to go on Friday.

mvspaulding - I worked 2 days this week and was pretty wiped out by Friday. I was doing lab work, so I have to make sure to take it easy and get a good night's sleep. I plan to work all of next week. Then I will be taking the week of the 18th off following treatment 3.

Nice to see some football fans here. I caught bits of the Chiefs/Texans game. They had a story about a Chiefs player who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in Dec 2014. He finished chemo in May, and was cleared to return for training camp in July. He was selected for the Pro Bowl this year.

The governor of my state also battled cancer last year. He announced he was in remission around the time I was diagnosed. He befriended a little boy during his chemo treatments who was very encouraging and gave him advice. These are the types of stories that are good to hear at a time like this.

Hey ladies!! It's been a while!!

Pez - hope you're doing fine. Damn cancer!!

Doxie - I'm on AC every 3 weeks on Thursdays. My bad day is Monday which isn't really that bad. I get fatigued, nauseated and a headache. Usually comes in the afternoon and I just go home and rest and take my meds. Everyone is different.

Proctor - loved the story!! It is so nice to hear something so touching rather than all the bad stories. It brought tears to me. I am much more emotional and inspired by those kinds of stories since being diagnosed. I am so grateful for the second chance.!! Thanks again.

I have a wig and I'm not wearing it much. I hate anything on my head but I do wear scarves to work. At home I go bald. My 2 1/2 and 1 years grandsons were freaked out at first. They just kept looking at me with an open mouth. I kept talking to them and then they realized it was Nana. Now they're fine with it. It's pretty cute.

So I had my mastectomy on Nov 11th and they had to defer my chemo by 1 week because I still had a drain tube. So they took the tube out even though I was still draining so I could get chemo started on Dec 10th. Ever since, I have had a build up of liquid that I have to keep going in to have removed. Yesterday, I went in for the 4th time and my surgeon decided to but a catheter in with a drain tube. Can you believe it? I got my drain tube back!! Unreal. LOL As if chemo, baldness and SEs aren't enough. I just can't stop laughing. Good thing is he said it shouldn't take long to stop draining and it looks like it already is. That would be a relief. And I noticed a couple days ago that my chest area where I had the surgery was numb. When he put the cath in I didn't feel a thing. Anybody have the same thing? I asked if this is normal and I guess it is because of all the nerve damage.

Had my 2nd infusion on Dec 31st and had minimal SEs. Except I am definitely have a taste issue. Getting better already.

Thanks for the tip on soy. I knew you weren't suppose to have it but I wasn't sure why.

Hope everybody had a better tomorrow.

Kristie.

Thanks everyone! I think I will just play it by ear that first week at work after my first treatment to see how it will affect me so then I know what days to schedule myself off for the rest of the treatments!

Kris, sorry to hear about the drains. That is a pain. In answer to the numbness. Yes, my whole chest is numb. I have tissue expanders in for my reconstruction which my plastic surgeon periodically fills with saline. She sticks a needle with big syringe right through my skin to the expander and I don't feel anything but a little pressure. It is a very odd sensation.

Twirp, I researched the bumps and I think it's folliculitis. It can be bad if one gets infected so I called my MO office today to see if there is an ointment or something I can put on. My head was hurting to sleep last night.

Twirp and anyone else using the Lindi skin care - did you notice that the full size order was a little different than the sample? I ordered a few things, but the one that bugs me is the serum. I ordered the citrus and I can barely stand the smell of it. The sample size one though I really liked - it was a light citrus. The new one is really strong. Just wondered if it was just me. I am squeezing out every last drop of the other, lol.

Proctor - you said you put vaseline in your nose & I just wanted you to be careful. Apparenly you can aspirate that to you lungs and it isn't good. Spaulding told me a while back about AYR nasal gel and its a flipping life saver. You can find it at drug stores by the nasal saline sprays. I use it all the time and its wonderful

mvspaulding and twirp - I have not had the problem yet. I did read here on the site that it is common and probably folliculitis. I read that one should use baby shampoo to wash their scalp and to try putting a small bit of hydrocortisone on the rash. mvspaulding - if it hurts to sleep on I would def call for an oral antibiotic. Hope both of you feel better and your heads clear up soon.

I have not Birdie, and I also get Carboplatin. However I do know that if you catch those things early and adjustments are made, its possible to it not be permanent, so make sure you tell your doctor for sure!

Hi ladies, I hope everyone is managing their SE. I had AC #2 this past Tuesday, so my bad days were Fri thru today, although today I didn't have nausea, just super tired. I also got the Neulasta and took Claritin and thankfully didn't have any bone/joint pain. I really appreciate reading everyone's updates, it reminds me that we're not going through this alone!