January 2016 Chemo!

Welcome Crimson - like the Dr Who lego avatar:) Sorry you are here with us, but it is a good place to connect. The chemo stuff for newbies was pretty helpful as a starting place for more info, but we are where the fun and support is at. Well, this is, at least, I mostly just try to catch up on everyone's progress!

I start my four rounds of TC tomorrow . Looking forward to getting it over with

Just wanted to wish good luck to my fellow T/C buddies starting chemo tomorrow and everyone starting soon on any reginme. Hope it goes well for you and that you have few SEs. I was so nervous too, but in the end was pleasantly surprised with how noneventful it all was. We each have our own journey with this, so good luck to you and to everyone!

Delight55- so sorry to hear you are having so much trouble! Hopefully they can figure it all out and you can get some peace!

Krimson19- We're glad you found us too! Good luck with getting your port today. It's a pretty easy procedure, but everything is scary before you do it.

Weird question for others with AC+T. I have ALWAYS had really oily skin Since I was about 12. Like have to blot my face 5-6 times a day because it gets so shiny. And at about day 12 after AC my skin just stopped producing oil, it's not crazy dry, but I don't have to blot it at all. I'll be honest, I really like this side effect because I was always very self conscious but I was wondering if that happened to anyone else

Day 3 of TC infusion - pleasantly surprised and hope I'm not talking too soon! I've had not one side effect except a dry mouth. I use Biotene a few times a day and, although it doesn't totally relieve it, it's bearable. No metallic taste or food tasting bad. I haven't been tired. First two days ran around as usual, eating out with friends. Have had no trouble sleeping. I've been told today will be the start of 3 crash days. Hoping for the best but prepared for side effects. Wishing all those beginning today an easy time. It's so great to connect with all of you. We're not alone in this journey, and soon this will all be a memory as we continue living great lives. Sending big hugs

My onco gave me Cerlebrex for the headache and I managed to get some sleep after taking it. I chopped off most of the hair because of the headaches and I feel some bumps like pimples in my scalp and now just like most of us waiting anxiously to see the shedding. Day 10 and very anxious about this whole hair fall deal.

Zantac works well for me too, protecting my stomach.

Also, because I kept complaining about all the aches and pains everywhere in my body, my doc gave me Immocal (indenatured whey protein isolate powder). Its a little sachet which has to be mixed with something like Milo. Its hard to stir but once it gets in my system I find it helps a lot with the pains aches and tiredness.

It's official, I have a second tumor that needs to be biopsied. Of course this is an area that my first hospital said was nothing despite having an MRI and an ultrasound there. Thank God for second opinions. I'm angry, I know I should let that go to focus on healing, but if the first place did their job the first time I wouldn't need a second surgery or go through this stress all over again. The biopsy may show nothing, but I'm still leaning toward a mastectomy. I'm just so tired of these surprises.

Good news however is that this doesn't change my treatment schedule at all, not that they really could do anything differently, I'm already on the big guns. And I'm officially 3/16 completed. I also decided to get a port put in, we had some IV problems yesterday, I got my chemo just fine, but when they went to use the IV in my hand for the MRI contrast it was brutal. Not sure what happened. I might have bumped it or something but I have so many more treatments plus herceptin after that I just don't want to deal. And I still feel fine.

<serenity now>

Hey fightergirl, sorry to hear that. I was I guess lucky because I had two tumours amd lots of microcalcifications and the surgeon recommended mastectomy right away. More than 25% of the breast was malignant with the calcifications. My mastectomy was easy and I have recovered well. Later on when all this is over I plan for reconstruction, as I cannot get used to the breast form. This is just to say that don't be scared of mastectomy if that's the way you want to go. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the welcome. Other than being a little sleepy and sore, it went good. I'll make sure to keep looking and reading the forums. I'm grateful to be here My husband and I also attended a really good orientation put on by the hospital where I'll be getting my treatment. So I definitely have a few days to gather what I need before Thursday.

And yep I love Dr. Who. The Tenth is my favorite, but the Fourth was my first! I still need to finish putting that set together.

day one of shaved head and a wig and I'm already tired of it! Either way I'm totally self conscious and admire all you confident ladies!

Fightergirl, I found out before chemo that I needed a second surgery because of questionable margins. It's so frustrating! I am also opting for bilateral mastectomy when chemo is finished

• fightergirl711...I forgot to mention that I also needed to have a second surgery to get better margins. All were clean. This BC seems to bring a lot of surprises with it

I'm so jealous of all of you who had no big SE's from the first treatment! I go for #2 next Tuesday and am already dreading it. I have felt pretty normal this week except for getting tired easily.

Good luck to all of you who are just starting!

Hello All,

The mods just suggested I join this group. I am on track with each of you it seems. I was diagnosed December 9th and found out I'd need chemo first (surgery to follow) on the 10th and started my first round Dec. 17th(6 in all-every 3 weeks) and had my port put in on Dec. 18th. I'll need surgery after the chemo...not sure which one yet. It's nice to be part of a support group with others going through the same thing. Best of luck to you all!

If that's your wig, I would have never known. Great choice!! I feel like my wig is so 'obvious' too, but most people tell me it looks natural.

songbird I also go for #2 Tuesday. My side effects haven't been too bad, but I'm still dreading, I feel so normal I don't want to stop! I just keep reminding myself that chemo is a badass cancer killer!