Starting Chemo March 2016

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  • DizzParkMom
    DizzParkMom Member Posts: 316
    edited February 2016

    Hi Jonsey. Heather here from April 2015. I received a new PICC line each time I went for Chemo (8 rounds). Sometimes, they do a PICC and leave it in until you finish all your chemo. You can look it up on the net to get the official medical terms, but I'll give you my perspective. The PICC line was a thin (really thin) tube /catheter that is inserted directly into one of the major branches that leads from the inside of your upper arm towards your heart. It's kind of like a port, except it looks like the end of an IV and goes in through a tiny little hole in your arm. It is usually inserted my a special radiologist who uses an x-ray image to guide the catheter into place. You are awake and your arm is numbed with lidocane. It's a little uncomfortable, but not at all painful. Like I said, I had a new one each time and I only have tiny little freckle sized dots where they were placed. My MO had had a bad experience personally with meds into his IV and so he always used a PICC if he wasn't doing a PORT. If they go that route, it's nothing to be worried about. Glad you got into your MO today!

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited March 2016

    also a port is embedded under the skin where a picc would not be. I used to be a NICU nurse and we used them frequently.

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  • HRwinter16
    HRwinter16 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2016

    hi everyone

    I'll be starting my chemo one week from today. I'm going to read your posts for suggestions and tips!

    Thanks

    Xo

    H

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  • HRwinter16
    HRwinter16 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2016

    I forgot to say I'll be doing the TC regimen too

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  • isnogard
    isnogard Member Posts: 34
    edited March 2016

    Hi everyone! Good luck on starting chemo this month! I start tomorrow. A little anxious and scared and excited all at the same time! And, if anyone needs a hat after or before hair loss let me know! I can knit and crochet. I have some already knitted for backup if anyone wants one. I can do a few a week only though. For free... Hugs!

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    welcome HRWinter - thanks for joining us. There are a couple of us doing the same Cytoxan/Taxotere regimen. I start this morning (T minus 2.5 hours and counting down!) and will take my tablet so I can give a description of the process.

    Isnogard, I hope your port placement went smoothly yesterday. I'll be with you in spirit today for your first chemo. Good luck!

    Much love and peace to us all on this first day of our new month.

    Nancy

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited March 2016

    Good luck to everyone starting today. I feel the same, nervous and excited for my C-day on Friday. Every step means we are moving forward to the day we can put this behind us!

    HR glad you're joining us.

    Isnogard, very sweet offer on the hats!

    melissa

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  • HolaSandy
    HolaSandy Member Posts: 85
    edited March 2016

    sending love to you ladies starting today. I'll be thinking about you while getting my MRI today.

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  • phaila
    phaila Member Posts: 279
    edited March 2016

    Does TC mean taxo and cytoxan chemo? I'm on that too with a white blood count boost. Sooooooo terrified.

    Have any of you gotten wigs yet? Are any of you using the ice in hands feet and head?

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  • Loretta_J
    Loretta_J Member Posts: 67
    edited March 2016

    My daughter had a PICC line for feeding. She has Krohns. It is very much like the Port only a larger catheter for the TPN she received. They still drew blood from it. 


    Lore

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    So here I am in the infusion chair. Uneventful morning so far. Got the port poke (I've never used Emla or anything else and to be honest I find it less painful that the stupid finger-poke they do prior to my appointment) and am waiting to be hooked up. I've been approved for the Neulasta button, so they'll place that later today. My understanding is it delivers the Neulasta automatically tomorrow, so I don't have to take time off work to come back here for a shot. I'll let you know more about it later

    phaila, I am not wearing wigs but rather news-boy style caps (small brims in the front). Really stylish. I did scarves the first time, didn't want to do that again. I tried a wig once and it just wasn't for me. Have you started checking out your options? There are really beautiful wigs out there that are so good, no one would ever know.

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  • phaila
    phaila Member Posts: 279
    edited March 2016

    good luck today:

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    Good luck on your MRI today, Kristyn - will be thinking about you!

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  • BKGameGirl
    BKGameGirl Member Posts: 38
    edited March 2016

    Good luck, Nancy! Thanks for sharing about the port poke...I'm dreading it a little just out of the sheer newness of the experience. I have the Emla cream...better living thru pharmaceuticals is my motto until I need to eat those words.

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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for the PICC info. They are going to try IV and if they have any problems, put in a PICC. I hope not. Now I am waiting for the paperwork to go through before I get a start date. Maybe next week.

    I bought a book on the weekend which is excellent about diet. It is written by a psychologist who had a brain tumor and recurrence and he talks about the effects of diet on cancer prevention. A nice mix of research and personal experience. I can't put it down. I thought I would share it with you if you might be wondering how to eat better to prevent tumour growth and recurrence.


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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    I tried to take a picture but I couldn't post it. David Servan-Schreiber is the author and the title is Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life

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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    image

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited March 2016

    Phaila I still haven't decided about the ice on my hands and feet. And I'm also doing hats and scarves. But that's just me, I wear baseball caps a lot in summer anyway.

    I'm gonna try the Emla cream, but it is not the same as getting a lidocane injection. I don't think it will do a whole lot.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited March 2016

    The EMLA is pretty effective. Good luck!

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  • Loretta_J
    Loretta_J Member Posts: 67
    edited March 2016

    Best wishes to everyone today. Whether tests or ports or chemo. 

    I am on my this morning way to my endocrinologist to help me plan for the steroid induced high blood sugars that I will have for the next 18 weeks. 

    This afternoon we meet with a second opinion on my diagnosis and treatment plan. Then tomorrow will go for instructions with my MO. 


    Liretta


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  • HRwinter16
    HRwinter16 Member Posts: 73
    edited March 2016

    hi Ladies- thanks for all the support!

    Jonsey, I have that book too, I like it!

    My name is Heidi and I'm a 44 year old single (divorced) mom with a 9 year old daughter (her dad is supportive and involved, we share custody). I work full time (but off work now) as a social worker, and I specialize in providing support services for survivors of abuse or trauma.

    I was diagnosed mid December and had surgery end of January. Right breast had the cancer and the area was large, and I opted for mastectomy. Left breast mastectomy too as a preventive measure. I had DIEP flap reconstruction and so far happy with the results.

    My surgeon had suspected chemo would be unlikely as they were able to remove all the cancer and the nodes were clean, but when I saw my oncologist my oncotype test came back high. So here I am!

    Getting short haircut next weekend wig shopping tomorrow- yikes!

    I've been reading about the cold mits for hands and feet and it seems most people find them useful/ helpful.

    But I'm not sure I understand the part about keeping ice in your mouth during chemo - what is that for?

    Thank you and sending hugs all around

    Xo

    Heidi




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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    BK and anyone else - please try the Emla cream. It will numb the skin well, and since the port is under the skin (and not in muscle) that should do the trick. The advantage with the port needle is that it's short, but it's wide/big. Looks scarier than it actually is. The reason the pain is less than for a regular injection needle is that the little hole for delivery of medication is on the side rather than at the tip (called a Huber point), so all the point does is pierce the skin rather than take a small core of skin with the hole. Below is a picture of the kind of port needle I have right now:

    image

    The small needle goes in, the yellow butterfly is taped down on my chest, and the tube left dangling for access.

    I forgot the Emla cream the first time i was infused and freaked out prior to insertion - but for me it was really smooth and almost completely pain-free.

    My infusion center provides ice mitts- they're like giant oven mitts. The first 20 minutes were really painful, but then it wasn't so bad. I brought refreezeable ice packets and stuck them in giant men's Dickies socks to ice the bottom of my toes, balls of feet and soles. Next time I'll bring ice for the tops of my toes, too. That's cold but not excruciatingly painful. It's supposed to help immensely will keeping neuropathy at bay, or at least to a minimum

    Ice chips help to alleviate or lessen mouth sores. Had those the first time with Adriamycin. Ice chips, popscicles, anything cold you can hold in your mouth helps not only with the mouth sores but also works on hydration. I highly recommend it, if you can do it. Here's me with the ice mitts:

    image

    Good luck to everyone today (and always). I'm almost done, and heading out for lunch (I feel great - probably has to do with all the Decadron/steroids they're pumping me full of).

    <3

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    Thanks for the book recommendation, Jonsey - I'm going to check that out this weekend! I've heard that low-fat diets are really good for triple negative, so want to investigate anything I can related to diet.

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited March 2016

    you look awesome Nancy!!

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited March 2016

    Thanks Melgirl! I felt really great until a couple hours after I came home, then crashed for an hour for a nap. Probably just all the anxiety and worry about the day. So far no tummy troubles, food tastes okay, keeping lots of water going through me. My friend who had TC said constipation was her biggent nemesis from Day 1. I remember that with AC, too, so water is my best friend right now.

    isnogard - how are you feeling after today?

    azrescue - how are you doing? You start tomorrow, right?

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  • jbdayton
    jbdayton Member Posts: 700
    edited March 2016

    To help with constipation begin taking Colace the day before and several days after. It definitely helped me. I chewed ice the entire time and still ended up with mouth problems requiring the magic mouthwash. I also ended up with neuropathy in my toes and the ball of both feet and in my fingertips but the fingers improved after having carpal tunnel surgery. As far as wigs I could not imagine going without. I googled for wig shop selling human hair and hand woven breathablecap. I got one that was measured for my head and ordered for delivery. It was10 inch hair and had to be washed cut and styled. You could wash and Change style daily. Straight one day curly the next. It was not extremely hot and you did not have to wear anything under it. I made it all summer in south Texas heat and humidity.. Good luck to everyone. My prayers at with you.

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  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2016

    I had my port put in on Monday under general anesthesia. Hurts more then I'd expected. Especially my shoulder blade. They all say that's not normal but no other explanation.

    I had to do an mri today & that was not comfortable laying on the port.

    Tomorrow is my first chemo. I'm beyond terrified. I feel like a caged animal. I generally take very few meds because of so many allergies. The hydrocodone from the port dropped my blood pressure very low. What will the carboplatin & taxol do to me? The steroids? The Ativn? I'm ready to run home.

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited March 2016

    I'm so sorry you've had a hard time. Sending a hug. Deep breath. We can do this. There will be professionals with you every step too.

    Melissa

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  • Jonsey22
    Jonsey22 Member Posts: 100
    edited March 2016

    Good luck tomorrow Stephanie.

    Thanks for the updates Nancy! You look great.

    I am starting to get scared. I don't know why but I am really worried about allergic reactions, vein problems, neuropathy. The hair thing is the least of my worries right now. I ordered hats and can't decide if I will get a wig. I don't even know where to find one. I might at least go investigate it. Blue Cross covers one so why not.

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  • BKGameGirl
    BKGameGirl Member Posts: 38
    edited March 2016

    public service announcement & TMI ahead...


    Speaking of oxycodone...hey, AZ and anyone else who is doing a port under general anesthesia and might have a small prescription for a painkiller like oxycodone coming home with them: take the dulcolax starting with your painkiller. The constipation is real and occurs days after the fact. Here is the TMI: y'all, I gave birth to the largest poop baby I've ever seen today. It was made possible only due to the dulcolax. And that is all I have to say about that.

    I wouldn't share something like this normally, but, they told me that constipation avoidance is one of the top concerns during chemotherapy, and I didn't know I was possibly setting myself up for a world of hurt later in the week just with a couple of oxycodone and Tylenol.

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