Starting Chemo March 2016

nunn27

In my case, I was diagnosed on 12/23 and have just now started neoadjuvant chemo on 3/17. I began with a team in my hometown who, I felt, were rushing me without doing thorough testing and I wanted to make an informed decision to prevent this from returning as much as possible. They didn't like that I got a 2nd opinion, especially the MO. Whoo! I got a bad vibe from that one! Anyway, I got a 2nd opinion at a teaching med center two hours away and am extremely glad I did. The new team actually did an mri, ultrasound on my lymph nodes (clear btw) and a mamma print test. The mri showed I have 5 tumors in my right breast whereas I originally thought I had 2. The mamma print is one of the newest tests for recurrence and helps the team decide on the best regimen. My surgeon once said to my question about this thing growing while we do all this testing and waiting..."we won't put you in any danger but want you to make the best decision for you". The waiting is the hardest part. Have confidence in your team or find another. You're not alone.

Annette

in hospital with fever:(

Glad to hear it went well Pammac! Sleep and remember it gets better after the first few days.

My hair is shedding everywhere now (day16). Starting to look like I have mange lol. Have to wear a hat to keep hair from falling everywhere.

Best of luck tomorrow MFPM. Just breathe.!It will be okay and the stress will lessen once you know what to expect.

Cand

I sent you a private message. I hope you read it before your treatment.

I am here, infusion day #1. Herceptin and Perjeta on board. No problems so far. Pharmacist came to talk with me and he was amazing, they have a pill for everything! With both Taxotere and Perjeta the balance between constipation and the other extreme can be a tricky balance. So we will see how that goes. But boy do they have the nausea meds all lined up! He said the nausea can be worse for us young folk (I'm 40).

I will be getting Neupogrn shots, one a day for 7 days post infusion, I give them to myself! They want me to take it at night and take Claritin or Zophran for the whole time plus Tylenol. Pharmacist said that the brand new research out says that it is important for everyone on TCHP regimen of Chemo to get these shots so white count never dips. Will keep you posted as I move through these next four days which he says are the hardest. I even have a chart for my medswith everything mapped out, I will be a pill popping fool! Feels so good to get this going!

Philippians- your hair is lovely!

Phaila - are you feeling better?

I hope everyone is doing well.

I had my head shaved last night, feels a lot better, it had been hurting as the hairs got ready to fall out. Next chemo is Monday 3/28.

I was reviewing some of my medical charts including an abdominal CT scan that was done just prior to my surgery and I realized the radiologist wrote in the assessment section that they noted a 4mm pleural nodule in lower left lobe of lungs and now I'm really freaked out! I contacted my oncologist to inquire if I need to have a CT scan of chest to further investigate and monitor this... I looked a little on line and it seems nodules this small are usually benign but I still feel very scared and of course now am imagining symptoms like short of breath etc. fingers crossed its nothing to worry about

HR Winter - I had pretty much the exact same statement on my Chest XRay. I had a CT Scan done (and a PET Scan as other things were noticed) and it was nothing. I hope you have the same thing. Hugs. I get what you are saying - I had myself riddled with cancer and given 2 months to live. It's typical. Even the PET Scan showed nothing. I spent a week thinking the worst.

thank you CJSharma! Is that your kitty? Very cute! Here's mine below.

My first chemo was not so bad - I felt ok day one and day two. Days three four and five I felt very tired and joints ached, like when you get the flu or a bad cold. Also I had to eat small meals and hanging bowel movements made me feel weak, again, like when you're sick. But overall I felt ok. I took the neulasta, Claritin, anti nausea meds and it all helped I think. I was still on medical leave so it helped I could nap. Now that I'm back at work we will see how round two goes.

Good luck and hugs to you

Hello everyone! I'm freaking out a little bit. Tomorrow will be one week since first infusion on TCHP. Side effects have been minimal, however yesterday I started breaking out with zits all over my back, shoulders and face. I was supposed to start my period last week, the day of infusion, but I started this morning, ugh. Food has no taste what so ever today. And I feel like I have zits in my throat?? Anyone else have this?? I go for my Herceptin only infusion tomorrow and I'm going to talk to the nurse and MO, just wanted to see if anyone else experienced this??

Tracie

I have a nodule that (with a positive antibody test) caused me to be treated for TB in the 1980's. When it didn't change at all, they said, "Well, it's not TB." Fortunately for me, I have years of comparison films, so when they say, "Do you know about that nodule in your right lung?" I can say, "Yeah, it's been pretty much the same since 1987."

seashine, heartburn is common with dexamethasone and other steroids. Did you get a prescription for ranitidine or anything? I definitely was taking mine on schedule for the first few days post infusion. You should be able to take Pepcid ac or something similar as well for immediate relief. I also had to sleep propped on 2 pillows a couple nights because it caused me issues when lying down too. Hopefully you get some rest tonight!

Yes Seashine. I had those same symptoms the night after my infusion. But the next 3 days for me were great. Water water water. I'm diabetic and continue to dehydrate. Stay way ahead of the nausea. Take Zofran as prescribed whether you're sick or not. My docs gave me a second one to take if I needed one before the regular Zofran dose was due.

I'm still in hospital and stinky as all hell!!