Starting Chemo March 2016

OnceOnce, don't buy everything until you need it, you really never know how your body is going to react, could save you some money.

Mecool, I saw advice to wear pants you can pull up and down easily and I have to say, that was great advice. I don't have my port yet, so pulling down pants was a drag with one hand attached to an IV. And you will have to pee, A LOT! All the water you are drinking plus they give you fluids, I was in that bathroom 5 times during my first day. But I was also there for 8 hours on day 1 because they run everything slower on your first day due to possible reactions.

Morning if day #5 after first TCHP infusion. The big change is I have gone from slightly C to the big D. Pharmacist said to take Imodium at first sig so that is what I did. Hope it works.

Anyone else have shortness of breath? I feel like I can't quite get enough air sometimes. And that is usually not a problem for me at all. Just thought I would ask. Hoeing the next few days are going to be better than the last few!

The big and important news... My tumor is smaller, I mean really small. It used to about the size of a stretched out golf ball, now it is more like a Lima bean

On my first treatment I didn't get sleepy AND I didn't have to pee. Mine was all backwards it seems. Also I bough everything on chemo shopping list...it came to over 400!!!! So if you're broke wait and buy until you actually need something. Most things can be used in regular life so it won't be a waste but still to get it all at once and NOT need it kind of stinks

I'm onto my 2nd treatment today and I'm feeling anxious too. My right breast has been tender and feels lumpy. I'm hoping its hormonal as my periods due but hasn't come. For me my first chemo has been fine so fingers crossed the second is too. My hair started moulting on day 12 so day 14 it came off. Nearly 2 down!

I had my 2nd AC treatment on 3/25. Did okay until yesterday morning. I woke up about 420 am with bad gas like pains in my lower abdomen. I got up to go get some gas-x out of my kitchen. I got almost there and had to run back to the bathroom to vomit. I had nothing in my stomach, so this wasn't fun. I then took a compazine and a gas-x. I was okay until around 11 when the nausea and vomiting hit again.

Yesterday and today, I am sore all over. I am guessing it is from the neulasta even though I take claritan with it. My entire spine, rib cage, and shoulder blades are all sore to touch.

My hair fallout began on day 16 and 17. I shaved it to 1/4 inch on day 16.

I wanted to remind everyone that Walmart has most of the items to have on hand for very cheap. I got my gas-x for $0.88. The only things I bought ahead of time were stool softeners and Miralax. After my 1st round of AC, I got some eye drops and gas-x.

My third AC will be 3/31, this will be 3/4 of the AC and 3/22 total. I am just now starting to feel the chemo's build-up in my digestive system. No diarrhea, just tons of mucus in my stools and I feel like everything goes right through me.The last two times I have had difficulty/painful swallowing anything (even water) about 4 days after chemo. My weight is down 10 lbs in the past 5 weeks, part from chemo and part from stress of diagnosis. I still have problems sleeping at night even though right now I am 2 weeks out from last chemo, guess I should use the Ambien they gave me. I did have them cut steroid in half at last chemo due to negative effects on my diabetes and that helped a lot with maintaining my blood sugars, not messing up my vision, and letting me get more sleep. I did however wake a few times that first night feeling like I was going to throw up but thankfully, I didn't.

The good news is I do have a beautiful head of hair that requires little to no upkeep and my underarm hair finally fell out!

I have had one infusion of HTCP. I too changed from being slightly C to the big D on day 5, that lasted through day 10. After that just about perfect with some loose movements only occasionally.

On days 4 & 5 I had upper torso pain. Very high level 6-8 for 48 hours.

I too have shortness of breath. I saw my heart doctor this morning but he found nothing wrong.

I too have had the texture/taste problem. Food tastes terrible but the texture is what makes it bad for me, it always feels like it has sand or sawdust mixed with it. I lived on yogurt, pudding, and protein powder smoothies and ice cream or Worther's caramel hard candy for almost a week. Yesterday I found that Cajun shrimp tasted good. But the texture is still pretty bad on almost everything.

I've had slight neuropathy in my hands and feet.

My hair started hurting on Day 13 and falling out so I had it buzzed on Day 15. Haven't regretted that move. I have two wigs that I wear out but go bald at home. It looks like my regular hair. I wore it to church and lunch with my family yesterday and my son never guessed my hair had fallen out until I got home and took it off. Then he did a double take. Said he had no idea.

That looks great, Loretta! I'm going to take my mom on to one of the stores near me and see what she thinks. The one I tried on myself at the boutique for cancer patients was waaaayyyy more hair than I have and just did not look natural. These look incredible!

Looks good Loretta!

Off to treatment 2 tomorrow. Taking dexamethasone today. Ugh. Heartburn, dizziness. Not liking that this time either. I hope it doesn't take 6 or 7 hours again.

Gentle hugs to all!

Candy

File treatment #5 into the "Done" folder. Noneventful....

EXCEPT the salesperson in me helped two newbies finally make the decision to get ports. One was a woman who said she was afraid to get a port because she hated the idea that a needle will go into it. I had earlier heard her and her son tell the nurse how many sticks it was taking to find veins in her arms and then also to have veins collapse after they were stuck and treatment begun. I guess needles are OK if they're farther away from your face. Logically, it didn't make sense -- a billion sticks in the arms for weeks and weeks vs one stick into a numbed up port. No brainer. I showed her mine (all hooked up to the chemo bag) and suggested she call her MO tomorrow and get a port. I walked back to my BarcaLounger and she called her MO right then.

The other was a man who has pancreatic cancer and has lost 80 lbs in 4 months because stomach pain and lack of sleep are running his life. Long story but basically he's not eating or sleeping (he seriously gets a total of 30 minutes of sleep per day) or drinking water. It took the nurse about 6 times to find a vein because he is so dehydrated. I gave him my bottle of water. He admitted that he is not being good to himself and that the pain and lack of sleep are mostly his own fault. So I turned on the charm and "love chastised" (his term, not mine) into eating small amounts at least 6 times a day, drinking 3 liters of water or flavored water...and then drink some more, and taking a sleep aid -- melatonin to start with. He bought the plan and said he'd "report back to me next week". Oh, and he's getting a port too. The nurse thanked me.

Where do I pick up my commission? LOL

Loretta, Looks really pretty
Candy, Good luck tomorrow  I assume the pills you take prior is what I get in the IV, decodron?  I got my head gear in the mail today, a care package that a friend ordered for me, a cap and 2 gypsy scarves, very pretty.  Thursday I get part 2 of Taxofere finishing Round 1 of 6.  I still haven't really regained my "sea legs", feeling very uneasy walking, a bit woozy but am keeping at it.  I know the T bottoms out the cells from day 4 on and the C begins in 7 days, so not sure what to expect though going through some of it already.  Still not taking the generic Zofran steadily since it was adding to the dizziness and confusion but have them on me at all times, taking when necessary.  Noticed last night my hands are swelling and again tonight, feeling weird.  I'm quite disturbed reading something on the Drs. site tonight, that the girl giving the infusions is not medically trained, though to me she seemed to be, yet she poked so many holes up and down my arms last week, my 1st time.  My Cousin who is a nurse said it's not a good thing and now am very bothered.  Another girl who called me last Friday to see how I was and I told her I was in a bad way did not call today to check or have the Dr. call as said.  I'm getting disgusted.  Feel bad enough but don't need to worry IF I'm getting the right treatment.

Hello All,

So I'm in the chair for the first time and was hooked up to the saline... Flip I fainted from the anxiety and woke up with doctors and nurses all around. Not the first impression I was hoping to make!

MFPM are you saying the person giving your infusion is not a nurse?

Jonsey22 -- Had dex on Sunday, Monday at infusion, and today. Up until 10:30 last night, woke to a noise in the house at 3:10 AM and have been up ever since. That is definitely NOT enough sleep for me. Pretty sure it will be the same tonight and probably tomorrow night. Ugh - I hate this SE from the steroid. Oh, it also makes me retain water for a few days. I hate that fat feeling too.

I haven't posted in several days and feel the need to share and to care. Even with the great support I have, it is so important to connect with others. I really appreciate the old-timers that pop in to give encouragement and strength.

The Cytoxan is measured by ml according to your kg weight, other health factors and then reconstituted with a solution (usually .9% Sodium Chloride, although I had a bit of dextrose as well yesterday) at a ratio of concentration that is precisely measured. That being said, it is an exact science that is checked, double-checked, triple, etc. in the pharmacy before being sent up. My amount was 1,140 mg at the first infusion. I found that my nurse is well versed in the process and actually enjoys talking about it during our quality time when she directly IV injects the pretty red Adriamycin tubes.

An idea to consider is to request a Visit Summary prior to leaving each visit or to enlist in the patient portal at your cancer center or hospital. I find it helpful but I have had to learn my limits of how much info I can handle and when. Playing "name that problem" after 11:00 pm is an absolute no-no for me.

My #2 infusion was yesterday. I get the hot flashes I missed during menopause, some chills and the steroid high. This morning it is nausea and headache. I feel like the flu is coming on- sore throat, dry mouth, thick saliva, headache. I take the meds as directed. Compazine is no longer a part of my regimen because I had a weird out of body experience the first time. Fatigue is present and will increase as the steroids are tapered. Neulasta is this afternoon and the Aleve routine is very helpful. 2 last night, 2 this morning and then 2-3 4 hours after the shot.

I feel better than I expected and will hold onto that positive thought at least for today.

Blessings to all,

Cindy

Hi Teaner, not too bad afterwards. Everything went smoothly with the chemo. Was cold through the veins and stung slightly but at least I know what to expect for next time. The EC regime that I'm getting, the one chemo is also red, very interesting.

I have a slight headache at the moment, but I think it's because I haven't eaten today. Not sure when to expect the rest of the side effects to kick in..