Anyone Starting Chemo in June 2016

Acie,

I know exactly what you are on about. I am, like Heathet a teacher also. It is a high stress profession and never a day goes by when I am not feeling that stress. I am worried beyond belief about what will happen to me when I return to this job again. I am also thinking maybe about doing something else. I am not sure yet, but I will have to find something. If I return to those same excessive hours of prep and marking, then I fear I will have a recurrence quickly.

D

LittleRed

Thanks for comments about hair. Sadly my hair is no longer anything like my profile pic on this forum. I have been cold capping, and have definitely hung on to my hair, but it is much thinner, less busy and silky and in general I feel like I have borrowed someone else's hair. But all the same, I am so appreciative that I have SOME hair. I have been tying it back in a ponytail and this has done a fair bit of hiding any baldy spots. I keep telling myself, 'IT WILL GROW BACK BEAUTIFUL AND LUSH'. But for me the hair has been the hardest part of all this treatment thing.

I hope you are doing well with all of this BC thing. Are you started yet on chemo or are you just about to start? Please do remember that many thousands before us have done this and done it well and moved on afterwards. The chemo SEs are varied and differ from one person to the next. For me, I have been really surprised at how few side effects I have had so far. I have barely been sick, and have not had any sore mouths or headaches or trips to ER - YET! I am trying to eat lots of protein to repair white blood cells, drink lots of water, eat little sugar, eat organic and get lots of rest and sleep.

Hair might start to fall out around day 15-20 I think. That seems to be the general rule. But again some people have it fall out almost immediately. You will get an itchy scalp at first and that will be the sign!!! Also it comes out elsewhere first! Downstairs is where it will come out at first. But remember, if it's coming out that's the sign that chemo is working!!

In terms of working, I am surprised at mostly male docs telling us women that we should be able to continue working...I feel like slapping them when they say this. I know some do, but my feeling is this is chemo, you will be tired, you will be weepy and you may side effects. But more than anything this is time for you to now take care of yourself and to protect your body as it is going through a lot. Some women on here are still working and I take my hat off to them. I know that for me, managing my illness so well has just been that big bit easier because I have been off work!

D

Good morning everyone!! I am new to the site and looking forward to getting to know others who are going through this roller coaster of a ride. I am 40 yrs, work full time but wish I wasn't, married mom of 7 year old girl and 2 year old boy.

I went for my routine mammogram and its been a whirl wind of a mess since. June 7th after biopsies were done I was diagnosed with Stage IIB IDC. My first chemo treatment (TCH+Pertuzumab) was June 27th. 6 cycles every 3 weeks....Next treatment 7.18.16. Once we are done with chemo we will do surgery and follow with radiation. My first chemo treatment went well I suppose. First few days were ok being I had all the steroids in me. I had 2 days (Friday & Saturday) following Mondays treatment that I didn't feel well.....very tired and achy. Also ended up with a bad UTI after treatment. We are unsure if treatment caused it or it was just bad timing. Dry nose, eyes and my mouth is very sensitive. Tooth paste burns....YICKES!!

Now I am having the dilemma of.....do I cut my hair short before it decides to fall out or just wait? Hate to jump the gun. My mother had Hodgkin's Lymphoma and they told her she would lose her hair.......no doubt. Well she jumped the gun and shaved her head. She never lost her hair. Would love to know what you ladies did. Anyone not lose their hair after chemo? What about eyebrows and eye lashes? Eeeeekkkkkkk.....the thought just freaks me out a little.

Best wishes to you all from Texas!!

Jenn

My husband is so supportive. Of course, he knows I have been stressing about my hair and it is now shedding a lot (after 4 weeks of treatment). I was thinking about shaving my head last night and he said I can wait a few more days because my hair still looks very nice. So I am going to wait a little longer.

Welcome to jenisis, little-red, sph1954, jemever. Hope I didn't miss anyone.

Revnet: yes downstairs was the first to go. Hilarious!

Acie and Dolly: I know exactly how you feel about working in a high stress job. I am an attorney and the stress was too much so I did in fact retire after my diagnosis. My husband has also decided to retire at the end of August when my chemo is done. Not sure what our plan is right now but we are probably going to move.

Heathet - I bought winning 2 Mega Million tickets. We are going to need the money, but I am happy to share the pot with you when you buy a winning ticket also.

Moondust - new hat looks great. Love it.

Now I have lymphedema. Crap. I had a follow up with my MO last week and she found fluid where a sentinel node was removed in my left armpit. Just got a referral for physical therapy.

Acie, such a Texan gal with your cravings for brisket . My hubby is from Houston, so I'm there once or twice a year. Was just there in April for the Artcar parade - my profile pic is me in front of my artcar.

Dolly, your hair looks great! My hair in thin and fine to begin with so yours looks better still than mine with all my hair, lol. I looked into cold capping, but as I'm going to my chemo a primarily on my own, and that there's no guarantee, I was all like, meh. My scalp is beginning to itch a bit, so I suspect I could go early. I've been checking out the downstairs, hahaha.

Alas I think I spoke too soon about the zarxio/neupogen SE's, early this morning (after another crap night of sleep, sigh) my back and hips started aching. Good thing I'm popping the Norco already for my neck.

Hang in there ladies!

Cheers,

--jo

revnet - I'm also starting to lose my hair down there! I wish it would start with my leg hair too!!

bbbb- so glad for your good news! I'm day 12 from my first round and I feel pretty good.

Dolly - your hair looks great! You look really healthy!

Cody - did your arm swell up from the lymphedema? Mega-millions!! Woo-hoo!

Tomorrow I see my PS to get the stitches removed from my left incision. It looks pretty good but my PS takes precautions with healing and chemo, so I may have them for one more week. I think it is the hottest day in Michigan so far this summer but I feel pretty comfortable in my sweatpants! Hot at night when I sleep and I get cooled during the day! July 15th is my next infusion and it seems so far but so close!! That is a big weekend in our town with the sailboat races to Mackinac. My husband and I usually head down to the sailboats with friends for the music, food and beer! I think this year we'll just sit on the deck and enjoy a nice quiet evening! He can enjoy the beer and I'll enjoy my sparkling water! 😉

Heathet,

July 15th is my next one too....grrrr. Now you have just made me grumpy haha

Dolly

bbbb,

Phew phew phewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....and WOW for a cyst! Bet you are happy bunny?

Dolly

Acie,

So sorry to hear you were snippy with your lovely husband. However, don't be too hard on yourself. You have in the last few months had a terrible thing happen. We all have. You are just going through treatment and that's hard too. And if you are normal at all then you have a sadness about you because you just want to be able to escape all of this, but you can't. This is how every single one of us feels. However as I have said many times before on this thread, you don't have cancer anymore as the surgeon cut it out!!!! That should make you smile just a bit...and this treatment is additional to make sure it does not return.

Try to spend time doing the things you really want to do. Have a day, when you lie on the sofa and watch lovely films. Go for walks with the family, bake, paint, sing, or do whatever it is that you really enjoy. Nobody else has the ability to make you happy, only YOU can do this. So deny that this cancer is recurring. Don't even think about this. Refuse to accept that it will ever come back. Take care of yourself, exercise and eat well and do everything you can to be healthy but also enjoy things too. NONE of us know how long we are on this planet for. Some are born an get only a few hours, others get til they 100. We need to live in the present and wake up every morning and just enjoy each day as it comes.

You are doing well. You need to not be sad anymore as it is a waste of time and energy. Be happy. Be happy you are stage 2A, be happy it was only 2cm, be happy you have great doctors, be happy this chemo will be done soon. Be happy you have a lovely hubbie who is no doubt worried and upset too. Some people have nothing. Some people go through this totally alone and have no support at all. You have lots to be happy about.

Dolly

Thanks for the pep talk, Dolly. I know I have a lot to be grateful for.

Regarding my treatment, I just got my diagnosis Jun 9, so its still pretty new. My MO started me with chemo and I will do that until November. After that surgery and radiation, so I guess I am just daunted by the long road. I know I can do it. Just hit a low spot these last few days.

Doing a quick drive-by before bedtime. Next chemo is Tomorrow. Wish me luck! Blood panels were done along with genetic testing and it looks like it's a green light. My WBC count doubled from before last session of chemo so that was encouraging- makes Neulasta worth the bone pain, I guess.

I will miss my taste buds - they were actually feeling normal the past several days...along with energy levels. I'm hoping the cumulative effect won't hit me as hard I've been thinking it will.

On super happy note, I had a piece on my cancer diagnosis published in Huffington Post today!

AciieI'm right there with you! Having a lot of anxiety from the unknown. Let's get it done!!!

Good luck tomorrow, pepper. I loved your article. Great job!

thanks, Dolly. Your word really domake me feel better. So glad to hear it is a phase, and I agree I cannot see myself staying here long but did not see a way out yet. I really appreciate you sharing with me.

Little red - it's a whirlwind for you right now, so much going on. It will,actually slow with the chemo begins. Heres my 2 cents (and you can see I am still struggling so take hat you want). While chemo 1 was scary I was surprised how easily,I got though the side effects. Yes, there is a lot to manage but the medications really help you get through. The steroids on day 2-4 had me feeling great, not sleeping, but feeling great. I woke at 3:00 and crashed early so be aware of that if you have to work. My 3 biggest complaints are sleep disturbance, achiness, and constipation. You will learn which side effects you have the most and the best way to manage them. Stay. Front of all of the,, don't wait until they are bad.

Also, I am not nearly as worried as I head into chemo2. The mystery I s gone.

About being in public, first follow what your doctor says, get some disinfectant wipes and hand gel and use them all the time. Get some medical masks that kill germs and wear it if you find yourself in a crowded area or near someone sick. We don't have to be hermits but we do need to be smart.

Port surgery is not that bad and I actually like my port for chemo. Way better than an IV.

Also, if you need an anxiety Med ask your doc for one. I was a mess those first few weeks and it helped. Use it sparingly not constantly but it can help with the edge, irritability and fear you are feeling. I went back to mine today after more than a week without.

littlered & others who are new that my chemobrain can't keep track of: honestly, every day I am not a quivering mess curled in a corner nor am I running screaming through the hallways is a GOOD day. Sometimes both of those seem soo close. Count my blessings, and give myselff some extra grace.

and...if you need a laugh, check out simonscat.com. wonderful Bristish artist- click on "films" then black & white for funny short yutube cat sitcoms. watch in small doses so other things actually get done. ((Hugs)) -A