Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

I have my port implant Thursday, and my first infusion the following Thursday, 10/13. I think I'm more anxious about the port than I am the actual treatment. I've made a list from the "tips" post and will start gathering the supplies to help manage the SE. I've cut my hair really short and now wondering if I should go ahead and just shave it off before the first treatment, or do it sometime the first week after. What are you all doing? Everything I've read says it starts falling out in clumps on day 14. I don't want to let that happen.

We're in this together. Looking forward to hearing from others.

K

I am starting this Wednesday,October 5 and I am

Nervous but glad I am starting so I can get it over with.

Anyone taking any extra precautions as far as this stuff

During the first 48-72 hours after infusion to limit contamination from body fluids into our surroundings.Just makes me nervous with small children and NYC nursing daughter .

I am doing 4 act one every 2 weeks followed by 4 taxol

Rhonda

Hi Mothersip;

I start treatments tomorrow - nervous is my state of mind today. Do you know your course of treatment yet? I see that your ER+/PR+ so somewhere in there will be a hormone treatment. I haven't cut my hair yet - I had an appointment already scheduled - pre diagnosis mind you - for this coming Saturday - didn't see a reason to change it. Will definitely have it cut short - how short I still don't know. I don't think I could take the falling out in clumps so the shorter the better probably.

I've gotten a free wig through the organization associated with my treatment center and will start looking at hats, scarves and the like on line and order some there. May visit a hat store if I'm up to it after tomorrow. 

Are you planning on working during treatment? I'm going to try to work from home - we'll see how it goes. My job has been very supportive.

Be well

Julianne

Hi Jules - My regimen will be TC every three weeks for 6 to 8 courses. Hormone therapy will follow. I'm prepared to shave my head and get it over with!

I work from home (writer) so I'm counting on this not affecting my work. Fingers crossed. It's strange how I'm dreading this, because the mastectomy didn't phase me at all. I guess the chemo starting is when you have to admit to yourself, that yes, you have cancer. It feels like it's happening to someone else!

Good luck tomorrow! Let us know how it goes!

K

Woo-hoo! My first chemo is done. I had A/C by intravenous, and it was pretty easy. When I got to the hospital, I met with my MO, then weighed in. Then I found a nice recliner right beside a huge window ... the hospital is beside a wooded area, so the ground floor view was of sunshine, trees with leaves changing colours, and squirrels running around.

The worst part was getting the IV put in, but once that was done, it was very straightforward. First I was given Emend and Dexamethasone (and one other thing which I forget already) to protect against nausea. The Cyclophosphamide came next and took about 1 hour to drip through. No problem. The vivid red Adriamycin came in 2 giant syringes that took about 10 minutes to inject into the IV. And done.

I left feeling ok (maybe just a little woozy) with a prescription for lots of meds ... I'll get DH to pick it up later today. In the meantime, I was told to drink 2 litres of water per day (to flush out the bladder) for the next few days and to take it easy.

I'm so relieved to have finally started, and that it went well. Now I'm waiting to see if/when side effects kick in ... hopefully they'll hold off until DH brings home my meds!

Good luck to all of you. As those who have already done this frequently say, it wasn't pleasant, but it was do-able. And I'm finally waging war on my cancer cooties!!!!!

Hi Abracadabra:

Glad your first treatment is over and it went so well. I start tomorrow - hoping for the same experience as you! Keep us posted on how you are doing!

Julianne

abracadabra- so glad that's behind you! I know you are as well!

My port placement went well today, I had no nausea after thank the lord! That's something I always struggle with after anesthesia. They hooked me up with meds to prevent it before and during and it seems to have done the trick.

I have to admit it was a little more uncomfortable that I imagine it would be. I've been using an ice pack and it seems to help. I can barely move my arm at this point, I know that will improve. Overall everything went well.

I decided in a pre chemo haircut, just have to make an appointment and get it done. Maybe we can enjoy the short and sassy do before the ultimate hair loss begins!

Thoughts and prayers for everyone!!

I've seen tips about bringing your own blanket and that locations usually have blankets for you - never saw an electric blanket tip. I'm always cold - an electric blanket would be perfect for me - at chemo and at home.

Congrats Abracadabra! Sounds like you are glad to be home. Wishing you well over the next few days and look forward to your updates (when you can).

Electric throw -Great idea! I'm going to pack mine. I think it will be handy at home on the couch too

Thanks for all of your good thoughts! After the chemo yesterday, I felt a bit wobbly but had an appetite for dinner. In the evening, SE's started to show up ... for me, it was a growing headache, queasy stomach and acid reflux. My nurse told me I could take Tylenol for headaches, but I have to take my temperature first each time to make sure that I don't have any fever starting (since Tylenol will mask the fever).

By late last night, I was a little bonkers ... so tired, but so wired from the steroids. I passed the evening on the phone ... calling friends and catching up and finding things to laugh about. After that I had in intense craving for popsicles ... ate 3 in a row (I highly recommend!). Had to take extra Tylenol and Ativan to finally conk out (on the couch with my head boosted up with extra pillows to fight the acid reflux).

This morning I woke feeling rested ... was dying for a coffee but afraid to have one because of the whole reflux thing. Also two of my morning meds (Dexilant and Dexamethasone) are not supposed to be taken with coffee. I've toughed it out without coffee today, and have made a point of eating small amounts of food often (i.e. yogurt, peanut better & honey sandwich etc) and my tummy has felt fine.

Got up, walked the dog, did some laundry, paid some bills, went shopping then came home for a long nap. Still a tiny headache but otherwise feeling pretty well.

I have a wig story ... when I was at the hospital yesterday, a number of nurses told me the hospital has a nice collection of wigs for cancer patients, and I should check them out after treatment. I was very interested, and when I asked, the nurse brought out 8 pristine boxes for my inspection. I opened then one after another .... they were all very lovely, short, curly, GREY wigs. I have short reddish brown hair right now, and there is just no way! I politely declined ... my search will continue!

Forgot to mention that the infusion centre offered lots of heated blankets and cold beverages. I was very comfy the whole time ... I munched on frozen grapes and goldfish crackers and sucked on hard candies and drank lots of icy water.

All the best to you. As time marches on, so do we all march closer to the end of this journey!

Barb

Al12 - my best wishes to you. My advice would be to stay on top of all meds, stay hydrated, and if possible, leave yourself little rest breaks in between things. I get really antsy when I'm sitting around idle too long. I definitely needed to lay low the day of chemo, but I found it a huge relief to get out of the house today to get some fresh air, stretch my legs and to have places to go and things to do. As my nurse said, listen to your body and rest when you have to rest.

Please feel free to shorten my name to Abra (or just call me Barb) ... I feel twinges of guilt at how long my user name is!

Just checking in to see who started chemo today, if anyone? I know there are several of us starting this week.

I felt better today after the port surgery yesterday. I had a rough night, but felt good most of the day. As the evening approached I started to feel exhausted and flushed. No fever, just achy and yucky feeling.. guess I'm just tired!

I went shopping for my chemo bag today and gathered a few things to try and prepare for possible side effects.

My daughter requested a care package for me from Phil's Friends and I received it in the mail today. It came with a bag, inside was a fleece blanket, fuzzy socks, a beanie, journal, hello kitty word search, pen, travel size Kleenex, biotene mouthwash and eucerin lotion some chap stick and a water bottle. Very generous and usable items. I am so appreciative! You can request your own on thei website, just google phil's friends!

VLH, I felt silly too and ultimately decided against requesting a bag.. then I found out that my daughter ordered one for me. So it worked out nice! Have you had any significant pain with your port? I am having more pain in my shoulder than the actual site.. I've been taking ibuprofen and it seems to help. Thanks for the well wishes, I hope you get a good nights sleep as well

I got my port today and I have more pain in my shoulder then the cite also. I'm uncomfortable and everytime I start to nod off to sleep I must change positions becasue I keep waking up. I was getting frustrated so I thought I would catch on on here...

I thought the care package sounded nice and just ordered one for myself. I live by myself and am dealing with this Cancer stuff by myself... so I figured if I were running the program and there were people who needed the help I would want to help them. So I just put myself down as my own friend....