Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

Alla, great to hear that your first chemo treatment went so smoothly. May that set the stage for future infusions!

Fightingthefight, good news that the UTI springs razed quickly. A few times a year, I'll get little twinges of pain, but drinking cranberry juice fogger a fee days chases then away. Luckily, I haven't had a full on UTI for many years, but with our bodies cooing with the cancer and chemo, it's no surprise that our immune systems hiccup in one way or another.

Ella22, welcome to our little club that no one wants to join. Let us know when you get your treatment plan pinned down.

Melindawv, my port surgeon mentioned that he's had a number of times where chemo has started the day after the device is inserted. The pain medication should help with both soreness and encourage sleepiness.

Speaking of ports, I'm surprised at how sore my neck still is after Monday's surgery. It feels like the surgeon did a Linda Blair "Exorcist" head spin on me while I was out. It hurts on both sides although worse on the implantation / left side. You may recall that he initially planned to put the port on the right, but couldn't access the vein (?) so I had a "bonus" incision and minor bruising there. Anyone else?

Lyn

Hey ladies, day two I'm still holding my own. I feel a little sideways today. Struggling a little with stomach cramps and nausea.. mostly fatigue. I've also had a lingering headache that Tylenol hadn't helped at all. Guess it's par for the course, right? I don't have much of an appetite but I find that forcing a little something does help settle things a bit. I've been doing my best with liquids. I've managed about 3 bottled waters and a Gatorade today so far. I'm not a big drinker on abnormal day, the struggle is real y'all! Also, I have a few splotchy warm areas on my skin, mostly on my face and neck. I think I may try some Benadryl and see ignore it helps. Seems like a lot of complaints but I honestly feel pretty lucky thus far.

Ohh I got my hair cut today! I had a mini meltdown in the salon but the lady who did my hair was amazing!

Natster, aren't you starting chemo on Monday. Can you tell us more about the trial? Will they be giving you an additional drug (or placebo) or tweaking the timing of the typical drugs or what?

JR74, I think the new bob is really cute. Sorry about the tummy issues. :-(

Geneskirt, I hope your tummy settled and that you got some rest.

Lyn

Jennifer, your short hair looks great!!! hang in there your doing Amazing!! wishing you that it's manageable through out the week. I too felt flushed and my face was red. that was the drugs going through your system. I asked for some xanax before I left after getting chemo. they gave me a low dosage just so I can go to sleep after all the steroids. They didn't have an issue of prescribing this to me. Hopefully you will get some better rest today.

geneskirt Hi yeh I it has antioxidant properties but so does lots of food we eat. I'm not taking in much or using it in powder form. So far I really don't know if it's actually doing anything but I am not feeling any of the side effects hitting me bad. I am only on day 2 after chemo of AC and Nuelesta that was injected in my arm last night at 8:30. I had a gadget attached to my arm. I heard so many bad things about this drug that supposed to make your bones hurt and that is why I started taking claritin the day before and everyday so far. I will take claritin today again but thats it until my next appointment but I am going to continue on B6 vitamins every day. Maybe these things are helping me. I survived work and felt flushed at the end of day. I felt a bit off but nothing major. A little cramping but not even as bad if I had my period. I was able to eat fine through out the day and I did drink lots and lots of water with lemon and ginger pieces in it. I peed a lot so thats good. I'm taking the nausea medicine as they prescribed every 8 hours till Sunday but I don't feel nauseous. It's only 7am right now things can change for the worst later today or it can hit me tomorrow I really don't know what to expect anymore. Happy to hear your not having it bad either.

It seems we are all on different chemo combos so I guess we are all experiencing different side effects. So far from reading everyone is fairly well considering our situation. Wishing everyone a good day!!

JR74 That's a smart stylist who tranistioned your hair cut to a bob before a pixie x.

Girls, I think our hair caregivers are an important part of out 'team'. Yesterday at chemo I was encouraged to check out the wig salon right at the hospital breast cancer centre. Nurse said I could start 'shedding' as early as one week after my type of treatment (FEC-D) and expect hair loss this first month. I've been gathering the cutest crocheted toques and beanies and having been washing them like i'm expecting a baby lol. Haven't figured out the hair cut/ hair shave days yet.

Nausea is better this morning (18 hrs post on FEC-D).
FOR THE 1st time CHEMO-COMING GIRLS: I realized too late that should have eaten a more simple and smaller portion for my first meal after infusion. I think I felt so good on anti-nauseants (felt relaxed like I'd had 2 glasses of wine) that I had a bowl on creamy potato soup and bread. Not recommended -I burped for hours! (sorry- TMI lol). On my next infusion day I will stick to a nice fruit smoothie or clear soup, or maybe applesauce w/dry toast kind of meal).

Neulasta injection later today.
TIP for those with the self-injection syringe type. I assigned the job to my husband to inject it!. The demo nurse taught him;) I felt it would help him feel involved and well informed as my 'chemo-coach' (he's reading the Nelasta user manual now!).
Traditionally, he tends to downplay health news when he's sharing with relatives and neighbors etc (like childbirth was 'a piece of cake for her' and 'the cancer isn't 'that bad', WTF? ?. I think it's his way of processing 'my wife is going to live' -poor dear. I feel people need to understand that chemo today is now medical home-care, closely monitored and QUITE serious. Actually, 25 years ago one would be admitted to hospital and have restricted visitors and limited visiting hours, etc.

For the girls without partners, the same goes for your key support person/girlfriend/sister... hope they get to be your medical partner as well.
P.S. I gave a funny little gift to my hubby at the chemo centre (and will each time) I really want him to know how much I love, need and appreciate him in his new duties along this scary journey we're sharing.

HOME VISITORS
It's important to me that visitor's

• call ahead
• don't visit when they are sick
• sanitize their hands at the front door
• use the 'guest bathroom' only (I'm not using that bathroom)
• No tears
• NO telling me stories comparing how their co-worker/ friend had it SO much worse than I do and THEY almost died....UHHH! I'm sure they mean well, but the reality is it's not their own story, you know? Having said that, I am moved to tears of inspiration when someone shares with me their own personal story. We become kindred and I know they 'get it'. LIKE ALL OF US HERE xxxx

We are all learning to reduce our risk of infection (myself, DH and my kids included and togeher, be a positive and smart team of #CancerKillers

this is the nuelesta gadget I came home with after I had chemo done. this flashed green every couple of seconds and then 27 hours later injected the medicine inside my arm for 45 minutes. the nurse explained that it's new and it can malfunction and if that happened then I would have to go back to the hospital in the morning but thank god it worked.

hey everyone I'm just checking in. I'm 48 hours into it after chemo of AC and nuelesta injection. I was feeling fine this morning, I actually went for a bike ride with my family and I made it through. Was able to look and function normal while my brother came for a visit with his family. My only issue so far is that my skin is tender to the touch at my neck, shoulder and face. Also my scalp is tender it's a very strange feeling. I don't fell the nausea and have an appetite probably because of the steroids.

Julianne, it sounds we are on the same chemo treatment of AC and nuelesta first or are you doing taxol at same time? did they tell you when you would feel the effects of the nuelesta. I keep waiting but so far nothing but skin being sensitive and I'm not sure if that is from that.

I am trying to drink a lot of water but I was never good at it before this and I just feel like I'm forcing my self. I know this is way too much information but I had my husband give me a massage with lemongrass essential oil and it helped a bit with the sore skin/muscles and then I was able to have a bowl movement finally. I think between the bike ride and the message did the trick. the doc mentioned that it's important to stay active. I hope I'm not pushing it and I will end up paying for it tomorrow.

Alla

Al12, I'm glad the Neulasta pod worked as designed.

Sandyrella, it's good to hear that your first treatment went well. :-)

Geneskirt, thanks for the tip on eating light. Some women have mentioned that potatoes, bread and other "white"foods were most appealing and digested well. Maybe cheese or onion in the soup was the problem? I'm thinking perhaps chicken noodle soup the first meal?

Julesbabe55, good to hear that nausea has been minimal.

Fightingthefight, interesting about the anatomy quirk. I got a patient portal report from the hospital of a post-insertion chest x-Ray. It said pneumothorax in the clinical history, but did that mean that my lung collapsed during the procedure or that they were ruling out a collapse? I know that's a risk of the surgery. Guess I'll request a copy of the operative report Monday to see what it says.

Lyn

Good evening! Seems like we're all chugging along. On one hand I feel better than I thought I would and on another I feel worse? It's a little strange. I had to get some eye drops, my eyes were so dry I could hardly open them! The drops help a lot! My tummy feels bloated like I need to take the senna but I'm scared that as soon as I do that the diarrhea may kick in. I'm a mess. But over all still feeling lucky! I wish I could reply to each one of you but I just can't seem to focus long enough, sorry! Xoxo, Jenn

JR74, I'm seeing the bloating theme through us girls. Sucks. I'm using a heated throw right now... but I swing between being a little hot & stuffy feeling to needing some heat therapy. Alot of mixed up body messages here too.
Good luck with the eye drops -I've read that it can help quickly. xx

Welcome b2alicia, though I'm sorry for the circumstance that's caused you to join us.

After my chemo education class, when they showed me the infusion room I'd be using, the nurse asked me if i had any dental appts scheduled. And, if so, recommended I avoid them b/c of how chemo could affect things. And seeing how sensitive my mouth became after chemo, I see why. So I'd just double check with someone on your care team and get their opinion.

Hi All,

Sad to be here...needless to say...

I start taxotere tomorrow in combination with xeloda. Any one else doing that combo?

VLH thanks. It's is a reaccurance for me...mets to the bones and small spot on liver ;( once wants to be aggressive bc I had two hormonal stop working. Ugh.

I am also giving cold capping a try

hello all,

I have been lurking the boards for a while now, but I haven't really posted yet. For some reason reaching out to others makes this all seem more real and much scarier. So I am going to start chemo on October 19. Neoadjuvant Taxotere, carbo, perjeta and Herceptin. I know AC with Herceptin is a possibility, but I had concerns about the heart toxicity and being that my doctors are west coast they prefer the UCLA protocol. Although I found out in the beginning of September, I have a little delayed start because I decided to do a cycle of fertility preservation prior to starting chemo. I had my chemo teaching on Friday and I am starting to feel extremely overwhelmed. I have managed to stay pretty positive during all of this, but all of the decision making is exhausting. Chemo first or surgery first? this chemo or that chemo? egg freezing first or not? Wig, cold caps or bald? If a wig, should I try to preserve my own hair? Should I ice my hands and feet during treatment? Should I take vitamin b to prevent neuropathy? Is all this delay just letting the cancer grow out of control? And on and on and on. I Can't help worrying that I am making the wrong decisions. I was never good at decisions. Anyways, thanks for "listening" to me rant.

Oh and one more thing- if I have to see one more pink ribbon, hear the term survivor, or one more mention of Pinktober, I think I am going to lose it.

Hi Lidabit, I just started posting too. I have the same "cocktail" that you do, and I have no idea how they decide who gets what. Or for how long. You have an added struggle about deciding what to do regarding fertility. Tough decision.

I think I will get my hair cut in a short crew cut before chemo starts, and get a wig at that time. Also I'm determined not to lose feeling in my hands and feet, so you and I can agree to ice them together!

I firmly believe that sharing a struggle can sometimes make it easier to bear. I'll keep in touch.

Betty

Lidabit, it IS overwhelming! No one with cancer is "lucky," but I admit that I have sometimes envied those who saw a clear path from the beginning and didn't struggle with every decision along the way so I understand your anxiety.

Teachermom2, I'm so sorry about the recurrence. :-( I hope the cold capping lets you retain your hair.

Alla, knowing that the Tylenol and plenty of water helps with the Neulasta pain may help you head it off early next cycle.

Lyn