Anyone.Starting Chemo in October 2016?

Al12 Yes, my DH injected the Neulasta 2 days ago (pre-loaded syringe). They said 'it's like patients injecting their own insulin'. I'm a few days behing you. I'm noticing a litlle heart burn and my face looks a bit red (?) -weird. Not sure if thats the chemo or Neulasta, but it's funny, everyone says 'you're colour looks great' haha. Every day is a new 'wait and see'. Sounds like more side effects are coming my way in a couple of days...
I'm SO sorry you got kicked down the last couple of days. Hang in there girl!x Would a hot water bottle help?

Teachermom2 Sorry you are here with us but welcome to the board. My Dx is a recurrence as well ('Regional'). I have a liver ultrasound this week to check two 'cysts/spots' that are present. For now, we've pushed ahead with a chemo called FED D. It may change depending on liver. My onc and surgeon want to be agressive as well as apprently this type of recurrence is extremely rare (<1%). So, neo-adjuvant chemo before surgery (will be all auxillary nodes and 'mass' including some pec muscle involvement.
Lots of steps to take and bridges to cross but WE WILL get through it!!!!

JR74 Good morning -yeah Day 5! I'm day 4... but it seriously feels like 10 haha. Do you think we will get used to this? I've been eating a small amout of oatmeal for breaky. I've added some prunes (discovered that the 'hard' way). I'm continuing to eat small and am craving watery foods (like watermelon). Mashed veg is yummy too (turnip, potatoes, squash etc). I have a kale and cucumber smoothie I'm trying today -small amounts tho. It's like I'm over cautious about evey type of food I eat for fear of bloating and nausea. My taste buds changed yesterday - 'metallic' taste to alot of things.

Any personal food tips anyone?

Hello Everyone.

My Chemo keeps getting pushed back for one reason or another. I don't really know how I feel about it. I don't know what I should be preparing so that I am ready when It finally does happen. The more I read the worse it all sounds.

I am currently scheduled to start Taxotere and Cytoxan with a Neulasta shot the next day. Do I need to get Claritin and take it the day I get the Neulasta Shot? My MO hasn't told me to take it but It looks like many of you have. I would like to get what I need before I am sick from the Chemo. There is so much I don't know how to weed out what I need and what I don't.

I would love your opinions on all of this. Thank you for being here. Thank you.

lidabit - I understand how you feel. I too lurked for awhile, b/c the thought of joining the forum and posting made things feel too real. I didn't end up doing so until after m first chemo treatment. And like you, I felt overwhelmed by all of the sudden decisions to be made. Especially fertility decisions, because I'm 32 years old, but don't have any kids. I ended up getting the shot to put my ovaries "to sleep" but opted out on the other stuff regarding freezing embryos (I'm not married either).

Adding in all of the appointments for tests, surgery, procedures, etc. and it felt like a lot. But I can encourage you that the whirlwind slows down after a bit. What also helped me was having a small notebook with me for everything (i.e. questions I had, answers I got, appointments, etc.). I'm the kind that needs to write things to help my memory anyway, but even I was shocked at what I had forgotten when I later checked my notes. There's so much info coming at you it'd be impossible to remember it all, even if you weren't already feeling overwhelmed.

Al12: Thank you for the update on the Claritin it is really nice to know what I can do to help myself through this.

Thank you to everyone for your coments. It really helps to know the truth about what is happening. This is a difficult time for us all. I am grateful to have contact with people who understand that this is real.

VLH, by the time the 2nd chemo comes along, it's too late for the cold caps. They're going to refund my money and I'll just use a wig.

My first appt went well. I actually slept through a lot of it and slept most of the way home (1 1/2 hrs) and then slept for an additional 2 hrs once I got home. So far so good but I know it's too soon to feel nauseous. I go back tomorrow for the neulasta shot. After the first one I can use the onpro and won't have to go back the next day.

Miles,

your welcome. My mother in law actually just emailed me that she had lunch with her breast cancer survivor friends and they all told her that I should start taking claritin 3 days before chemo and 3 days after chemo. They also all agreed that you should ask for a sleep aid. Since the anxiety and the steroids will do a number on you. I had done that and was able to get a low dosage of Xanax. It really helped my first 2 nights. also drinking as much fluid as possible to flush out the toxins that also really helps with side effects and less headaches.

I know it's really scary to do the research and read all the horrible side effects and of coarse we all want to do what ever it takes to make it more bearable. I think this is the hard part the not knowing what to expect.

I was diagnosed on sept 9 and didn't meet my breast surgeon until sept 27th. The entire time we were all on edge and reading this and that and never really knowing anything. I pretty much had a month to come to terms that I have cancer and what we need to do to make me better. All that time I reached out to friends and friends of friends who had gone through this. Now everything feels like things are going too fast. Now I'm just trying to make the best of this situation and do what ever the doctor says.

Melindawv, I was afraid how it will be at work but I have to say so far so good but it's still only the beginning for me. I don't know how it will end up when I have to do chemo weekly. We decided to do chemo on Thrusday so I can work on friday and get sick on the weekend. I was able to come to work today so I guess Mondays are good too. But this can change as I progress with chemo. It does keep me active the walk from Port authority to my job is a good 10 minute walk if I walk fast. I think if your able to go to work that would be a good thing. My job is good to me and will make things more flexible if I need it. Hopefully that works out for you too.

I wish I'd seen to take the Claratin 3 days before. I started taking it the day before chemo which was today and I've had a headache ever since. It's not a horrible headache, just a nagging one. I've been drinking but I've also been sleeping a lot so can't drink while sleeping...lol. Right now, I'm sitting in the dark with just the tv and light from the iPad hoping that will help.

It's funny that I've read that the steroids are giving people energy. I had steroids and all I want to do is sleep. If I hadn't slept well last night, I'd think that was why but I have some mild sleeping pills which, as a general rule, I can take a half and sleep. Last night I took a full one as I really didn't want to lay awake and worry. I've taken a whole one before with no headache so I doubt that caused this.

For anyone who hasn't started their chemo yet, the actual treatment wasn't an issue at all. I was so afraid of this learning experience that none of us want. I don't know what the next few days will bring, but the actual treatment was not a huge deal

Finally get my port today. Thursday was cancelled because of Hurricane Matthew. Chemo start Thursday. I'm feeling more and more anxious about the whole thing! But know there's no turning back. Ugh.

Germangirl16,

Oh thank you for that update. I am going to be doing Taxol, Herceptin and Prejeta starting in December after I'm done with AC + Nuelasta I'm doing now. would love to hear how your doing on it and get some advice. Hope all goes well for you in the next few days.

Also incase anyone is looking for a good eyebrow pencil since besides losing our hair we will probably lose our eyebrows too and our eyelashes. I have gotten a lot of recommendations from Breast cancer survivor friends and my make up artist friend and they all agree on Anastasia brow wiz pencil. You can get it on Amazon or Sephora. I also purchased a brow make up kit from SurvivorEyes.com their kit comes with stencil to draw in your eye brows.

I'm getting prepared I feel like I'm going to lose my hair at the moment I least expect it and I don't want to scramble if I have to go to work. I prefer to go with scarves then having a wig. I'll get some long earrings make it look fashionable and some red lipstick.

I'm sure you'll rock your dramatic new look, Al12!

All went smoothly with my first chemo today. Yay! I had to lie back and cough vigorously a few times to get blood flowing out of the port for my labs so I was relieved when that did the trick. No steroids today since I had a spinal injection yesterday and my blood sugar was already crazy high from that. I went to bed at midnight last night, but woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep. I didn't clean the entire house, but did pay bills. ;-)

I crashed on the sofa when I got home, probably a combination of little sleep the last two nights and the anti-nausea meds. I got a patch plus the IV Emend and Aloxi. I know some people have said to be sure and stay ahead of nausea by taking medications on time, even if you don't feel sick, but since the IV stuff is supposed to work a couple of days and the patch for a week, I forgot to ask when / if I should take the pills. They're closed for the day so can't get clarification until tomorrow. Did anyone get input on that?

Lyn

I'm 8 days past my first chemo, and finally feeling well again. The anti--nausea meds didn't work that well for me ... I was dizzy and queasy and head-achey and it was very hard. I tried to sleep as much as possible for the 1st week, just to avoid feeling bad. Then on the 7th day, I woke up feeling that the SEs were lifting, and today I feel absolutely fine. My nurse tells me they will change the meds next time to try to reduce the SEs. Sounds good to me!

I've felt too miserable to post, but I've been following your experiences, thrilled for your good days, and commiserating with your struggles. It is such an individual journey.

Had my port placed yesterday. I am in so much pain, from my mid-chest all the way up my neck. First chemo (T/C) is tomorrow and frankly can't even imagine how that's going to feel. I do have ladicane, but with the bandage over the port, how is it going to numb the skin under? Ugh.

For nausea, I'm trying something my daughter suggested. She is a patient advocate at UCLA med Center, working for an oncologist. 550 mg finger tablets, 2 morning and evening. I started mine yesterday. She said to take them three days prior and three days after each treatment.

Have a great day everyone!

Mothersip, I'm sorry that you're struggling with the port. Did the doctor give you anything for pain? What in the world are finger tablets?

Welcome, Lisa / Daisy.

Jen, I'm glad you're doing better and that you'll be able to accompany your daughter.

I ended up feeling super sick for three miserable hours last night, but I think it may have been a blood sugar issue as much as chemo. Bad timing, but I had to fit in a spinal injection on Monday and the steroid amped up my blood sugar horribly. Then, I think I waited too long to eat supper last night. I'm weak and shaky today, but hope the tummy issues won't be an ongoing problem.

Lyn

Our diagnosis is similar. I start my chemo on the 26th. 4 dose dense rounds of AC and then 4 rounds of Taxol. So happy to be on the road to solutions versus so much waiting. Good luck to you!!!