Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

Hi I think I will be joining the chemo team soon. I am very nervous about this and didn't expect the recommendation from my MO and really needed time to process. Currently waiting for my onco test score, but onc believes it will for sure be intermediate to high. Pmevans50 your pathology seems similar to mine ER+,Pr-, HEr2- ; I haven't seen anyone else like that so far on these posts. Do you know if this is a more unique pathology? I think it seems this pathlogy as well as a grade 3 tumor is why chemo before radiation is being recommended.

Also does anyone know about a suggested window of chemo therapy starting after surgery?

Thanks, didn't want to join the team, but now that I am here glad for the support from ladies like all of you

Thanks for the advice! I do usually have water with me all the time too, but I will definitely be MORE aware of it now! I have a Petscan tomorrow so today I do the 'diet' high protein, no carb, no sugar, lots of water....I currently have bacon in the oven for breakfast LOL I also have my nurse educator appointment tomorrow...

How soon after your first chemo did you feel sick? or is that too specific to each person?

I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Livin-on-a-prayer -- Hi!

I'm glad you joined the group. I almost didn't but it was highly suggested. I'm so glad I did. You'll be amazed at how helpful it can be. You don't have to post very much if you're not comfortable. Just knowing there are so many of us fighting together is a comfort.

You're right. Not many on this post have the same pathology. I'm doing AC once very two weeks for two months and then taxol once a week for 12 weeks. Everyone is different. I don't know why chemo before radiation, but am glad you asked because now I'm going to ask my MO.

Anyone else have an idea why chemo before radiation??

Also, according to my MO the suggested time frame she was comfortable with between surgery and chemo was 4-6 weeks. Again, everybody is different. Mine was stage 2 but very aggressive.

I have had only to deal with nausea for several days (got sick only once because I drank too much water at one time) and anti-nausea meds really help. It's day 10 for me and still have all my hair down to the middle of my back. My sister is ready to cut it and to shave my head, so I'm thinking I'll be doing that next weekend.

I hope you fare even better!

Morning all, welcome newcomers!

We do chemo before radiation, because radiation can change the fluidity of the veins on the tumor side. But also because chemo is killing all the cells around the body first. Then radiation is targeted just to the tumor. Most women doing neoadjuvant chemo (prior to surgery) see the biggest results from the chemo. The radiation is more like fine tuning.

Bg46tn, you're going to hear "everyone is different" a lot in the next few months. And it really is the truth. Every woman's body and psyche can deal with things differently based on previous life experiences. Every woman's tumor is different and many doctors prescribe different drugs to combat the SEs. Hear what the side effects are, but don't predestine yourself that it will occur for you because you dwell on them. Like Leslie, I had zero nausea, just bad headaches. I go for #2 on Wednesday. I am also working full time, more than 40 per week. Keep yourself occupied and busy, if side effects pop up, deal with them. I will caution you about constipation, also known as C. Most of us are learning to take something to counteract the nausea meds. I will take miralax every day that I take nausea meds. I drink 120 oz of liquids every day to pee out the meds faster and to keep your intestines lubricated. So many before us have survived the next few months. Remind yourself, this chemo is curing me, not saving my life!!!

LIvingonaprayer, not having the progesterone receptor doesn't change much, just you hormonal therapy after chemo and surgery.

Natster Latinmxy, good luck tomorrow and Tuesda, can't wait to hear how it went!

Hey everyone, I bought the cookbook "The Cancer Fighting Kitchen!!" Check it out on Amazon! It's killer! Recipes are created based on the side effect you're experiencing!

I admire so many of you who are good at responding to specific posts. (I admire you for your helpfulness, too!) I haven't been able to absorb all the names but I'm trying to follow as best I can. I'm on day 4, of my first cycle, and feel better than I thought I would. I was a bit dizzy, nauseous, woozy the first 2 days. And tired. Slight headache. And shaky in the mornings. I thought I would feel worse after the IV anti-nausea drugs wore off but I'm OK. The dexamethasone makes me too woozy to drive so I have to be careful how I time that. Today is the last day for it this cycle, though, so that's good.

I try to keep something in my stomach all the time, even, as Leslie said, if it's a few nibbles. Too much food makes me a bit nauseous. Too much water makes me nauseous. Nibbles and sips. I eat a pretty healthy diet normally but I've tweaked it. More cruciform vegetables, though they don't taste as good as before, less dairy, less meat, no sugar. I happen to be an excellent baker and my husband is a bit bummed that there will be none of that (to eliminate sugar). At night I get a bit of a pinched stomach as my last tiny meal doesn't last through the night. I need to think of something that digests really slowly to eat just before bed.

My scalp started tingling about an hour ago so I think the hair is about to start going.

Let's see if my profile pops up on this post. I've filled out the fields twice but the last 2 posts--no profile.

Hello November Chemoladies,

I hope you're all fine. So many wonderful posts. This thread is so active and so far, none of us seem to be having serious side effects. Notice the pattern on this thread:

1. Anxiety

2. Confusion

3. Support

4. Information

5. Decision

6. Actual chemo

7. Side Effects

8. Hair cut

9. Wigs, hats and turbans

10. Courage for the next chemo session

Battlecry - Kill Cancer!

Objective - Survive!

Benefits - Information, Friendship and Support

Have a Cancer-free and Stress-free life, Ladies! No guts, No glory!

God Bless All of Us,

gmmiph

Thank you for the warm welcome! I look forward to getting to know everyone...My sister had triple neg bc 3 years ago...she is now cancer free! yay! She has been a great resource and support (as well as my 4 other sisters lol) through this...She started out on a group in here as well :-) they ended up moving to a private FB group eventually...maybe we can consider that down the road.

Thanks for all the advice, after my appointment tomorrow I will know which day I am starting this week...I appreciate all the tips on what to pack in my chemo bag :-) As much as I am not looking forward to it I am happy to get things going so it can end LOL

Now lets see if my information comes up on the bottom LOL

Thanks for the middle of the night tip, Leslie2016, and for the tip about getting the signature to pop up. I've gone back into my profile and found a "make public" button so let's see if it works this time.

hi ladies. So today is day 4 post my 1st chemo. So far so good. I am a bit more tired than normal. My eating habits are the same. I do get these ugly stomach cramps in the morning but it's tolerable. And I feel as if my sense of smell/taste faded a little. It's almost like the feeling when you have a head cold but I don't have a cold. I've been trying to keep hydrated. I drink an emergen-C every morning and feel it helps. And I'm taking silica and vitb6. I hope everyday stays this way. Hope u ladies have a good day

I just did my third chemo treatment Nov 9th and I am four days post infusion. I drink water and then more water, drink your water and use your lotions and make sure you tell doctor when you have pain or any symptoms. I am on TC too so I get it my friend. I do every 3 weeks, but only have 1 more treatment left, thank goodness. It's hard but manageable. Keep your life as normal as you can, in my opinion

Leslie2016, thank you. I will ask but I did ask him about vitamin c he said it was ok. And I asked the oncologist nurse if I can take emergen-c she said yes. But I'm going to double check tomm. Thanks.

What is everyone planning to wear once the hair comes out?? I am going to get a wig (next weekend hopefully, my insurance covers it) I definitely want to wear one for work (I'm a teacher and don't really plan on telling my students unless they ask..its high school) I have a few head scarfs (pre tied) in my Amazon cart, plus a cotton hat...

Just wondering what everyone else is planning...and if you have something already, do you like it? hate it? reviews are welcome.

I did sign up for a free head scarf from www.GoodWishesScarves.org It won't arrive for 4-6 weeks, but if anyone needs one go request a scarf!

My sister also recommended www.FightingPretty.org and www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org they have classes you can attend and they give you free makeup and teach you how to use it...all for cancer patients.

Hope this can help someone else :-)

The best thing in the world happened to me today. My hair care specialist (yes, my hair stylist - but she's so much more than that). She's a very dear friend of mine. She's also a Christian, and she's a very dear, kind and compassionate young lady. Well, I had my hair cut today (bald). After she cut the length of my hair, she picked up the hair clippers, and then she put them down and said 'amw, I want you to know that I am here to support you one thousand percent' and after she said that, she pulled off a wig and a scarf and her head was bald. She did this for me. We both cried like babies. We hugged. We laughed. We prayed. It was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. My heart will forever be touched by the kindness she has shown me and joining me in being bald. I will say this, I have always had long hair. When I shampooed my hair yesterday, it was such a task. I also told myself, this would be my last time shampooing hair this long, as I intend on keeping my hair short and curly once it grows back. I will be 50 in June, and I have wanted short hair for a while now, and my time has come. My hair care specialist is also doing a cancer fund raiser event in December. She asked me if I would be her guest of honor. I told her I wouldn't miss it for the world. God has truly blessed her, and she is blessing people in return.

amw5, That story made me smile. My hairdresser has also been amazing. She refused to let me pay for my last cut and color in September after I was diagnosed. And the woman I bought my wig from was also amazing. She booked me a full hour appointment to privately try on wigs and then she styled the one I chose as well. I could tell she did this from her heart and it made the process so much easier. I start my chemo the day before you on Tuesday. The same AC + T. I'm now getting scared and hoping I can stay strong. Reading these posts have helped so much. 36 hours to go (not that I'm counting or anything).

Good luck to all of us this week!

Sleepless....you are going to be fine tomorrow!!! You can do this!!!