Starting Chemo in Nov 2016

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  • SleeplessinCO
    SleeplessinCO Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2016

    bg46tn, looks like your 2 days behind me. Hang in there. The headache finally went away on day 6 for me. Hopefully it will for you too.

  • javamama
    javamama Member Posts: 119
    edited November 2016

    Chemo day was pretty uneventful. Well, with the exception of going to a lab so that someone can put poison into my veins. Oh yeah, and the cold caps which make me look like a freak. And I swear my head is crazy on fire from cold and pain. But after a few cap changes, I barely noticed the cold anymore. Oh and eating ice cream as the chemo nurse shoots Adriamycin into my port. And driving home with the cold cap on.

    Chemo days are apparently going to be really COLD days for me. lol

    amw5- I think the bone pain is from neulasta shot. Which makes sense as it's forcing your bone marrow to produce white blood cells in a shorter period of time than it would normally.

    Questions- I had my pre-meds, but the chemo nurse seemed to think I might not need anti-nausea meds at all. Which flips me out because that seems to be the side effect hitting most of our group. I think I'm just going to take them anyway as a prophylactic measure anyway. I have them. I might as well use them.


  • natster
    natster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2016

    Latinmixy: my Mo said to double or triple up on miralax meaning regular dose 2-3x per day. Also prune juice helps me!!!

  • natster
    natster Member Posts: 21
    edited November 2016

    For those of you with Neulasta pain: do you get your omnipro on your arm? I put mine on my abdomen to stimulate the knees and hips. I haven't had any problems. Just wondering if maybe the arm causes more pain or maybe ask. Just a thought.

  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 290
    edited November 2016

    LatinMixy, I've been using prunes & prune juice plus eating a good deal of fruits, vegetables and oatmeal every day for breakfast. I was careful with the prunes so as not to tip myself to the other extreme. Lucky for me I actually like prune juice.

  • aterry
    aterry Member Posts: 290
    edited November 2016

    BG46TN, I don't have pain where my tumor is but I do get sensations like heat--not quite burning--but hot. I may just be hyper aware of sensations in that area. I had been experiencing more of that sensation but after a second needle biopsy it moderated. That made me wonder whether the teensy clip marking the tumor may have been irritating a nerve and the second biopsy nudged it off the nerve. Pure speculation as is so much of what I'm feeling and thinking during this time.

  • pmevans50
    pmevans50 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2016

    LatinMixy - Constipation? YES!! and after each treatment it's day 3 when I get the reward. I just remember to take Miralax each day and to not go too crazy on the diet! Lot's of fiber is a must.

    Leslie - you're too funny. I felt like my hair was coming out like crazy. I had what looked like a bird's nest on my bathroom sink, so I had it shaved this past weekend. It's crazy, but I know what's left will will come out sooner or later.

    javamamma -I'm also doing AC (once very two weeks). I hope it went well for you!!

    First day at work with the shaved head - not as awkward as I expected. I have some pretty awesome coworkers. :-)

  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    Patti, I went to work with a hat on and showed my coworkers. They're like family. I felt very relaxed with it.

    Natalie, you might be on to something!!! I may try that. I had a cervical disc herniation about 18 months ago and I feel like that is where all the pressure is radiating from. Great idea.

    Javamama, I have done amazing with nausea and it stuns me a nurse would tell you that. I don't think I've been lucky, I just think the meds are doing their job. As the other ladies can tell you, the meds work best if you're taking them to prevent nausea, not once you're already having it. Did they give you Zofran for home use? That works well. I've been taking antinausea meds day 1-5, then I quit. The others can let you know if they quit sooner. To me, nausea is what I feared most. I can take the migraines and bone aches with no issue if I can keep nausea and vomiting at bay. I really hope the cold caps work for you! I can't wait to hear.

    Marie, are you doing dose dense treatments?

  • pmevans50
    pmevans50 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2016

    javamamma - I would be absolutely miserable without the anti-nausea meds!................. enough said! :-)

  • Pamela23
    Pamela23 Member Posts: 510
    edited November 2016

    LatinMIxy--I'm suffering with you on the constipation. I have used Senekot twice, Miralax once and today tried a "women's gentle laxative". I will definitely try the Miralax daily next time!

    Javamama--I'm with pmevans50, I took meds for 3 days and still felt "off" GI wise. I'd stay ahead of the game if you can. They put Zofran in me before the chemo. It took 15 min to drip then I had to wait 30 min before they could start the chemo. I took advantage of the 45 min and that's when we did the 1st cold cap--and it was COLD!! But I only felt it for less than 5 min. Wasn't bad after that. I had an electric blanket on me too!

    The 2 weird things I've noticed, I can't feel my knee if I touch my skin. As if it's novacained up. Neuropathy? Also, today my neck has been so itchy! Anyone else feel that?

  • javamama
    javamama Member Posts: 119
    edited November 2016

    pmevans50- The chemo went as well as can be expected. And they want me to come in every week weeks for 4 rounds of the AC. I am so glad you have good coworkers. That is so nice when it comes to a happy work life.

    nfullblume- I have Zofran from my surgery. And I took it and my other meds to the chemo and we talked about them all. The nurse said the Zofran was in the same family as a long acting one they gave me prechemo. It would basically overlap and not have to appreciable benefit until after 5 days.

    Pamela23- That is totally my plan. I don't feel itchy today. I felt briefly itchy last night for about 10 minutes. Then it subsided. How is it now?

    I decided to stay ahead of the nausea and rotate the meds I have in my possession to keep vomiting at bay. Because yuk, yo.

  • LatinMixy
    LatinMixy Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2016

    In case someone is interested, the anti nausea regime I follow is: 2 Decadron and 1 Zoran twice a day for the following 3 days after chemo. I also get a nausea patch behind my ear the day before chemo, and the typical anti nausea meds you get on chemo day. It might be an over kill for many of you, but I have the worse motion sickness and I made the MO and pharmacist know before hand

  • 2blessed2bestressed
    2blessed2bestressed Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2016

    Good Morning Everyone,

    Today is my first round of AC! I'm nervous, but really ready to get started!

    Good luck to the other Ladies starting today and well wishes to everyone already experiencing side effects.

    Prayer warriors - please keep me in your prayers today!

    And shout out to everyone sharing their experiences and tips. I am so much more prepared than before I found this group.

    Thanks!

    Eileen

  • Nfullblume
    Nfullblume Member Posts: 171
    edited November 2016

    You got this, Eileen!!! Keep us in the loop on how you're doing in the next few days!!

  • amw5
    amw5 Member Posts: 189
    edited November 2016

    javamama - Why would the nurse think you wouldn't need anti nausea meds? Nausea is one of the main side effects, and it can hit pretty darn hard. Please do not let her dictate how you feel or how you should feel. It seems everyone should be getting anti nausea meds prior to chemotherapy.

    Nfullblume - Yes, I'm doing dense doses treatments (every other Tuesday).

    Eileen - You've got this. Please stay well hydrated.

  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2016

    So my dr called back last night and said I could take Advil or Motrin instead of the Tylenol...I took 3 advil and a hot bath and I felt SO MUCH better!! it took away all the bone pain, and lessened my headache a bit. The dr said he is going to switch my IV anti nausea meds for my next treatment, he thinks that is what is causing the headaches.

    I'm hoping to stop my nausea meds today and see how I feel....

    Sleepless I hope the headache stops today! day 5 for me...

    Eileen you'll do great today!!! good luck!

  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2016

    Natster: yes I have the on body Nuelasta patch, I had it on my arm and had bad bone pain, my friend at work who had bc last year, said she had less effects when she had the patch on her belly, so I think I am going to try that for my next treatment...

    And my sister who had bc 3 years ago said all her "chemo friends" said to start taking the claritin 2 days before treatment that it helped a lot also.


  • Coupon
    Coupon Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    LatinMixy, try having 3 tablespoons of ground flax seeds with yogurt, good in omega 3 + super high fibre.

  • SleeplessinCO
    SleeplessinCO Member Posts: 36
    edited November 2016

    Good luck today Eileen! We'll be praying for you.

  • Leslie2016
    Leslie2016 Member Posts: 316
    edited November 2016

    Blood work today was all good for tomorrow. My weight was literally the same as last time. Saw the MO, but not my MO, she's on holidays, so I didn't get to ask all my questions. Ultrasound on the lump I found last week was negative. Just liquid. Lump isn't hard and red anymore either. False alarm. Phew!

    Chemo #2 tomorrow....Onward!

  • NextStorm
    NextStorm Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2016

    Great news about the ultrasound results, Leslie. That must be such a relief!

  • BeckyG
    BeckyG Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2016

    Leslie SO happy the lump was nothing!!! yay!!

  • Superstar3102
    Superstar3102 Member Posts: 16
    edited November 2016

    carboplatin, taxotere, heceptin and perjeta.

  • amyemn
    amyemn Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2016

    BG46TN for both of my rounds of chemo, I had the Nuelasta patch placed on my belly. I have had no bone pain, but I have no idea if it was really related to location.

  • Coupon
    Coupon Member Posts: 29
    edited November 2016

    Glad to hear Leslie2016. Good luck tomorrow.

  • javamama
    javamama Member Posts: 119
    edited November 2016

    I bet you are totally relieved that the report came back so benign, Leslie.

    So, I had a total freak out when my Neulasta hoodich started going off. I've forgotten it was there and then all of a sudden I hear a ticking coming from behind me and no matter where I walk, I can't find it but it's following me and it seems like I'm getting closer, but I'm not. It was hilarious.

  • 2blessed2bestressed
    2blessed2bestressed Member Posts: 15
    edited November 2016

    Javamama - I was just getting pissy because I'm still waiting for my chemo to start when the appointment was for 3pm. (It's 5:30 here in NY). When I read your post it cheered me right up! Too funny and totally something I would do!

    Congrats Leslie!! That's great news!


    Oh just getting called in. ahhhh


  • pmevans50
    pmevans50 Member Posts: 54
    edited November 2016

    Leslie - Congratulations on the negative report!!

    Eileen - I hope your treatment goes/went well today!!

    Question: Anyone else feel like your tongue is growing hair? I'm guessing it just feels that way because of dry mouth. yuck!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2016

    Congrats on your B9 lump Leslie and good luck on your next chemo infusion.

    Hi Nfullblume, when is your next AC? Good luck cutie!

    Good luck on your treatment, Eileen.

    Hello warriors, I hope everybody's ok. I will be having my 2nd FEC infusion in two days, depending on my blood tests today. I have low RBC the last time. I want to finish my chemo asap.

    Hugs and prayersto all!

    Gina



  • BG46TN
    BG46TN Member Posts: 286
    edited November 2016

    Any one else have genetic testing done? I had some done in Oct and the genetic counselor called me today, I have a mutation in the Bard 1 gene which is a high risk for breast cancer.....she also said it does sometimes indicate a higher risk of ovarian cancer but it's not as highly established...it probably won't change my chemo treatment but could affect surgery options. As much as I didn't want a mutation at all at least I have an answer...and my kids will know what to test for when they are older...

    I think my sisters are more worried about this then I am.....

    I am already BRCA neg


    Becky

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