Start treatment Feb 6th, scared

Hi!

I had those treatments but did AC first, then THP. I'm not sure how quickly your hair will come out if you do the THP first. I shaved my head before my second infusion of AC because I just didn't want to watch it fall out. I got an awesome wig that looked better than my natural hair. I wore it for six months to work.

To me, THP was gentler than AC, though it did give me mild diarrhea (which I managed with Imodium). AC made me spacey, and it robbed me of my energy. But, I made it through chemo; chemo is doable these days.

My advice to you is to keep a diary of side effects and see if there is a pattern. Then, you can mentally prepare for some of the rougher times. For example, on THP, I'd get my infusion on Wednesday and feel good until Friday, when the diarrhea would start. I'd always be sure to have my Imodium on hand for those days.

Remember, if you do have intolerable side effects, call your oncologist's office. The office should always have a doctor on call. Your oncologist wants you to finish treatment, and should be able to offer suggestions, prescriptions, and more to help you make it through.

Best wishes!

Hi Shelabela!

Our dx is very similar and I also had nodes involved.

I had tx same as you will, except the Adriamycin and Cyloxan.

It is different for everyone, the SEs. Lost alllllll my hair, beginning day 14 of chemo.

Worst thing for me--smells, nausea and the Big D. Eating was a daily adventure.

The more prepped you are, the better. There is a list on this board for useful things--you can do this!

PM me anytime,

Hugs

ShelaBela - I would suggest you join the February 2017 Chemo thread. But also take some time to go back and read through the January thread so you can see the tricks those ladies are using.

There are also threads for surgery starting each month or quarter, and threads for rads.

I'm so sorry about your diagnosis. It's normal to feel afraid for sure. As a fellow cancer friend told me recently - "It's not natural to agree to chemo. Anything else in nature would run the other way."

I've been through two rounds of TCHP. My hair came out really fast around days 18-20. I already had bought a wig and had my head buzzed to about a quarter inch. I still have quite a bit of hair, but it's patchy. I kind of wish the rest would fall out!

The first treatment was surreal. With four drugs plus premeds, it took six hours to complete. Now it's only about four hours. I have a port which has saved me from worries about getting all of that through a vein.

I tend to feel pretty good the day of and day after - probably due to the steroids. I have a lot of aches and pains by the following day and that lasts for maybe 24-36 hours. Motrin and sleep seem to be the only thing that helps.

I've been keeping a little journal of SE's and it's helping me to see a pattern - and remember that nothing lasts forever as well! Just keep in touch with your MO's office and they should be able to help you with suggestions or medications.

There is no reason for nausea. You need to look into the following: Decadron - steroid pills for nausea 2 each the day before, day of & day after; Kytril in your infusion for nausesa; I had several other nausea drugs to take as pills but never needed them. The final heavy hitter is Emend, but it's very expensive.

Did you have Benedryl in your infusion? That's what they usually do the first Taxotere infusion but don't know if Taxol is different.

Are you starting with the Herceptin & Taxol? I know you can't have herceptin & adriamycin together because of possible heart problems. So will they stop the herceptin & then re-start it again after AC to get your 17 infusions? If you're taking Perjeta also, you might try Claretin for the general aches.

Will you have surgery somewhere along the line? Radiation?

We'll be thinking of you. Good luck.

shelabela - I had steroid pills to take the day before, day of & day after infusion. They were for nausea and worked.