Starting Chemo inJanuary 2007

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jonimb
jonimb Member Posts: 900
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
Hello all:

Maybe we should have a group for us Canadians that are starting chemo in January? Did everyone read the post about the different chemos coming out of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium? It has also been on the news today here in Calgary.

I meet with my oncologists on Friday at the Tom Baker, so I'm going to make sure I bring along the article to them.
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  • skirk
    skirk Member Posts: 29
    edited December 2006
    Hi Joni,
    I received the CEF regime, and although I was only able to do 3 treatments, I am still cancer free after 2 years.
    Sherri
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  • baldeagle
    baldeagle Member Posts: 199
    edited December 2006
    Joni,

    I finished chemo at Tom Baker in August. Which onc are you seeing? Be sure to ask about your elligibility for clinical trials - they can offer some real benefits if you are in the right one.

    jeannette
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  • sunshine2003
    sunshine2003 Member Posts: 77
    edited December 2006
    Hi there - good luck to you - I'm a 3 1/2 year chemo graduate - CEF -
    I'm 51 and very healthy!
    There IS life after breast cancer - and it's actually better (it took me 2 years to say that)
    Janet
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited December 2006
    hello ,
    I have just joined and start my chemo on Jan 8th . I have stage 3 breast cancer and stage 2 colon cancer both completly unrelated . The chemo is for the breast cancer only . Have a training day the Friday before at the cancer clinic . I get 3 doses 3 weeks apart then on to a 3 week schedule of another drug dositaxil ? Will not be done until April ..........
    I am here to keep in touch , need the support through the winter , my family lives in Calgary and I went to school there !
    The support would be great
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited December 2006
    Shorti:

    I thought I had already responded to you, but I guess it didn't go thru, or maybe I sent you a private email. I start my chemo tomorow. I will be getting FEC.

    If you need to contact me, please do so, you have a lot on your plate and I bet you could use the support....and so can I. I'll be thinking of you on the 8th.

    Joni
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited December 2006
    thanks i did get your e mail just getting into this forum . Winter is going to be long and having an outlet will be good . My sister died of BC 12 years ago ,she went to Foothills hospital in Calgary for her chemo .I am the oldest of 5 girls and one boy in our family and never figured I would have this to face . My family all lives in Calgary and we keep in touch with email. I am going to genetic testing for the BC gene in the new year sometime .
    Hope your day goes well tommorrow . Good luck .
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  • weet
    weet Member Posts: 65
    edited January 2007
    Hi Shorty , I am in Toronto and my family is in B.C. I started chemo for stage 3 bc the end of Nov. but I also had stage 4 colon cancer with mets to the liver 12 years ago. They also are un related cancers. I beat the colon cancer and I will beat this too as I know you will.I have been lucky , no real adverse effects from 3 doses of A/C. Surgery will follow after chemo. WE can get through this !! Where are you having your treatments?
    For everyone starting this month , good luck to all, these discussion boards and the comraderie with all the sisters is wonderful

    Hugs to all
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited January 2007
    Hey Shorti:

    How are you? Did your first chemo go okay...let me know...Joni
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited January 2007
    i am going to southlake in newmarket for chemo started first treatment Monday
    I started my regime of 3 sessions epirbicin , 5-fu and cycotaxin waiting next in line 3 sessions 3 weeks apart taxotere ending in April. Had hopes of no vomiting or nausea , but no I was puking and felt like hell after i got home . Took a zofran before I left for the clinic and they injected Decadron when infusing . I got stemicil to take at home every four hours and more zofran . I really did not think I would get sick BUT I was on the phone to the hospital a few times that night . After about 1 1/2 days the vomting stopped and nervousness and restlesness set in . I mean I could not sit still , it was a reaction to the stemicil , now I cannot use it , the Dr perscribed Ativan so now I take one of them everynight before bed .

    Man I hope the 2nd time is not like the first , I am sure they will help out as I am going to let them know exacly how I felt .
    Now I feel ok tired and shakey . Next is the hair loss and that should happen within the next 2 weeks . I am going to get my hubby to buzz my hair really short as my hair is realllly thick it stands on end right now .

    i know i have the best of care its just friggin hell after the treatments , I hate that nausea feeling would rather throw up , but i have a few weeks before that happens again . I am off to have my first visit to Sunnybrook for my rads next week so then i find out what happens after my chemo and how long radiation will be .

    Can't wait until summer man ..............
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited January 2007
    you would think that breast cancer and colon cancer are somehow connected ? Makes me feel better that you had overcome the colon c weet , it helps alot , and yes when i get over the darn nausea i feel much better . ( i just do not like that feeling ugh )
    And since we have no snow its easier to get our for walks
    as you can see I have a big dog a newfy she keeps me busy ......
    Onward and upward ladies ....
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  • bish
    bish Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2007
    Hey Shorti,

    I start my rads next week at Sunnybrook, too. Or I should say 'restart' my rads. They're great people there and quite organized. The only drag is if your machine is down, then you have to sit around and wait. But the area is very bright, full of natural light and the atmosphere is good.

    Good luck to you. You have a lot on your plate.
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  • weet
    weet Member Posts: 65
    edited January 2007
    re-start Bish? Have you been thru this before? Have you finished chemo?

    Hope everyone is well..

    Margot













    /
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  • bish
    bish Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2007
    Hi Margot,

    Yes, restart. I had 7 treatments beginning of November and then developed an infection which delayed things until now. Definitely a drag. Yes, I've also finished chemo. A/C and then Taxol. Is that what you're doing?

    Cathy.
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  • ducky1
    ducky1 Member Posts: 320
    edited March 2007
    Jonimb;
    You said you were having FEC. How many cycles and how is it going? Side effects? What kind of cancer did you have? I start chemo Apr. 3rd. Look forward to your take on it
    Cathy
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited March 2007
    Hello Cathy:

    I have to have 6 rounds of FEC. I have completed 4 so far, and I have had most of the side effects at one time or another.

    I did get sick after #2, but that was because I didn't take my anti-nausea meds quickly enough. I waited too long, and once the vomiting starts the only way I could stop it, was with these additional suppositories that the onc gave me, combination of maxerane/stemetil/gravol.

    My treatments are every 3 weeks, and I lost my hair after the first one, around day 17.

    Other side effects are dry mouth, and itchy watery eyes. I use biotene mouthwash & toothpaste for the mouth (I have never had the mouth sores, maybe because I use this), and for the eyes I use the Natural Tears Gel...it really has helped.

    I have lost most of my eyebrows and eyelashes also.

    My last treatment #4, has been the easiest. I only had 2 days where I was a bit tired, so maybe I'm getting used to it.

    I have breast cancer also, Stage 2, Grade 3, 1 out 15 lymph nodes involved.

    The chemo isn't as bad as what I thought it would be, so it is doable. I wish you well on your journey, if you ever need to email me, feel free to do so. I live just outside of Calgary. I used to live in Edmonton, and actually for a while I lived in St. Albert, so I know your area well.

    Take care....Joni
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  • ducky1
    ducky1 Member Posts: 320
    edited March 2007
    Thanks so much Joni...I will check here regularly to see how you are doing. When they say no hair they do mean "no hair". Well, at least I won't have to shave LOL. What about appetite? Weight gain? loss?
    Thanks for the advice.. think I'll go out and get some Biotene. Was that prescribed or over the counter?
    Cath
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited March 2007
    Safeway's actually sells Biotene, and yes it is an OTC medicine. My onc also recommended Club Soda is you get any mouth sores, but luckily I have not had that.

    My appetite is not so good the week after chemo, but picks up a little on the 2nd week. I have lost about 10 pounds, but most people gain with the steroids.

    The Govt of Alberta pays for your wig and a prothesis, just so you know.

    Big hugs...Joni
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