Hello all! I'm starting neoadjuvant chemo tomorrow and I have a whole spectrum of emotions. Nervous, angry, excited(ready to start kicking this cancers butt) and mostly just anxious as the whole process is unknown. I have no idea what to expect. I went to cut my hair yesterday and had a meltdown and couldn't do it. I was trying to take control of the situation and it just didn't pan out. Thank goodness I have a supportive husband who has been amazing. I'm wishing you all the very best. I'm so thankful for this website and all of the women willing to share their wisdom and insight. Taking this one day at a time. Thank yo

Good morning ladies, I start my chemo this Thursday March 16. I'm anxious to get started and get this over with. Right now I am scheduled to get four treatments every three weeks. I'm doing Cytoxan and Taxotere. I think my biggest worry is my nails. I know that's strange but it sounds painful !! I cut my hair this weekend and I hate it!! Of course my husband tells me he loves it and I know that's a lie...he hates short hair. But you gotta love him because he always tries to make me feel better. I look forward to any advice that anyone has. I've armed myself with all kinds of "stuff" that's supposed to make this a little easier. I feel like I've been to class and I am getting ready for my test.

hi ladies

Just had my first weekly Taxol dose of 12. It was OK! I was terrified and took a lorazepam, but they managed everything so well I felt quite calm. Ice cap and Elastogel mitts and slippers (I brought them in in a cool bag) helped. Out in 4 hours. Nb you can't read books or do anything apart from listen to audiobooks or watch movies if you have the mitts on. Have Evonail on nails and lots of pills to take tonorrow

Hope this helps others who were as scared as me!

I've had mild cording. A few sessions with a lymphedema-trained PT took care of most of it. I'm now working out the rest with LE nurses as I also receive scar release.

me too, I had cording. I saw a physio who said my range of movement was good and it would probably go away by itself if I stayed active. Keep doing the exercises they give you

NatraCure Cold Therapy Socks (Small/Medium) (A705-CAT)

This is what I bought for my feet to keep my toenails cold. It comes with four gel packs to freeze so I plan on using two for my hands. I'm just going to use plain old socks to put on my hands with the frozen gel packs inside. My first treatment is on March 16 so I don't really know if this will work or not but it's worth a try.

| 37 answered questions

Hello ladies,

I'm getting ready to start chemo 03/23/17, although I still have to decide on the treatment regimen. I was given the option between AC-TH and TCHP. My MO said she would feel comfortable with either, but leans toward AC-TH. I've read and re-read the study on AC-TH vs. TCH (the one with Perjeta isn't published yet) and I'm definitely leaning toward TCHP. I have an appointment on 03/20/17 with Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston to get a second opinion. I'm hoping their recommendation will help me make a decision. Right now, we're preparing for TCHP every 3 weeks for 6 sessions.

I have my Arctic Cold Caps ready to go and my ex-husband and I are going to do a couple of dry runs this weekend to make sure we know what we're doing. I'm praying it will be worth the trouble, but I'm ordering a wig just in case. I still have to order something for my hands and feet, but I'll do that in the next day or two once I've had a chance to research it a little more.

I also had cording but a couple of sessions with the physical therapist and my range of motion has improved tremendously. I'm hoping it will go away completely with a couple more sessions and the exercises they have me do at home.

Thank you for all of the suggestions to help make this easier, but I better hurry up and get my list together quick! Good luck to all of you!

Carolina_girl63, I've been thinking about you today. I hope it went well. I know we are all very anxious about our first day. Prayers for you all...

hi all, popping in from seven years out with love and encouragement. Had six rounds of TC chemo (taxotere and Cytoxan) three weeks apart, starting in March 2010. First tx is the scariest because you don't know what to expect. I didn't have a port so had IV infusions.

I had long hair that I donated to Locks of Love before starting chemo. It was free and the stylist gave me a real cute bob. Hair started coming out 14 days after first infusion. I remember walking in a stiff spring breeze and my hair floating away like dandelion fluff. Got a buzz cut a few days later, not shaved, to avoid nubs.

Never went completely bald, but kept a fine layer of baby hair. Two splurges: Nioxin shampoo and a satin pillow case. The shampoo was recommended by a friend with a balding DH and the pillowcase felt so good on a sore scalp. I went commando, meaning no wig or scarf. Got a lot of compassionate looks and was only mistaken for a man once LOL. Did wear a baseball cap when I took walks, to avoid sunburn.

Last infusion was in June and by Labor Day weekend (early September), had enough hair to look like something I did on purpose. I have kept it short to this day. So much more easy-care and flattering.

It's been a while but if memory serves, tx cycles went like this: infusion day was a Tues, got IV pre-meds for nausea (dexamethasone) and allergic reaction (steroid). Wore sweatpants as knew I'd get a lot of liquid on-board and would probably need to pee. I was able to take the IV pole into the bathroom.

Post-infusion was buzzed on steroid for a day or two with face & neck red as a beet. Good time to get some housework done. I also played a lot of games here, thus my high post count. Came down after that and felt tired and somewhat queasy but never threw up. Took anti-nausea pills (zofran) as rx, every 4 hours for 4 days (Tues-Fri) then stopped. Sat & Sun were days of rest then back to work on Mon. By mid-week #2, I'd 'turned the corner' to feeling better. Got to feeling good again by week #3, in time for another tx.

I avoided crowds in general and sick people in particular. I didn't let anyone tell me stories that didn't have a happy ending.

Eat what you want, small meals to keep something in your tummy. I ate a lot of mashed potatoes and the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast - was good for upset stomach. I kept saltines on-hand at all times (hunger was not my friend) and drank a lot of weak tea with milk and honey, also ginger ale. Don't be surprised if your taste buds change. I am a coffee drinker but couldn't abide it for a week after a tx. Tried some packaged drink mixes for variety in hydration. They were OK but what I liked one day I didn't like the next. Was fortunate that ice-cold water tasted good to me.

Took tamoxifen for five years with few SE's and now on anastrozole. I still see my onc every six months.

Last, this saying is from the March 2010 chemo group. It's inactive now but we got each other through a lot.

Murphy's Law of Chemo SE Management: "If you don't have something on hand, you will need it exactly when you cannot go out and get it." Corollary: "If you buy it in advance, you will end up not needing it at all."