April 2017 Chemo

Interesting-your port is in your neck? Mine is in the left breast (opposite the cancer

Hi all,

First chemo session in the bags, I treated it like the first day of school, had my backpack all ready to go and filled with stuff to keep me occupied, magazines, laptop, phone, kindle, etc. Packed small snacks as well and lots of water. The six hours went by fairly quickly. No complications and I was able to drive myself home. Went shopping with my daughter today, came home and cooked dinner and baked some muffins for breakfast tomorrow as I am experiencing some nausea and thought those might help. The steroids have been the worst part with the sleeplessness but this is day 3 and the last for them. I also had the Neulasta on-pro applied after chemo which kicked in 27 hours after chemo. It just felt like a small bee sting when they put it on my stomach. It took about 45 minutes for it to dispense and notifies you by a beeping noise when it begins and ends, then just peel off and done, easy.

Momojcbc, the surgery wasn't too awful, I did stay in the hospital two nights just to get pain under control. Don't try to tough it through, take the meds as directed it is better to avoid waiting until pain gets to bad. The most pain was from the lymph node biopsy. I had a lot of swelling under the arm and pain there. Use lots of pillows for support while trying to sleep on your back. Each day was better than the one before. I felt great after just two weeks or so. The first tissue expander fill was just 10 days after surgery and that was a little rough because of overfill. I initially had 200 cc fill on surgery day and the first fill in the office was 120 cc. That night I felt like I was hit by a mack truck, Chest and back pain and a major headache that night. I recommend taking it slow on the fills at first if anyone will be doing TE's. The second fill we dropped down to 80 cc and that was definitely more tolerable. My TE is under the pec muscle so that is sore after the fills.

Lordhelpmetoo, glad to hear someone is on the same regimen. My first chemo was tuesday and I type this now because I woke up with nausea and the steroids have been keeping me up at night (3:55 am here now). Glad this is the last night for the steroids. I started getting nausea about 12 hours after chemo along with lower stomach cramping. Taking the nausea meds and those are working out good so far. Did you experience any SE's? What about hair loss? They told me to expect this about two weeks after chemo.

My first chemo was yesterday. It was really long, 8 hours, because everything was on a slow drip I guess in case I had any reaction. I had only slept like 2-3 hours the night before so I am going to try to get more sleep next time hopefully. I thought I was getting Benedryl and could just sleep at the treatment center but they said Benedryl wasn't part of the meds so I must have misunderstood that. I couldn't have slept anyway because they are changing iv bags every hour/hour and a half, and asking you every 15 minutes if you are okay.

I have intense soy intolerance and also a less intense dairy intolerance which I'm vigilent about because gastro reactions are miserable. But thankfully I can eat a minuscule amount of real butter on toast in the morning a few times a week. For a treat before chemo yesterday morning (and because I have been wanting to eat everything I can get my hands on) I made a german pancake for breakfast but went overboard with the butter topping and made myself sick the entire three hours before I had to leave for the appointment at 9 a.m. If it wouldn't have been for that, I could have eaten a more regular schedule during the time I was there. After a few hours when the pancake/butter symptoms subsided, I did start drinking a lot of water, a small peanut butter sandwich and a banana in the afternoon. No problems at all with reactions to the chemo drugs.

After the chemo around 5 p.m. I went to dinner with my mom. Grilled fish and plain baked potato, but that's how I usually eat at restaurant because of the soy intolerance (soy is in so much of our food.)

I had a mildly uncomfortable gas bubble that could have been left over from the soy reaction that morning, the late lunch/dinner or the chemo meds, who knows. But I didn't want it to continue and get worse so I drank about 4 ounces of apple juice, took a stool softener and walked the dog and that really helped it disperse. I read somewhere on here to stomp your feet while walking/running to help move that gas bubble, and I did and I think that helped too.

Like everyone else, having trouble sleeping because of the steroids. But the long-lasting nausea meds I received during the chemo are still in effect. So absolutely no problems with nausea or vomiting right now.

Oh, and I gained two pounds. Trying not to gain too much but if I do, I do. It was really hard but I lost about 30 pounds over the last year and a half and I really don't want to regain any of it back. We'll see.

Getting a brain MRI today, scary, and another ultrasound because the doctors still can't explain the positive pregnancy tests. They are focused on the pituitary gland and the ovaries still. The medical oncologist I see here, the medical oncologist I saw for a second opinion at Cleveland Clinic, who I guess is still involved, and the gynecologic oncologist all talked to each other and no one has seen this before. They think it has to do with the breast cancer but told me honestly none of them know.

Got my genetics results back and it's hard to explain the details but basically it was all good news. Negative for any inherited cancers. So just normal screenings as I age on most things except for breast cancer which they will always be extra vigilant about.

Hello everyone Rikki320 here

I just had my first treatment of AC chemo yesterday.. been a little groggy. So far no queezy stomach. I eat in little spells to keep things down better.. little snacks.. it really makes a big difference having the port in..the process went so much smoother.. this is day 2 for me and I'm feeling ok..not 100%but ok. I hope everyone is doing as best to be expected. This site is helping me cope with the emotional aspect of having breast cancer.. my motto is "STICK AND MOVE.. JUST KEEP IT MOVING"

Hi all. I am new to this site. My journey started in November with my mammogram. Finally, after biopsies, surgery and test results back I am scheduled to have chemo starting next Tuesday. I am a stage 1. It has been helpful reading the comments on here. Helping me get ready for this next chapter in my life. I don't know all of the abbreviations yet...or how to post the underline with all of my health info. but, I'll learn. I am encouraged to read everyone's updates and I welcome any information on how to get ready for chemo and what I can expect. Things to eat during chemo...after chemo. Do you drink green tea? or coffee? I do...can I continue during chemo?

Thanks.

well my news for the night is that I cut my hair tonight really short. My hair was almost long enough to sit on. Now it's about an inch long. Neck is really cold tonight!

MO said the hair will come out with my next chemo

Welcome Dbowie2017

I'm new here as well. I can't figure out how to have all my info on the underscript..I would like to put a picture in play with my name. I had my first chemo treatment yesterday.. it went smoothly it was recommended that I take a snack bag,plenty of water, and a book to read. So if u figure it out about how to post the underscoring with the info on your status please:..Talk soon ok

Hi Rikki! I started to look around on the site and found all of the abbreviations list, which was helpful. So I'll search a little more for posting our info. The chemo food list is helpful. I'm glad you are feeling mostly ok after your treatment. Maybe the treatment will give you an adverse feeling to smoking....to help you stop? Anyhow, thanks for saying hello. All the best for continued well being

Hi Momojcbc,

My plan changed just today from surgery first to chemo first. Since you wrote your post on March 26, how are you doing? Hair loss and when? I'm starting chemo next week and then every two weeks. Do I get a two week window until the second chemo session before it comes out? How was yours? My doctor is starting a trial of his own with the cold caps that apparently suspend the fast-growing hair cells and thus, may not fall out. Need to know more as it has to be lots of good and almost no bad for me to consider it. Otherwise, I'll do hats, no wigs. Wondered how it's gone for you.

JLbindex: I received a port. During the port surgery, I did get put under. It went fairly smoothly. A lot of soreness and bruising but I am so glad I have it. I had to have a dye put in for an MRI yesterday and instead of my arm they used my port.

I have to worry about being able to drive myself to appointments, treatments too.

The hospital might have a free ride program. You would have to let them know in advance. Or there might be volunteers in your area from the American Cancer Society that offer free rides to and from treatments and procedures and surgeries.

I'm fairly certain you will not be allowed or capable of driving yourself home though from the port surgery.

Rikki320 - I'm a smoker, too. I've received conflicting opinions about it from the general surgeon who did the lumpectomy (must quit now!), the oncologist (try to cut down) and the 'teacher' (we'll re-visit this as we go along)...nobody else says much, they give lots of hugs!

I'm hoping that the chemo will make them taste really bad! Alas, I've used smoking for many years to settle my nervous stomach and nausea...I tried the zyban (?) years ago and that sent me into a dark place! Very weird for me...I'll need to go 'cold turkey'. Good thoughts and prayers for you!

Utjoy, you're my kind of woman--no biting or f-bombs but wanting to. I laughed out loud and you that's good for all of us here. Seems we're in about the same place. I had labs yesterday (yay, I don't have have AIDS or Hepatitis so that's a bonus that I wasn't checking for), but have some stupid elevated AlkPhos so now I get to have a bone scan (just another four-hour appt), then an echocardiogram, then hopefully first chemo next Wed.

DazzlingEagle, thank you. I do everything for myself but I'm using this experience as a learning opportunity to allow people into my life, ask for help, and let a few help me here and there. I'm really working on that. I ride to or from once in awhile may be something I reach out for. I may even Uber or Left in once in awhile. And if I just ask, a friend or two will jump in. I also see how strong you are--you're going to be one step ahead of me in this and someone I can look up to, I can tell already. Working all day after a troubling night and chemo--kudos, strong woman!

Decided against a port as it just seems like overkill for eight chemo rounds. Also, want to only ask for a ride when needed--don't want to add this one in so early. I also have to keep weighing costs as my part is always 20% (after my $6,000 deductible) and we know how fast that adds up. Not the total reason, but a small part.

This is a part-time job between managing appts, tests, bills, phone calls, now chemo. Blessings to any of you that are trying to manage this while working full-time--truly, your stress must be even bigger than mine (I teach only two days a week and work through the Internet the rest).

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Chemo yesterday was a breeze-except I'm diabetic, so the steroids pushed my blood sugar high yesterday and today. Had a weird episode of severe chills -bout an hour and a half after chemo-shaking hard, teeth chattering, the whole nine yards. Hot tea and bundled up, and I was fine in about 1/2 hour

I know I should go for a walk, but just am not feeling it-but it's the only thing that will bring my sugars down. On the bright side, had no trouble sleeping, as high blood sugar makes you sleepy.

So far, so good! I'm planning on trying to work through this at a high stress, long hours job; just taking the first few weeks off to adjust to the chemo. Hoping the SEs won't be too bad

Wishing every the best