Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

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  • NBohrer
    NBohrer Member Posts: 2
    edited December 2006

    tlc, how is your port feeling? Mine feels awful - worse than the re-excision and axillary node scars. They implanted it while I was asleep with my re-excision. I guess I am freaking out because there is a foreign metal object inside my body! Went to the surgeon today and he said my breathing sounded ok - sent me for a chest Xray anyway to make sure - but most likely the discomfort is from the swelling and bruising, so I'm holding ice on it hoping this improves soon. I hope I can get to the point where I am not conscious of it.

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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited December 2006
    Hello all:

    Well I made it thru my 1st Chemo yesterday Dec 29. I was really nervous, but everythng turned out fine. I had FEC, which takes about 3 hours to get it all into you the 1st time.

    They put a warm cloth on your hand prior to chemo, and the chairs lay right back if you want to. They also give you these warm blankets right out of an oven, so the experience was not all bad.

    Came home, had a nice supper and an early nite to bed, around 8:30. Was up twice during the nite....lots of wind here, so up at about 1:30 and then at 4:00. I have not felt sick, only a slight headache.

    Going to take it easy today. had a nice brekkie, and took my anti nausea meds, and now go to read a good book, and lay back and relax.

    We'll make it girls.

    Cheers....Joni
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  • tlc60
    tlc60 Member Posts: 83
    edited December 2006
    Nancy:
    My port's feeling good so far 8-) It's a little sore, but I'm doing the ice and tylenol thing and it seems to be taking care of it. It's deffinately bruised and tender though.
    Chemo starts on Wed.!
    Keep on truckin' girls!

    tlc
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  • rkbarreda
    rkbarreda Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2006
    My port is also tender. I am doing the ice thing (although not the greatest), as well as the Ibuprofen, but I definitely know it's there!! I hope that it will be better in the next day or so. They told me about 48 hours or so and it would be better, so that's tomorrow.

    Roberta
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  • rkbarreda
    rkbarreda Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2006

    Hey Stefanie!! I am feeling pretty good after the port. Took a nap yesterday. The port is tender and sore, but hopefully after the 48 hours it will be better. You said it was for you, right? I am going to go out with a friend tonight, so am looking forward to that. Have a great weekend and Happy New Year, Stefanie!

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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2006
    So all of you gals getting the port...are you all having Herceptin or is this just for chemo? The surgeon said it looked as if I had good veins but if I get Herc. then definitely get the port. However, as I mentioned, they couldn't access the veins on my left arm during my MUGA so I'm thinking I'll get one Herc. or not. I have my surgical consult for the port on Tues. I guess I should keep that appt even though I haven't yet met with the onc I'm going to go with. Thanks in advance.
    Amera
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited December 2006
    Had my first chemo Dec 29, it now New Year's Eve, and I feel good still. No Nausea, slight headache yesterday, but nothing to fret about.

    Eating well, drinking loads of water....Take care all.

    Joni
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  • joy1122
    joy1122 Member Posts: 352
    edited December 2006
    Hi,
    I am from the September 06 thread. I just finished my last chemo on 12/20. I had 4 AC and 4 Taxol. It is doable and you girls will get through it. This site was a great resource for me. I just wanted to wish you all good luck. If I can be of any help please PM me, It helps to look at past threads to see what others have went through.

    I am getting my port out on 1/16. It does get easier and you will get use to it. I sometimes forget it is there until I bump it.Believe me,you will be glad to have it once your treatment starts.
    You are all in my prayers. Fist up girls!!
    Joyce
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  • sharon56
    sharon56 Member Posts: 220
    edited December 2006
    I have a port too used it when i was in the hospital for colon cancer surgery ( I have 2 separate cancers BC was found first ) I go for a training session at the cancer clinic at our hospital on Friday and will be taking my 2 teenage daughters , they want to know what happens and have alot of questions . When and if I do lose my hair I am trusting it helps us cope at home. The high school is just down the street so they both come home for lunch and will be my "home nurses" for the winter .
    My hubby is going to come with me next Monday for my actual treatment .
    I am right now concentrating on recovering from abdominal surgery done on Nov 27th . Fatigue is my best bud ..... my head is getting sore from laying on my back , legs are weak but the gut is healed ..... and I suppose that won't change much. Here's hoping all of us have a save winter .

    Anyone here in Colorado ????? Holy cow you have snow and we don't whats up with that ????
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  • carolinin
    carolinin Member Posts: 32
    edited December 2006
    Day 4 Hello...I think I am on the downside of treatment one...did feel quesy day three, took zolfran and felt better by night, went to church today.
    For those ahead of us, suggestions on what to eat? Not much sounds good...thanks for those who responded about supplements. still would like to hear more input. Where does one find "nutritionist"? I live in rural area, about an hour outside a major metro area...
    Thanks!
    Carol in Indiana
    dx11/13 Stage 1 IDIS/DIS triple negative
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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2006
    Well all hospitals have nutritionists on staff. You could ask your oncologist about recommending one as well. You usually keep track of everything you're eating for a week or so and then go over it with them. They can give you suggestions about how to eat more nutritiously and/or to boost your immune system, blood counts, etc. I'm sure they could also give you ideas about what is easy to eat/digest if you feel nauseous from treatment. Good luck.
    Amera
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  • jonimb
    jonimb Member Posts: 900
    edited December 2006
    I've been eating alot of cheese, bananas, and grapes...quaker oat meal in the morning, and lite supper...just eating and snacking all day.

    Hope you feel better...Joni
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  • newvickie
    newvickie Member Posts: 3,939
    edited December 2006
    Hi ladies...just popping you to offer encouragement. I started my chemo in January of last year (2006)...ended April 19th and the time flew by! I was so amazed at my last one that it was truly my last one...my oncologist teased me and told me he could give me a couple more if I wanted...NOT. You will be ok...promise. Drink lots of water...thats a biggie! PM me if you have any questions but know that you can do this! It will be ok.
    Hugs and best wishes to you all
    Vickie
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  • Robbin65
    Robbin65 Member Posts: 251
    edited December 2006
    Boy, I am sure glad I started this post. I see my ono for the first time on Friday (Jan 5th). What do they do for the onotest???

    I had a 3.0 cm bilobed tumor, a low grade 2, PR 3+ & ER 3+, NER2 negitive, 3 negitive sentnial nodes, clear margin surgery. 25 % in stui ductal and 75% invasive ductal. I feel like they got it just as it was going from in stui to invasive. No vascular invasion. I feel like I am done. You can't even tell they did anything. The scar is nothing. No difference in size to the other breast. I am done. I am back to work. It's all over with. It was just a bad dream or something. Why can't they just leave it at that?

    I'll post again after I see my ono on the 5th.
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  • jamie33
    jamie33 Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2006
    Happy new year to all of us! And as healthy of one as we can possibly have! My new onc wants me to start the Herc same time as the Taxol & carboplatin and every 3 weeks. I'm glad I can make this a 12 month not 15 month trip.
    ((Hugs)) to ALL!
    Jamie
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  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited January 2007
    Hi RobbinJaye....for the oncotype test they just send in your slides from your tumor...nothing is done on you THIS time, thank God! Just make sure you or your onc's office checks with your ins co for coverage for this test. I would still do the test to safely opt out of chemo but you sure wouldn't want to be surprised by the bill! I hear the company is WONDERFUL at fighting for ins payments tho. Let us know how it all turns out on Friday.

    Wendy
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  • Nancyab
    Nancyab Member Posts: 276
    edited January 2007

    I believe this is my group to join, as I too am going to get my 1st treatment on Jan 5th. AC+T. I'm having a muga scan on Wed. Hope that's enough time to get the results before the drugs go in. I am really scared about the whole chemo thing and I really felt like chucking it all, after my consult with the oncologist. Not because of her, but because of ugly road ahead of me. I feel very weak emotionally. I had a Bi-lateral Dec 6th and I'm so tired that facing anymore seems impossible. I picked up my wig and I have such bitter feelings towards it, I wanted to throw it away. I guess I'm just now reaching the angry emotion of this journey. Processing each event as it happens has not given me time to get really mad at this crappy disease.

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  • Lynn12
    Lynn12 Member Posts: 1,008
    edited January 2007
    Hi Nancy,

    I haven't started chemo yet either and will be starting sometime in January. I have so many emotions as well. I picked up the book 'There's no place like HOPE'. There are 2 quotes from the book that come to mind: 'The treatment is NOT worse than the disease' and 'I learned very early to look at what chemo, surgery or radiation is going to do FOR me instead of TO me'. Hang in there, we'll make it through!

    Lynn
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  • redbirdgirl
    redbirdgirl Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2007
    Add one more to the list, girls. I am starting chemo tomorrow here in St. Louis. Had a mastectomy on the 7th of last month. Had my MUGA (or RVP as they call it here) and PET scan on Friday. Met my medical oncologist last week. Believe it or not, his name is Mohammed Ali. I love it. I need a fighter in my corner!

    My recovery from the mastectomy has been pretty good. But I am concerned about a pain in my leg-- really want to get a good report from the PET scan tomorrow. Since I am Grade 3, I am concerned about bone mets. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

    Kay

    Stage IIa, 2.2 cm, ER-, PR-, HER+, No nodes.
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  • bdaily
    bdaily Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2007
    Count me in too! I have my first treatment Jan 4th. I'm also scared but tired of thinking about the chemo and just ready to get it done! I have 8 cycles, 4AC and 4 Taxol. I'm so glad my "mentor" from Hopkins told me about this sight . It is so comforting to hook up with others who are going through the same thing at the same time.

    Barb
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  • irelandmb
    irelandmb Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2007

    Question for you all.... My Onoco suggest I take Taxotere and Cytoxan. 4 treatments, 3 weeks apart. I had an Oncotype DX score of 19, gray area for treatment. Can someone answer me why we need more that one drug? I am concerned about Cytoxan and the potential for secondary cancers caused by it. If I have clear nodes, relatively low score on Onco DX, stage 1, grade ii, am I putting myself more in risk for Lukemia or something else by taking cytoxan? Could I not just get Taxotere? Sorry, confused, concerned,wondering. Any input would be appreciated.:)

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  • Lynn12
    Lynn12 Member Posts: 1,008
    edited January 2007
    In very non technical terms, I think one drug gets the cancer cells if they are growing and the other gets them if they are dormant. Something like that.

    I too am going to have Cytoxan/Taxotere, 6 treatments 3 weeks apart. I'm stage IIb so am not in the gray area for treatment. chemocare.com gives good descriptions of all the chemo drugs.

    Lynn
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  • ERS2006
    ERS2006 Member Posts: 40
    edited January 2007
    Hi everyone...
    I start my chemo this Friday at 8:30...They told me I'll be there for at least 5 hrs for the cytoxan, taxotere and herceptin infusions...They gave me quite a few prescriptions...anti-nausea & anti-anxiety pills, sleeping pills, pain pills and steroids...hopefully that will do it...I'll bring a portable dvd player and a few movies to get me through...yikes...
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  • StefH
    StefH Member Posts: 97
    edited January 2007
    Good luck to everyone starting in January! I started in December, and really, it's not fun, but it is do-able. You can do it! I found it really helpful to browse some of the older chemo threads to see how the girls progressed through their treatments.

    As far as nutrition, the American Cancer Society puts out a really good booklet called something like "Nutrition for the Cancer Patient During Treatment". It's long and very detailed. They will send it to you for free, or you can stop by your local office and pick it up. Also, my local office gave me a form to get a free case of Boost every month. My doctor had to sign it, and that was it! It really helps on those days when you just aren't hungry.
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  • DMINFL
    DMINFL Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2007
    Dear IrelandMB-

    I just finished up 4 rounds of TC. My Oncotype was 29 and I was stage IIa. I had a microscopic cancer in one node.

    My Oncotype score made my decision to do chemo easier for me. The odds of leukemia was a huge concern for me.

    My doctor switched my plan from AC to TC and I am glad of it. I ached like hell and slept days 4-6, but never got sick or nauseous. Lost most of my hair, but not all. Now that it is over, I can't believe it went so fast.

    Good Luck and let me know if you have any questions about TC side effects.

    Dawn
    On the Gulf side of FL
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  • tlc60
    tlc60 Member Posts: 83
    edited January 2007
    Well tomorrow is my big day - my first AC treatment. Today I went and met with a chemo education person from my onc's office and she filled me in on all the details. She didn't make it seem so bad - everything is managable with drugs! I got all my prescriptions filled (compazine, zofran, emla cream, and ativan) so I am ready as I will ever be for tomorrow. It is all a bit scary though - I went to see the infusion room, and I just saw sad looking old bald ladies! I can see my job is cut out for me to liven that place up!!
    Have a good night all!

    tlc
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  • Nancyab
    Nancyab Member Posts: 276
    edited January 2007

    Thank you for reminding me that WE CAN do this, all of us. Someone else told me to look at chemo as just a dose of "insurance". That helped too.

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  • Amera
    Amera Member Posts: 452
    edited January 2007
    Good luck tomorrow TLC. I am anxious to hear how it goes. How about a "F--K Cancer" hat to liven the place up? A friend sent me one but do not think I'll be sporting it at the grocery store or treatment center. It makes me laugh though.
    Amera
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  • redbirdgirl
    redbirdgirl Member Posts: 5
    edited January 2007

    Good news and bad (not so bad, really) news. Went in for my first chemo this morning and the dr decided to put it off a week as they had not gotten me in for a port yet and my veins are subpar (I've had a lot of complaints over the years) but on the good, good, good side, the results of my petscan were fine. Whew. Since I still am having the leg pain, they are doing a bone scan, but I really don't think they are thinking mets. so big whew.

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  • irelandmb
    irelandmb Member Posts: 33
    edited January 2007
    Hi Lynn and DMinfl,
    Thanks for your feedback, it helps a lot to know others getting the same drugs.
    My concern is that with a oncotype score of 19 and a reason of "all guns, because you are young" for chemo. I am more concerned about what this stuff might give me , not what it might potenially cure. Sorry to sound like a downer here, but I am very concerned. Anyone have stats on the long term affects of Taxotere and Cytoxan and the likelihood of getting a secondary cancer from it?
    Cheers....
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