Starting Chemo May 2017

I was supposed to have my second AC treatment yesterday, but due to my hospital stay they've delayed it till Tuesday. I'm grateful! Give me a few more days to recover, and build up some white blood cells. I'm actually feeling quite well. Not 100%, but much better. I even have some semblance of an appetite.

My hair is about half gone, and I'll have hubby shave the rest off tonight since it's making such a mess. This is my first day wearing a scarf, so I made it a very colorful one. I even put on makeup for the first time in awhile, thought I'd enjoy my lashes while I still have them. I can tell the eyebrows won't last long, because I went to pluck one and it just slid easily out of my skin.

after 4 AC rounds I still have about 1/3 of my hair so I look like I have mange which is so attractive.

Had been able to hang around the house or outside around the house without a wig or scarf as I had hair to some extent covering my head but most of it fell out Tuesday in the shower.... so now I wear something when I leave the house. Hate this part of the journey. Just makes me feel like my battle with cancer is no longer my news to share or not share. Sig

lovepugs77 - best of luck!!! And drink water to flush out the toxins!

lovespug77 - did your center have you chew ice during the 15 mins of red devil?? Supposed to help reduces chances of mouth sores ?

Started AC on 15th May - feeling fine - but have had two bad migraines - and a weird 'constriction' in my head.... but apart from that - I'm doing great - no real nausea (5 days in)

I hope that everyone is managing well! Now that I am 9 days out of my first AC, most of the side effects have subsided, except my bone pain has just kicked in. Ouch! I guess I just have to grin and bear it, but I am really dreading my hour-long commute home. It's a real pain in the ass! Good luck tomorrow, Irwells50!

ParakeetsRule, is it compazine? I have some of that, but haven't taken it yet. I'm glad you feel human again!

My port tube does not go over my collarbone.

So glad to hear recent chemo starters are doing better and/or well! Had my first AC Chemo treatment today. Finished at 2:00 and as of right now (8:00pm) I'm feeling pretty darn good!

For those of you who haven't started yet: I had been told that the entire appt today would take 2.5-3 hours. Not true. I was at the Oncology Clinic for 5 hours. First I had to give blood, then wait for the results, go through an assessment and meet with the nurse practitioner. Only after that could I sign in at the Treatment Room which was packed to capacity at 10:00. I waited about 30" for a space and then got lucky - I had the best chemo tech I could ask for (named Jeremy) who carefully explained every step of my treatment.

First he hooked my port up to an IV. I received a combo steroid (dexamethadone) and anti-nausea med (Aloxi), then Pepcid for stomach upset, then another anti-nausea/anti-vomiting med (Emend) - along with saline solution to keep me hydrated. I was also drinking gobs of water and sucking on dry mouth lozenges and hard candy and rinsing with water/salt/baking soda mix (to hopefully prevent mouth sores). Then I got the A chemo (Adriamycin) which is red. Jeremy told me something that I hadn't known - the red will show in my urine so don't panic! And I told him something he hadn't heard that I learned from the BCO community: chemo patients refer to it as The Red Devil. He got a chuckle out of that! After the Adriamycin I got the C chemo (Cytoxan). All together, I spent 3.5 hrs in the treatment room. It didn't seem that long and I didn't feel anything. The port worked perfectly. The lidocaine worked perfectly. Finished a book I brought with me. Nothing deep, a "fluff" type mystery.

The anti-nausea pre-treatment meds that were given to me are supposed to be long-lasting. According to Jeremy, one lasts about 2 days and the other, a week. Of course, for some of us this isn't enough to ensure no nausea. So at the first sign I'm to take an anti-nausea pill that was prescribed for me (Compazine) and continue taking it for 7 days. If I still need more or have insomnia I'm to supplement the Compazine with Lorazepam, which I've also been prescribed. 5-10mg of Compazine to be taken every 6-8 hours with .5-1 mg Lorazepam staggered 3-4 hours after each Compazine dose.

The side effect that I am dreading most is all-over bone pain. The day after treatment (tomorrow) I will go back for a Neulasta shot, which stimulates bone marrow to produce white blood cells. Unfortunately, this hurts! I guess it's kind of like growing pains that kids go through during growth spurts, but this hurts everywhere - back, hips, legs, arms, ribs, the entire skeleton. To lessen the side effect, I've been told to take a Claritin (or another 24-hour antihistamine) 30" before I get the Neulasta shot and to continue taking it for as long as I have bone pain (7-10 days). Tylenol and Advil can supplement the antihistamine. Don't ask me why antihistamines work. I talked with a teacher sitting next to me who is on the same chemo regimen as me but 2 months ahead. She said she did everything that was suggested and she still had bad bone pain. She literally spent 3-4 days following treatment in bed with heating pads. Said it felt like the worst flu she ever had! She recommended acupuncture. I guess the bone pain goes hand in hand with the other side effect that seems to affect everyone - fatigue. I hope that if I have both SEs they happen at the same time!

Anyway, that's my story for Day #1. Other side effects I have to watch for: Chills, Fever, Constipation, Diarrhea and more - but so far, so good. Oh, and Jeremy warned me about one side effect of the steroid that was given to me prior to treatment today - ENERGY! Like others have reported here, he said that I may not be able to sleep tonight! So I'm charging my iPad up and preparing to binge watch all the shows that I've missed!

Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts and wishes. I honestly believe I could feel them lifting me up today! ❤💕 And I send them back to all of you. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'm as prepared as I can be. And for now I am grateful for a first day of chemo that could not have gone better.

P.S. Parakeets Rule: I have a 2inch incision at the base of my neck right side, but my port is placed well below my collarbone, more in line with my right armpit.

Good Morning Ladies,

I've been a bit of a lurker the last few months and felt that it was time to join the conversation. The decision was made to start chemo so that spurred my choice. I was diagnosed back in February and had a BMX with tissue expanders placed in April. My oncotype came back at a 27 this week and my MO made the call that AC+T was the next step in this journey. I have my port placed on the 23rd and my first round of AC on the 26th. I'm happy to know there is a group of fabulous people to walk this walk with. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I hope to add my voice to the conversation.

Saw my doctor at 8:30, then waited an hour and a half for them to take back to chemo. Had premeds of steroids and some antinausea med, and now they've started the Taxotere. Said it should take 15 minutes, then the Cytoxin. The chair is comfy, and has a heater and vibrator

Oh, my surgeon didn't use the jugular. He used my subclavian vein, so that might explain why mine doesn't go over the collarbone.

Hi, Everyone,

My Chemo started Wednesday, May 17th TC. 4 cycle 3 weeks apart.

I have read everyone's posts and decided I should share as well.

My chemo was 5 premeds, Aloxi, Benadryl,Decadron, Pepcid, and Emend. Then, Taxotere and Cytoxan. It took 6 hours because I have the dignicap, in hopes to save my hair.

My surgery was March 28th; Bilateral MX and Lymph dissection on right because of 2 positive sentinel nodes, one of them was extra-nodal and larger than my tumors. Sentinel nodes on left was clear, but they removed 4 of them.

The plan was just 5 weeks of rather complicated radiation, and then more hormone treatment (I have been on arimidex since before my surgery, just stopped it the day of chemo), but my second opinion MO definitely wanted me on Taxotere and cytoxan, or AC +T ; my MO reluctantly agreed with TC. So we started the next day, Wednesday May 17th. What a whirlwind. No time to obsess at all. My Oncology breast surgeon is also on board with chemo and told me he was supporting me on that.

I was on my way driving home when the Nuelesta began the injection, but it was no problem at all.

I have no issues, except a bit foggy. I ate some pork spareribs without the spices last night when I got in, It was the day after, and it caused a bit of queasy feeling, but didn't last long. I have tingling in my mouth, and sensitivity there as well. I feel a bit weird on my feet and fingers. Like maybe I might be starting a bit of neuropathy, I will make sure I do the ice on my feet and hands next time, The nurse didn't think it was necessary. But, I would rather be safe than sorry, since this is all supposed to be cumulative.

I have a cocktail they prescribed for mouth sores, it is lidocaine, benydril and maalox, I swish it around and swallow 5-10 mg 3-4 times a day before meals and bedtime. My mouth is still a bit sore though. I also have tried the soda and water whenever it starts to bother me. It seems water makes it worse, but black coffee doesn't. I am still trying to drink lots of water.

I plan to get the biotin, thanks for the suggestion

I really have no other issues, except today I am a bit more tired than yesterday. I slept well every night. So, 1 down and 3 more to go!

My 2nd opinion MO is still making more studies regarding my HER-2 status. I was HER-2 +3 (strong positive) prior to surgery and arimidex treatment, and now suddenly it is HER-2+0 (negative) Same test. the FISH was equivocal. That seems to be an issue with him and he is going to track down the cause of the sudden change and get back to me on that. So my treatment might change.

I did not take the claritin the day of the nuelesta( yesterday) but I took one today, I forgot. I hope I don't have that pain.

Thanks everyone for sharing, so we know what we can do to ward of some of these S.E. and to know what we are feeling is normal for us.

I'll let you know tomorrow, lovepugs77

lovepugs77, YES! I've had two Taxol + Herceptin infusions, and I'm so hungry the day after! I also have lots of energy for the next two days, and then I hit a wall. It must be the steroids. I am definitely thankful for those two high-energy days, though!

I had my 2nd AC chemo on 18 May ( half way done of AC regimen yayyy!!) and it went faster than the last time.
As far as side effects are concerned , the first day of infusion was yucky , feeling drained out and energy less but it was still better than the last one.
Today is 2nd day after infusion and i feel little less side effects as compared to first infusion ( knock on wood)
The things that i have been doing constantly that i think is helping : drinking lots of water , having dexamethasone right in the morning (for 3 days) , claritin , biotene mouthwash , going for walk and eating whenever i can.
Apart from that i am keeping my brain busy , doing puzzles , office work and now will try to start mediation as well.
Wishing and sending all the positive vibes to all of you who are about to start or undergoing infusions , have less side effects and great quality of life

P.S My hair has started to come out so got a short pixie cut today . I guess i am going to loose all in coming week.I will be wearing wig when out in office or any gathering , other than that caps /scarfs at home