Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited August 2017

    Hi teaspoons - did your nausea last more than 4-5 days? I'm taking 2 meds and woke up this morning, day 4, thinking I was going to vomit. I'm waiting for a callback to see if I can do anything else for this nausea.

    I am grateful not to have bone pain rither

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  • SusanGA
    SusanGA Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2017

    well it looks like I will be joining this club. My Oncotype was 23 and being an incurable optimist I asked for a Mamaprint expecting low risk but no luck. So I begin TC on August 25th. I am seventy years old and have only concerns about long term effects. I have so many plans for the next twenty years. I'm terrified of permanent peripheral neuropathy and chemo brain. So obviously the only thing I can do anything about is the PN. I'm ready to ice but can't find a thread that explains it detail by detail. I am wondering what types of mits and booties ( I like elatagel) how many do I need. Do I need dry ice or regular ice. What to wear underneath. When to begin and end. If I wasn't so overwhelmed with this I would try cold capping. I am at an NCI hospital but they are just not helpful with this stuff (no freezer) .

    Any help is much appreciated. Sorry to be such a detail person

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  • Subielover
    Subielover Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2017

    I totally understand about the diarrhea!!!!!

    I've had two chemo treatments now and it's been relatively the same each time. First 3 to 4 days... Constipated big time. Then montezumas revenge without the vomiting for two or three days. Nasty stuff. I drank healthy smoothies daily the first time with loads of fibre and was still constipated. I think I'll try something a bit more powerful next time. And the belly gas is hanging in there longer this 2nd treatment. Absolutely no control on it either! I've totally let go of letting it bother me. I just try to keep a safe distance from people:-)

    I've also given up on being surprised by anything my body decides to do. It seems to have a mind of its own through this. I'll trust it and listen to it and try my best to help myself heal. Whatever it takes.

    I am sending healing hugs to all of you out there!!

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  • nowaldron
    nowaldron Member Posts: 94
    edited August 2017

    Hi,

    When I had my port placement I only had a local. I did not want general anesthesia and the surgeon was fine with that. It was a piece of cake. That was 17 months ago and I have not had any problems with it at all. Best and hugs!

    Nancy

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  • sweetp6217
    sweetp6217 Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2017

    Well, I'm off to the after hours care to have a look at my tiny scratch that turned into a red blotchy area the size of an apple. This better not derail my chemo

    Why did this take an entire week to show up?

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017
    Welcome Lumpie, Mom-mom, Icedgem, SusanGa & , Subielover! Glad you found our group but sad you are dealing with BC, and especially for those facing it again.

    Mom-mom, I'm also doing 4 rounds of taxotere/cytoxan, 3 weeks apart. It's different for everyone, but so far, it has been easier than I expected. Some stomach issues and lack of appetite day 1-6 or so my first session plus fatigue later, but I'm hopeful to minimize gas/cramping/some D by avoiding fiber and drinking only lactose free dairy next time (Friday). Chemo was also my decision - I'm in that "consider chemo" range based on size (5.5mm and 2.0mm), but triple negative so recurrence risk is high. I don't regret my decision to do it, even when I was having SE.

    Iced gem, glad to hear you are able to prepare for all this mentally and physically, even if it isn't registering emotionally yet. I think our minds protect us until we are able to face it spiritually.... I thought I was handling it well talking with my family etc, than cried on and off throughout my 1 hour chemo ed session. They kept asking what's wrong (of course the pharmacist had 2 students with her that day, plus my MOs nurse sat in 😳), and all I could say was it just became real for me. You are strong and will be able to deal with it when's the time comes! I hope you have lots of supportive friends and family, and know that we are all here for you too!

    Teaspoons, glad to hear you are doing well after your first session! Maybe a cross body bag would stay away from your port area? I use a tiny BC pillow under seatbelt, but am going to check target for the padded kind that Velcro on the strap so it doesn't move around as I drive.

    SusanGa, I am on TC too and icing to prevent neuropathy. I didn't buy gloves/booties since they don't last the full hour needed for infusion... will find and repost what I do. My hubby and MO convinced me to try capping (I HATE being cold), and I'm very glad I did. If you are interested in more info, let me know. It seems like an overwhelming amount of info, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you try it. And not anywhere near as awful as I thought it would be.

    SweetP, hope the scratch clears up quickly!


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  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited August 2017

    Sweetp, I had a tiny little cut before I started chemo, and it took a week to heal, turned pink, but did not get bigger. I hope after hours care was able to take care of it!

    I think the hydrogen peroxide mouthwash I got, Colgate Peroxl, is finally healing my mouth sores. I did not have to take ibuprofen this morning for them.

    And my port placement was no problem-I was totally out due to my anxiety.


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  • Seaster
    Seaster Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2017

    Hi Ladies, I was wide awake for my port placement. I kept waiting for the knock out drugs,but never happened! They do numb the area,so you don't feel anything. The Dr. talked to me thru the whole procedure. I was sorefor a day or 2 after. My seat belt hits right where the port is. My hubby bought a furry seat belt cover and that has helped a lot!

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017

    SusanGa, I'd check with your MOs office to see what your infusion center provides for icing hands and feet. Normally, mine gives large ziplock bags filled with crushed ice to put your hands and feet on top of, and additional ice in bags to put on top of nails. I assume they also give towels so that your skin isn't directly on the ice bag - but a pair of socks and thin gloves (or another pair of socks for hands) are perfect too. That way you don't have to bring anything. Unfortunately the ice machine is broken at my center, so I'm bringing lg ziplock bags filled with water and frozen in a flat sheet until the ice machine is fixed.

    They only had me ice during the taxotere infusion (1 hour). I made sure to use the restroom before they started it so I didn't need to take a long break, but I think it'd be fine to pull a hand out and quickly turn a page if reading.

    Seaster, thanks for your post about the fuzzy seatbelt pad helping! I just ordered a sheepskin one on amazon... reviewers said it was cushy enough to make pacemaker and incisions comfortable &it's longer than most, so it should work well.

    Also, thank you to whoever rec'd the Biotene sensitive formula toothpaste! My cinnamon crest and sensodyne mint both tasted so bitingly strong that I hated brushing. The Biotene is a very mild, sweeter flavor (like mild gum, while the others were like mouthwash). SOOO much better 😄


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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited August 2017

    Subie - I found the constipated is my big problem for my second infusion and my appetite didn't get better on day 10 since I have constipation. I am hoping on my third infusion things would not get worse than my second infusion.

    Sweetp - hope your cut gets better soon, I know how much every little thing can turn into big trouble when we are on chemo, that's what really scare me.

    Susan welcome to this club, we are all here to fight this battle together.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited August 2017

    Subie - I found the constipationis my big problem for my second infusion and my appetite didn't get better on day 10 since I have constipation. I am hoping on my third infusion things would not get worse than my second infusion.

    Sweetp - hope your cut gets better soon, I know how much every little thing can turn into big trouble when we are on chemo, that's what really scare me.

    Susan welcome to this club, we are all here to fight this battle together.

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  • Kritti
    Kritti Member Posts: 23
    edited August 2017

    welcome new ladies, sorry you're here 😕. But this is a great resource and these ladies here are awesome!

    BTW - not sure if y'all have heard of them or not, but definitely check it out. It's free house cleanings for women with cancer. I applied and am getting four 2-hour cleanings! I was so excited! I would have been grateful for 1, but was floored by 4! I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere. .. but y'all need to check it out! I just asked my nurse navigator to send in their info confirming my diagnosis by forwarding her an email they sent me.

    Cleaning for a Reason

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  • sweetp6217
    sweetp6217 Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2017

    It's late, but I have two doses of Bactrim DS that will hopefully knock out this infection from a tiny cut. The doctor said I'm treating it for MRSA, but I'm not saying it's MRSA. (Then why say it?). No bloodwork, just a kick the fender inspection of the area on my ankle.

    My dear hubby saw that I was frustrated with my hair falling out; I had a good little pile going that would start a bonfire in no time flat. So he got out the clippers that I usually use on him and offered to do the honors. Mind you, the ACS wig lady didn't mention the possibility of them doing it. 20 minutes or so later, I had a #1 trim. Then I hopped in the shower and it felt pretty nice with little hair in the way. Smallest spot of shampoo to use, not what I'm used to. Turns out I have a birthmark that was hidden by my hair all these years.

    Back to a short work day tomorrow.

    Hugs All!

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017

    sweetp, glad you were able to get to urgent care and get started on antibiotics. Are you also checking your temp twice a day, just to keep an eye on whether the broad spectrum antibiotics are taking care of the infection? They never said what my temp came from, but I think the oral antibiotics were either not the wrong kind for what I had going or started too late, and thats why I ended up in the ER in the middle of the night 🤒. IV antibiotics the next day took care of things quickly tho. Hopefully you wipe those pesky germs out pronto without any other issues!!!

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  • sweetp6217
    sweetp6217 Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2017

    Willow22, the doctor went straight past antibiotics to an antifungal. My temp hasn't risen above 99 in I don't know how long, so I'm good there My normal temp is under 98.5. Thanks for the good wishes. It probably looks worse than it really is, so it sounded like he was prescribing the Bactrim DS to cover the bases. Side note: the practice I go to has an off hours office that doesn't cost an arm and a leg like immediate care.

    The one time I thought I would be OK with immediate care, I had to wait over two hours, got my blood drawn, was paying my expensive bill and they stopped me from leaving. "Can you drive?" comforting words after being told that you only needed pepcid AC. "Go to the ER now, Your WBS count is through the roof"... turns out my gallbladder was ready to go. That was 11 years ago. No more "immediate care" for me. 2 hour wait while I'm in pain and apparently in shock? To be fair, I had previous gastric issues and thought it was more of the same.

    Sorry that you had to go to the ER. That had to be terrible. Super hugs

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited August 2017

    Sweetp - glad to know you are better now, take good care yourself. Sometime I'm so lost especially come to our situation. 😓😓😓

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  • salasila
    salasila Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2017

    So .. I had my treatment #1 on Thursday, 8/10. I thought I'd wait a few days before writing up about my experience because I'm still waiting on SEs to hit. But its day 5 and I have yet had anything eventful happened, so I thought I'm just going to log about Thursday.

    I had gone to the treatment center at 9am and applied the topical lidocaine cream on my port as I was getting ready to hit the road. Got there on time and the girls started getting me ready and we started right on time at 9.30am. Saline and Herceptin went without a glitch. Then the Aloxi (for nausea), Dexa (steroid) and Benadryl and then Taxol. I had a reaction to the Taxol - felt my chest and throat tightened up and apparently my face turned beet red and was swollen. The nurses and doctor immediately attended to me - they flushed out and added Benadryl (I guess?) and then let me rest for 30mins before starting up again. I slept (really good) pretty much on and off the rest of the afternoon. The doctor gave me a prescription for steroids to take the day before and after treatment, going forward. Now, during treatment (and days before and after, actually), I drank a LOT of water and I peed, maybe at least, 3 times while having the infusion. I don't know if this helped but I had no side effects at all - no nausea, no pain, no fatigue, no loss of appetite. I also made sure to walk at least 3 miles everyday (except the day of treatment). I slept good, ate good and felt normal. I'm at work today and so far, it has been fine. I did notice a slightly blurrier vision, tho .... not sure if my dry eyes are acting up or if it is a side effect? Hoping the uneventfulness last through the week .... Oh and I spent about 6 hours that first day of treatment. The nurse told me the next rounds should not take longer than 2 1/2hrs. I'm counting on it - because I have my infusions worked in during lunch hour on my Thursdays for the next 3 months ...


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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited August 2017

    Sala - I'm so glad you have a good taxol infusion I read so much negative things about that treatment I got really scared last night.

    Keep it up girl I will join you on the taxol infusion in a month. I still have 2 rounds of AC to do.

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017

    kritti, thanks for the awesome cleaning resource... I hadn't heard of that!

    SweetP, that is so awesome you have after hours care at your own clinic!!! I hope the red area is healed quickly so no delays in chemo schedule.

    Salasila, glad your reaction to the taxol was managed so well and you could continue it, and WOOHOO on no side effects!!!! That is wonderful news 😊

    Im in the middle of my 3rd week after chemo and feeling terrific, so I'm other than a little fatigue later in the day.... getting lots done and enjoying going out before my next round this Friday.

    Hugs and prayers for everyone on this thread, especially those we haven't heard from in a while,

    Willow

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  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited August 2017

    Ladies,

    What kind of Claritin do we need for the Neulasta?I read somewhere it was a specific version of Claritin but I don't remember....


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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017

    rebekah, my MO said regular, once per day claritin - make sure it is not claritin-D with decongestant added. I think there are a couple different forms of it, but they all have the same dose od medicine. My hubby bought me the rapid dissolve tabs to put under your tongue, and then my daughter gave me another box of tablets you swallow that she takes for her seasonal allergies.

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  • sunnyjay
    sunnyjay Member Posts: 238
    edited August 2017

    I had my 2nd infusion on Thursday and so far my SEs have been similar to my first infusion: hot flashes throughout the day, bloated and/or gassy (I take tummy drops or crystallized ginger), nausea (I take the prescribed compazine whenever I feel nausea coming on), minor constipation (Dulcolax is helping). Yesterday was day 4 and the bone pain started. I tried to start the Claritin early this time (2 days prior to Neulasta) but it didn't make the bone pain any easier.

    DH and I went to the movies and went to a theater with the reclining seats. This totally helped manage the pain since I didn't have to be in one position the whole time! but towards the end of the movie I started getting restless. Last night I took Tylenol PM so I could get some sleep but then I woke up at 4 am and couldn't get back to sleep.

    Today is day 5 and the bone pain persists. Last time it was just my legs and back where I was feeling it, but this time I am also feeling it in my arms... So basically all over! Massaging with a foam roller helps temporarily and it's better than nothing.

    I stayed home from work today because of the pain and am practicing tying headscarves.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited August 2017

    Sunnyjay - sorry to hear you have such a bad time with the bone pains even started the Claritin couple days b fore still couldn't control Thr pains. How about Advil would that help?

    rdeeside - I take the regular Claritin one for 24 hours.

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  • Walkingintheclouds
    Walkingintheclouds Member Posts: 52
    edited August 2017

    I'm a young BC patient taking neoadjuvant treatment. I will have my first Chemotherapytomorrow. A little bit scared to be honest.

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  • Willow22
    Willow22 Member Posts: 220
    edited August 2017

    welcome walkingintheclouds - we're here for you!

    Hugs, Willow

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  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited August 2017

    Thanks Willow and Paulette. it's official, I start AC Thu. I thought I would start with Taxol but I am continually being surprised.

    Rebekah

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited August 2017

    rdeesides-- make sure you chew ice during the Adriamycin part of AC (should last about 15 mins) to help squash chances of mouth sire

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  • Kritti
    Kritti Member Posts: 23
    edited August 2017

    walkingintheclouds - I'm also considered young (37) with no family history. It still feels surreal most days.

    Day 14 - I knew it was coming, but the shedding that started today still upset me. I'll be heading to the American Cancer Society for a wig tomorrow or Wednesday. Do I need to take anything or do anything? The website said no appointments.

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  • rdeesides
    rdeesides Member Posts: 459
    edited August 2017

    Thanks DodgersGirl, have you managed to avoid them? So many SEs to worry about. I'm going to buy some Claritin and start it tonight.

    Rebekah

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  • Kritti
    Kritti Member Posts: 23
    edited August 2017

    rdeesides - also swish a baking soda/salt water mix after eating several times a day. I didn't do it one day (day 10) and ended up developing 3 sores.

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