Starting chemo August 2017 - would love some moral support!

Thanks to those who responded with wig info!! I went to a local wig shop by my house and they had beautiful wigs. I tried two on. They looked ok but are sort of pricey. I will have to call my insurance and see if they even cover them. I will also look into the ACS TLC and other resources you guys have mentioned. Thanks again!

Willow, yes I love makeup lol. I have a crapton at home, I am literally addicted lol. I will try and sign up for those classes sometime down the road.

NO ONE has given me any info, printouts or anything about chemo stuff, and prescriptions etc. What I am learning is from all you wonderful ladies, that's why I'm a bit surprised that they haven't told me anything. When I met my oncologist he did go through the drugs and their side effects and did give me a prescription for a "cranial prosthesis." We talked for a long time about my treatment and such and I just didn't think to ask these questions because I assumed they would tell me at a later time. But since my port is being placed on the same day as my first chemo there won't be another chance. So I am hoping that on my first chemo I get all the info I need from a nurse prior to starting!

Salasila, happy you are having a good time with your wig! I'll have to check out that website.

Rebekah, best of luck with your first chemo tomorrow!!!

Hi , I know that August is more than half over and you have been together for a bit, just wanted to 'jump' on your thread. I will be starting chemo on Thursday, August 24th -- reeling from the news of my second breast cancer dx earlier in the month. The first time, I did not do chemo -- 12 years later, opposite breast - a second breast cancer. I am doing chemo first, followed by a bi-lateral mx. I can honestly say, I am ready to have them gone. I never thought I would say that ... that happens.

My chemo will be Taxotere/Cytoxan 4 cycles, 3 weeks apart - I am trying to learn as much as possible about tips and tricks, so thank you all for posting. I will continue to learn and hopefully post a few things to help along the way. The boards helped me a lot the first time around - so I am hoping this time too.

Willow22 - I see you mentioned you are using cold caps, and starting your second round - how is it going? I am trying Dignicap, my hair is thin to begin with - giving it a go and hoping it helps. How is it going for you?

welcome Travel Girl, so sorry your cancer has come back, stay strong!

teaspoons, you look so good! I hope to look as good as you bald

i must admit one of my main worries when i go bald is the shape of my head. i fear it's not nice and round lol. silly i know. am i the only one?

teaspoons - thanks for the pics - they are inspiring - you really look fine!

Travel Girl - welcome and so sorry about your.recurrence.

I am heading for my second AC treatment today. Rebekah - good luck with your first treatment. Although the first went better than I anticipated, and the SEs were manageable, I'm still anxious and need to chill. Also my son is getting ready to go back to college Saturday so it's busy around here. I'm upset that my husband and I cannot take him this year but my daughter and her boyfriend kindly volunteered to drive my son up to college. My family is great and supportive - I just hope I can beat this so I can stay around for a long time. And after 40 plus straight years of working, I want the retirement years I saved for and was looking forward to! Chemo, do your stuff

Hi All:

First a shout out to Willow to thank you for starting and leading this thread. It's been such a haven for me and with such good wisdom from those in he thick of it -- especially those right ahead of me in treatment.

Second, a shout out to the other breast cancer two-timers that I've seen posting on this thread. We can do this ladies -- we can do hard things, even twice!

I had my 1st TC infusion on Tuesday afternoon. I was so scared, but my DH went with me and my kids favorite sitter from way back stayed with them and it was nowhere near as bad as I had expected. Premeds, then Taxotere and then Cytoxane. So far, side effects are: Heartburn (wake you up in the night kind), some tingly feet (even though I iced during Taxotere), funny tummy -- no D, but just funny feeling -- some SERIOUS hot flashes (OMG!) and this crazy wired and tired feeling where I'm exhausted but can't settle down (due to the steroids, I'm sure). I'm following the med schedule prescribed by my MO, supplemented by the good wisdom on this thread on Claritin, mouth rinsing, etc.

Packed up my hubs and kids to go visit extended family in Missouri while I stay home to rest up and recover from Round 2. I had both breast cancer (mast0 and uterine cancer (hyster) surgery this spring/summer and I'm going into chemo sort of wiped out overall, as I've tried to work (at least PT) through all of it. It's been a crazy summer.

I went in for my Nuelasta shot yesterday and met a woman coming out with a gorgeous turquoise head scarf with some ruffles. Perfect for this hot humid weather. We got to talking and I went online and just ordered one today from Chemo Beanies. I'm debating about wigs or maybe getting my own hair made into a halo wig at Chemo Divas online. My old friend and sorority sister is coming by Saturday and we are going wig shopping. That's a good friend for you! I think that I'll push my comfort zone and try blonde or red head (and use my wig for "dress up" times) and scarfs/hats for regular times and at home. My kids are 11 (twins) and strongly preferred the wig idea for Back to School night and friend visits and car pools and stuff. [Go figure.]

What are folks doing for nails? Any nail strengtheners or nail polish users out there?

Be well, my friends. I have renamed my "chemo bag" as my "wellness bag" and hope to take that attitude forward in this fight.

Peace to all of you today.

First welcome to all the new comers, sorry that you are here with us but as we all known we are truly the warriors here!

I still haven't got the gut to take my bald picture I will do that in one day. I have shaved my hair since last Friday, believe it or not some of my hair actually grew a little bit , so my hubby said he will shave it for me. Since I have chemo tomorrow I need today to finish some of the houseworks.

Rdeeside- I took pictures before my chemo also .... 😐

Mom - I use OPI envy on my nails, but I don't have long nails so I just put several coating on I even put on my toenails.

Teaspoon- Bald is beautiful.... once I got my gut I take my Bald picture 😓

Sweetp- when is your next infusion I thought you are getting one this week?

Travel - welcome to our August group!

Makeuplover: Find out if your clinic has a Nurse Navigator. His/her role is to help coordinate everything during the treatment process as needed. She reached out to me right after my diagnosis and gave me so much information, from diagrams of my tumor to breast cancer resources in our local area. She has helped coordinate my appointments, and I reached out to her whenever I didn't get my biopsy or lab results. I haven't utilized her to the fullest - she even offers emotional support - but I'm glad to know there's someone available when I have questions.

Rebekah: I would love to have that view during my infusions! My clinic has a nice garden view, but there are only 2 chairs with that view, so I have to get there early to snag it!

Teaspoons: You look awesome rocking that shaved head! I am seeing more of my scalp as my hair continues to fall, and I have a nice round shape if I say so myself. LOL But I also have a round face which I think will appear bigger when I get around to shaving...

Mom-mom: welcome to this thread. It looks like we are on the same regimen. I had my 2nd infusion last week, and my side effects were pretty much spot on to the side effects of my first one. The hot flashes really suck, and I get night sweats too which is icky. I've noticed that days 5-7 for me are my bad days because of bone pain from Neulasta. DH has accompanied me to my treatments. He is using FMLA to take time off. Yeah, this summer has been crazy for me too. I had surgery in May and started chemo the week before my birthday. I usually like to get together with friends and their families for a bday picnic, but couldn't do any of that this year since I get wiped out easily. So I've been laying low, but not letting this affect my social life too much.

hi, ladies, I had first TC Chemo on Tuesday and now I am having D ....and my period comes. Feeling terrible today....

Mom-Mom - my oncologist suggested tea oil for nails, as well as Evonail Hydrating Nail Solution. She specializes in young women with cancer, and has all kinds of tips and tricks to 'look good' throughout the process, she says it helps with improving outlook which in turn helps people get up and moving - anything that helps is her mantra.

I ordered the later from Amazon, will arrive prior to my treatment and I will keep you posted. I am gathering my tips and tricks and for my first chemo session next week.

Teaspoons - you inspire me!!! Thank you. Be brave, be bold.

Everyone else, thank you so much for the welcome to a club that I wish none of us belonged to.

Hi ladies,

I have been reading this thread for several days now, I am starting my chemo on Monday, 12 weekly Taxol with Herceptin once in three weeks. I was not expecting Taxol but Taxotere but people have now explained to me that Taxol and Herceptin is a standard protocol for early stage Her2+. I already had my surgery, 1.5 cm IDC plus DCIS. I welcome any piece of advice, thank you in advance. I am not from US, btw, I live in Europe.

Cherry

PauletteK, thank you. I'm keeping my finger crossed ... just too hard.

Travel Girl-- yes, it would be a great idea to keep a journal to avoid running into same situation next time ... I thought the overy suppressor would stop my period. Thank so for your advice

Rebekah: I'm glad they were able to do the bloodwork with you laying down. Today they took blood as they are supposed to before chemo and the infusion nurse just jabbed it in with me sitting up and gave me a quirky frown when I said that they had trouble on day 8 blood work earlier in the month. LOL.

Paulette K: Yep. My chemo was today and I got them to increase my infusion on Herceptin to 60 minutes (6mg) instead of 30. Last time is was 90 minutes (8mg). Wasn't easy. Began at exactly 12:30 and was finished at 4:30. I go in tomorrow for my Neulasta shot which I prefer over the take home kind. Where they give the shot, my nerves are damaged or dead, so that works for me. Can't even feel it.

Those chemo beanies mentioned by Mom-Mom are also available on amazon. I found it by searching for it by model name (chemo beanie susan) and it popped up with all colors. Right now it's buy 2 and get 15% off and free prime shipping w/free returns.

Mom-Mom: so sorry that your summer has been pretty rough; hope you do get some good rest.

Hugs All

Oops, PS. The doctor plans on taking me off the dreaded Perjeta. When I first spoke with him before infusion 1, he told me that Herceptin and Perjeta go hand in hand and I would get them every 3 weeks for a year. Chemo for 6 sessions. Now he says he only planned on me having Hercetin for a year. Odd. Perjeta is famous for frequent big D. Imodium doesn't work for me that well so he wants me to take 8 per day, 2 every 4 hours in each day beginning a full day before expected D and if I do get D anyway, I can take Lomotil 1-2 tablets right after I have my first D. I'm hoping this works this time because if it doesn't, he'll take me off Perjeta for future infusions. That sounded great to me, but I will really be pro-active with the meds this time. Who knew I could take it a day before any D?

Willow, yes please do send me the info! I appreciate very much

Rebekah, lovely chemo pic! How are you feeling? any side effects?

Leatherette, looking good! I don't know if you mentioned, but where did you get your wig?

Sunnyjay, I do have a nurse navigator. I just thought they would be the ones to call, you know. I'll see what happens on Monday. Honestly, I'm getting all good info from you ladies, but I'll still ask about meds, prescriptions, etc.

I called up my insurance today and found out I am covered 100% for a synthetic wig. they will only cover human hair wigs if i have an allergic reaction to the synthetic. *major eye roll* So, any of you ladies, recommend websites for really good synthetic wigs??? I just really want the wig I choose to look natural, like it's my real hair. The place by my house only has human hair wigs!

Travel girl, keep us posted on that Evonail oil. I use Gelous nail strengthener as a base coat with nail polish on top. I don't know if that will work lol but I'll have my nails pained all the time, in case they turn black. And i usually use nail oils in general.

What about moisturizers? Is anyone switching up on brands? Unless otherwise recommended, I'm sticking to whatever body lotion I have on hand. For my face routine I'll do the same, depending on how chemo affects it, then I'll have to switch it up depending.

Leatherette - another example of rocking the bald look

To all the new people on the thread, welcome!!

Mom-mom, I love that you are going to mix it up and maybe try some different wigs. That's what I want to do too! Heck, if you have to get some wigs might as well have fun with it!

Walking, so sorry to hear about the D plus period! I hope it gets better. I am hoping to lose my period altogether (Im 48 so it's possible?) and I'm dreading it coming. I hope it all resolves quickly.

MakeupLover, Im already bad at moisturizing too so will stick to what I have for now. If it gets bad will maybe check out Aquaphor or Eucerin.

Leatherette, your hair is cute and you would never know it's a wig.

VL22, I recommend you check out YouTube videos for wigs. There are all kinds of tutorials. I think I typedin "wigs for chemo". You can see people trying them on and they show you how to care for them. That's how I figured out what kind I want... John Renau is a nice brand... you can check on their website too. I am fortunate to have a great, full service wig salon near me. They are appointment only and do the shave and everything. Im going in on Saturday.

All in all yesterday was as good as I could ask for. A little tummy rumbling, my mouth was tingly, and I was tired. I took a 4 mile walk, had soup for dinner, stayed on top of my nausea meds, swished several times with baking soda/water, an slept thru the night quite well. No complaints. Let's see how it goes with all the steroids wearing off. I am scheduled for IV fluids and more anti nausea meds at the hospital on Mon. My doctor likes to schedule that just in case...

R