Starting Chemo in September 2017

When I was in the hospital they asked me if I wanted a flu shot and I said I wasn't sure if I could get one during chemo. I'm going to as my MO on Friday. Has anyone gotten a flu shot?

Hi everyone,

I had my second round of AC chemo yesterday & I am soooo nervous about the neulasta injection tonight? I feel like I don't want to do it?

Could Panamax or panadol help at all?

Thanks in advance guy

Amy, I got my flu shot about a week before. I would ask your onc about it for sure :

Amy -- rec'd my flu shot day before chemo #3 (so two days ago) from the MO office. Ask your MO, I think it it will be ok, just avoid 'low count' time period. The funny part is that the nurse said, 'takes' two weeks to really kick in' so be careful. I just looked at her ... as in be more careful than getting chemo tomorrow -- ok, it as her standard advice, just made me laugh. I think I will be ok, in 'chemo bubble' the next couple of weeks.

Henrietta - welcome, your post went through. My MO told me we are all in a state of shock when we get dx, not just chemo brain, more bc brain - a form of PTSD. She suggests to not try to multi-task as much, single tasks, get sleep and give it a some time -- it is a major shock and it takes time to start the 'new normal' process. I also have a therapist that specializes in oncology shock - that is helping. It will come back, just have to find that way back to normal and get into a slight new routine that works for you

I had my first AC yesterday, my port is “deep” I’m a small girl and they have to try 3 Times and use a 1 inch needle to get it. Ouch. I had EMLA cream on the skin 2 hours before and felt all the attempts. Does anyone get lidocaine injected in the skin before port access? I figure we get enough needles, why should should port access be painful when it doesnt have to? Oh, and I’m a wimp 😊the treatment itself wasn’t bad, but I slept 14hrs after when I got home, woke up for food in the middle of the night, then went back to bed. I’ve been drinking 3-4liters of water a day, chemo nurses said to keep it up as long as I can, it will help with SEs. I don’t have any yet, but I know they are coming.

Henrietta- welcome, sorry you have chemo brain, I’ve heard about the a lot- all the women who have reported it on here have said they write lists and avoid multitasking, one task at a time and it’s tolerable.

Emu- I’m sorry your first round was so rough and to hear about your fevers, port placement wasn’t troublesome for me and I’m honestly glad I have one, it’s going to make treatment easier and preserve the good peripheral veins you’ve got! Good luck with round 2 and let us know how you do!!

Wonder Woman, they use lidocaine injections to access my port. Makes it so I don't feel a thing! Is this something your clinic has to offer?

I'm on day 9 of my first round. My hair hasn't begun to shed very much. I'm curious does it happen all at once? I don't want to have false hope that somehow mine will stay. When should I expect the heavy shedding to start

i was sickest day 1-3. But the nurse thinks its cause I didn't have steroids. I expected days 3-5 as I was told those would be the worst. But thats I slowly started to feel better.

forgive me if I already asked this cause, frankly I can’t remember

But when I went for treatment last week I signed my paper saying I was aware of the side effects of all the chemo meds I will be getting. On it my dr added taxol to my herceptin and perjeta combo that starts when I finish this 8 weeks of ac.

I had hopes that the herceptin and perjeta would be well tolerated but was told by a couple people that taxol sucks pretty bad for side effects itself. So did my dr just ruined what I hoped to be an easier 4 month coming? (I say this with a giggle) and I forgot to ask him why he added that When I saw him yesterday. Maybe it’s just standard? I have not have any lymph biopsy yet. So it’s not due to that.

Kiwi: My stubble is now falling out. It looks like the mess my husband leaves in the sink when he shaves.

Mojo: I'm only getting Herceptin when the big stuff is done. Nothing added to it, and I'm getting Perjeta now, but won't continue after 6 doses. My shed started at about day 10, it wasn't a lot, but that's when I had it shaved down to about an inch all over. Day 20 is when it all started to depart at once and we shaved it down to stubble then.

Wonderwoman: They gave me EMLA cream with instructions to put it on 45 minutes before port access. So, I put a great big glob and cover it with a clear bandage they gave me, I don't feel a thing.

Ewu: I am so sorry to hear your first round was so bad. I hope your team can help you have a better 2nd round.

Henrietta: I've had "chemo brain" since before my dx. I can't concentrate on anything or remember simple things. This whole thing is quite a shocking and abnormal experience for all of us.

I went out with my wig on for the first time yesterday. I stopped in my office to help the ladies covering for me with some things. Everybody was shocked it was a wig. I feel pretty good in it. Especially since my bald head is patchy and now has a pimply rash on it.

Mzpriss- that wig looks amazing! It doesn't look like a wig at all actually.

Travelgirl- I second the rinsing. My tongue took a beating on round #2. I now have a small mason jar with a baking soda/salt mixture in both my upstairs and downstairs bathrooms and keep in on the sink with dixie cups to remind me. Every time I use the restroom, I put a small amount in a dixie cup with warm water and swish. If anything, it helps soothe my angry tongue. I also use Biotene mouthwash in the AM and PM after brushing. My tongue seems to have healed by day 7 after chemo #2, but now I notice that my taste buds are very dull. My husband made spaghetti and meatballs last night and it had no taste to me. The kids and he said that he seasoned the sauce a lot, so I think it's just my wonky taste buds. I've decided that since nothing tastes great, I should just try to eat as healthy as possible instead of for enjoyment. That makes me rather sad because I'm a foodie.

Mojo, I feel the same way about getting treatments! I had my second Taxol yesterday. I was doing so well mentally between the treatments, even when I got the flu like achy feeling two days after my first infusion. My spirits were up, but when I entered the hospital yesterday, I was again weepy "oh, why do I have to be here with all the sick people". The place seriously makes me sick (I still feel healthy).

My only reliable thermometer was taken by my college sophomore! I don't even know why he took it. Anyway, he is coming home this weekend, I better text him and ask him to bring it home. I have plenty of thermometers but I'm pretty sure they are all off. The one I trust I purchased long time ago when we were working on conceiving our second child and I decided to play with taking basal temp. It's a pretty reliable thermometer, I bought it from Walgreens. Ah, more than 14 years ago.

Milkweed, I was told that about Taxol (ice chips), and I'm pretty sure the mechanism is the same. Applying cold slows down cell division process. Chemo damages fast dividing cells. Since tumor cells are fast dividing, they are the primary target of chemo, But since we have other fast dividing (healthy) cells in our body, they too get damaged in the process.

Some of the examples of fast dividing cells are the cells in our hair follicles. Also, our mucosa (lining of the mouth and intestines) is full of fast dividing cells. Therefore, chemo often causes diarrhea (damage to intestinal mucosa) and mouth sores, By cooling the cells, we slow down their growth and division process, therefore, they get less damage. Hence - ice chips should help preventing mouth sores, although I'd say you should probably chew on them prior to starting the infusion and then for some time after,

Cold capping to save hair works exactly the same way: cooling off the scalp makes our hair follicles slow down their cell division process . As far as I know, you have to pre-cool your scalp for an hour or two before the infusion and keep the cold cap on for at least a few hours after the infusion for cold cap to work. Therefore, I'd think ice chips would need to be in your mouth longer than just during the infusion itself.

Thanks Meg101 - do you take the pills or injections?

& Travel Girl.  Isn't tatoo'ing kind of dangerous (skin infection) so close to chemo? I have a skin disease, so I'm not so sure I could do that. bummer. It sounds like a great solution. Funny how I'm not concerned about my loosing my hair - but horrified about loosing my eyebrows and eyelashes. 

I went to 'chemo class' (Pharmacist Oncologist) the other day to have all my questions answered that my Medical Oncologist wouldn't answer.  He was very upfront and honest.  Said they try to prevent any SE's and give prescriptions in hand before Chemo starts to take afterwords (Zofran/Compazine/Activan/Demamethasone/) and for me to get Claritin and Imondium AD.  However, As said here on these posts - SE's can be minor or require hospitalization.  Nobody knows - Everyone is different. 

I'm leaning towards No Chemo, just Herceptin, Radiation and Anti-Estrogen Pill.  As I said before I live alone and have no support.  The Pharm Oncol kept saying if you cannot control your nausea or diarrhea or bone pain, to come in - but that's the problem.  there is no one to take me.  I would have to call 911 each time, and I don't think I could do that.   Its a decision of a life time. And unfortunately my "gut" isn't telling me what to do.   

rljessu - I used the Imitrex Injections until it came in pill form. I only take the pills now. The injections were great. The pills allow me to take a lower dose to start, and then increase the dose until the symptoms subside. I understand your reluctance to try chemo if you're living alone. My neighbor is in her 70s and lives alone. She went through chemo with mild SEs and had no problem if that helps. I figured if she can do it, I can do it. However, I have 2 wonderful daughters who are staying with me through chemo which is comforting. If I were living alone, I would be nervous and reluctant. I have read message boards here from those who started chemo way back in March. There are a few who live alone and were able to manage the SEs just fine. One of them even ran a fever, got a bladder infection, and drove herself to the ER and received the care she needed. If you need financial assistance, which many of us do with all the medical expenses, there is help available. Your MO should point you in the right direction for help with that.

Amy - I had a flu shot the day before my first round of chemo. The doctor told me it was OK because the flu shot does not contain a "live virus", for what that's worth. I had no problems. However, listen to your doctor. You may have other issues such as your recent infection which is why your doctor doesn't want you to chance the flu shot.

FarAwayToo - I lived in Denver, CO for 20 years. I loved it. Lucky you for living in Boulder. It's so beautiful there any time of year.

Mojo - I feel the same as you about the hair loss. Mine is almost gone and the little that is left feels strange. It's time to shave. Funny thing, my two dogs are freaking out around me now that my hair is gone. So I wrapped their heads in a scarf and put little hats on them. Now they are OK.

MzPriss - That is by far the best wig I have ever seen. It is a lace front wig? You look fabulous.

toughcookie - I like the idea of the dixie cups, salt, and soda right there by the sink because it makes it easier to remember and to mix. The swishing and gargling are such an annoying little thing to do, but if we don't it becomes painful. Thank heavens we only have to do it for about a week.

TravelGirl - Agreed. Rinse, rinse, rinse.

Kiwi - What a great idea to take Immodium before the big D kicks in. I'm going to try that for round 2 of chemo next week.

Milkweed - There nothing like a bit of chemo to make us appreciate our good days! Even if the SEs are manageable, there's nothing better than feeling 'normal'.

Hi everyone,

Just checking in. taste buds are back to normal... appetite too. I am overjoyed about that. second chemo completed. my period ended like it normally would it's usual cycle. my MO expected it to stop after the first dose. worried about follow-up checkup with oncologist this coming tuesday.

red patch of skin on my breast has not gone away. MO expected it to be gone after first chemo. Follow-up checkup is in three days and the patch is still there. I've never prayed (and cried) so much and so long in my life (i am not the most religious person in the world). MO is considering switching meds because of that patch. please keep fingers crossed for me. My MO doesn't seem worried but I am worried. And this has made it a miserable week for me mentally. to the point i've decided to stay offline because looking for information sometimes, i end up finding the worst case scenario and it doesn't help ease my worry.

Ewu, i'm sorry to hear about the miserable first round. I hope the next one is better for you.

MZPriss that is a gorgeous wig! it suits you

Hopebringscourage i love your photo!

my hair is barely there. it's really thin now. but all is good. after the initial shock my curiosity got the better of me. i wanted to see how long i'll have hair. I've taken to wearing cotton bandanas and cotton scarves because anything other than that is too hot in this weather.

welcome to the new posters on the thread.

prayers and strength for the ones going for their next round this coming week.

it may not be ideal and it may be shitty but WE GOT THIS!