Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Sirgen, I went to Cosmetic Solutions in Braintree. (781)848-7177. The woman there was great and did all the insurance work for me. I hated the wig I got the first time but she worked with me until I was happy. She was very nice and very accomodating. Another gal on here (Viddi) mentioned PK Walsh in Needham (800) 624-4335. I'm going through Dana Farber and my onc said the place there is great. Oh, just so you know, if you started treatment in 2006, you can get a wig for that year as well as 2007. You might want to get one for now and for later. Just ask your surgeon or whomever you saw for the bc diagnosis to write you a script for 2006 and your onc for the 2007.

And I was told my hair would fall out in 14 days with the Adriomycin.

Great that you found this board. I've gotten so much comfort and advice here. It's been a lifesaver.
Amera

Tula,
Sorry, didn't mean to leave you out. How was your first treatment today? Hopefully you are feeling okay. Rest, be pampered, and relax as much as possible.

Hi Girls,

Well, I made it through my first treatment of TC today. I was pretty calm and it certainly wasn't as bad I as I thought it would be.

I was at the office for about 5 hours, the nurses were great. I had Decodran and Zophran as my pre-meds. During the Cytoxan, I got a few rolling chills and a head-ache, the nurse gave me Tylenol and a blanket. I had no effects from the Taxotere at all. I am soooo glad I have the port, it was fabulous!!!

Tonight I'm just feeling ok. I have a pounding head-ache that Tylenol is doing nothing for. I feel a bit spacey as well. Already have a bad taste in my mouth. Have others had the bad taste so fast? I guess I wasn't expecting it so soon. Just feels like something is going on in my body, which it is.

Nurse said I might feel flu like symptoms as early as tonight. So far no nausea.

On a lighter note, my wig is in and I hope to go try it on sometime in the next few days.

I'm so glad we all have each other and share our experiences. It feels so good to share mine and read others. We are warriors, we can do it!

Lynn

Hi sirgen! I start chemo too on Friday but I am doing TCH so my Herceptin will start right away that day...6 rounds, 3 weeks apart, then Herp. every 3 weeks alone to finish out the year. I got my first wig last night from wigs.com. Does it need thinning and a bang trim? You bet. Does it match my color and "me"? Wow...it does. I got smart tho (which is usually not the case with me)...I spent the extra money and ordered 2 color rings for the 2 wig makers (oh, by the way...you can get them "on loan" too, just read about it on their web-site). Was able to REALLY match up the colors. Hospital wig shops out my way either did not have a good selection, or WAY too expensive. Look for monofiliment wigs...you can part them any way you feel like and VERY light-weight.

Good luck on Friday! I start at 9am cst...I'll be thinking about you.

Wendy

How's everyone feeling? I am pretty good on day 3. Actually went to the gym for my usual step class. I had to take a riser out about 15 minutes in as my legs felt like lead, but I hung in there. Now I feel like I've been hit by a bus.

No real nausea but am still on the heavy duty drugs. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Question: how long does this nasty, metalic, slippery feeling in your mouth last? It's just gross. Nothing appeals to me and nothing tastes the same. Yuck!

Amera

Hi Lynn,
Glad to hear you did well with the TC. Hang in there. I may be starting next week. Will keep you posted.
Cheers...

Yeah, so much for step class. I got home, landed on the couch, as I couldn't make it up the stairs, slept for 2 hours, and now am fine. My gosh, once that exhaustion kicks in, it's like nothing I've ever experienced. Cannot describe it. Glad I went though.
Amera

Hello ladies, I am a Jan 2006 chemo girl. I started chemo 1 year ago today and let me tell you...the time absolutely flew!!! When you are going through it, it seems like it is NEVER going to end but I promise you..IT DOES!! It really sucks the whole way and there were times that I just cried to everyone (friends, family and even my oncologist) and wanted to quit. Thankfully everyone convinced me to keep going and I finished on 4/28/06. I did 4 A/C & 4 Taxol. I had a hair cutting party on 1/14/06. I felt that I wanted to be in control over when I was going to lose it. I had rather long hair and we cut it into 3 different styles (shorter & shorter each time). It gave me an opportunity to see what I may want after my hair returned. We didn't actually shave it until after it started to fall out. Then I had my husband just shave the whole thing. That is the worst part of the whole thing...the anticipation of the hair loss. I promise, it is not as hard as the anticipation is. Here I am 1 year later and have a full head of thick curly hair (and very grey..I am only 34 too). My hair still has a ways to go to get to where it was, but, it is coming in at a nice pace. I know that you hear things like this all of the time but I promise, this to shall pass and you will all be ok! Stay positive, have a great support system and don't keep things bottled up inside.

Since my diagnosis on 10/24/05 (the day before my 33rd bday and my daughter was 8 months old) I have found different ways to fight this horrible disease. I started an organization to raise money locally (long Island) for breast cancer research. www.lcgabc.com Last year we raised over $5200. We are already working on this years auction. The point of me telling you is good things do come out of bad things. As bad as this all seems right now, some good will come out of it. Chemo is doable! this time next year, you will be writing to the Jan 2008 ladies giving them hope and encouragement to. Stay strong..you can beat this.

Look how many of us there are! I wish you all the very best in the coming months.

Monday I will begin chemo, only 26 days since my needle biopsy results and 2 weeks following surgery. I can't believe how fast things are moving! I'm still in shock, which helps keep me from freaking out.

I'll be doing dose-dense 2-week cycles, 4 x AC, 4 X Taxol. I haven't found anything that describes what sensations or discomfort there might be during the infusion. Can someone please link me to some info, or tell me about it? All I know is that I will have an office visit and then the chemo on Monday morning.

Just before my chemo appointment I have an appointment with a hypnotherapist (a former anesthesiologist) who will give me some tools to get deep rest during the next 16 weeks. I've heard raves about the benefits she provides.

I'm planning to bring music, headphones, books to the chemo appointment...anything else I should bring?

Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

Micheled, welcome! I have to say the actual A/C infustion was a non-event really. I didn't feel much of anything. They give you a poke for your blood work, and then just keep the cathater in for your infusion. I felt a little sinus pressure during the A, but nothing much really. They gave me oral anti-anusea meds and Motrin right after the A and before the C. I ate and drank throughout.

They watch you very carefully while they push the A. I chewed ice as I'd heard it could prevent mouth sores. My nurse ran the C very slowly at first to make sure I tolerated it well. Some women get headachey with this but they can slow it down. She then sped it up and I was fine.

Good luck, and we'll be thinking about you tomorrow.
Amera

Jenn,

Thank you very much for posting here. A lot of us just started; I had my first chemo last Thursday. I'm doing TC and so far the only thing I've notice is a slightly flushed face, change in taste, and dulling of tactile sensation.

When I look forward to the next few months I just wonder what on earth I am going to be doing with each day. Up until last summer, I was a full time artist. We had a spate of serious family illnesses, a favorite cat died, then the dx. It is very difficult to paint if you aren't feeling positive emotionally. So I decided to not to try to paint while I'm on chemo, which leaves sewing, and I don't really have a lot of projects in that area either. The hardest part of this for me is not being productive. I want to do something. I need activities to fill my day. I've always hated being "sick"--even just a cold--because I would get such an inferiority complex about not having my full capabilities even for a short time. Now I am not really sick, but it is awful not be accomplishing anything. I need some kind of small goals, something to accomplish.

Anybody else have this problem?

I do feel that in a few months when this is over and I am back full steam it will be wonderful.

Mizsissy

Hi everyone,
I am glad to hear that the first infusion was not as hard as anticipated. How are you all doing today?

I will be starting on A/C on Thursday. Some of you are on two week cycles of A/C and some are on three week cycles. Does anyone know the difference as to why and if there are different side effects? Is the 2 week cycle a dense dose and what is the reason for that? I will have that choice on Thursday. The onc at DF suggested 2 week cycles while my onc suggested 3 week cycles. They both spoke on the phone together after I mentioned that they had different approaches and my onc left a message on my phone telling me that it would be up to me and she would discuss it with me on Thursday before my infusion. Just getting a little anxious. Thanks for any insight.
I hope you all have a good day today. Game should be interesting today. Go Pats!!

Hi Ladies,

Wow, a few other Pats fans!! I am a HUGE Patriots fan and am so anticipating today's game. I just hope I stay awake.

I'm on day 3 since my TC and woke up as if I didn't sleep at all last night, but I did sleep. I guess flu like is the best way to describe how I feel. No way could I drive and can barely read all the posts here. Although I'm thrilled to not have any nausea and haven't taken Compazine since midnight last night. Still lousy taste in mouth though.

Amera, wow, way to go girl! I don't feel at all that I could do a step class.

Mizsissy, I live in Easthampton, just 10 miles from Amherst. It is a nice part of the state, I've been here my whole life.

Ireland, best of luck for your first tx, you'll do fine!

tlc, GI Jane was really cute, as I'm sure you are! I plan on having my dh buzz me in a couple weeks as well. It is part of this amazing journey we are all on together!

Have a nice day ladies...GO PATS!

Lynn

Hi All,
I am from the September06 thread. I just finished 4AC & 4 Taxol on 12/20/06. I wanted to comment on your hair hurting. My scalp was really sore right after my first chemo. I had my husband shave my hair close to scalp. Sort of a GI jane look. Right before I lost all of my hair (Around day11 after second AC) the hair on my head felt like porcupine needles.I then shaved my head closer. It was a relief when it all fell out.Hang in there.You will all get through this.

Make sure you bring something to drink and some crackers or something you like to snack on. I always brought green tea with me,it helped with the nausea. I hate water but some thought that helped.

I am stage2/left mastectomy on 7/24/3 nodes positive. I had a Tram reconstruction.If I can be of any help to anyone please feel free to PM me.
Take Care,
Joyce

Hi Ladies
Just a warning if anyone is taking a loading dose of Herceptin...If you feel a tightening of your facial skin or bad flushing/welts call your dr. and get some steroids to calm it down...My dr. didn't and I suffered because of it!!!
ERS