Starting Chemo May 2018

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ClareCo
ClareCo Member Posts: 66
edited August 2018 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi everyone. I didn't see a thread for May 2018 yet, so I'm starting one. I'm getting my port put in today and start TCx4 on May 2nd. Hoping to hear from others so we can get each other through this. Anybody else nervous?

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  • Djt
    Djt Member Posts: 264
    edited April 2018

    hi clareco... i also had my surgery, well, re excision, on march 15. First lumpectomy was 2.14.18. Started same chemo 4.24.18. Im in 3 days, was a wreck untill it took place, and you know what? Im ok! You will be too. Then it's 1 DOWN 3 TO GO!

    Our thought process crucifies us, reality is not as bad. I walk a mile and more every day, just got back from the diner from early breakfast, it's going to be ok. My next hurdle is donning my wig for my grandsons, kind of worried, but I think a big smile will go a long way. I have crappy hair anyway, so I'm going to like my new look, I just hope no one else is too shocked by it. I'm not one to go into big explains to people. And am not a people person really.

    The nurses will be so good to u when you go in. I was astounded by them, they gave me a cap, a quilt, food, tv... ice packs! Very kind, and they offered a calmative in the IV, which I gladly took. The IV....I dreaded it hurting, but it did not hardly a bit. Hang in there girl. It's ok. Let me know how u are.

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  • Aliceinchains
    Aliceinchains Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2018

    I have sentinel node and chemo port surgery Monday then chemo starts about 2 weeks later.

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited April 2018

    djt- thanks for the encouraging info! I will be so glad to finally get the first infusion over with.

    Aliceinchains- nice to meet you. My port surgery was pretty easy; im just a little sore now that the numbing stuff has worn off. But its nothing a couple of advil cant handle.

    Glad we have each other

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  • mianola
    mianola Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    Hello all!

    I'm having my port in on May 9 and chemo begins on May 15.

    I am literally terrified of starting chemo. Djt, you are so right about our thought process and what it does to us. I had a double mastectomy on April 5 and have breezed through the recovery, but the chemo I can't even wrap my head around. I feel so great right now, I can't even believe I have cancer. Best of luck to all of you starting down this chemo road in May. I know we will all get through it together!

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2018

    I started this one a few weeks ago, but it slipped by people.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics/864203?page=1#idx_1

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited April 2018

    Ingerp- so sorry I did not see the theead you started; I looked but obviously not closely enough or I would not have started this one - apologies and I’m glad to meet you!

    Mianola- I’m terrified of the chemo too- hopefully it won’t be half as bad as wondering about it! This has all moved so slowly—I was diagnosed on 1/31–only now in the days before I start chemo am I like “oh wow, I’m really doing this, yikes!”

    Djt- how did it go with the wig and your grandsons; I don’t have kids or grands, but everyone says they take more in stride than we grownups do. Hopefully you feel ok about it.

    Stay strong everyone!! I will be thinking of you this week

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2018

    I’m out of town right now but will post my inspirational message from the other thread here and shut the other one down. :-)

    Looking forward to holding everyone’s hand as we undertake this journey together.

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  • Ultra1949
    Ultra1949 Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    Hi everyone! ClareCo: So glad you started this thread. My port goes in May 2 and my first round of chemo will start the next day. I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction a month ago and I’ll be the first to confess I’m dreading the 3 months to follow. I did 5 months of chemo with 33 rounds of radiation 21 years ago, so am well aware of the process. I sure had hoped that I would not be confronted with the experience a second time, but at least with the internet available (as it certainly wasn’t 21 years ago)all of us have information and each other for encouragement at our finger tips!! Good luck everyone. I’m sending positive energy to all of you!

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited April 2018

    Ultra1949 -- looks like we're just about on the same schedule. I'll be thinking of you on May 2 and 3 especially.

    Ingerp- yes please do share the message you put in the other thread- also I hope you were out of town doing something Fun!

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  • Ultra1949
    Ultra1949 Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2018

    I'll be thinking of you as well!! 🤞

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  • YellowTulip
    YellowTulip Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2018

    I am joining. I had my port put in last week and will start my chemo on May 9. I had double mastectomy with reconstruction in March. I was surprised how difficult the recovery was -I guess I didn’t have the right expectations. The expander bags have been uncomfortable and I can’t get them out until after the chemo and the radiation -which is October. This cancer was caught right before I was expat to Europe for my job-which is now on hold. I did a local Denver surgeon and plastic surgeon but a second opinion at MD ANDERSON in Houston. The only diffference is the MD oncologist still uses Adriamycin for chemo where my local oncologist sites the ABC study and another German one showing 1-2% difference in 4-5 year reoccurrence. So we will try chemo without it. I have a great physical therapist who specializes in oncology follow up for mastectomy. I am also doing accupuncture.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited April 2018

    ClareCo, thank you for starting this thread!

    Ultra1949 and YellowTulip, welcome to Breastcancer.org! Sorry for what you're here, but glad you've found us! You'll find our Community a very supportive and informative place full of understanding and advice. If you need help navigating the forums or the main site, please don't hesitate to contact us via the private message function. We're here for you!

    Best,

    The Mods

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2018

    Alrighty--I'm back from a lovely weekend vacation. Here's my original post on the other May 2018 chemo thread:

    "Hello compadres!! I did not want to be the one to start this thread <for many reasons>, but here we are. Consider this a place to share your hopes, your fears, your good days, and particularly your bad. If you haven't perused the threads of those who are a little ahead of us, I highly recommend them.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topics...

    It can also be helpful to occasionally check a thread from 6-12 months ago. It's encouraging to hear stories from the women who are out the other side.

    I leave you with a quote I got from one of my kids a couple of days ago:

    "If the mountain were smooth, you couldn't climb it."

    Let's conquer this mountain, ladies."

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited April 2018

    My first post from the other thread, which I will <attempt to!> shut down now:

    "I'll also go ahead and start the posts. I'll have my first tx May 16th, the day after I get home from my youngest's college graduation. I'm getting the standard Stage 1, triple positive regimen--Taxol + Herceptin weekly for 12 weeks, followed by Herceptin every three weeks for the balance of a year. I've done my research and feel good and solid to get going. I've had my echocardiogram (all good!), and my patient education session at the infusion center. Tomorrow is a baseline bone scan, and then I try not to count the days until #1."

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  • CoComedy
    CoComedy Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2018

    Hello ladies! Please add me to the May Chemo group. I’m getting my port today and start chemo (AC) tomorrow. I’m anxious and ready and terrified all at the same time. I chopped my hair off yesterday and had my eyebrows “microbladed” last week. I guess I’m ready.....

    Best of luck to all of us!


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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    Sending all good thoughts your way, CoComedy. That anxious/ready/terrified seems pretty spot on. Check in when you can.

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  • MellieTX
    MellieTX Member Posts: 17
    edited May 2018

    Ok, I’ll quit lurking now:-)Met with the MO today (who I’ve been seeing for the past three years for my MS treatment and who I adore) and she confirmed our suspicions that chemo is the next step. I’ll be starting around the 15th. 4 rounds of TC. Off to update my treatment plan in my profile, it’s a big party, Hahahaha.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    Wellhere--welcome to the party!! I don't know much about multi-catheter rads, but are you finished? How did it go?

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  • MellieTX
    MellieTX Member Posts: 17
    edited May 2018

    ingerp, SAVI is an internal device that uses a radioactive pellet. You go twice a day for 5 days- I had the device removed yesterday! It was a hassle, but I feel really lucky that my surgeon figured out how to make it work for me- I had a reduction with my lumpectomy, so it took extra effort on both the surgeons’ part

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  • Belandrb
    Belandrb Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2018

    Hi All! First post, but I have been trolling since late March when I was diagnosed. I will start chemo 14May. I am pretty scared. The next two weeks are full of appointments including my chemo class and port placement. Anyway, this thread is helpful and I am working on getting my head in the right place because i know that isimportant. I will lift you all in prayer as we start this journey.

    Rachel

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2018

    Hi everybody. Well here I am - the night before my first chemo. Hair cut short- check! Ice packs for hands and feet in freezer- check! Magazines downloaded onto fully charged iPad- check! Took my steroids today as prescribed-check! Coffee place located across from hospital-check! Micromanaging to fend off terror- YUP! Sending especially brave vibes to Cocomedy and Ultra1949 and anybody else with procedures or chemo this week. Remember you are brave BECAUSE you are afraid and do it anyway. We got this ladies!! Let us know how your week goes-hearing from everyone so heartening

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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited May 2018

    Good luck ClareCo!


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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    Love your attitude, Clare. RAY RAH from me too to everyone dipping their toes in this first lovely week of May.

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  • CoComedy
    CoComedy Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2018

    Good luck ClareCo and Ultra1949!!! I have my first chemo treatment in a couple hours and will be thinking of you both!!

    Clare, it sounds like you are so ready to do this!! How do you like your haircut? I chopped mine off the other day and actually LOVE it! I feel more in control too. Let us all know how your day goes. Super HUGS to you

    Ultra, I had my echocardiogram and port surgery yesterday. The echo was totally uneventful (I love boring tests now!) and the port placement was super easy! I put some ice on it last night and took some Tylenol before bed. No problem. Today it feels like I have a little bruise but is not painful. Let us know how your day goes!!

    Have a great day everyone!!!

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2018

    image

    Hi ya’ll! Greetings from “onco chair 11” where I’m currently enjoying the taxotare drip. I had hubby take a pick to send to my bestie to show her all was fine-I thought I’d post it here too since I didn’t know what to expect. The setup here as you can see is a comfortable recliner. I have a port hooked in to the IV Pole. To go to the bathroom they just unplug the pole power cord (you buzz for the tech to come over) and I wheeled it along with me to go. (Hope that’s not TMI, but I know I for one was worried about how that was going to work.). The onco nurse came over and explained all the machines, the drugs and like everyone here, Emphasized that here is always someone available to answer phone questions even on nights and weekends. As forfood they have pretzles and soda and water and a stack of menus—lots of patients order food and have it delivered right here to infusion center! There is also a refrigerator if you want to bring your food in and store it until you want it. All in all it’s been smooth sailing and not as scary I anticipated. Much less overwhelming than the initial MO visits for first and second opinions—there’s a lot of info to absorb but nothing to decide or figure out- that hard part is all done now!! This is such a great thing to realize and celebrate! Hope you don’t mind such a long post. My hope is that by sharing these little details I can help any fellow control freaks out there feel a little less nervous

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited May 2018

    Looking good, Clare!! I don't think there's any such thing as TMI in this group. How long will you be there? My first tx is scheduled for 4 hours; 2.5 for the second.

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2018

    Ingerp- actual time hooked up to the pole will be about 3.5 hours- then they do the neulasta shot/patch thing and I’m free to go; scheduling the next infusion on way out. They said it will be more like 2.5 to 3 hours next time. Today was extra extra long because in addition to the infusion nurse doing an introductory spiel on what she’d be doing, I had an MO visit before the infusion center- so I’ve been at the facility since 10am. And the first infusion MO visit was longer than what it will be on future visits because she went through all the details on side effects and how to treat them and also checked to see that the port incision was healing properly etc. so I’d say everyone should plan on a long day for first infusion. But like I said, the good part of this is realizing that all that’ decision making part is finally over: I have my care team and treatment plan in place. it’s just at about about following the plan now, listening to my body and asking questions.So ladies, at least in some ways it gets easier!

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  • L8Blmr
    L8Blmr Member Posts: 133
    edited May 2018

    This is my first time on the forum; I'm responding because your diagnosis/treatment is very similar to mine. I started TC on Jan. 16, 2018 and completed it on March 20, 2018. Remembering that all BC treatment responses are different, here is my journey and tips. First, if you are reading this - don't forget to drink lots of water and pee, pee, pee, especially in the first 24 hours. My side effects were minimal after the first chemo; then getting more progressive as the chemos compounded. The worse was the muscle/bone discomfort from the Neulasta shot, but only lasting 3-4 days-Tylenol and a 30-45 minute walk helped. I tried a heating pad after my February treatment and that seem to make pain more intense. Miralex in my morning beverage because I'm prone to constipation and I feared binding up chemo waste in my bowel. I added cherry concentrate to my water bottle during the metal mouth days. Use a good lubricating lotion on your hands and feet at night to assist with the neuropathy. My mantra was "I have Breast Cancer - Hear me Roar"...I said it every morning to get me motivated. You're stronger than you know and smarter than you think; you're going to sail through this. As my nieces and nephews say, "You Got This!"

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  • ClareCo
    ClareCo Member Posts: 66
    edited May 2018

    L8bmr - thanks for sharing these tips and inspiraton!!I got up and filled my water bottle after I read your post. Also I was wondering about heating pad- thanks for your insights on that. Most of all, congrats on being done with chemo. Are you doing radiation now?

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  • cccmc2
    cccmc2 Member Posts: 131
    edited May 2018

    I meet with oncologist on Friday to plan my chemo regimen. My Onco Score was 55 so I'm definitely having it. I've beem really depressed. I have so much coming up in the next 3 months. Also, I had no lymph node involvement and clear margins, so I'm not having radiation. Where I was “clear" will I get chemo through a port or through ivadministration? Just curious. I'm guessing I'll start within the next 2 weeks or so.

    Thanks all (

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