Starting Chemo May 2018

I had a dream this morning that I was buzzing my hair because I’d had a dream about buzzing my hair. How meta is that?!? (I think I was thinking, “No it’s too early. That was a stupid reason to do it. I could have waited.”

CoCo--you go girl!! Oy, Clare--glad it sounds like you've turned the bend on this one.

I posted in some of the older "month" threads--I'm suddenly very curious about timing of SEs (as my summer weekend social calendar fills up). I know it's early for us, but I would love to hear about your good vs. bad days. I called my infusion center this morning to see if I could change my Wed appts to Fri. It seems like most (but not all) women feel pretty good on days 1-2, and start to go down hill around 3-4. I work from home and am fine with feeling crappy on work days. But I want my weekends!!

Congratulations on having one behind you, Saw!! I'm thinking I might take some of the anti-nausea meds for a day or two just because why not. Hunger is good! So no. . . um. . . intestinal issues?

FWIW, I have read on other threads that the convention is to count treatment day as "Day 1". That would make this past weekend Days 3 and 4 for you. Let us know how the next few days go. Inquiring minds want to know!

Hi everyone! I decided I would join in for May starters...makes me feel a little less alone out here. I'm starting neoadjuvant TCHP Wednesday 5/9. I'm anxious to get started and scared as heck at the same time. I've spent the past 2 weeks preparing for every possible side effect...yes, I'm a little OCD when it comes to planning, but it's better than sending my husband on 50 trips to Wal-mart. I was told that the first infusion would be 7 hours (yikes!). Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to learning from everyone!

I've read that days 4-6 following a TC infusion are the worst. My wife is on day 4 and she is going through that now. Very bad fatigue and achy. She also was constipated, but some Ducolax has helped that.

I know this is normal and expected, but any tips to help get through these worst days would be appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

Hi Engine,

Sorry your wife is going thru the tough days right now. I would call the doc if you think she’s experiencing worsening se’s I’ve only had one treatment so far but called the Onc twice when the nausea kept getting worse and worse. They ended up prescribing two more anti nausea drugs that really helped! Best of luck to you and your wide

This hair stuff is obviously weighing on our minds, Coco!!

Thanks CoComedy and DebAL..

From everything I've read on here, this is normal. Crappy, but normal. No fever, thank goodness. No nausea so far, just very achy and very tired.

We have a post-op visit tomorrow with the surgeon and then labs next week with Onco.

This board is such a great help. Thank you all so much. I pray for the best for all of you.

Joining you ladies as I start Taxotere, Projeta and Herceptin May 15th. Yipee.

Hello everyone, I actually started the March 2018 thread for chemo but have been reading the more recent ones and just wanted to offer a few thoughts from my journey.  I just finished 4 rounds of TC - Taxotere and Cytoxan - last Thursday.  For those on this regime, at least for me it was pretty predictable - and my "bad" days were afternoon/evening of Day 3 and all of Day 4, which became known as my "ick" day.  I noticed that skin rash SEs were worse during Rounds 1 and 2, less on 3 and even milder (so far - I may jinx myself!) for Round 4.  Skin issues were Days 6 to 12 usually.  By Day 10 I was feeling pretty good and the final week before the next round I felt (almost...) back to normal.  Everyone's treatment is different but it does seem that the TC follows a fairly similar pattern for most of us on it.  I found the hydrate, hydrate advice  very helpful, and have over-moisturized all of me, especially nail beds for fingers and toes.  I also had horrible back spasms the first round about a week after - I got the Neulasta shot each time - and so I ended up taking Claritin for 10 days and not the recommended 3, and that really helped.  

For everyone just starting, the road will seem long, particularly I think when you hit the middle of your treatments - but it will, and does, pass.  It can be frustrating - I have described it as being stuck in a waiting room - but know that there will be an end.  Wishing you all the very best!

wlo002- Welcome- I did the same thing and literally told my husband that I don't want him running at the 24 hr walgreens. Good luck today!

Engine104- Hopefully things are letting up...sending hugs her way.

Regicasi- Welcome- Well Happy Birthday to you! I have experienced everything you had so far, except hot flashes. I hope the next few days before your next treatment are "good days".

BigPeaches- Welcome!!

ClareCo- Good luck with work today!

Thank you Wildcolonialgirl for sharing your experience. I am glad we have people to talk to while we are in the waiting room!

Ingerp- looks like our dx is similar and our regiment will be the same. I will probably stick with Fridays as well. You inquired about my GI- for the past few days I have had loose bowels, not diarrhea or cramping. Now, I have been eating some spicy foods (Mexican), so I think I will start doing the bland diet to see if that helps. I also woke up today with a sore in my mouth and started the baking soda/salt mouth wash. I was brushing my teeth after every meal, but got lax on it. Plus my teeth have become sensitive and ache.

Yeah, the sunburn thing is terrible, but luckily that went away...and it was replaced by a ton of acne all over face/chest! I look like a sqeeky 15 year old with tons of white heads and pimples. And the diarrhea... Every morning at around 2am like clockwork despite imodium. Then there's the nausea after eating. Ugh round 1 has not been kind so far.

Hi everyone! Hope things are going as well as can be expected. The SE of bone pain has been relatively bad but better today. Today is Day 8 for me. Have had some bowel issues 😳 but took Immodium and it’s under control. I saw my oncologist this morning and he let me know my counts were down which has me anxious. Don’t want an infection for sure. Anyone else been confronted with this? Stay strong. Stay focused. 💗