Chemo starting in August 2018

Hi all! I started my chemo on Aug 2nd. Will have three more AC infusions on 16th, 30th and 13th. Then it will be 4 infusions of Taxol (also 2 weeks apart), and Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year.

First day I forgot my (football pill) med and had bad nausea for 5 hours. Day 2 and 3 was bad heartburn. Living on Gaviscom atm. Will talk to Onc about this soon though if it doesn't let up.

I finished steroids today so expect to crash tomorrow. So far it's been mostly fine. My Chemo center was great and dare I say, the actual infusion experience was kinda fun. I had great amusing nurses.

I'm doing Neupogen shots at home on myself for the 7 days after chemo as well. Taking Claritin so no bone pain as of yet. I was super nervous but it's easy. There was a nurse who came to my house showed me what to do, I did it while she watched and I'm confident now.

1 down 7 to go.

Volleyballmom2008-

1st of all welcome to the group! 2nd, villeyball is my favorite sport, but I coach basketball with our daughters (12 and 9). Its my 5th year

Im very sorry to hear your news! This group is GREAT and it gives a ton of info. So I was diagnosed on my 35th birthday, April 30th and was supposed to start a new job that day. I t came as a total surprise as there is NO family history. I was told that day I had breast cancer and had to stop smoking as well. Fast forward to June and ended up having 3 surgeries in 3 weeks....and now beginning chemo this Thursday. I have not smoked a cigarette since they told me I couldnt. Its hard, very hard somedays, but you can do it. Believe me you can do this and make it through this scary mess 💕 Feel free to private message me any time!

Thank you, cefinkc. You sound like you had a bad week. I hope you are feeling better. My port placement is Tuesday. Tomorrow is bone and CT scan, which terrifies me and chemo starts Thursday if all goes well Monday and Tuesday. I will have 12 weeks taxol and then ac for 4 rounds every other week. Surgery, then radiation. Can't wrap my head around all of this.

I start 6 months of chemo August 16. A little concerned why wait so long for surgery.

Hi MommaJaybird, Benji44 and Moonrabbit59,

There is a great list of tips suggestions by community members for before and during chemotherapy at the bottom of this page (it's a PDF so we can't attach here): Chemotherapy.

The list suggests things like ice chips, biotene mouth wash, hair plan, etc.

There is also a great thread here on the boards called Hair Hair Hair that discusses everything from shaving your hair, wigs and cold caps.

We are sorry you all find yourselves here, but glad you found each other.

Benji44, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to destroy breast cancer BEFORE surgery, and is adjusted to be very specific to the type and size of cancer found. Have you discussed this with your medical oncologist?

Thinking of all of you!

from your mods

Hi all. I hope everyone is doing OK. Cefinck, I'm so sorry you had to go through so much with your port placement!

I got some good news/bad news last week. Apparently when my oncologist told me that lots of cancer was left behind, what he meant was that it was left behind after I finished chemo, not after surgery. My surgeon went over my pathology report and explained that she was able to remove all of the cancer and my margins were clear, but because my cancer seemed to be resistant to the TC, and also much more aggressive than originally thought, with a very high risk of recurrence, she also recommends that I go through with another round of chemo. She is also suggesting that I follow that with 6 months of oral chemo, but wants me to check with my oncologist to make sure that would work. So I'm not as freaked out as I was, but still pretty freaked out that there is such a high risk of recurrence. I feel like I'll be "looking over my shoulder" and running to the doctor for every twitch for the rest of my life.

I'm 2 months past my final TC infusion. My hair is still only about a 1/2" long. I didn't wear a wig the last time. Instead I just bought a bunch of caps and scarves. One of my favorites was a cheap, soft black slouchy beanie that i woud dress up with colorful scarves. It worked great for work, and I got lots of complements. But it was a lot of work trying to match my headwear with my work clothes and I was so excited that I'd have hair when I returned to work after disability leave ends. Now that I know I'll be losing it again, I'm going to get a wig. I just found out that my insurance will cover the cost, so that's a relief. It occurred to me that I'll be finishing chemo around the beginning of Nov, so I'll still be mostly bald during the holidays. It will be nice to have a wig to help feel more normal during that time. Losing my hair was pretty hard for me and I agree that it really is that one thing that sorta makes it all real. I still feel that sometimes when I look in the mirror.

My experience with TC wasn't too bad. I started losing my hair on the 14th day after the first treatment. I couldn't bring myself to shave it until 3 days later, when it stated falling out so fast that I was leaving hair behind whenever I got up from a chair, and I had noticeable bald spots. It took probably another week for it to fall out completely. My legs were slower to lose hair, and it did continue to grow back super slowly. I think I shaved 3 times during the treatment. My brows and lashes thinned but not too bad, until a month after I finished treatment, then they fell out almost completely. Just started growing back in the last couple of weeks. I never had nausea as long as I ate something as soon as I started feeling hungry. Even though I got the metallic taste and weird feeling in my mouth, I had a very good appetite, and got lots of weird food cravings. I never got mouth sores, but I did get a very itchy rash on my head. I used an aloe vera gel that helped a lot. I got subdermal hematoma under several of my fingernails. My fingers and hands got really sore, but thankfully I never lost my fingernails but there is still a bit of blood left that hasn't grown out yet. I had a touch of neuropathy, but I think it has gone away completely. I hope my experience helps some of you who are just starting.

They have different active ingredients. I've been taking generic Claritin because so many women here are using it. (It also helps me sleep a little better at night!)

Benji44: my nurse recommended Allegra to me and I have been using it for the past four days. A little bone pain but not too bad. So I think it should be fine

hi cefinkc,

Thanks for asking. So glad the port issue is over and you are back on track.

I am almost 5 days out. Chemo day was a breeze, other than the cold cap, everything else was easy. Then two days of relatively normal days other than some heartburn. Day 4 became tougher, back pain, nausea and heartburn. Today it finally hit I can barely get out of bed. Extremely exhausted and pain/discomfort all over. Eating and drinking become hard but still trying. Hope tomorrow is better!

No one said it is gonna be easy. Keep your eyes on the brighter side, it will come!!!

Tomorrow is the big day....I've done everything I can. Steroids taken, anxiety meds taken. Ive done a 4.5 mile walk/run for the past 3 days. Bag packed and cold cap packed. Snacks too.

Hoping for a good night sleep Good luck to the rest of you ladies....I know there are a few more venturing down this path as well.

-Meara

So happy to find this board! I start Chemo on Aug 17and have port install on Aug 13. Not happy about what’s coming but ready to get on with it. Diagnosed May 16 so the waiting for final plan has been torturous. 12 weeks of Taxol and Herceptin then 9 more months of Herceptin only followed by rads. Wig shopping with my daughters this weekend. I’ll be ready as I can be. Short cut coming up soon. Let’s all cheer each other on. We can do this!

LivM—I see you are in California where Cannabis is legal. I’m in Nevada where it is legal also but I went to get my medical card anyway. I started using Cannabis when I was diagnosed. It saved my butt last week after my first AC was awful. I’m happy to share my experience. I have a friend who is a cannabis researcher who really helped me out with what to use. PM me. I can tell you exactly the products (from California dispensaries) that I use. It’s the only thing that has helped with the nausea and pain significantly.

I just got mouth sores (mostly around my teeth) yesterday and my naturopathic Cancer doctor told me to add a bit of baking soda to the salt rinses. It’s helps to buffer the pH and make it more soothing. Just passing on the info if anybody else is sore.

Sending good vibes and prayers out to all of you ladies!! I am getting my port tomorrow and I start chemo next Thursday. I really appreciate all of the info I’m getting here regarding the side effects. I’ve ordered beanies and caps and have really debated on a wig. I’m just not sure yet if I want to wear a wig. I really figured after surgery, I’d be put on a hormone suppressor and that would be it...so the need for chemo was a little surprising. My Oncotype was 29 and because my PR was only 5%, they said it indicated a more aggressive tumor.

Sending positive vibes to all the brave hearts who are on this journey. We are together and will do this! Port installed yesterday and first chemo on Friday. Just keep moving forward

Hi all,

I had my 1st infusion last Thursday, Aug 9th. It hasnt been that easy for me. I broke out in a rash on my face and chest on Saturday afternoon and still have it. Sunday I was in the ER with a superficial thrombophlebitis and that still hurts. And then Tuesday my husband took me back in for a headache I had for 4 days. They gave me an IV cocktail and it was nice to feel relief. The last few days SEs have ranged from bloody noses, sore mouth and throat (although no sores....yet), and body aches. Felt like the influenza.

Im preparing to go back to work on Monday. I've been off since June 22nd (1st surgery). Having a bit of anxiety about it, but I think it will be good.

Hope everyone is doing okay. Cefinkc - the only thing I really notices with the neulasta injection is last night my hips were very sore. Cant be for sure, but it makes sense as I know my cell counts and neutrophils were down on Tuesday when I was in the ER.

I coach both of my daughters in 🏀 and since I have 4 rounds of TC, we are saying 1st quarter is done. 3 more quarters to go.....as long as I dont get an infection...

-Meara