Chemo Starting September 2018

Actually, I am starting Taxol and Herceptin on Wednesday August 29th. Will be given benedryl & a steroid in it. Tomorrow the port surgery will be done. I am so not comfortable with beginning this process. All the side effects, then all the pills, etc. to combat side effects is overwhelming. I do not feel prepared although I have read everything and asked the medical staff many questions. Emotionally, it doesn"t seem possible that a human has to go through all of this to get "well".

I will be starting 4x TC on September 3. It is so surreal.... I can't believe that this is happening. I am already done with radiation then to find out that I scored a 24 on the Oncotype test. Yes, my first MO didn't send my tumor out for testing until I questioned my treatment plan. Then when he told me that I need chemo without any compassion, I was furious with him. I asked him if I could get a second opinion from one of his colleagues, that's when he "fired" me. I am glad that I moved on from him. I honestly didn't know that I could switch physicians. I thought the team of doctor that I am assigned to is it! I have two young kids, age 8 and 5. My 5 year old daughter told my husband tonight that she is not sure what she can call me after I lose my hair... She said maybe she will call me "bald mommy". As funny as it was, it also made me sad. I thought I can skip the chemo and move on to Tamoxifen, but nope, not so fast, I am not that lucky! I have been reading about side effects and all the drugs to take to help with the side effects, but I feel like I have no clue what is what anymore... Needless to say I am ill prepared.

wanderweg, hoping your port surgery goes well on Wednesday. Mine is over now. I was very anxious, since I had a horrible reaction to propofel during the lumpectomy. Talked with the anesthesist and he finally guesstimated what had caused it, but I was still fearful it would happen again. but they gave me a med that totally relaxed me. Icing the area right now, I forgot to when I arrived home. Had a 3:30 pm surgery yesterday and was released about 6:15 pm. Then went to have a small steak. Now to start Taxol once a week for 12 weekly infusions on Wed. Also, will have an infusion for Herceptin every three weeks for one year. Yikes, so many concerns for while I'm on these and future. I do have a MO that seems compassionate and competent. Will go to this afternoon to try on more wigs. People act like this is such an exciting thing to do. I find it depressing and sad. Need to get some soft caps and scarves. Seems like here you can express how you really feel and not like you have to keep the happy face on all the time.

@JNKK - Well, you can't know there is no node involvement until the surgery. But I chose it because I watched my mother do a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation and then have a recurrence five years later, and go through a mastectomy and reconstruction at that time. And as it turned out, my cancer is wildly aggressive (which is why I'm doing chemo). I know longevity rates are similar for mastectomy vs. lumpectomy/radiation, but I had off-the-charts dense tissue and I wanted to short-circuit the process and not have to keep going back for mammograms and possible biopsies. I don't think there's a "right" choice, jus whichever choice works for you. And I asked for a port even though it's only four rounds because I have a pretty serious needle phobia!

My port is scheduled for tomorrow, 8/30, hospital just called for my "portion".  I feel bad for the people on the phone who have to deal with my minor meltdowns...plus it's that time of the month...I have a question on icing...I'm not cold capping..but I'm a saddlemaker and music director(guitar) at our church and I am worried about the neuropathy...I understand the how, but my question is when? TCHP & Neulasta for 6 sessions...Thank you ladies!

Stopping by to say hello to you - and to see if anything me has questions I could help answer.

kjlcheval - the taxane drug is what usually causes nail and neuropathy issues - I iced both hands and feet. I received my drugs in order (T, then C, then H - this was before P was used) after infused pre-meds, and started icing 10 minutes before the Taxotere was hooked up, and continued until about 10 minutes after it was done.

Tigerlilly - Thank you so much! and congrats on putting day 1 behind you!

Tigerlily, thank you for the update. I hope I will have an easy time too on Monday.

Hi all. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node (x3) removal on July 31 and just got back my Oncotype test with a score of 34 so scheduled to start chemo on September 13, followed by radiation and hormone therapy.

I'm scheduled for four cycles (every two weeks) of AC and then four cycles of Paclitaxel.

What I really want to hear, from anyone who's done this kind of regimen, is whether I'm at all being realistic in the following plan. If I do my treatments on Thursday, then take Friday and the weekend to recover, I hope to be able to work the full week on non-treatment weeks. Is that overly optimistic?

Several people have told me they've been able to more-or-less work through their chemo, but others have told me not a chance.

I'm trying really hard not to freak out.

Hi everyone. I am seeing my oncologist September 4 and chemo had previously been recommended. I am so grateful to have someone to share notes through this experience.

Tigerlily318 - I believe I will also be TC x 4. Neuropathy is my greatest fear. Do they supply you with the icing for your hands and feet or did you bring your own? If you brought your own, where did you buy these?

hello ladies. I’m new here and probably jumping the gun pretty heavily. I’m 41 and was diagnosed earlier this month (details below). This afternoon, I found out my onco score was 27. Ugh. No plans as of yet as to when my treatment will start. I do know that I’m so scared of the SEs. We have 3 small kids. I’m trying so hard to be strong but I don’t know what to expect nor do I know what medicine I will have. It’s only been 22 days since diagnosis and it’s been the worst storm of my life. I’m trying so hard to be positive. In the hopes that I begin treatment in September, I wanted to step in and say hello. I certainly want it to start soon so it can be over quickly. I wish I knew what it would be (chemical) and for how long. Hopefully I will know soon. Hugs to everyone. I hate this disease.

First round down yesterday! I feel pretty good so far, but understand the side effects kick in later. I'm trying to drink lots and lots of water (not my usual). My port was just put in Wednesday, so it was still a little tender, but not terrible. I had no reaction at all to the taxotere so that's good. For the four hours, I ate, listened to music and slept. They had to wake me when I as done. A friend had suggested I ask them to add ativan to the infusion and that really helped relax me. Anyone else here getting the neulasta onpro patch to deliver neulasta the next day? It's really weird to see it blinking it's little green light through my short. I'm trying not to worry too much ahead about when it infuses me this evening - I've heard stories about bone pain.

@Sadlynew - Welcome, and sorry you have to be here. It looks like we have similar situations, except my oncotype was 38. I'm on taxotere and cytoxan for four rounds, which I think is the standard protocol in cases like this. We're not far ahead of you on this thread, but happy to support and answer what we can.