Starting Chemo September 2019

I am starting 4 rounds T/C Sept 10 and am terrified!! Went to store and tried to stock up on all suggested products and cut off 10" hair to donate. My biggest fear is pain. I get migraines just because the day ends in y so I really don't want to end up with a 12week migraine. Also, my migraine meds already cause my hands and feet to tingle so I am afraid at how much it will get. And the bone pain from Neulasta? Yikes! I am a scaredy cat, I know. Maybe it will not be that bad? I applaud all you brave souls out there.

I wanted to pop on here to wish you all well and let you know you can do this! I started the chemo group for Sept 2017, can’t believe it was two years ago. I am doing great today and you will too! I did four rounds of TC, it’s totally doable. Before you know it, this will be over and you will move forward. Hugs!

Welcome FTM! My port placement was more painful than expected, too. And, since I had surgery first, my chest muscles tighten up at the oddest times and make my port feel weird. I am looking forward to getting started so I can get done, too! Scared, but hopeful that this won't be as bad as I think and it will kill off any random buggers floating around in my body.

What treatment are you getting? Tracy can add you to the list.

Good luck tomorrow, Tracy! I'll be thinking of you and hoping everything goes smoothly.

I took Senakot S. I should have been more aggressive with it. My nurses recommend starting with 1 at night. If that does not give results, take 2 in am. If no results, take 2 pm. And ramp it up until results.

I stuck with 1 Senakot and added Miralax in am. I started on day 3 of constipation. Should have started sooner. I went 5 days with only minimal results. I was miserable!! Still not sure I don’t have partial impaction. But, producing more. I’ll take 2 Senakot tonight. Also adding fruit and veggies big time to diet.

I have had to keep meals quite small to manage reflux. Also sleeping with head more elevated.

Magnesium citrate helped my constipation a lot. 3-4 capsules at night.

Also fasting prior to chemo made constipation much milder (nothing in there!)

Welcome, Juniebird! We're sorry you find yourself here, but we hope you find this community to be a place of support as you begin your treatment! We're all on this journey with you!

The Mods

yes-- 3-4 400 mg capsules of Magnesium citrate

Consider Fasting or fasting mimicking. Look up Dr Valter Longo. Easier (IMO) to not eat on the front side of chemo and kick back into normal gear faster w no distress. Fasting is chemo-protective to healthy cells and chemo-enhancing against cancer (in mice; now testing in humans). On FM, you have three tiny light meals of apx 250-300 cal, low protein, w/ good fats.

Believe me, I like to eat but I also like to feel good and poop! I did FM for 5 days since the idea of no food for 3 days was terrifying to me! FM was not hard, it was like preparing for battle with a purification ritual. By the second day you are pretty used to it. And I liked the idea of protecting myself and stressing the cancer!

If you feel a whole lot better, then light eating for 5 days (or no eating for 3 days) is a small sacrifice. Very worth at least trying, if your SEs are bad! Either way, chemo day is the middle day.

PS considering weekly taxol, I know some people do 36 hour water fast prior to chemo day and then break fast chemo day evening.

Hot pad on abdomen helped me too.

I guess I’m willing to try anything. Tomorrow morning I will take another saline enema. I couldn’t bear another tonight. If enemas don’t work I have a prescription that may help. I really wish someone could put a hose up my butt to break things up and flush it out. Maybe I can hold a suppository in for it to work. Don’t know.

I am tired and worn out from the day. Both mentally and physically.

May I join in? I just found out my first chemo treatment (TCHP x 6) is scheduled for September 17th. I must say I’m relieved to get a plan in place. Hopefully they can get my CT, bone scan, heart test, and port placement all scheduled next week.

Thanks, Tracy!!

Reading about the constipation reminds me of a tip one of my friends gave me. She had thyroid cancer and cancer in her abdominal area. She said her chemo caused her to be very constipated. Shetook a coffee cup, filled it 2/3 full of Sprite and a 1/4 full of prune juice. She heated it up to where it was warm - not hot - and drank it all. She said it tasted like Dr. Pepper and, boy did it work. Just something to try if all else fails!