Starting Chemo in May 07

O good lord,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it posted twice?? Sowy bout that girls. lol I deleted the second one so I didnt look so stupid,,,,,but I thought it would remove it all together,,,,but now I really do look dumb, with a deleted post,,,,,,,,,o yikes
Cindy againnnnnnnnnn

Hello Sisters,
I am in the March-April group and thought I'd check in. Please feel free to review some of our postings. You'll definitely get some answers. Please feel free to ask us and maybe we can help. Don't ever be afraid to call your onc's office for anything. I had my first chemo April 13, yes Friday the 13th. It truly was not as horrible as I feared. If you feel any pain or burning during treatment, make sure you tell the RN. I chose not to have a port and am hoping I can make it through without one. Just couldn't face a third surgery. You may feel a bit weird the day of chemo and then the next day. That's from the steroids and you may feel a bit jittery. But it keeps you from having an allergic reaction to the chemo. Seems for most of us the symptoms appeared around Day 3-5. You will probably feel achy kind of like the flu, but no fever. The You may find your heart racing a bit when you walk around and you'll feel tired. Pace yourself for a few days. Also the Neulasta injection may give you joint pain. I had lower back and neck pain. Took Alleve and it helped a lot, better than Tylenol. I took Emend for 3 days and had no nausea or vomiting. Was expecting diarrhea but have had constipation. Once I felt up to it I began walking laps around the yard and now walk a mile a day. I began Yoga and also a Pranayama class. I have been having problems sleeping; wake up after 4 hours. This has helped. I had a very sore throat. The onc and nutritionist suggested L-Glutamine powder 30 grams a day and also Probiotics to protect my gut. I also developed a yeast infection, so watch out for patches of white and call in right away.
My hair began shedding on Day 13 and got worse each day. By yesterday I couldn't take it anymore - Day 18. So I got it shaved this morning. Left a few bangs to ease me into it.
Anyway, thought I'd check in with all of you. This discussion board will be your stronghold. Sorry this is so long.
Wish all of you well with your journey. You WILL get through this. I go for second treatment tomorrow. Most of all DRINK LOTS OF WATER the day before, the day of, and the day after. Very important. At least 2 quarts. You'll pee a lot, but way worth it.
Sending my prayers you way,
Linda

Hi again, this is day 3 for me it's better I'm not as nauseaded as I was, finshed my pills so I won't be so dizzy tommorow.I'm getting back up and it's going to be fine. Yes Mandy I'm canadian I'm from New Brunswick small place call Cap-Pele where the sandy beach are!!!! Won't be able to go this summer but we'll see. It's suppose to be a hot one this year.That's why we're kicking some cancer butt first and then go to the beach. Hope for those going this week it will go well. Every person is not the same so you're not going to be sick like me because I'm going to speak to my onco before my next treatment to be sure.

Good luck and !!!!!!! I'll be thinking of you all..

IDC,19nodes-,3.2cm,ER/PR+,Her2/-,stage1,grade2,margin-

I was unable to start chemo again....my infection is much worse. It came back even stronger after I took the decadron. I am getting scheduled for an ultrasound and am back on antibiotics....hope to get started in about 2 weeks if we can get this cleared. If it doesn't get much better I'm off to infectious disease....ugh!

I'll start with lots of hugs this time!

My headache from last night may have been from the steroids or the Zofran the nurse told me this morning - not necessarily the Emend so I took the second one this morning and it didn't intensify. It had eased a lot by mid-morning and was almost completely gone in the afternoon. Then I took tonights Zofran and have only felt it mildly so far. So with any luck it was a one night affair!

I got the Neulast shot today - quick and painless in the arm. Started to feel a little tiny bit of bone pain in my legs later in the evening but that could be just because I'm so tired. I actually went to the store for a quick grocery run, loaded and ran the dishwasher, made a melted sandwich for dinner and washed a load of clothes! And drank and drank water all day. (I also laid around in bed quite a bit today, so don't get the wrong impression!)

The point is we can do this!

Hugs again,

Sheree

Hi, everyone!! I hope I am doing this correctly, I have never posted on a board before.
March 19th 2007 was the day I received my pathology report. I have Breast Cancer. I NEVER expected to hear those words, nevertheless it is just something I have to deal with. I had a partial masc, and some sentinole nodes removed. Clear margins, and no node involment. Lump was 4.5 cm. So I am stage 2, er+, her-. In 2 weeks I will be having a partial masc, on the other side (right) as 2 small lumps were found on an ultrasound that I requested, one is 3mm and the other is 7mm. Surgery is taking place in 2 weeks. I should of been starting chemo by now but they need to know if I have bilaterial bc before they start the chemo. Then I will be doing radiation and tomxifin. All my scans, x-rays and ultrasounds are clear. I am anxious to get on with the treatments ( how wrong does that sound??)I feel sooooo healthy yet I have a horrible disease!! I don't know how I feel about starting chemo, mixed feelings I guess. I don't want it yet I can't wait for it to start. Thanks for listening and I will chat with you all later!!

Thanks, Myra.

That sure was a deadly headache so I'd be willing to spend a little more time if I don't have to get it! I am getting DD AC. I'll have four of those (every other week) and then 4 Taxotere (every other week as well). Followed by Tamoxifin, of course. When I spoke to the nurse she thought is could be the steroids though. What do you think of that - slowing the drip really made a difference? I didn't really get the headache until later on that night.

Thanks and power to you,

Sheree

Amy,

I'm so glad to hear you're doing ok. I was a little worried when we didn't hear from you sooner. Good for you!

Celebrex is a medicine used to treat people with chronic pain like arthritis. It's in the same class as ibuprofen - an non-steroid anti-inflamatory, but seems more effective in the short run for me. I use 800mg Ibuprofen normally but I'd been on Celebrex before and the nurse thought it might help head off the bone pain at the pass. So far, so good!

Linda - thanks for the heart-racing warning! I started feeling that way just trying to get ready to shower this morning and I remembered what you said. It calmed me to know this was not entirely unexpected.

We can do this!

Sheree

Hello ladies,
I hope i'm not too late too join the May group. My name is Sherry, I'm 35 and had my first meeting with the onc. today. I will be starting chemo within the next 2-3 weeks. I've been using the chat room alot and found this board today. I've read through it and it is all so overwhelming, especially with all of the info. I was given today.
I found my lump 2 days before my 35th birthday. My family doc thought it was nothing, but sent me for a mammo and ultrasound to soothe my nerves. My biopsy was March 7, and diagnosis was confirmed on March 14. IDC. Had right mastectomy on April 9.
I'm glad to have your experience and support here. At the moment I'm overwhelmed and scared. I had a larger tumour than originally thought, 4.5x4x3cm, 23 nodes positive, er pos., her2 pos, and possible mets to other lymph nodes and as if that wasn't enough, a spot on one lung that could or could not be related.
I've had alot of time to deal with this and knew i would be having chemo, but I never thought it was this extreme. I will do everything in my power to kick this cancer's butt.
So in advance I thank you, and I hope that I can be of some use to all of you as well. I hate that we have all had to join this group, but at least now we aren't going it alone.
When I can remember more details, without babbling, I will post again.
Hugs and Prayers,
Sherry
PS As a canadian girl, it's nice to have some other canucks here to chat with.

Hey girls,,,,,,,,,sounds like everyone is doing ok except a few headaches,,,,,,,which must suck,,,,sorry to hear that. Starting on Monday the 7th,,,,,,,,ooooooo the joy. Have a good weekend girls,,,,,,,,,
Cindy

I didn't get to start chemo yesterday....white cells tripled after I had the decadron....seems to be an underlying infection. I had an ultrasound today....it was fine....we'll see what the next step is...

Welcome Sherry35 (sorry you had to join us but glad you found us!) We are a good group here in the May starters!

Cindy, Wedbiz and Iwy - thinking of you this weekend as you prepare for Monday (it really won't be as bad as you think :-) Sending you positive energy!

Katymom HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY!!! Eat lots of birthday cake, make lots of wishes and have some FUN - you SOOOOO deserve it! Hope you're feeling well and can get that darned infection under control!

I'd love to "get to know you" all a little better...

Where is everyone from and what are your occupations, interests, favourite activities, passions etc.??? (I am a naturally curious person so would love to put some "personalitlies" to our names!

I guess I should start:

Age 42
Alberta, Canada
Married w/ 2 kids - girl 13, boy 10
2 cats (used to also have 2 dogs and 2 rabbits and 2 other cats but sadly they are gone now - all lived long lives)
Occupation: Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Special Events in a non profit organization - FUN job! (I used to have a different career in my previous life (before kids) and I had my own design business - I designed trade fair booths, fashion show stages, window displays, company logos, etc.) Fun job too but I felt I was meant to do something more with my life that involved helping others.
Passions: Animals, Running, Volleyball, pretty much all sports, music (listening - not playing), my family, my hubby,entertaining, hiking, friends, art, sushi and chocolate.

When you're feeling up to it - I'd love to hear more about all of you!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Mandy

Hey, guys. I was glad to read about the people starting chemo in May...I'd like to have 'chemo buddies' to help get through this. I was diagnosed with DCIS last year and had bilateral mast, and a few weeks ago had surgery to put in saline implants, and my p/s sent biopsies of abnormal tissue. The biopsies came back positive for a 1.1 cm. invasive ductal carcinoma tumor.

This week I'm having my MUGA/bone scan/port placement, and I'll be starting chemo a week or two after that.

I'm only 28, no kids, but my onc told me that egg freezing isn't an option for me because they have to give you hormones to make you ovulate, and my tumor is ER/PR +. So that's something I'll just have to worry about down the road (after I finish 5 years of Tamoxifen).

I'll check in with you guys in a few days to see where we all are in treatment.

Welcome to all the newbies, and, Linda, thank you for checking in with a veteran's perspective!

I had my first TAC on Wednesday. I'm in a clinical trial, and my arm is TAC (taxotere/adriamycin/cytoxan) every 3 weeks. So far I'm doing well. The very worst part has been the FRINKIN' DECADRON which I HATE with the fury of a thousand white-hot suns. It makes me psychotic. So I got permission to only take it day before and day of the Taxotere. Otherwise I feel like a speed freak!

I'm downing soup and popsicles and having a pretty good time. I hope all my treatments go well!

Hi, Sherry. I don't think you EVER need to apologize for any venting you do on this site! That's what we're all here for. I hope your appointments go well...I have my port placement in a few days, but thankfully they're knocking me out for that, so hopefully it's not a big deal.

Let me know how you're doing...I'm glad today's a better day for you.