Starting Chemo in May 07

Did you do taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin....I finally got started yesterday...they premedicated with an IV anti-nausea Aloxil and gave me kytril 2 x daily for nausea...so far so good. I am having pain in my shoulder since I took Neulasta today.....anyone know about this? Good luck Cinrae....I was supposed to start before you but now I'm just after...at least we can compare treatments... let me know how you are. I also had the indigestion..I took titralac...they said to take an antacid...Also, I ran fever 101-102 the first night... Good luck and keep me posted...

Looks like I'll be the third Cindy joining the May chemo club. (Unless I've miscounted...)

Like NoSurrender, this is my second go-around, too. My first diagnosis was in September 2005. It was a fast-growing medullary tumor, which is a fairly rare variety, in my left breast. I did mastectomy, followed by chemo every 2 weeks: 4 AC then 4 Taxol.

This time, I'm scheduled to receive weekly doses of carboplatin and Taxol for 12 treatments. Every fourth week is a rest week. I start May 25 and should be done by the end of August.

Katymom, how are the side effects with carboplatin?

My advice for those going through AC is to try to keep a little something in your stomach at all times. If you're empty or full, you'll feel bad. Try graham crackers or saltines. I craved cantaloupe. Go figure.

I also had that bad headache some of you have experienced. It was from one of the anti-nausea drugs. I'm not sure if we ever got it figured out, but they eased with each treatment.

For me, Taxol was easier because no headache and no nausea. But it did cause muscle and bone pain, although that could have been the Neulasta shots. I also experienced numb fingertips and toes but that eventually got better post-chemo.

My second diagnosis was in mid-April, another triple-negative tumor, but not medullary. It is a new primary, not caused by a scouting party from my first tumor. So now I've had two mastectomies. My left side has a silicone implant and the right has an expander. (Forgot how uncomfortable those are!)

I'm getting a port placed a day before my first chemo. With my first tumor, it was big enough that we knew I'd have to have chemo. So I had the port placed during the mastectomy surgery. The port makes things SO MUCH easier, both for you and your veins. They can even take blood from your port, so they don't have to fish for a vein in your arm.

Hang in there everybody. The secret to getting through this is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Eventually, you'll come out on the other side. I promise!

I live in Minnesota, so to help keep all our Cindys straight, I think I'll sign as CindyMN.

--CindyMN

Hi gals,,,,,,,,just checkin in with you all. Today is day 5 of my first chemo. Monday was fine,,,no probs with the chemo,,,,,,,,then on Tues and Wed,,,,,,felt like crap. Had really bad indigestion,loss of appetite (not nauseaus per say,,,,,just nothing looked, taste or sounded good), couldnt sleep (that damn decadron I think, wish we didnt have to take that), achey like the flu,,,,,and major headache on Wed. It will be interesting to see if next week it follows the same pattern. Thur and Friday (today) I feel like my normal self.
Have a great weekend everyone and Happy Mothers Day as well.
Cindy

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DCIS,IDC,STAGE 1, NODE NEGATIVE, ER/PR NEG, HER2 POS

I don't know if this is true for everyone, Judy, but when I went through AC in 2005, I felt the most nausea after my first treatment. It got less and less with each treatment. I don't know why. Call your doctor (or whoever's on call for her) and tell them how bad you're feeling. There are a lot of different anti-nausea meds and the ones you have now may just not work for you.

--CindyMN

Gracie, I also have a torn cartilege in my knee. The orthopedic doctor won't fix it until all the cancer treatment is done. It is so irritating because I would like to do some walking while on chemo, but I injured this knee right before being diagnosed.

I too am nervous about chemo and how I will react. It is a comfort to have this forum to go to for information and support. I don't start my chemo for 3 more weeks; I am just 10 days out of my mastectomy.

Take care, Debbie

Hello All,
I have been lurking as well. I start Chemo May 21st. I had a mastectomy April 23rd with port placement at the same time. This was after a whirlwind id/biopsy mid March for a tumor that developed in only 2 months. My tumor was metaplastic IDC 2.8 CM, grade III, er/pr neg, Her2 neg, no nodes. Staged at 2B. My KI was also high Gracie, 79%, the highest my onc had see in over 25yrs in the biz. Aren't I special?
I am glad I have found you guys, I too am scared about chemo and seem to be building it up into this big monster. I talk with my onc next week to find out exactly what drugs we will be using. Can someone tell me how they administer the chemo through the port? I loved the details that were shared about IV introduction but can't quite picture what happens with the port. Thanks in advance for your help. Hilary

4 days after my chemo and can now read and half ways walk with out holding on to the wall. I beleive some of the medicine I was given to help prevent/help feeling sick is some of my problem. They seem to be very strong. Until this chemo I have not had to take many drugs except for my headache meds so I believe I am super effected by these stronge meds. Maybe next time will just try and use my imtrex a little more and half the chemo drugs they send home with me.

Also feel I will call my doc and see if I can get some anti-depression pills for some help dealing with this cancer.

Have to say I love the port. Was told it might hurt the first time but they gave me a cream to use first and it was so easy. A good plus.

JudyWI, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time - hopefully your next tx will be much smoother - when is that going to be?

Hope everyone else is doing well and had a great Mother's Day! I was happy to still have my hair for brunch! I notice that the hair in my armpits and legs seems to have stopped growing...so I'm guessing my hair will start falling out any day now...I almost feel like shaving it off now before it even starts to come out but the longer I don't have to wear a wig, the better!

CindyKS - thinking of you as you go for tx number 1 tomorrow and hoping all goes well! We've grown to such a large group, I'm not sure of when everyone's start date is! If I've missed anyone who is starting tomorrow - my good thoughts are with you too!

Take care, everyone!

Another lurker here finally ready to raise her hand and say "me too." Hi, I'm LeeAnne, and I start chemo this Thursday, May 17th, with A/C (4 rounds every other week) and then will have 4 rounds of Taxol. I don't want to come across as a weenie girl, but I know I don't have much of a tolerance for pain, or pain meds for that matter, so balancing side effects and meds might be quite the juggling act for me. I'm still recovering from port surgery 3 days after the fact, and that's something that it seems most people sail through.

I'm 45 and a single (half-time) mom of a 12 year old and a 9 year old. Their dad is an active parent and supportive so that helps. I am going to try and work through my treatments as much as possible but really, its hard to care about work right now. I am very lucky to have a mom in great shape who has committed to coming to town for all my treatments. I have good friends too, but I don't know how much I can ask of them...

Cancer particulars: Stage IIA (1.1 cm but in 1 lymph node), lumpectomy with full axillary dissection of lymph nodes on left side. ER + PR pos, Her2 neg, grade 2. Diagnosed April 3, surgery April 10.

Am I scared of chemo? You betcha. But am I ready to get this party started? Absolutely. My mind is clear, my priorities are reordered, and I welcome these drugs that will cleanse my body of the rogue cancer cells. Or at least that's my daytime story. At night it is hard to be so brave.

I have found great comfort in the past in online communities so I'm very glad to have found you, as sucky as it is that we are all here.

Hugs to all,
LeeAnne

Cosy, pdx LeeAnne - welcome, I hope things go well!!

Cindy KS - bummer about the allergic reaction - sounds like the nurses were on top of it - hope you feel better.
Eat while you can!! And sleep if you can, I keep forgetting to yield to the need to sleep.....and sometimes the decadron can keep you up so if you can sleep, sleep....

Hugs to all,
Amya

Hi gang,

I go for my second treatment tomorrow. I'm on DD A/C every other week. I know it's not that big a deal but I'm still feeling pretty anxious about it. yuck.

I've felt fine for most of the past week. The worst was not being able to sleep and the Dr. finally gave me some Soma which helped a LOT. Sleeping is good

I had a terrible time trying to eat at first. My throat just wanted to clamp shut when I tried to eat. I was able to take whole milk, puddings, a bit of cinnamon graham crackers, yogurts, and smoothies, so try and get some of those. I'm pretty sure I can handle ice cream so I've got some of that for this round. And be sure to tell any teenagers hanging around that they can have some pudding but they have to make sure and not eat the last one! After a few days I was able to eat macaroni and cheese so that was good. Funny, I could also eat canned spinach without any problem. When I started to get my appetite back I found fish was a lot easier than chicken or meat. And I didn't want very much spice on anything. I'm usually a big fresh ground pepper fan but I couldn't bear it, especially the first 5 or 6 days. So I'd suggest tasting food before you put anything on it.

Good luck to all those getting geared up to start!

Hang in there troops! Hugs,

Sheree

Well new meds to help with the headaches. Boy they are bad so now back to feeling spaced out. Will have to redo my life here for a while. I watch my grandkids and will have to quit that for now. Have appointment with the acupuncturist tomorrow he said he could help and of course I can not drive with this drug. I have next treatment May 24 and to be honest if this cont the way it is I will not finish these treatments. I had one positive node with a 2.5 tumor, +-- grade 3 and did the bil mast so at age 56 I get a 50% change and extra 24% with the chemo. Right now that 50% sounds better than all this pain. As I listed before in '92 i had kidney cancer and no treatment with a 60% change so would I be just as lucky with this one. Lots to think about.

Forever 21 has cute scarves too...for the younger crowd. Personally, I'm going for comfort, not a hot wig, but then I work in a town where some women cut their hair as short as mine is now (1 inch) on purpose. When the hair falls out I'll wear longer scarves and buffs (a la Survivor LOL).

I don't plan on doing a wig to hot for the summer. I guess if I worked out side the home it might be a concern. I picked up some scarves and a couple of hat for the sun, so feel I am all set with that part.

Well Mary seems our "cases" are similar except I have 4+ nodes out of 13 taken. Will be visiting with onc. tomorrow (May 16)...we shall see what transpires.

I pray a lot, believe a lot and expect a lot! On we go!