I am starting chemo in July 07. Anyone else?

Well ladies I just returned from having my ct scan and bone scan, I am really nervous awaiting the results, anyone know about how long it takes to get results, you know your laying there thinking they know but they wont tell me. I know with the 7 nodes being negative that the odds are in my favor but its still scary.

Thanks Tina

Hi girls.

Period - yes, 3 days after my first chemo. I really thought I was done with periods forever. Surprise.

Hair starting to shed. Day 13 after first my chemo. I guess I'm right on target. I agree, the bald look is somehow a realization in my life that I have indeed entered a parallel universe, but it's also a reminder to me that the chemo is working.

Climbergirl, chlorine exposure is high for me. I spent 12 years as a competitive swimmer and taught swim lessons for 10 years after that, and not to mention that both my children were swimmers through high school and college.

Good luck to everyone this week.

PS: How safe is the sun? Short exposure? Risk of burning?

Hello ladies well its been 10 days since my first chemo when can I expect my hair to start falling out?

Thanks Tina

Hi ladies.

Savanah58, my husband did my head with the lowest setting of the electric razor (Tina- my hair started to come out about 12 days after my 1st AC, but it really started to come out on the day of tx #2). Anyway, my husband then did his head with the razor and shaving cream. I think that's the only way. He offered to do mine but I couldn't bring myself to take that step. So I am living with the buzz, which is also coming out. When I am in the shower or out in my back yard, I rub my head to get the loose stubble out!
Here's a thought - I bet a barber would do it. They probably shave men's heads all the time.

JBW, the onc nurses told me to be very careful in the sun because the chemo makes you sun sensitive. I'm pretty fair to begin with so I have been using sunscreen every time I go out. AND BOY IS IT HOT THESE DAYS!!! But I got my walk in this morning while it was still only in the mid 80's...
My plan is to walk and ride my bike in the basement during treatment weeks, and then on my off weeks ride outside or run. We'll see how that goes!
But Rose, I know what you mean about wanting to feel as normal as possible. I bet Scrabble is a good way to keep your mind working well and combat that darned "chemobrain". It really makes me forget stuff. I have to write myself notes. Anybody else experiencing that?

I had tx #2 on Monday and so far this week has been easier than tx week 1 was. I hope it continues. I've been able to stay on top of the headaches with sinus medicine.
Abbi- Here's hoping for negative scans. I had my scans the week before my first tx and the onc nurse told me at my tx that they were all negative. I hadn't tried to get them before that.

Donna

I think it was Tina waiting on the scans. Not me... more of that chemo-brain stuff?

My hair started coming out on day 14. Hubby buzz cut me on day 16 and I've just been dealing with the stubble as it comes out.... usually on a towel after my shower.

Actually, the hair loss is probably the hardest side effect so far.... it's so "visable". But I'm getting used to me in a scarf (I decided against a wig).

I see others have found headcovers.com. I love them... lots of different options there.

Had my 2-week-after-treatment white cell count yesterday and it was good! One week until AC #3....this seems to take FOREVER, doesn't it?

Ladies , I still havent heard fron my Dr I had my bone scan and ct scan on Wednesday, will they call you either way, or will they wait till you come in for another chemo.

Thanks Tina

That is wonderful news, Tina! Hope it shrinks to nothing at all!
~Barb

Tina, that is indeed great news. Here's hoping that tumor will keep on shrinking!!

Ginger, sorry to hear you had a rough time with #3! My #2 was Monday, and Friday turned out to be my worst day. I spent almost all of it on the couch - forced myself to get up occasionally and do small things, but overall it was a horrible day. I wonder if the heat had something to do with it. I also started to feel really down and frustrated. I had to keep telling myself I'd feel better soon, and that chemo doesn't last as long as pregnancy! (I was REALLY SICK through pretty much my entire pregnancy. Part of the reason I only had one kid!) Saturday I felt way better. I'm afraid for tx #3..but what can I do except brace for it and know it will pass.

So I got called to interview this Wednesday for what I have always thought would be my dream job. I didn't even think my resume was still active with this school district, and I didn't even know they had a vacancy! DH and I agreed I wouldn't look for a job until I finished chemo, but like I said this is my dream job and it came out of the blue so I have to at least interview! I'll be breaking out the wig for the occasion. I have no intention of telling them I'm in chemo unless they make me an offer. Feels deceptive but this is a really competitive market.

Hope you've all felt well enough to enjoy some of the weekend.

Donna

Abbi, I wake up in the middle of the night just like you. I haven't taken anything for it either. I read on one of these boards that it's God's way of reminding us that he is there to take care of us. So, I just think of that and fall back to sleep...after I get up to use the bathroom, of course.
You seem to be 2 weeks ahead of me on your tx. Best of luck this week on AC#3! I have mine on the 22nd.
How many of us are going on to Taxotere or Taxol? I guess that is where my mind is beginning to go now. Also, anyone going to be getting Herceptin?
Take care!
Barb

I'll be moving on to Taxol in September. 12 doses - one per week.

I think about that a lot as well. I guess since I KNOW what the AC is like, there's no more to obsess about there. I always feel like crap for 3 days following AC... I'm hoping Taxol is not as bad. I'd hate to lose 3 days every week.

But, bottom line.... I gotta do what I gotta do. Trying to stay positive, but I'm ready to be done with this crap already - and I've still got a long way to go....

No Herceptin for me. But I'll be taking Tamoxifin for the next 5 years (I guess after all the other treatments are done?)

Hi All,

Checking in on my off week of treatment. #4 the final and last AC is coming up next week and to be honest I get nauseous even thinking about it for 2 secs. BLEEEECH. So over it.

A couple of notes.....the third treatment is kind of kicking my ass a bit. One of the things that I started having is the wonderful phenomenon of anticipatory nausea....meaning the night before treatment, when I see the Dana Farber Building or when I think of the color red for those of you that are Adriamycin fans. Even right now! I really am missing hunger pangs, they made life more enjoyable, this eating by the clock is just plain weird. Another thing that was helpful was switching from the compazine to reglan. The Compazine for whatever reason on day 5 and 6 ended up making me a lunatic. Kind of like having 3 glasses of wine in you but without the relaxation part.....combined with elevated heart rate and anxiety and inability to focus. So if this sounds familiar then ask to be switched.

As we were on vacation I had to give myself the Neulasta shot....a first for me so hopefully I did not screw it up and my counts will be ok. I used to hate needles too. Boy how things change.

Ok, so the period thing.....it seems to me that ovulated this month and am due for my period now but all I have is a pain in my right ovary and no period. I think that it is complaining to me. Anyway it hurts is not relived by Advil and is a nuisance.

Heard a really interesting show on NPR this weekend that you all may want to take a look at

http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=07-P13-00031&segmentID=4

......confirms my hunch that we need to really stop using plastics for things we ingest...until they get rid of the BPA. Not that this prevented me from doing hot yoga and freezing water in plastic bottles to drink from to stay cool for 4 years. When you think of how much we drink just plain water out of BPA laden stuff it boggles the mind how these companies can get away with having it present when it is a known contributor to BC and Prostate Cancer. I mean this is alreasy a fact. EPA regs are not adequate, big surprise! No more plastics ladies!

Anyway hang in there and keep up the love,

climbergirl who is going climbing tomorrow night and has no idea how she will do

Well ladies I didnt get to take my second round of ac the dr said my platlets are to low, white blood cell are fine, she said the treatment she is giving me is very strong so really its supposed to be every 3 weeks but she was trying to give it to me every 2 weeks, but maybe we wont be able to do it every 2 weeks, anyone else have this happen?

Thanks Tina

Hi everyone. I just discovered this section. I started my chemo at the end of July and will be having my second session this Friday. ( Cytoxan and Taxotere). My hair started falling out Friday night, and I have only patches of hair left...looks awful. I want to shave it all off but afraid I'd crave up my head.

My lump was first discovered in late May. I was having some chest pains and thought it might be my heart. I placed my hand where the pain was and discoverd a large lump. I know the mass was not there 2 days before as it was located directly under my bra band, a place normally felt everytime I showered. The next day, I noticed a strange color and texture to my breast.

I was in my GP's office Monday. She took one look and thought it was IBC and sent me for a Mammogram & US. The radiologist also thought it looked like IBC as there was nothing in last years mammo and the mass was golf ball size. I then saw my surgeon, he also thought...IBC. He wanted to perform an immediate biopsy (excisonary turned into a lumpectomy) Path report showed IDC not IBC.

I had to wait about 2 weeks to see the onc who read the report, said it was not IBC and then examined me. (Both GP & surgeon informed her, even though the path said no IBC they still thought it was) She did not believe I had IBC and contributed the "color" on my breast to brusing. However, to be safe decided she would treat me as if I did have IBC. (tissue sample shows IDC, but the results may have been incorrect because the surgeon did not get enough tissue for testing.)

So my treatment is 6 TC, mastectomy, more chemo, more surgery (to relocate a pacemaker) then RADS. Looks like a long year for me.

Hi Lori, I started July 30 same day as some of the ladies were getting their 2nd and 3rd doses. Are you also getting AC? Take care hope your all feeling better week after tx. Charlene

For all the non sleepers out there.... I also dislike taking anything for sleeping (normally I get up in the middle of the night anyway to pee anyway left over twin pregnancy behaviour) but you need to realize that the steroids that you are on can really make it impossible for normal rest.Unless of course you are being kept awake by the anxiety....which is a whole other ball of wax in a way.
I have 2 doses .5 and 1 mg Ativan and I have had no residual effects from taking them on the nights that I am completely hopped up, but then again I do not take it every night. Don't have to.
I have asked a doc friend what she thought of all of the sleep aids and she says that Ambien is less addictive than the Ativan and that another one that may work would be rozarem.

As I previously mentioned even my acupuncturist thinks that they should be taken when necessary as your sleep is that important. I was pretty bowled over when he told me this!

~climbergirl