Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

Harley44 · August 2007

Carol,

I have to take the steroids early in the morning... I will start the fluids, even tomorrow afternoon, to start getting ready. How am I supposed to sleep tomorrow night?

My dh and I bought a wig yesterday, so I will be ready, when the hair falls out. I thought about just getting it shaved now, so I won't have to clean up the bathroom and the rest of the house when it starts!

Yes, I know that people really say terrible things! I just don't understand why they can't ask themself this question:

HOW WOULD I FEEL IF I WERE TOLD I HAD BREAST CANCER??

I really think that would STOP all the stupid comments, that are so hurtful! Maybe they really can't understand unless they have actually gone through it, but I think it would help...

hugs,
HARLEY

kidsmom · August 2007

Harley,
I will be thinking of you today. I hope all goes well for your treatment. I spent most of the weekend sleeping while my husband took care of the kids. Today is the first day I;m alone with the kids again. I'm doing OK, but kind of still have the queezies. Its weird how nothing sounds good to eat, but yet I'm hungry. Yesterday, I ate broccoli soup. Too weird.

What steriods have you guys been getting? I was given EMEND, compazine and dexometho??? Today I get a shot of Neulesta.

Thanks for the kind words about my Dad. It has certainly been a crazy weekend.

I think I have the constipation thing going, but probably because I've hardly eaten. Did you take the colace and the senekote at the same time?
wishing you all naeusa free days,
Kidsmom

4kidsmom · August 2007

I am starting chemo this Thursday. This is my first time here, my daughter sent me the link b/c she knows I am terrified. Diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer in May, had lumpectomy in June followed by mammosite radiation therapy. Just got my medport implanted on Friday. I thought I was done after the radiation so wasn't prepared when they said I needed chemo - because I'm "young" (55????!!), the tumor was 2.3 cm, and it was hygrade. No lymph nodes involved, HER2 negative. For you first timers - how bad is/was the first chemo? Any advise?

Barb

Harley44 · August 2007

kidsmom,

I will have my first chemo tomorrow at 9am. I got decadron/detha...

My MIL and a friend from the coffee shop are going with me, my friend is driving us. She is very nice, and it will be nice to have someone there for my first chemo...

scared,
HARLEY

shrink · August 2007

Had my first chemo in June so I'm 2 months ahead of you. I thought I was going to die right in the chair from either anxiety or the Adriamicen and Cytoxin I was getting. My bp was 189/94 ( not my usual 120/80). Neither happened of course. The anticipaton was far, far worse than the treatment itself. I was lucky and had minimal side effects - mild nausea, contipation, confusion. The good news is that my tumor shrunk from 6 cm to 3.3 cm after 2 treatments. So the stuff worked. I don't have a port because my veins appear to be "good" and I wanted to avoid another procedure. Good luck.

carol_kelley · August 2007

Hope everyone's weekend went well. Mine went, I guess. Was spent with lots of family and phone calls. I am a bit tired today but feeling pretty good, except for the sore throat thing (good ole taxotere)! This is the part where it gets fun for a few days, but I have my chloreseptic spray and my ice water, so I am ready!!!!!!
Hope everyone else is well.

katoMato · August 2007

Hi Barb, welcome. ((hug!))
This thread has a few of us starting chemo in August, and we've tried to document our experiences so far. Personal experience is different depending on chemo meds administered, any possible allergic reactions, individual personality, nurses and staff...It's a brain salad of stuff. I think for the most part, it goes uneventfully. (Mine did!) Your nurse should explain side effects to be aware of during and after the infusion and advise you to notify her/him right away of anything that causes you concern. (I had no side effects during the infusion at all.)They can and do change things to accommodate what ever you might be feeling. I've heard on another thread that someone got a headache at the end of the infusion, and adding an additional bag of saline fixed it. Carol has said in previous posts that she had some aching in her back (CAROL - HELP ME HERE???...)and slowing the drip down seemed to help. (did I get that right???)
So just communicate with your infusion nurse/onc and you'll be fine. BTW, is your CHEMO BAG packed? There is a list of things posted on a thread somewhere (Open Discussion/Going Through Chemotherapy/Tips for getting through Chemo) It's great. I printed it out, and bought everything I could, put it in a little airline "carry on" bag with wheels (it was big enough to bring several bottles of water) and I'm so glad I did. It made me very comfortable.

I also started with the Colace from the beginning at the first sign of...sluggishness, shall we say? And kept it up until I was taking it and a Senekot. But I feel like I stayed on top of it, and it never was allowed to become a huge problem. I understand that nausea can be a result of constipation and I wanted to avoid that.

I'll be thinking/praying for you this Thursday. I know you'll be fine. Keep us postedwe care.

katoMato · August 2007

Hey Harley,
UL b fine, girl. Be prepared to sit, (bring a video? something funny would be good) and you'll be done in no time.
I'll be praying for you tomorrow...(9:am, right?)I'm yours from 9 to 12.
Let us know how it goes.
k.

katoMato · August 2007

Hi Carol - I just had to reply to your post...the comment about your aunt telling you you were "doomed to die".
I have a little surprise for her...she is too! We all are. It's called "life on this earth", and despite her possible protestations, she too will die because she is DOOMED. Having said that, WE CELEBRATE LIFE. It's a gift, and a beautiful one, at that. And we'll fight for it, because it was given to us as a precious gift to protect. Anything else would be ungrateful, wouldn't it?

Oh, BTW, I just discovered fresh squeezed lemon juice in my water. It makes the fur on my tongue go away!!!(Pthhht, pthhht, pthht!)

mtlion322 · August 2007

Good morning everyone! I will probably be joining this Aug group soon! My first meeting w/the once is 08-10-07! It looks like there is alot of pre testing and then the fun begins! I am er/pr pos and lymph node neg w/ilc state II! I do not see how I would not have this, since I already have a weak immune system from arthritis, crohns and undefined hepatitis! So I guess I will be a week or two behind all of you ladies! Thanks for the ideas you ladies have for getting through this! I am so ready to fight the good fight! My daughter is ready to help me find a wig since she is getting married 09-15-07

SKBunny · August 2007

I have had my bilateral surgery. Then my port. Next step is to see the oncologist again on Wed. to set up my chemo treatments. We have talked about starting with Adrimycin. I am in Ga. but was living in Ca. until I came to visit here. I would like to talk to my doctor in Ca. to see what he thinks first. No matter what I have to start soon.
Take Care All,
Sarah

4kidsmom · August 2007

thanks for reply, I know there's no "canned" answer for a "how is it going to affect me" question. As you probably already know, I am just looking for reassurance that I will survive it because others already have! Looked for the Chemo Bag thread, I did find the Tips for going thru Chemotherapy but not the list of things to put in the bag. is the list in a combination of threads or what?
So good to know there is a whole new family out there thinking of and praying for me.

barb

MsSherry · August 2007

Good luck today Harley!

katoMato · August 2007

Hello Ladies - Welcome Cindymc50 and Sarah (skbunny),
Hope everyone is doing well today. I thought this was going to be a tough day because I woke up with a pretty serious headache, but after breakfast it just disappeared!

Chemo Bag stuff...I found the tips for getting through chemo, which deals with just having certain things on hand throughout the months we'll be on our journey and I thought on that thread there were items for "the bag", but apparently not (or I just cant find them.) So, let me list some things that were helpful to me, and everybody can add to the list according to what they've discovered.

BTW: I got everything I could from those "tips" that I could purchase without a prescription and put it in my chemo bag, and it stays by my bed so I don't need to rummage through the medicine cabinet only to find that someone else in my family took it to work or whatever!

CHEMO GOODIE BAG
o Most importantly: the Rxs I would need that day (the Steroid, the Zofran (nausea) and Compazine (break-through nausea). No guarantee when youd finally be out of there, so better to have it on hand. They can give you those things IV, but again, I liked having it close.
o 3 or 4 liters of water (my onc and nurse said to drink 3-4 liters a day to pre-hydrate, and as follow up to flush the chemo out. My nurse said Gatorade wasnt so good bc it was harder on your kidneys, but Ive heard it recommended by others, soask them about your particular situation.
o Advil/Aleve. Not that they wont have any there, but I liked knowing I had it.
o Something to DO! A dvd player and cute movie and/or a Book youve been wanting to read but didnt have the time. A lot of people recommended cheesy novels or magazines (something light?) I wanted something I could lose myself in so time would pass quickly and it worked for me, (I brought both) but were all different. Crossword/Activity puzzles?
o Peppermints/gum something to suck on if you get a strange taste in your mouth.
o A little comfy pillow. They have blankets.
o Kleenex. Why did my nose run continuously for 3 hours?
o Chocolate. No explanation needed. (and enough to share! There are chocolate-deprived people in there who need a little TLC!)
o Some nuts and a snack for my husband

Ok, anybody else remember what Ive overlooked?(Im on the West Coast so you might not be able to utilize this today, HarleyIm sorry. Let us know what helped you!)

chemomom · August 2007

Hi, I am 32 years old and new to chemo! Hooray! I had my first treatment on 8/2 using a port that didn't really want to work. It had been put in the day before & there was some discussion of if it could be "kinked." I had a lot of surprises at that first treatment (unfavorable test results, port issues, med changes, etc.) and it was an unbeleiveably hard day. i am hoping that from now on they will all get better! I can say I escaped nausea, which I attribute to my having been prescribed Emend. Although I have had reflux, terrible cramping-diarrhea the last couple of days and numb legs, among other smaller things. Are other people experiencing these side effects? I get all the info told to me by many different people, but there is just still too much to know! I would appreciate any dialogue. And if you have tips on how to keep my chin up as a mom of 2 preschoolers (ages 2 & 4) while I go thru this, I would be eternally grateful for that, too!

Looking for help and reassurance, Angie

katoMato · August 2007

Oh Angie... doing this at 32 with preschoolers as well. Wow. Well, welcome to our little group. We'll be here for you. I have to admit I've been discouraged (especially in the very beginning) and since my kids are 21 and 25, I've figured they're "cooked" now and nothing I can do from this point on will matter...(nonsense, actually - but the musings of discouragement-personified) You are doing the best thing there is to do right now - fighting for their mommy. You will make it, you'll see. We women are resilient, and strong, and technology has progressed light years just even in the last 10 years...so be of good cheer.

We're just starting this journey with you, so peruse some older threads of veterans who have been on the battle line for YEARS, some of them, and they still post to let us know there's hope...and gather as much info as you can.

Sounds like they got you off to a rocky start - the good news is that probably now all the "bugs" are out, and from now on they'll know just what to do. Not uncommon, I hear.

I'm glad you escaped the nausea - me too. I've had mild reflux, the cramping in me was due to constipation...still dealing with it, but managing.

What are they giving you? I'm on Taxotere & Cytoxan, every 3 weeks for 4 treatments. I've only had the first so far...so we'll see.

Hang in there sister, we'll be there for you.

kidsmom · August 2007

Angie,
I can relate to you. I am only 34 and have a 3 year old and 16 month old. They are the reason I keep my chin up. Each day I visualize myself with them at some event in the future, weddings, birthdays, christmas, just something to keep me focused that I want to be with them.

My first treatment was Friday, and I must say mentally I think I'm worse than physically, but I will not give in to the cancer. I do think I'm going to up my dosage of Zoloft though (ha ha).

Hang in there,
Kidsmom

Harley,
I hope your treatment went OK

chemomom · August 2007

Much to my surprise, I ended up ER/PR- and HER2+. My tumor is over 7cm. I am on Herceptin, Taxotere, and Carboplatin every 3 weeks. I have asked for several of my medical records and tried looking stuff up myself. I think the parts that they didn't tell me, were probably for my own good. namely a 9/9 on a scale for probably reoccurrence was a shocker. I guess I have to have the gene testing and a few scans to check some "non-specific" lesions on my kidney and ovary. I just don't know what to believe. I feel like the docs aren't giving me the whole story because the story is so bad. But then, maybe the fact that I am just some hack on a computer doesn't really make me understand what the results all mean. Yeah, duh, right? I am so worried and so confused. I just want to see my babies grow up. How did that stop being "a given"? Angie

Ggma · August 2007

I start AC tomorrow on the 8th of August and am dreading my time in the chair. I never sit still for very long and can't imagine being hooked up to this thing! I've enjoyed reading your posts and seeing that you've all kept your sense of humor. Looking forward to reading more!

carol_kelley · August 2007

Wow, Lots of posts since I was last on. Welcome everyone new!!!!! We certainly are growing fast. Angie, we are in the same boat together except I am going to be grandmother of twins which keeps me going. But I am on the same drugs same Her 2 + Fish + ER/PR - and doctors scaring the crap out of me. But I know I am going to beat all of this and come out ahead because of all I have to live for and all I want to do in my life. It is still my life just different and I am going to fight like crazy to keep going through this.
Yes girls, report any strange feelings you are having to the nurse when getting chemo so they can act on it immediately. In my case, I was having a slight reaction to the taxotere which resulted in low back pain and so they slowed the infusion down and the back pain went away. But they wanted to make sure I did not end up with kidney problems. It is very important to communicate with your "team" because they are your team. Your in a fight together and they are partners.
Drink lots of fluids, I can't stress that enough!!!!! That is the most important thing you can do for yourself to flush those chmicals out of your body safely!!!!!
Good luck everyone, with your treatments. I am so glad we have each other. And Kaye....You are so right about the lemon water!!!!!

Cynthia1962 · August 2007

Hi Everyone,

I'm just "passing through" and wanted to encourage you. I had 4 AC (3w) and just had my 3rd out of 4 Taxotere. I won't lie to you and say it isn't hard or that there won't be times that you'll want to quit, but it really is doable especially if you deal with each day as it comes. There are some wonderful suggestions for getting through chemo on this board and I've used a lot of them. Treating your side effects as soon as possible makes a huge difference. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. Those of us who have been there done that are here to offer suggestions.

I also want to recommend Chemo Angels. It's an organization that pairs volunteers with people going through chemo. The volunteers send you cards and small gifts while you are in tx. I love my angels and really look forward to hearing from them. The website is chemoangels.com.

Kidsmom and Angie - I also have little ones, a 2 yo son and a 5 yo daughter. I could not have gotten through tx, especially the AC without help. My mom and friends helped me a lot during chemo week. If you have family and friends asking to help, you might want to take them up on it. One of my friends used lotsahelpinghands.com to organize meals for my family. The volunteers also take turns sending mail to my daughter. I also bought some crafts, toys and small gifts for my children that I would bring out on the awful days when I was sick or fatigued and they weren't being sympathetic, lol. After a couple of txs, you'll have an idea of what your se's are going to be and when you'll be feeling better. I try to plan at least one fun out-of-the-house activity for that week.

I've also had to lower my standards when it comes to how I think things should be. I just don't have the energy to do things the way I'd like. Some days, if I get my children fed and clothed, then anything else is just icing on the cake. lol Thank goodness children are so resilient!

Best wishes everyone!

Cynthia

Harley44 · August 2007

Thanks for the info.

I had mints, bottles of water, and crackers, and a bag of those pretzels with peanut butter in the middle! They are SO good!

I didn't have much trouble with the tx, just insurance issues prior to the tx... my dr. even suggested switching the drugs from TC to AC, because Adriamycin is less expensive. See, he's losing money on me, because my insurance insists that if he agrees to take me as a patient, he has to accept the "allowable charges". Well, he was MAD! I almost did get switched to AC, but while I was discussing it with my doc, I said that I was afraid that I would die from the tx! He gave me some stupid answer, and I said "Why don't you go get chemo, and see how YOU feel?" Well, he backed down because I had told him I was concerned about the toxicity of Adriamycin to the heart. And when I sat in the chair, the nurse read the instructions:

TC

I told her to go check with the dr., since I didn't want him to club me over the head on the way out, to try and get the money from me!

But, so far, nothing has happened!

I will try to remember to add this good advice to the other that I have. Next time, I am hoping that I won't have such a big tote bag! It was SO HEAVY!! lol

Hugs,
HARLEY

Harley44 · August 2007

Kidsmom

Thanks! After the fight with my dr. was over, about whether to switch me to Adriamycin, I was ok. He wanted to do this because A is less expensive! I am TERRIFIED about the toxicity to the heart! My dh was talking to me on the phone, and he said NO WAY!!! NO AC!! that was after the fact, and I almost thought I was going to have to get AC anyway. I was SCARED!

But, God is looking out for me, because when I got in the chair, the nurse read the orders:

TC

I said, you better check with the dr., because he wanted to use Adriamycin, because it's less expensive.

She came back, and said, NO, he said it's to be TC.

YEAH! I am feeling ok, no problems. I had an early dinner and am going to go out for a short walk. I want to keep up my exercises.

Good Luck! with the rest of your treatments! We can do it!

HARLEY

katoMato · August 2007

Hi Ggma - Welcome, and i hope all goes well for you tomorrow!
And Barb, You go in on the 9th? (That would be Thursday)
Hopefully the time will go quickly for both of you, and uneventfully! Let us know how it goes...I'll be thinking about you.

Hey, Sarah - hang in there tomorrow at that meeting with the onc. Let us know when you'll be starting so we can send you off with a blessing!

Hang in there ladies! We shall persevere.

mtlion322 · August 2007

Katomato and Carol07, thank you for the welcome to this group!

Katomato, I can relate, I have a 21 yr old and a 25 yr old and my 21 yr old is getting married nxt month, talking about bad timing!

Thanks for the chemo bag tips! Very important!

Hope everyone is doing well today!

Mom's with babies, my heart goes out to you, just remember no matter how bad the bad days are you are fighting for those precious children and they need you!

I know we are all in the battle of our lives, for ourself and our famlies, so fight the good fight!

Is anyone drinking the ensure or the dan active to help your body fight?

No matter, how bad this may be, we are women and we are strong! We will survive!

Ggma · August 2007

Thanks for the welcome Katomato! I went for tx today and they found an infection in my port incision so tx was delayed until the 15th while the antibiotic has a little bit to work. It seems that anything that can go wrong has gone wrong. This was just the latest in a long list. I went in for port placement last Wednesday and the surgeon couldn't get into my vein so after 10 tries he decided to quit. Onc sent me to another guy for the next day and he got in fine, but used rad equipment to find the vein. My veins are not very big and the last time I had a MUGA it took 7 different nurses 10 tries to get in to get the blood! Obviously, the port is much needed!!! Oh well, my dh and I had a wonderful afternoon and went to Red Lobster to eat lunch after the failed tx. Much more fun!!! I'll keep you informed as to how it goes next week.

4kidsmom · August 2007

well, here it is, my big day. I keep telling myself I am ready for this, I can do it! I do have to admit though that I am nervous. To be expected, I'm sure. My doctor had me get a rx of Emend, told me to take the first pill in the early morning of my first chemo (today at 3), but the package says to take an hour before. Anyone use this?
Thanks to all who posted tips for the chemo bag, I have mine ready to go. Went on a little shopping trip last nite - it was somewhat humerous - I had this list of stuff to buy and wondered to myself how many people go on a shopping trip like that the day before chemo....like I was getting ready for a trip or something! I guess it is a trip of sorts.
All of us, let's hang in there and remember how many of us are here going thru the same thing. Stay strong, believe in your treatment and don't anyone forget we are survivors.

Harley44 · August 2007

Miss Sherry:

Thanks for the warm wishes for my first chemo! I'm sorry, I don't know how I missed the posts... probably due to being upset by my nasty onc, and his concern about losing money from my insurance!

THANKS! It went well, I guess... no real problems.

I had a little diarrhea Tues. eve., but last night, it was worse. I guess I'll have to take something this afternoon, to stop the diarrhea from starting...

Thanks again!
HARLEY

Harley44 · August 2007

Kaye,

Thanks! It went well! One down and Three to go!

Just had a little diarrhea Tues. eve., and last evening, it was worse, so today, I guess I'll try taking something to prevent it, before I eat anything to start it up again. Can I take Immodium??

Thanks again!
HARLEY

I don't know how I missed a bunch of posts, but it was probably due to being upset from my onc, and his behavior over losing money from my insurance!

Harley44 · August 2007

Good luck, Cindymc50!

You'll be fine! I just got my 1st tx of 4 on Tues., and it went well, without much se's. I just had to fight with my onc, because he wanted to switch the chemo drugs to something less expensive, because "he's losing money due to my insurance".

I guess you'll be getting the Taxotere and Cytoxin, too? The advice here is very good, and all the women are so nice, and this is a really good place to go for advice and support.

The wig is a good idea. My dh and I went wig shopping last weekend, before my 1st tx. He's not with me for all these treatments, since he's in the Navy, and can't be here, but he is coming on weekends, and it helps, every little bit.

Take it easy, I have found that it's best to take things slow, just one day at a time. It's the only way to get through it! We'll all be here to support you, and to give you 'cyber hugs'!

Good luck!
HARLEY

Anyone starting Chemo in August 07?

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