Starting Chemo in September?? where are you ladies

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Methusala
Methusala Member Posts: 285
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
Hi Ladies,
I didn't see a Sept. 2007 thread. Is there one???
I start as soon as we get back from Disney in Sept. We're gone Sept. 11 to 18th. Then we come back and hit the ground running. I'm having a PET scan next week, Thursday, and on Wednesday they're putting my mediport in.
I'm participating in two studies. I was offered 3, but saw no point in the ovarian one, as I'm having them out next summer for sure! One study is for bones and one is long term chemo effects stuff, both are studies of Dr. Levine.
anyway, onward through the fog, eh?

anyone else starting in Sept? and is anyone else starting in Sept. at Roswell?
-me
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  • joykeeperorg
    joykeeperorg Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2007

    I dont meet with my oncologist till Monday (20 Aug) I had my mediport put in on Friday (10 Aug) along with that a lumpectomy and all of my nodes were taken out 4 of 34 were positive. So hope fully she will wait to start my Chemo until Sept.

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  • paxton
    paxton Member Posts: 577
    edited August 2007
    I will be starting chemo in Sept. I'm going to mayo next week for a 2nd opinion and the week after I'll prob get the port put in. I'd like to hold off on starting until after sept 8th (my bf and I were drawn for moose hunting licenses and its required I go to orientation the 8th and then my bf can hunt in oct regardless if I do).

    stage 2a, 2.1cm tumor, grade 3, nodes negative, triple negative hormone tests, age 33
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  • paxton
    paxton Member Posts: 577
    edited August 2007
    Oh, and I'm really nervous about chemo (duh!!)
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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    I'm pretty nervous, too.
    I just do NOT want to do this. no way, no how. ugh.
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  • 3boys4me
    3boys4me Member Posts: 319
    edited August 2007
    Looks like I may be joining you - I had 4 rounds of Taxotere and Xeloda from March-June, then some time off for surgery. I may be having some additional surgery (I hope to find out this coming Wednesday), but no matter what, I know I've got more chemo in my near future - most likely sometime in September. Will keep you posted and will check back here to see how everyone is holding up.
    Lisa
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  • rxt774
    rxt774 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2007

    I think I will start in Sept. My MRI is on 8/20, a 2nd visit to oncologist on friday, and my port gets put in on 8/31. We'll see what happens next after MRI on Monday. I don't want to do this either but we'll get thru it. After 8 rounds of chemo I get Herceptin for a year, and 6 weeks of rads.

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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007

    anyone else doing any 'studies'? I was offered 3 and agreed to do 2. One is for some additional drugs with chemo, and one is for bone something or other. The 3rd was an ovarian study, but I plan on having mine out ASAP next summer. As prophylactic, I'm scared to death of ovarian cancer now.

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  • rxt774
    rxt774 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2007

    Why do BC patients take their ovaries out? how does that help prevent other cancers?

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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007

    Hi Hope, I don't have allot of high tech info. about taking ovaries out, but I do know that I am at high risk for ovarian cancer. I currently have a cyst on my right ovary. I've had cysts removed twice in the past, and 18 years ago I had cryosurgery for questionable cervical cells. My last pap was normal a year ago. I have an extensive family history of cancer, all on my father's side. I've had 3 babies, I'm done, so to me, my ovaries are welcome to become a part of medical science. I hope others can better answer your question.

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  • 3boys4me
    3boys4me Member Posts: 319
    edited August 2007
    If BRCA tests come back positive, there indicates an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Others opt for the side of caution.

    I did a clinical trial for my first 4 chemos - Taxotere and Xeloda. The trial worked for me and they will continue to do follow up on me as I continue through treatment and boyond.

    I find out tomorrow if I need more surgery, if not, I'll be starting chemo soon, otherwise I assume I will get a couple of weeks to recover from additional surgery before getting more chemo - to be followed by radiation and tamoxifen.

    Joy of joys....

    Hugs to all my cancer sisters,
    Lisa
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  • paxton
    paxton Member Posts: 577
    edited August 2007
    Well, I'm back from the Mayo Clinic. They agreed with my local onc that I need AC X4 and Taxol X4. I got a lot of my questions answered so I do feel better that I'm doing what's necessary.
    I'm alittle irritated because I feel the local docs didn't explain everything as well as I'd like. I'm also worried about taking the steroids like decodron because they say it gives you the jitters and insomnia. I have panic disorder and when I feel like that even from coffee I panic. I'm really nervous about all this. Mayo said I'll still have a 20% chance of reoccurance after all this treatment. This whole thing sucks.
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  • gshoemate
    gshoemate Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2007
    Hi ladies, i'm popping in from the July chemo to wish you all luck. Remember, you will get through this. I am now officially halfway through chemo and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would highly suggest that you ask your doctor for a prescription for Emla cream to put on your port before chemo. It will numb it up and you won't feel a thing. Get it early because alot of pharmacies don't stock it and need to order it. And if you haven't joined yet, take a look at http://www.chemoangels.net/ it takes some time before your approved but you will not believe what a card or package will do for you moral through this journey, I cry almost everytime I get one.

    Best of luck to all of you.

    Ginger
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  • bonny1963
    bonny1963 Member Posts: 450
    edited August 2007

    Hi girls, just stopping in to let you know that it is completely doable. I was dx on Sept 12, 2006 ~ almost a one year survivor! You will make it. I had radiation also, so if you are having it after chemo it is a breeze. It is more scary because it is unknown, but you just sit in the recliner while they let it drip into you. Just like a regular IV. I couldn't tell any difference. Just take the prescribed meds and you should be all right. WE are all in this fight together and I will be checking on you all later. Good luck and I will be praying for you all. Bonny

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited August 2007
    Bonny,

    Thanks! I started my chemo in August, and will have my 2nd tx on Tuesday, Aug. 28th. I had very little trouble with it.

    It is good to hear from someone who's been through it, and it helps me to know that I will get through this, too! On Tuesday, I'll be halfway through!!! YIPPEE!

    Hope to hear more from you, since I know we will all have questions!

    HARLEY
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  • paxton
    paxton Member Posts: 577
    edited August 2007

    I'm waiting to have my port put in. Thanks for the tip on getting Emla. I read somewhere about the pain which I didn't understand at first so I'm glad you mentioned the numbing cream. Anything to ease the discomfort. And thanks for the link to the angel gift writing site. I put an application in. Any little thing to brighten our day is welcomed. At least we have this place to help us be educated and have support.

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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    Hi!
    anyone still around on this thread??
    I have my two chemo angels and I just love it.
    I am seeing chemo doc tomorrow so I will ask for the Emla cream. I also get the results of my PET scan tomorrow, AND have some heart thing. Hopefully it's my LAST visit til I start chemo on Sept. 20. I am DREADING my hair falling out. ugh! no, more like UGH!!
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  • wackyjackie
    wackyjackie Member Posts: 669
    edited August 2007
    Hi Girls,

    I started chemo on 8/15/07. 4 A/C AND 4 TAXOL. It is normal to be very nervous before. The unknown made me more nauseous than the actual treatment. It's rough, but you can do it. Bring a book or music to relax. Mints or candy because you get a funny taste in your mouth. Fatigue was a big part of my side effect, but if you take all the anti-nauseau meds you should be okay. Good luck to you all. Please feel free to ask any questions.

    I pray for all of you and your families.

    Hugs, Jackie
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  • rxt774
    rxt774 Member Posts: 15
    edited August 2007
    HI Everyone!
    I'm checking back in. I'm looking for suggestions from our experienced chemo gals, what they found helped them thru treatment. Thanks for suggesting the Emla cream, I'm definitely asking for that! Also the mints for the funny taste in the mouth. What other items should we stock up on now?

    BTW, I get my port put in on 9/5/07, a follow up visit to Onc on 9/10, then I expect to start my 4X AC (every 2 weeks) and 4X Taxol/Herceptin soon after.
    I look forward to continuing our journey together!
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  • Methusala
    Methusala Member Posts: 285
    edited August 2007
    ^good luck with your port too. It's been one week for mine and it's still very bruised and sore. The first day was the worst, they would only give my Tylenol for pain. My Mother was with me and she is a walking pharmacy, so....
    They told me to leave the bandage on, but I had to take if off, as the tape gave me hives.
    I'm stage 2B too, and hormone negative, I don't know my HER status, I gave up trying to ask questions.
    well ladies, we're going to do this thing!
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  • bonny1963
    bonny1963 Member Posts: 450
    edited August 2007

    O-K ladies, be strong. You can do it. Losing your hair is not fun but you get used to it. SOmeone told me that and I though "yeah, right!" But you do. That doesn't mean that you don't want it back, but look at it as being free. I never wore anything at home and sometimes I would foret nd go to the door or mailbox and then I would feel a little self-conscious. I wore bandannas at first and then ended up wearing baseball caps. I am going today for a haircut. I finished chemo on Feb 19 of this year and my hair is still really short but I wore it short anyway. I am mostly getting it shaped up. Stay strong and stay together. I have made some amazing friends on here and we all got through it together. I will keep checking on you girls. Bonny

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  • Alishar
    Alishar Member Posts: 74
    edited August 2007
    Hi, ladies. I think I will joining the "September chemo group," since I have my first onc appointment next Tuesday, 09/04/07. I had my radical bilat mast and recon surg two weeks ago tomorrow. I don't know why some surgeons recommend surgery first and then chemo and others the other way around, but I sure am glad I got the surgery out of the way! I will be checking in with you all every chance I get. I had originally planned on going back to work next week, but I may not do so until the following week.

    Thank you for the numbing cream advice. I will sure request it; thank you for the angels site, I will send in my application!

    Irma
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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited August 2007
    Hello there ladies,

    I reckon you can count me in too here! I have a "chemo education" appointment on September 11 and think I will start my treatments soon afterwards - still waiting on the date to be set. I do know my regimen. It is: Adriamycin and Cytoxan every 2 weeks x 4 tx; then Taxotere every 2-3 weeks x 4 tx; also Herceptin x 1 year with the Taxotere, then alone after that. Is this what is called DD, and does that mean "dose dense"? Gee I'm still learning a lot, mostly what I didn't want to know. I have Stage 1 IDC, had lumpectomy plus re-excision with clear margins; SNB with negative nodes; body scans clear; ER/PR negative, HER2 positive. I am very nervous about the chemo, but the more I talk with ladies here, the better I feel. I am just so thankful I can come here and not feel so alone!! I am absorbing every one's hints and tips like a sponge, so keep them coming! I wish everyone here the best before, during, and after treatment!

    Mary Jo
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  • figsgirls
    figsgirls Member Posts: 253
    edited August 2007
    Hi ladies. I'm also checking in from the July chemo thread. I did A/C dose dense and will have weekly Taxol x12. Had my last A/C on Monday. Chemo is no fun at all, that is for sure, but the time will go by quickly! You absolutely can do it. One thing I finally learned is that it's OK to take care of yourself and admit it when you feel like crap. Rest when you need to and don't try to do it all like you did before chemo!
    Here are some other things that have helped me:

    Flavored seltzer water. You need to drink tons of water, and after a while the plain tap water gets mighty boring. Gatorade also helps.

    Keep saltines next to your bed, just like you did when you were pregnant. I eat 4 saltines every morning before I get up. Maybe it's all in my mind, but I think it helps with the nausea. Also, I had a prescription for Emend. It's wonderful.

    Shaving my head when my hair first started to fall out made the hair loss easier to deal with. That way I didn't have gobs of hair coming out all over the place. My DH did the shaving and then he shaved his head too.

    Sephora sells an eyebrow kit that will help your brows look natural when they start to thin.

    My oncology place uses a numbing spray on the port before they start the chemo, and I've never felt a thing. Maybe your onc has it as well.

    I had headaches and sinus congestion as my worst side effect. Excedrin for Migrains and Claritin D works well.

    When you have a question or a side effect, ask the chemo nurses. They know everything. Mine have been the kindest people I think I've ever met.

    Good luck and I'll be thinking of you all. Keep posting. It helps.

    Donna
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  • bluewillow
    bluewillow Member Posts: 779
    edited August 2007
    Hello to all!
    The questions are already swirling around in my head for you nice ladies!

    Does the port ever stop hurting? I had mine put in 08/20 and it is still bruised and somewhat painful, though not unbearable.

    About the fatigue - what "kind" of fatigue is it? Sleepiness or just a real draggy feeling, like the flu? And can and how do you fight it, like during work hours? My boss already told me he'd put a cot in my office...

    During chemo sessions, can you get up and walk to the bathroom? My bladder always goes nuts when I'm nervous, plus all the water drinking that is recommended, I may be in trouble there.

    That's all for now! Thanks!

    Mary Jo
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  • shorfi
    shorfi Member Posts: 791
    edited August 2007
    Quote:

    Hello to all!
    The questions are already swirling around in my head for you nice ladies!

    Does the port ever stop hurting? I had mine put in 08/20 and it is still bruised and somewhat painful, though not unbearable.

    About the fatigue - what "kind" of fatigue is it? Sleepiness or just a real draggy feeling, like the flu? And can and how do you fight it, like during work hours? My boss already told me he'd put a cot in my office...

    During chemo sessions, can you get up and walk to the bathroom? My bladder always goes nuts when I'm nervous, plus all the water drinking that is recommended, I may be in trouble there.

    That's all for now! Thanks!

    Mary Jo



    Hi Mary Jo...I was diagnosed on 8/31/04 with IDC, lymph nodes negative, ER/PR (+) and Her2Neu (-). I was 49 and still pre-menopausal. Had 4 rounds of AC and was in chemopause after the 1st treatment.

    To answer your question about how you feel - I felt like just sleeping all day long, never felt sick from chemo, just slept 22 hours out of the day. My treatment was on Wednesday and I would take off work Thursday and Friday. Saturday was my "down" day, but I would begin to feel better by Monday and I was able to go to work. Sometimes I would take off when I was really feeling tired, otherwise I able to work...I had too...

    During your chemo sessions you can go to the bathroom as much as you need to. The nurse will just unplug you and you are free to go. I had my most energy after chemo and felt like I could run around the block. Even felt like I could eat anything, but the day after...oh boy...didn't feel like even drinking water. I had to force myself. I had always been a huge water drinker, but somehow during that time, the thought of drinking water made me "sick". But I would drink anyway.

    Mary Jo...just make sure you take your anti-nausea medication the day before you are scheduled for chemo and for about 4 or 5 days after. That is what "I" did and I was never sick. Even if you have to set an alarm clock to wake you up in the middle of the night, take those meds.

    If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask.

    I wish you the best and hope everything works out well for you!

    Sheri
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  • janiceb00
    janiceb00 Member Posts: 30
    edited August 2007
    Looks like I will be joining you all.
    I'm scheduled to start chemo on Sept 11th. A/C x4 followed by radiation and tamoxifen. I had a lumpectomy and sentenil node removal (2) on July 27. Results are IDC stage 2 1.2cm tumour, ER/PR + and HER-2 neg. I don't know if my treatments are different because I am in Canada or by what I have. Also I will not be getting a port instead they are putting in a PICC line.
    Anybody else getting this kind of treatment?
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  • livinginboji
    livinginboji Member Posts: 85
    edited August 2007
    Looks like I'm joining all of you also. I am scheduled for surgery on 9/6 for a porta cath, then will have first A/C tx that aftrernoon. Tx will be 3 wks apart but onc hasn't said how many yet. Followed by rad and tamoxifen. I am 51, single, living alone. I have 2 children, 25 yo daughter and 21 yo son. My lump was found by me on 7/9 followed by ultrasound, mamo and lumpectomy on 7/20. Tumor was 2.5cm,10% DCIS and rest IDC,ER/PR+ and HER-2 neg, no nodes involved (biopsied 2), so it put me at Stage IIA, grade II/III. margins were clear.I don't have choice of going to different doctor but after reading a lot of these other postings I can see that I'm not getting the info or pretreatment care that a lot of others are getting. So I guess its up to me to figure out whats going to happen. I've been reading these postings for about a week and am very impressed with this site/message boards.
    Enough is enough. I need some help ladies! Thanks in advance to all those that reply.
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  • livinginboji
    livinginboji Member Posts: 85
    edited August 2007
    Hi Sheri,
    I was wondering about the "potty break" question, I was happy to have that answered. As I stated in my posting I am not getting any pre-treatment care. No meds before hand or anything. This is making me very apprehensive. Should I call onc and ask or will they think I'm second guessing them?
    Thanks for any suggestions.
    Cheryll
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  • mariettaj
    mariettaj Member Posts: 179
    edited August 2007
    Hi all,
    I'm starting chemo Sept 6, was supposed to start the day before but got r/s due to the 3 day weekend, It really upset me, I am so anxious to get started. Got a port yesterday and am very sore. Anyone else doing Herceptin, Taxotere and carboplatin?
    Marietta
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  • figsgirls
    figsgirls Member Posts: 253
    edited September 2007
    In answer to the question about whether your port will ever stop hurting: yes, it will. You'll forget it's there after a while. From what I've read on these forums, though, some of ours seem to stick out more than others. Mine shows a lot, like a bottle cap under my skin, and you can also see the outline of the tube that runs up to my neck.

    Emend is wondrous at controlling nausea. You may want to ask your onc. about it if you weren't given a prescription for it. It's a 3-pill pack and you take one the morning of your chemo (at my place they make me wait until they run my blood work), and the second and third pills the next two mornings after your tx. It's extremely expensive but insurance covered mine with a $25 copay.
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