Starting Chemo May 2008

Robin - its good and encouraging to hear how you feel now 7 days out.

We had 3 other gals that should've started and I don't believe we've heard from them as yet.

-Melissa ~ May 1

-EyesOTex ~ May 2

-eak ~ May 5

If you ladies get a chance, let us know how you are doing.

~Adrienne

Hi everybody,

Welcome to all the new threaders. I met with the Oncologist yesterday and had my patient orientation and chemo training today. I will start next week either Monday or Tuesday. They've decided to put a port in and now they're trying to coordinate the surgery. Tomorrow I have a MUGA test for my baseline heart scan. My schedule will be 6 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan for week one and herceptin for a year on week two with the third week off. They haven't made the finalized schedule yet since they're still trying to get the port placed. I see alot of ladies with the TCH cocktail but was curious if anyone else is taking Adriamycin? I'm assuming I have it since I'm ER and PR negative. On Monday I get my first fill in my expander and have a class to attend called, Look Good, Feel Better. The hospital has a volunteer cosmetologist demonstrate make-up application, wigs, turbans and all sorts of accessories. And to think, I was planning on finally returning back to work Monday with limited 20 hours per work for the first two and ramping back to full-time after. Are you ladies able to work? I have a desk job and just assumed I could pull this off....Good luck to all and I'll be watching the post.



Roxi

Hi Roxi -  You've got a busy schedule coming up!  I too have the port and I'm very happy that I do.  I also had the MUGA scan last week and all came back good on that.  I started chemo today. I'm ER+/PR+ and my first 2 months is Adriamycin/Cytoxin every two weeks, followed by 2 months of Taxol (I think every two weeks but I'm not sure).

I need to look into the Look Good, Feel Better class.  I've seen lots of positive comments on it.  Let us know how it goes.

I can't answer the work related question, since I'm a "domestic engineer" for the moment.  I will say that this afternoon, I'm pretty tired and couldn't imagine being able to sit at work.  The chemo session went very well and I had plenty of energy when I got home.  The tiredness just kind of snuck up on me.  Its possible that some of it is just from the stress of worrying about the chemo.

Take care!

~Adrienne

I love you guys...uh, gals!

Welcome Carla!  Jump into the "pool" - apparently we have a slightly toasted swim team getting to ready to swim a marathon! 

Rock - I sure hope the lifeguard is cute (thank goodness my dh is at work!) but I have a feeling he's going to push me in.  How's the water?!   I hope it was nice and warm for you today. 

Adrienne - glad to hear you were hungry and that it went smoothly.  I hope it continues that way for you. 

RobinK - thanks for the update and really glad you're doing so well.  It gives me hope! 

Lee - I hope you enjoyed the sun today.  It was a gray and cold day on the Central Coast of California. 

Looks like I will be the anchor of this group as I may not be able to start until May 22.  I found out today that the second opinion will take at least a week to get back, but at least it went out to Stanford today.

Good wishes to all!

Hi everyone,



My mom will most likely start chemo in a couple of weeks, and may join your May group of "angels," as you all are. I hope it's ok for me to pass her your way....I think she really could use the support. I am fighting right here with all of you and sending you my prayers and thoughts!!!! I believe in each and every one of you! Rock on, girl power!!!! :-)



LOVE LOVE LOVE,

Steph

Steph - send your Mom our way.  if she isn't comfortable posting she can learning a great deal from reading what others have shared.  Sorry she's on this safari with us but also glad she is not alone.  There is definitely strength in numbers and power in prayer!

Just popping in from the March/April boards to say that I took the Look Good, Feel Better class last month and it was great!  They gave out tons of freebies from the cosmetic companies, probably well over $100 in free makeup, lotions etc., and I got some good tips (I'll know what to do if/when my eyebrows fall out, although they are still hanging in at this point.) 

Also, just to give you all a sense of the light at the end of the tunnel as you start on this chemo journey: I started on March 27th with a regimen of 4 dose dense A/C tx -- and today is my last one.  Yay!

Be well, everyone.
Laure

Oh My Kristy,

Sounds like and unpleasant experience with the low counts and hospitalization.  So sorry it happened that way for you.  Did you know your counts were low from follow up labs and they had you go to the ER, or did you become symptomatic and you sought treatment?  Guess it doesn't matter.  You are home now.

**DING DING**  there's your round one bell

Hi everyone,

Thanks Lorena about the insight of the Look Better, Feel Great class. A few of the other girls also took the class and said it was great. So glad to hear your alomst through with treatments. Keep in touch.



Kristy...I'm so sorry for your experience. Hopefully the additional meds will keep your blood count at bay. I've read some scary stuff about Adriamycin and Herceptin and future heart problems so maybe my MUGA test will change their mind. I know the risk is low and one I have to take. I'll ask about Taxotere as an alternate to the Adrimycin. I'm just worried about the combination of both Herceptin and Adriamycin. I don't know if there's anyone else out there taking this combo. I think Angie is Her2+ too.



Rockthebald..You'll have to keep me posted as to how you feel on day 3 or 4. They were planning Chemo in the beginning of the week for me as well so as not to interfere with the weekend. They said I could sleep at my desk since I have a desk job. I thought it was pretty funny. Ha!



Adrienne...I'm glad they are insisting in the port too. I'll make sure and let everyone know how the class goes. I bought some fabric and plan on bringing the stuff with to learn how to wear a scarf. All new to me.



Angelsaboveus...thanks for the insight on the port. I wasn't sure how extensive the suregry is. Hopefully the bandages were attractive. I've had two surgeries already and wish they would have coordinated it with the last. Oh well.



Steph...as you can see, we have a great group of gals here sharing their experiences. Have your Mom stop by or just make sure and let her know she's not alone. We're all here together sharing ourstories of hope, fear and joy and what can be expected. She'll find comfort here as I do.



Bye ladies and have a great day to all! P.S. Sorry so long...



Roxi

"True dat" to everything everyone else said!  And Kristy, Roxi, Drcrisc, everyone: the attitudes are fantastic. I don't want us to feel like we always have to be cheerful and positive but boy, does it help to read posts from people saying "My day was not fun/sucked.  I carry on."  Kristy and Lorena:  ding, ding, ding!

Feel free to ignore the following info about The Day After Day 1 of A/C. No need to respond or comment or anything.  It's just there for what it's worth in case it is useful to other folks.

Fatigue:  Today I "received" friends from 11 - 2 pm, and it was truly lovely. I am tired now, but I can pretend it is because I spent the afternoon "entertaining" (on a very very laidback scale) rather than the chemo.  Also, my dear friend and mentor has been through chemo and was wonderful about gently reminding me to eat, drink, etc.  (I am not normally open to gentle reminders.)  

Appetite: Oddly, the day after chemo, I am hungry but have no appetite.  I am allowed one serving of my Keffir (probiotic) drink a day. It's packed with vitamins. I just need to remember to drink it.  Nothing sounded appealing.  But once I was around people, I could eat some fruit, some crackers. And I had Sandra putting stuff on my plate in a manner that did not bring out my assaultive tendencies.

Nausea:  Felt a little seasick through the night (waves in the pool?).  It felt exactly like those times I've gone to bed a little tipsy and the room spinned and I felt a little queasy.  At some point, I sat up in bed and read a book. THat seemed to distract me and the nausea passed.

Night sweats: I woke up 3-4 times with drenching night sweats. I have been getting 1 or 2 a couple nights a week for awhile (pre diagnosis).  I'm 42 so can't rule out looming menopause. My friend ordered me a wicking nightgown.  Anybody with advice?

Constipation. I was slightly constipated.  I held off on my cup of coffee until later in the morning and tried to eat a few dried apricots.   That seemed to help.  I'd really like to hold off on taking drugs for things that I might be able to treat naturally.

Port.  They told me that at some hospitals, the policy is that everyone who gets A/C must get a port.  However, at MSKCC since my veins look good, etc. no port for me, at least not for now.  My friend had a port two years ago.  I wouldn't have noticed her 1" scar if she hadn't pointed it out.  (She also has done some scar massage.)

Hi girls,

Boy, I am getting nervous about the Taxotere.  I haven't even started anything yet and I am anxious.  And I have to get through 4 cycles of Carbo/Cytoxan before the 4 cycles of Taxotere.  I think sometimes I shouldn't read so much, but I almost can't help it...

sigh...

I got my second opinion today and liked it better than the first.  Therefore I'm getting my port placed on 5/14 and first chemo on 5/19.  I'll be doing 4 rounds of T/C and will do it even if my oncotype score comes back next week in the low range.  This doctor feels that with ILC she wants to make sure we have everything covered.  I'm very apprehensive about the whole chemo experience but I feel better now that I have a plan which fits what I have researched on my own.  So after my son visits for Mother's Day weekend I'll be printing off the list of things to have on hand for getting through treatment and doing a little shopping to be as prepared as possible,  The clinic has a chemo class my husband and I will attend and there is also a nutrition class.  Now if only I could sleep for more than 3 hours at night. 

Hi all - Today is day 2 after my first chemo round.  I was fairly tired yesterday but it was manageable and got normal day to day things done. I woke up feeling great this morning!  I went to bed fairly early for me, drank a ton of water (which I always do anyway) and just feel great.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts all day.  I received my Neulasta shot yesterday, no problems so far.  I'm not sure how long before se's show up for those that get them.

I too wake up warm in the middle of the night but I did this prior to chemo, so it didn't faze me too much.  Just stick a leg out to cool off.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

~Adrienne

Hi,

Carla , glad to hear you did well last night and are up and about today. Rocketbald, eak hope all is well with you.

drcrisc I will be doing Taxotere too when I am finished my three rounds of my FEC so may be we can compare notes! I think i start July 10

collector glad to hear you have a plan in place,my onc was the same in saying even though counts might be low he doesn't want to put things off. He wans to be aggressive with this. 

LorenaB you are so right that a support system makes things so less stressful!

Familyrocks sounds like you are coping well too, this is great! you mentioned you get a Neulasta shot, something i'm not getting . What drug does that help? 

Had a good night last night , did my last midnight pee and slept till six, feel pretty good. I have had no nausea, just occasional loose bowels (to much info I know, it's amazing what we won't think twice about sharing) and slight headache. so I consider that pretty good and just wondering whats to come. I drank a ton of water the day before and yesterday and will try to keep up with that today. Wondering if that is helping with feeling so good.

Feel like i can do a few things around the house today.

Did anyone tell you , you couldn't drive for a periond of time after the chemo?  I forgot to ask. I should get my mom to the grocery store before I hit my low period. She's on her own and needs some help.

Its a glorious sunny day here, wishing I could sit in the sun, but a book in the shade will do! 

Everyone remember to make sure you have down time and rest up and look after yourselves, the little worlds we live in will still revolve without us helping out as much (albiet not as smoothly, or as neatly and so on.... !)

Have a good day !

Angels - It sounds like you are doing well.  I am a firm believer that water is key to flushing your system and minimizing the side effects.

The Neulasta is given to boost the white blood count, which can severely drop when on chemo.  I am on dose dense A/C, not sure if it makes a difference which "cocktail" that you are on.  Otter has a great explanation in another thread redarding Neulasta.

A funny side effect, and it may be from the Emend...burping.  It gives my DH and I a chuckle...I'm not usually the burper in the household.

~Adrienne