Starting Chemo May 2008

Roxi - Angels is right.  It never hurts to ask.  I had my port put in at the same time as my mastectomy.  Oddly enough, the port was more sore than the mastectomy side, during recovery.  Not enough to take meds but there.  Luckily, my first port access was to flush it two weeks after install.  No discomfort at all by then.

~Adrienne

Neulasta was automatically included in my treatment.  I get it the day after chemo.  It may be because I'm on dense dose, every two weeks.

I had my first chemo on Wednesday and I go in next Wednesday to have my blood count checked.

~Adrienne

welcome craftygal,

Glad to here your first tx went well, most we can hope for right!  my second tx is on the 29th right on you heals. Like you i'm wondering what will come as the days progress, maybe we will get lucky and sail on thru !

take care

Angels and Adrienne,

I'll definitely ask about keeping the needle in after surgery. Thanks for the advice. Neulasta is also part of my regiment. Not sure just yet when I'll get it. I had a low count after my mastectomy but they attributed it to the surgery. I get blood pulled right before treatment next Tuesday.



Welcome Janice...the Drs. suggested I get a digital thermometer to track my temp. I just got a great one at Target that lights up green, yellow or red. Can it be any easier??? Have you consistently ran a fever? I know alot of people do.

First dose-dense A/C on Wednesday (2 days ago). Self-administered Neulasta 24 hours after first tx.  Like Craftygal, am experimenting with a Tylenol every 4 hours in hopes of avoiding big bone pain that I tend to get (even pre-dx) when my bone marrow is working in overdrive.  So far, so good. But I know that there may be a rough day or two ahead yet. (Eak and Roxi(?): Thanks for the heads up about Day 3 & 4! Fingers crossed.)

 I'm hungry, but with little appetite. Again, I'm with Craftygal, little meals seem to work best for me to keep away the queasiness. Things I can imagine eating: So on the off chance that someone else is stumped for "What do I feel like eating?" I offer:

string cheese, unsweetened applesauce, a slice of cheese pizza, a glass of Keffir, a glass of Bolton's "Perfectly Protein" choco whey protein drink, quiche (a friend is bringing two over tomorrow, God love her!), omelet made out of Egg Beaters. (Trying to avoid heavy carbs; they knock me out too much!)

i'm trying to eat a few walnuts (protein), some dried apricots.

I have had 8 doc appts in 5 days. I think a lot of my fatigue is from that.  I intend to go for a brisk walk tomorrow, and try to shake some of this off. (Any cyber-joiners?!)

Gogators -- just popping in from the March/April boards (finished my last chemo tx on Thursday, hooray!) and saw your post about working through chemo, and just wanted to add my 2 cents.  I am also a single mom (my son is 7) with a FT job, although I have been very lucky in terms of my employer's flexibility and my coworkers' willingness to pitch in.  I was just wondering if you have any arrangements in place for child care support in the days after each chemo tx.  I was also lucky because my exH and I are on very good terms, and he moved back to our town (with his gf and new baby!) to be able to help out with our son.  Either he or my parents have taken my son for the weekend after each of my treatments, and that break has really helped.

When my onco was going over the chemo side effects with me, this is how she described it: about 25% of patients sail through with minimal problems, don't have to miss work, aren't really affected too much (other than the hair loss, which is a given with A/C tx anyway).  About 50% fall into the middle category -- some queasiness, some fatigue, other symptoms that can usually be managed by medication.  And the final 25% have more serious issues, like bad nausea and debilitating fatigue.

I've seen posts on this board by a number of lucky women who fell into the first category and were able to work through tx without too much trouble.  I am in the middle category -- and honestly, I would have had a really hard time going into work every day during chemo.  I could have done it, it wouldn't have killed me, but 1) I would not have been productive; and 2) I don't think I would have had once ounce of energy left at the end of the day for my son.  I had my chemo on Thursdays, took off Friday, rested the weekend, hit a low point on Monday, and made it back to work by Tuesday or Wednesday each time.

I don't mean to scare you, you are young and hopefully will fit into the first category, but it might be helpful to have a backup plan just in case.  And as I said, help with child care has really made a difference.  I've found that I've had to relax my routines and rules with my son because I just don't have the energy to do stuff with him after working all day (and this has been worse the last few weeks -- it's true what they say about the fatigue being cumulative).  He's been watching too much tv and eating too many chicken nuggets -- but I know it's only temporary and I'll just have to get serious with him and get back on track as soon as I'm feeling better.

Sorry for writing so much, I was just concerned and wanted to make sure you had enough info to plan.  Good luck to you and to all the May chemo-starters!

Lauren

Tina,

Welcome. I must agree with Lauren. Everyone has a different reaction to chemo. My aunt had her treatments on Friday, rested through the weekend and was back to work on Monday. I'm also planning on working and start my chemo on Tuesday. I've already spoken to my HR department regarding maintaining full-time status and exactly how many hours are required to do so. I have a salaried position at 40 hrs/wk. I can drop to 30 hours and still maintain FT status. Of course I'll have to burn through all my sick-time and holiday time first which isn't much anyways. Check into any other work arrangements that may be possible. Can you work at home at all? Most employers are willing to work with you during this difficult time. Good luck and hope to see you again.



Otter, it's always great to hear what's been going on with you since you're a little ahead of us. Keep us posted...



Lauren...Yeah! Glad to see you've finished your treatments.



Roxi

Happy saturday all,

2nd day after 1st chemo for me, feeling a little funky in the mouth but no nausea yet. I started sneezing and got a bit congested and thought oh no a cold, but apparently it a se from one of the the drugs . Expecting to lose some more energy in the next couple of days but if this is the worst of it this time around bring it on!  I know next tx might be a little worse as the drugs build up in you, hopefuly not to bad though.

Hope everyone else is doing well and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, it should be mothers day every day !

Angels and Carla - I wishing minimal SE for you this week end and managable fatigue when it hits.  Let others help you. 

That funky mouth thing - drove me crazy.  It finally went away today ( 10 days after 1st chemo), I was diligent with the baking soda/salt mouth wash.  Maybe that helped.  No mouth sores!

Kristy - you hung onto your hair an extra day or 2!  Have you recovered from the hospitalization?  Hope you are taking it easy this weekend.

Rockthebald - I found the walks helped me feel better with leg aches and energy, hope the same for you.  Enjoy the quiches!  Sounds yummy.

Cristine - I can't remember, when do you start treatments?

Roxi - will you be starting Monday?

Gogators - you'll be glad for the port.  It's a simple procedure and and I wish you well.  My onc doesn't give the Neulasta automatically, only if the wbc drops too low, says the taxotere causes enough muscle/bone pain and doesn't want to worsen it without cause.

Accept help from family/friends with meals or caring for your boys during treatments.

family and beachmom - how are you this weekend?

I know there are others but I'm getting lost on the page so happy mother's day to all! 

Robin

Good Morning all!

Today is Day #4 after chemo.  I was pretty tired yesterday..ok, alot tired.  I was also a bit lightheaded earlier in the day.  So it was a day on the couch for me.  I had a little bit of sinus pressure also but nothing too bad.  I also found the light from my computer monitor irritating so kept away from it.  Has anyone else experienced light sensitivity?

For those experiencing constipation, it might help to work 2 teaspoons of healthy oil (such as olive) into a meal....oatmeal, scrambled eggs.  I've been on Weight Watchers since October and the healthy oils each day is key.  The first 2 days after chemo I hadn't done them and realized they might help and they did.

So far, not too bad.  I hope to get some energy back today.  It sounds like we are all holding up fairly well.

Tina - You have a plateful and then some.  I encourage you to look for support groups in your area and use them as much as you can.  Don't feel bad doing so...that is what they are there for.  And of course, you always have us!

Carla - gingerale or 7-up might help.  Could it be constipation?  I hope its better this morning. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's!

~Adrienne

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day,

Otter-I get my port in Monday and start A/C on Tuesday.



Ladies, can I drive myself to treatments? The Drs. said no problem but I wasn't sure if you're dizzy or not. I typically do pretty well with nausea. Someone told me that your nausea pattern for chemo follows your nausea from when you were pregnant? True?



It sounds like everyone is tolerating the meds pretty well. I'll be joining you soon...



I hope everyone has a lovely day. We're getting some much needed rain in Wisconsin. The fields have been planted and summer will be here soon.



Roxi

Happy Mother's Day to everyone - even if you don't have children your a mother to someone/something!

RobinK - I don't have a "start" date yet as we are still waiting for the results of the second opinion on the pathology.  I should get it mid-next week and so will probably start the week after.  I'm bringing up the rear!! 

Annie39 - I have IBS also and have been concerned about the constipation issue.  I'm going to talk to my onc about it, but I have heard a few gals mention using Senna tea.  It is the same ingredient as in Sennekot, but you can control the dosage by how long you steep the tea.  I haven't tried it, but it may be a good idea.  I have also heard some say to use it (or something) before the chemo rather than waiting until after.  Let me know if you find something that works!

I don't know what to think about the nausea part - I had mild queasiness when I was pregnant but get bad car/air sick!    Guess I won't know until it happens...

Glad to hear that everyone who started last week is doing o.k. and good luck/thoughts/wishes to those starting this coming one. 

OK, since we are on the constipation topic, I have another question...  I have read that many take a stool softener/laxative the night before chemo.  I am worried that if I do this, I will have to "go" during treatment.  Should I wait until the day of for the first treatment or will I be OK to take it the night before? 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful mother's day.

Tina

good evening group!  OK..the indigestion is killing me.  can't get rid of it.  know it's the chemo.  pepcid did not help.  any suggestions?  No nausea, but this has been bothering me since last night...gotten worse throughout the day.  Chemo was Thursday.  Angels, you feeling anything?  Thanks!   Carla