Anyone starting chemo in June 08

Bonnie02, I'm dropping in here from the April 2008 and Taxotere/Cytoxan threads.  I saw your post about having a sore mouth despite using soda water.

My onco recommended using a solution of salt & baking soda for a sore mouth.  The recipe I use is 1/2 tsp table salt (NaCl) plus 1/2 tsp baking soda dissolved in a tall (10 oz.) glass of lukewarm water.  The salt is soothing--it's an old-fashioned, home remedy for a sore throat.  You can alter the amounts a little if you want.  Sometimes I put in a little less baking soda--maybe 1/2 tsp salt plus 1/4 tsp baking soda. It really doesn't matter exactly how much you use, I don't think.

I saw another recipe in my chemo orientation booklet that called for 1 tsp table salt plus 1 tsp baking soda in a quart of water.  It can be made up and used for 24 hours and then should be dumped out and made fresh again.

If your mouth is still really sore after rinsing every few hours with lukewarm salt/soda water, you might have actual mouth sores and not just a sore mouth.  Look in your mouth and see if you have white or red spots or ulcers.  If you see them, you should call your onco's office and they can give you something stronger to help relieve the pain and prevent infections.

The salt/soda water has worked really well for me.  I finished my 4th tx of Taxotere/Cytoxan last week, and despite having a tender mouth and tongue ("mucositis") for a few days each cycle, I have never developed actual mouth sores.  I've never used Biotene or any of the commercial mouth rinses during chemo--just a gentle fluoride rinse (an alcohol-free formula of ACT) recommended by my dentist during the days when my mouth is not sore or dry.

otter 

Namaste,

Your right about practicing, should have done that!!! We're adjusting and the more done the better!hahahah! Hope you get to bathe soon, that really sucks! Had a partial mastectomy with one drain for lymphnode removal. I had it out in a week then I could shower. It was the best day of my life! I can't imagine what your going through. Take it one day at a time!

Donalee

Glad to hear that many of you are not finding it as bad as you were expecting.....hoping it goes similarly for me......still waiting for that cancellation they keep telling me about......waiting sucks......sorry about the sore mouth......hope you get some relief soon.

I changed my name......not feeling so scared anymore....but hoping you all still know it's me....

Jax

Anyone on this board from the Houston area? I found a great place to buy multi-colored turbans (not too fancy) and beautifully colored scarves really cheap.

I had my first chemo treatment this afternoon and so far, so good. I checked with the NP about ice chips while getting the Adriamycin and she said it would be ok since there is no concern about the breast cancer going to the mouth. She explained that what happens is the ice reduces the blood flow to the mouth, therefore reducing the chemo which is what causes the discomfort to the lining of the mouth. She suggested the baking sode rinse in case there is some discomfort. So far, all I've noticed is a slightly, mildly odd taste in my mouth while the Cytoxan was given, nothing major though.

One note, the information provided on this website came in handy after the first time I went to the restroom and found my urine was red. It might have concerned me, but I remember reading post that was a normal occurance. This isn't something the chemo staff or docs told me to expect, so it helped reading it from you guys.

Well... one down, seven to go! I know there will be rough days, but I'm very greatful this went as well as it did.  Thank the Lord!!!

mrscrj

Just out of curiosity did you take your own ice chips or did they provide them.  I am not trying to be a smart *_ss but there are people talking on this site about smashing ice with rolling pins and stuff on here.  I just didn't know if I have to pack my own or if they were just talking about making their own for post infusion time.  I start in a week and a half.  I hope your treatment went smooth..sounds like it did, and here's hoping for NO bad SE's for ya.  Sometimes, I feel like a little "fledgling" that just fell out of the nest and not knowing whats coming next or what the hell to do!!!   

HunkyD

They did have ice and were very nice when I asked for it. The only problem was it wasn't crushed, so since it was a while before the Adriamycin started, some of it did melt a bit. I just started with the smallest pieces. I was a little rude though, because anytime I had to answer a question or say anything I took the (round) cube out of my mouth. Kind of tacky, but it worked. I'm thinking about picking up a large cup of crushed ice at a drive through place before going the next time or bring some from home if I have some at the time. It really would be helpful if they had crushed ice, but I can live with bringing my own or using their larger pieces, whatever works as long as I can avoid the discomfort in my mouth.

Susan and Robyn, thanks for all the info.  I am getting the daily Neupogen injection for 8 days per round.  Ordered 3 scarves from beaubeau.  Thank you again, ladies!

Hi; Bonnie02

i am liz19 i also am going to get my port in tomorrow , then my

first chemo tx on thursday. FECx 3 times for every 3 weeks, then

taxotere the same then i got go get 6 weeks of rads also. good

luck with everyone on their treatments .

                                                                  liz19

Hi:



If all goes well tomorrow with my surgeon appointment, I will start chemo June 19. 4 sessions of dose dense AC every 2 weeks, then 12 weeks of Taxol, once a week. I think those are the basic names of the mix I will get. Who cares the name as long as it works. Then surgery after that. It is hoped their will be a shrinkage of the tumor and less will have to be removed. I discussed it a long time with the onco doctor and she says with my type, the success rate is 12% higher w/chemo before surgery. I am er/pr - and her + and way past menopause at age 62.



I can have the first session via IV, but need the port before the second session. Tomorrow, once I get the final go ahead, I will see who can drive me home after and which day is better for them.



Thanks for all the information. yesterday I got my short hair cut shorter to prepare for the fall out. And I do look forward to no shaving the legs over the summer -gotta look at the bright side of it all !!!



Is anyone getting neulasta the day after chemo? That is supposed to help preserve the bone marrow.



Good luck and blessings to all going through this. No one has to like it, but it is "doable" with the help of this site and the wonderful people who share their ups and downs. Having a sense of what is to come has helped a lot. One day I hope to be able to help other newbies, as you all have helped me.



HUGS, lefty/Nancy

Yesterday was my first experience and it seemed that the chem didn't take as long as everything leading up to it. First, they drew blood to check levels, then a short meeting with the NP (which may not always happen). The wait was several minutes, I think the actual drug isn't prepared until they are sure you're getting it at that time, but that's a semi-educated guess. But, for whatever reason, there was a wait. Then, there was about 10  -15 minutes for the pre-chemo IV (to reduce nausea and all), THEN they the Adriamycin. That was given as a "push" by the nurse from two large vials. That didn't take too long. The time after that is dependent on if you have a portacath or get it though a vein. The Portacath has to be flushed and heparin inserted to prevent clotting. I'm not sure what they do with a vein but at the very least, you'll have to wait for them to pull the IV and clean it up. If you are getting any other drug, you'll have to figure more time. I got Cytoxin via IV and that ran at about 50 minutes. Some offices do faster or slower but I've read too fast can give you a pretty bad headache.

All togeather, it took 2 hours from the time I actually started having something done.  You will just have to give yourself plenty of time since the motto of all health providers offices is "Hurry up and wait".   Good luck with the chemo and enjoy the drains being removed, it is a relief for sure. 

BBLady, I just finished my 4th treatment of Taxotere & Cytoxan last Wednesday, and it was all through veins in my hand.  I talked to two oncos at my cancer center and neither one recommended a port or picc line for just 4 treatments (at 3-wk intervals), especially since my veins are good.  I only have one hand/arm available because of my mast/SNB on the other side, but everyone figured I would be fine.  My oncos seemed most concerned about the risk of blood clots with ports and picc lines.

So, on the day of each tx, I had blood drawn from the usual place on my forearm for blood work, a BP done at my onco's office, and then I started chemo about 2 hrs later.  The chemo nurses ended up using 2 of the veins in my right hand.  They liked one of them better than the other because it was straighter, so they used that one 3 times (1st, 3rd, & 4th tx's)!  They used a very small i.v. catheter each time--one nurse said it was just 1 size larger than what they use in scalp veins in babies.  None of the chemo nurses had any trouble at inserting the catheter, and I never had any pain or leakage or bruising at all.  Now, 6 days after my 4th (and last) tx, the back of my hand looks absolutely normal--no evidence the veins were used for anything.

I wondered how comfortable my chemo nurses were with veins vs. ports, so I asked.  My nurse said she had worked at other hospitals where the docs really preferred ports or picc lines, and almost all the chemo patients got them.  Here, though, the docs preferred not to use ports or picc lines unless absolutely necessary...so she figured about 2/3 of the chemo patients at my chemo center got their infusions through their veins.

If I had needed more treatments, things might have been different; but for just 4 infusions, it was definitely the way to go.

otter 

Otter - Thank you very much for the successful mouth rinse recipe, works good, mouth is a lot better already. Thank you again

Jill - I got my picc line in today, wasn't bad at all.  I asked the nurse that was doing most of it  what the difference is between the two of them and she said for one thing with the pick line they just froze my arm a little - nothing hurt at all.  The port she said is actually surgery but it is usually the doctors decision as to which is best for the patient. Apparently the picc can be left in a long time almost up to a year if need be. She said the longest time she ever knew of anyone haveing one in is 9 months.  Now I go to Doc tomorrow and see how my chemo is being changed. Good luck to all of you talk to you all later.

Bonnie

hey, everyone. i'm having a port put in thursday. when i asked how long it would have to stay in i was told for about a year after my treatment was finished. was anyone told anything similar?