FIRST DOSE?

I was scared too.  Which chemo are you getting?  I had my first dense dose AC last week.  It literally knocked me flat for a week(never sick-just incredibly weak, weepy, and flu-ish), then I woke up on Day 8 feeling completely normal and have ever since.  I'll be all set for round 2 this Tues. I expect to start losing my hair next week sometime.

I realize we are each different, but you can do this and we all support you.  Let us know how it goes.  Read the chemo threads on this board-very reassuring. 

I start mine on July 1st...hope I can bounce right back from the first dose!

Hi all,

I hope I can reassure you a bit. It finished my 6 rounds (every three weeks) high dose in mid November. It was 3 x of FEC and 3x Tax (doc).

Thing is, I had an allergy to one of my anti emetics (anti nausea) which was very bad on the first run, but eventually found that a combo of Ondensetron with Coploperazine worked well.

You will find the combo that works best for you, just keep talking with your oncs, as there are options to help with symptoms.

The things that helped me through it were..

1- as the symptoms peaked and changed throughout the 3 week period, I quickly saw a pattern and an end to each symptom after a couple of days. It helped that the effects had an end, mostly.

2- I referred to my drug symptoms check list ; if the se was on there, I'd think, "ok, this is not nice but it is a normal symptom of the medicine which I am taking to help me".

3-With the hair, it was my crowning glory, but, thought " I want the chemo and loosing my hair is part of the deal, so that is not negotiable, so I won't worry about it". I want to fight the cancer and as a triple neg, chemo is the main tool, so I thought "keep it coming, I can do this, I have kids and want to be around, hair is just hair and it grows back" I ended up loosing so much in the first 10 days that I had my son's barber shave it all off on day 12! Turns out, I had a nice skull! I got some lovely hats from Headcovers.com and never bothered with my wigg. I had fun with make up too,(before my look was all waves of hair, but I found I could get away with more fun makeup with a simple hat to frame my face). Now my hair is 2 1/2 inches long and thick as ever. Some se are longer lasting but no regrets

4- Just tick off those doses and I am sure that in the end, you'll come through it and be on here supporting others through it yourselves!

4- It is the unknown that is most scary, once your first dose is out of the way, you can feel more in charge. Pace yourselves and be as gentle as can be with yourself. Try to think of chemo in a positive way, its a tool to help fight the cancer, it can totally suck some of the times, but I figured, "that's just tuff and I woudn't do without it".

It does also teach you (cause you need to to manage!) to be gentle with yourself.

PS: Depending on you and your type of chemo drugs, you could do a lot better then me with the symptoms, let's hope. (I did feel weak but o.k in week 3)

Sorry sooo long, but my heart goes out to you all waiting for chemo. Lotsa good calming vibes coming your way,

Shiny 

Yes MorningGlory3, I have 2 adorable Westies and that's where my name came from.  They are great company when I'm sick.

I had cancer and had A 22 years ago. I remember how sick I got and took towels, a trashcan, washclothes, etc. for the 1.5 hour ride home from my first tx. My onc gave me Aloxi and Decadron prior to my A/C tx. I was surprised. No nausea at all. We went over to my mom's and then out for dinner. It was almost like not being on chemo. On the 4th round of A/C my RBC went way down and I got an URI and was really out of breath.

Then I had 4 Taxotere and that was really hard. My last tx was 3/11/08 and I am doing so much better although I still get fatigued easy and my strenth is not like it used to be. 

It is a rough journey, but you can make it though. Be prepared for a some down time. Stock up on books, DVD's etc.  I did not find this forum until the end of my treatment and stayed on the boards. I wish I had found it during. It really helps to share with women who understand and can share their experience, stregnth, and hope.

I cut my hair very short at 2 weeks and really buzzed it at 3 weeks. By week 5, I was bald. I got wigs before I lost my hair, and some fun cancer ball caps (I'm too sexy for my hair and bald chicks rock.)

Take care and keepy in touch. Work with your onc if you get sick or feel bad. I also found that Xanax really helped during the really hairy, scary days. I had to take it 3 days before my chemo because I would start getting really antsy.

Debbie 

Ok, I got my first dose of Taxol on Thursday.  All weekend had horrible aches/pains in legs and pelvic area.  How long does this pain last.  I took darvocet for the pain when I went to bed but tried to tolerate it during the day.  Will these pains go away soon!

BikerChick

I was hoping to find some others that are going through the same treatment as I will be.  My first of 6 treatments of TAC will be on Tuesday.  Not looking forward to it, but it sounds like your's went really well.  I have the Decadron and Emend to take ahead of the treatment and then the Compazine and Zofran for after as needed. 

My onco mentioned there'd been some small studies of people holding ice packs in their hands during treatment...seemed to help the tingling and neuropathy problems to some extent.  I know people have mentioned sucking on ice chips to help with the mouth sores.  Just something that might help in the future.      

I'll be anxious to hear how you progress through all of this.    

Teri,

 I went through TAC three years ago.  I had the same anti-nausea meds as the onc prescribed for you; my treatments were also on Tuesdays.  Let's hope this is a good day for you.  I never got throwing up sick.  By the third day after treatment (Fri.), I would feel like I got hit by a truck.  I slept a lot.  This would last about 2-3 days and by Monday I would start feeling better.  My taste went immediately.  I had a strange salty/sweet taste in my mouth and nothing tasted right.  You're supposed to drink lots of water and it really tasted bad.  I made it a point to take 3 or 4 swallows every 10 minutes.  About my third treatment, I did a Relay for Life and they served Aquafina Bottled Water.  Surprisingly, it tasted normal.  You might want to try that and orange soda.

 Before you start treatments, go to Walgreens and get Biotene toothpaste and also Biotene Mouthwash.  Use it often, maybe 4-5 times a day.  After my first treatment, I got mouthsores and believe me, they hurt.  My friend told me about the Biotene and they were gone in 3-4 days and I never got them again. 

This is not a time to worry about your cholesterol.  Eat eggs several times a week.  They are a simple protein and help with the blood count.  My son is a Pediatrician (not and oncologist); but he told me to eat eggs.  I never need a shot to bring my counts up.

 Come to these Boards often.  Everyone here knows what you are going through and will give you support.  God bless you as you continue this journey.

 Chris