Topic: Starting Chemo October 2009

Welcome txstardust. I saw three oncs and one of them suggested ACx4, followed by Tx4. Twelve weeks of Taxotere (or is it Taxol?) sounds like a lot. But I see chinablue on the Sept thread is having the same Tx. I see what you mean about not wanting to rearrange your life because of the damn cancer.

Good luck with the surgery on Friday.

Hi ladies! Just popping in from the May 2009 thread to wish you all the best of luck. I did DD AC (every two weeks) and 12 weekly Taxol. I have two more Taxol to go! MaryNY- when you get the 12 weekly doses, it's a much lower dose with each treatment. You end up getting the same amount but each dose of weekly Taxol (not Taxotere) is a third of the regular dose.

And txstardust- my hair started growing back on Taxol. It does for a lot of people. I have a long way to go, but it started coming back about halfway through Taxol.  

Good luck to all of you!! You can do it!!!

Hi MaryNY!

Thanks for starting this thread!

I too was supposed to start chemo in Sept but recently found out that I won't be starting until Oct.

I'm ok with the delay - it gave me a chance to get the kids settled at school & in their sports AND get 2 bathroom renos done (well hopefully by the end of this week!).  My husband wanted to postpone the reno but I didn't want to - it started 2 weeks after my surgery.  It has kept me busy and my mind away from dwelling on this whole BC thing!

I'm not sure what my "cocktail" will be but I do know I'll be having 6 treatments 3 weeks apart. My oncologist told me "say good bye to your hair" so I've been wig shopping.  I found the cutest bob today - like Katie Holmes.

Because of node "spillage" I may have to have radiation as well.  I'm not looking forward to that because I'd heard that can limit your reconstruction options.

I do not want to rearrange my life for this disease but so far I've had to cancel our family summer vacation (for surgery) and possibly our Christmas vacation (because I won't be finished chemo).

How are you handling travelling during your treatment?  Or is it better to wait until chemo is finished?

I'm looking forward to more sharing and learning from this group!

Hi Mary!

I'm not sure when I'll know.  Probably not until I meet with the oncologist again or when I have my orientation - which won't be until Oct 6th at the earliest.

I've only met with my oncologist once but I have already registered at the chemo clinic. 

My oncologist is on vacation until the end of Sept and I won't have specifics until he gets back.

The nurse at the clinic told me "enjoy the down time and be happy you're not a rush case!"

So I am taking her advice!

Mary - I was looking around the web for head-covering options - I don't think I'm going to wear a wig every day, but I may need to when I'm in my language lab with a 6-yr-old - I don't want to scare her!  I am currently a grad student in deaf education.  I started the program in June, and found my lump in July.  There are times when I think there's no way I can get through my classes on chemo, then there are others when I refuse to allow the thought that bc will run my life!  

Marie - my fiance and I have planned a cruise around the New Year's Eve holiday.  From what I have read, it seems that you have a "good" week every third week, so I want to make sure the treatments are scheduled so that's on a third week!  Again, it goes along with not wanting bc to dictate what I can and can't do.

I am really afraid of chemo.  For one, I get nauseous fairly easily, and I've read that younger women have a harder time with n/v (I'm only 36).  Secondly, I've always had long, thick hair.  I got it cut a few weeks ago, but it's already getting longer and I'll need to cut it shorter again so the shock of losing my hair isn't so extreme.  And I already have been through depression, so I'm afraid of that rearing its ugly head again, although I seem to be handling things fairly well so far.

Carol and TexasRose - thanks so much for the words of hope and support!

Peace...

Shelby 

Shelby -

We do seem to have a remarkably similar diagnosis and treatment schedule so we can journey together.  I have a few years on you and my sons are ages 27 and 23, but I am young at heart and have always been curious, confident and competitive.  This whole bc thing will not beat me or my family - I am learning about it, am sure I am electing the best doctors and treatment, and there is no way in h### that I will not win!

I don't know where I fit...I begin my first treatment on Sept 30th...LOL....

I have had a bil mx with TE's placed on 8/25.  I had my medi-port placed today.  I will have 6 treatments of TC spaced every 21 days.  I am not looking forward to it, but am ready to get started so I can finish!

 At a seminar yesterday we were asked to use a word to describe our journey.....I acknowledged that my word is changing...I am still angry (not at God and not a 'why me' thing, just angry that this is happening because it is such a loss of control thing) but it is changing to acceptance...a much better place to be.   I will always be angry at Cancer...but that is not new, Cancer has stolen many of the people I love...and anger sets the stage for the fight.  But acceptance allows me to talk about my diagnosis and face my treatment without so much fear/emotion.  Another word is 'gratitude'...I have the best healthcare team possible, a wonderful support system and I would rather face this battle than my mother or my daughters having to.   

Hi - just wanted to join- don't know the meds yet but port placement and chemo starting on 10/8 and I was too chicken to find out the meds b/c I would peruse the side effects too much. I am pretty anxious but people seem to be doing pretty well! very encouraging. Thanks so much for sharing your stories - it helps so much. Don't know about the rads side effects yet and haven't wanted to look too far into the future w/ the tamox or arimex(sp?)  I was told if I do it all I only have a 19% chance of recurrence and if I do nothing then I have a 60% chance of recurrence so it is a no brainer decision but it is nerve wracking! Valerie

Hi Mary-

Its Toni :) Like you wouldnt be able to see that w/ my avatar ! Oh Im a funny girl !! I am so glad to see you started a thread !

Ladies - Mary is way to sweet ! All of you will do great ! Ive only had one TX. My next will be Oct 6th.

Mary, May I pop over here occasionally since Im only 1 TX in ? And, of course, to see how you and these other ladies are doing ? I would really appreciate doing that.

Much love to you all,

Toni

Shelby...prayers being sent that no more cancer is found.  And honestly, I hope you get to spend the night in the hospital.   Let them take care of you.  Gentle hugs. 

Hi  I to meet u all.  It seems so hard not to get sucked in to the future either worrying about what might happen or hoping for something better. Either way it feels so anxiety producing that it gets hard to live life now.My prayer is to be able to find some peace today and wish you all the same. Valerie

Just wanted to pop in and wish all of you ladies the best during your chemo treatment.  I am from the September 2009 thread.  I know that just posting and reading others posting as they are going through the same things as me has really helped. 

On a quick note regarding hair loss.  I decided to shave my head and have a full lace wig applied with glue to my head.  It is an expensive wig ($775 but insurance paid half) but it is well worth the money.  I can wear my hair in pony tails and everything.  You can shower with it and swim.  It looks real.  Yesterday I went to my DD field hockey game and people were complimenting me on my hair.  I just chuckled.  They had no idea it was a wig. Just a thought for the person getting married during chemo.  It might be something to consider. 

Hi all,

Diagnosed w/IDC two weeks ago, surgery next week, chemo and radiation follows. Of all the events to be faced, chemo scares me the most. I am totally okay with the hair loss; it is the unknowns around nausea and fatigue that are making me edgy.  Anyone up to giving a pep talk???

Hope your feeling better. I have an appt. Oct. 7th with the onc too. A bit nervous about chemo treatments.

Hi ladies

 I am 5 days out from my first chemo and a poster on the Sept. 09 chemo thread. Just thought maybe I could ease your minds a bit - I was very worried about getting chemo but the actual infusion was pretty easy - no pain, no problems for me and I felt well enough that day to go for groceries and walk the dog.I have not had any nausea at all and only started to have a little pain last night - my own fault for not taking any medication for it but I will tonight. I find that going for walks helps a lot. The fatigue seems to come and go but so far I cannot say that it has been a big problem.