All Topics → Forum: Chemotherapy - Before, During and After → Topic: August 2012 Chemo
Posted on: Jul 13, 2012 09:18 PM
kirwin524 wrote:
Im starting chemo on August 1st. All very new to me but will read as many threads as I can to learn. Anyone else starting in August? Maybe we can travel the path together.
Posts 1 - 30 (575 total)
Jul 13, 2012 10:47 PM gillyone wrote:
If no one responds, just keep bumping your thread. There will be ladies out there looking for this. But sometimes there is not as much traffic on the boards at the weekend. Congrats on finding BCO.
Jul 14, 2012 10:28 PM kirwin524 wrote:
Hi gillyone and thanks ... Not exactly sure how to bump but am assuming a new post does it! So glad I found BCO as well, has been awesome. Hopefully will connect with some folks to go through chemo with!
Jul 15, 2012 09:48 PM browerl wrote:
I am not starting in August but I am starting Tuesday, july 17th, so I will be just a little a head of you but would love to travel with you. I was dx 6/7/12 but I am choosing to do chemo before my bmx. I was more afraid of chemo then losing my breast. Crazy I know but this way my hair can be growing while I am healing from surgery.
Jul 16, 2012 08:33 AM Melrosemelrose wrote:
You are more than welcomed to join the earlier chemo threads. I'm from the April/May 2012 chemo hang out thread and we definitely don't care what month you start your chemo. We are a pretty active thread and support anyone who comes our way. There is also a late May/June 2012 chemo thread and a July 2012 chemo thread. If you have questions, you can always pop in to any of those threads and ask questions. You will find great support and tips to help get through chemo on all of them. Good luck to all!!!!
Jul 16, 2012 08:38 AM Melrosemelrose wrote:
browerl- Do you know about icing the nails during the Taxotere infusion part of your treatment? Icing may help prevent damage to your nails. Also, did your onco suggest using clear nail polish on your nails to help keep them strong? It's not too late to talk to your onco's office to see if it's okay to do this. My onco suggested both things for the nails and I'm having round#5 tomorrow. So far so good with the nails.Jul 16, 2012 09:22 AM browerl wrote:
Thanks Melrose I will try both. How long with the ice and do I do it the day of or day before?
Jul 16, 2012 05:51 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
I posted this on the July 2012 chemo thread to help those starting with the Cytoxan/Taxotere chemo regimen. Hope it eases your anxiety just a little.
FOR THOSE HAVING FIRST TREATMENTS of CYTOXAN/TAXOTERE: Hope this helps. The first treatment may take longer because you are still learning the infusion center procedure. You will probably get weighed and then your blood work may be taken to determine if your WBC is high enough for the treatment. I also see my onco the day of my treatment and before I have my treatment. So be prepared for things to take a little longer. You may want to take some snacks/sandwich because you may get hungry. You may also want to take a blanket/jacket to keep you warm during the treatment unless the infusion center has warmed blankets for its patients. I'm lucky that mine does. I usually wear the same outfit--- leggings & long sleeve knit shirt & men's undershirt--- so I can tell if I've gained weight between treatments. I have my Taxotere infusion first and then have the Cytoxan infusion second. Make sure you drink water/eat ice during the treatment to help prevent mouth sores and to start flushing that chemo through your body. You will sit the entire time during the Taxotere infusion since you are icing. However you definitely can get up and walk around with your IV pole during the Cytoxan. That means don't curtail your fluid intake thinking that you can't use the restroom because you can definitely get up to take a walk or go to the restroom!!!! Just ask the infusion nurse to unplug your IV pole from the electric plug. My onco ordered Ativan in my IV along with the usual IV meds which helps me keep calm during my treatments.
After the first treatment, keep drinking the fluids to help flush the chemo out of your body. I know you may not feel like eating but try to eat 5-6 small meals every day. A fed tummy is a happy tummy. If your side effects start to escalate, call your onco to get some help asap. Doesn't matter what time of day it is or what day of the week it is, just call. They really want to help you get side effects under control and expect you to call.
GOOD LUCK ON THE FIRST TREATMENT!!! WISHING MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS FOR ALL!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS. Once you get through the first one, you need to say out loud " I AM DOING THIS!!!!"
Jul 16, 2012 05:54 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
I previously posted this on the July 2012 chemo thread about hair. Hope it makes you feel a little less anxious about the hair thing. Also to the Hair Hair Hair thread in the chemo forum. It helps to check out other's progress.
HAIR (I know that this topic is not an easy one for us but here we go!!!)
As each of you are well aware of, hair is affected by the chemo. this is just a very quick read on hair loss just to give you a brief idea of what to expect. Handling the hair loss is very personal and so the decision is up to each of you as to if and when you cut your hair and how much you cut. There are no written guidelines as to how much to cut or when to cut. It is what you feel the most comfortable doing. Whatever you decide to do, take control over the hair before it takes control over you. I know you won't understand that statement now but you will later.
What to expect: Most people experience scalp pain about a week after the first chemo round. The scalp can become very sensitive, tingle, itch and even be sore. The hair loss may begin within 14 days after the beginning of chemo. It will come out a little at first and then the hair loss will increase. Please be aware that when you wash your hair when you are in the shower, you will become very much aware of the hair loss.
What to do: Once the hair loss increases, the hair will be everywhere. I used a lint roller to get the hair off of me, my clothes and my pillow and bed. This is the time when most decide to cut the hair short or have it cut very very close to the scalp. Just remember the decision is up to you as to how much to cut because it is a very emotional time. No matter what you do, just remember you are still beautiful now matter how much hair you have on your head. There are lots of options for head coverings--- hats, scarves, Buffs, wigs, etc. It's just a matter of personal choice. You can contact the American Cancer Society and attend a Look Good Feel Good session to get a make up session and can even get a free wig. Also the TLC catalogue is a great source for headcovers, wigs, etc.
There is a chemo board thread called Hair, Hair, Hair that can also be a great support and resource for you.
community.breastcancer.org/for...
The rest of the hair: Loss of the eyebrows, eye lashes, leg and arm hair and down south can also occur. Sometimes it occurs during the chemotherapy or after the completion of chemotherapy.
My short hair story:I opted to cut my short bob to a very very short boy haircut about 2 1/2 weeks after my first treatment because I got so annoyed with the hair everywhere. I was the one who took control and made five little ponytails of the longest sections of my bob and clipped those ponytails off myself. It was a very liberating experience for me since I took control and did the cutting myself. My husband used his trusty electric clippers with a 1 inch guard to clean up the sides and back so I now had a cute short boy pixie cut. I opted not to shave my head and glad I did not. I recently had my fourth round of chemo and have not loss all of my hair. I have a thin veil of hair with stubs growing. I'm glad that I did not shave it since some of the gals on one of the chemo threads I'm on wish that they had not shaved their heads. It was my decision before I started to have to not shave my head close because I wanted to see if the chemo would take out all of my hair and felt that the transition from having waist length hair in February 2012 to being bald by May 2012 would be too much for me.
Wishing each of you the best!!! You can do this.... because you are each stronger than you know!!!!
Jul 16, 2012 06:02 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
BROWERL- THIS IS FOR YOU and your August sisters. SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU QUESTION UNTIL NOW!!! I get wired from the Decadron and went to run errands before tomorrow's round. I will be thinking of you and hope you will stay calm during your first infusion and have minimal side effects. You can always private message me !!!
This was previously posted on page 1 of the July 2012 chemo thread.
FOR THOSE ICING NAILS DURING TAXOTERE INFUSION: Always clear anything you want to do with your oncos. You will need to clear it with your onco about icing since not all oncos will allow icing during the Taxotere infusion. At the suggestion of my onco, I am using clear nail polish on my nails to help keep them strong and also icing the nails to help prevent nail damage which is a side effect of Taxotere. She suggested that use Sally Hansen Strong As Nails Clear Polish but I switched to Essie polish since it doesn't chip as much as the Sally Hansen brand. Essie polish costs more but for someone like me who never used nail polish before chemo, the fewer times I have to apply polish the better. I don't mani/pedis but some do. I'd rather avoid the germ issue at nail salons and taking of a chance of getting nicked.
ICING :
Jul 16, 2012 06:13 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
FOR THOSE GETTING A NEULASTA SHOT AFTER YOUR ROUND OF CHEMO: You may want to try taking regular 24 hour Claritin to help with the bone pain that may accompany the Neulasta shot. There is an ongoing clinical trial evaluating Claritin to prevent the bone pain. Here is the link: (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NC...)
According to the clinical trial, one takes the Claritin (10 mg) once a day for 7 days beginning the day of the Neulasta treatment.
I had my first Neulasta shot with my 3rd round of Cytoxan/Taxotere and took the Claritin. I did not experience any bone pain. The Claritin doesn't help everyone but it is worth a try since from my understanding the bone pain may be intense. Just remember to ask your onco about trying the Claritin before you take it.
Jul 16, 2012 06:17 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A PORT FOR CHEMO : You may want to ask your onco for a prescription for EMLA cream (lidocaine) so you can numb the port area before you leave home for your round of chemo. If you forget to apply the EMLA cream or don't receive a prescription, ask the infusion nurse to spray the port area with numbing spray. That way you won't feel the poke when the port is accessed.
If you receive a generic EMLA cream at the drug store, it may not come with any special coverings for the area to put on after you apply it. In order to avoid getting the EMLA cream on your clothes and other places, just a 4 X 4 inch square of Glad Press N Seal plastic wrap to cover the area. Make sure you avoid the temptation to spread the EMLA cream on the port area; I'm told that your fingers will be numb for quite a while!!!!
If you aren't prescribed EMLA cream or not allowed to have the numbing spray at the infusion center, ask the infusion nurse to ice the port area to numb it.
If you just got your port right before your chemo, just know that you can't use EMLA cream on an newly sutured area. Ask the infusion nurse if there is anything that can be used to numb the area if you have a new port.
Jul 16, 2012 10:51 PM kirwin524 wrote:
Hi browerl, I would love to travel the chemo path together. I see that your first treatment is tomorrow, so am keeping you in my thought and prayers that all goes well. Let us know when you are feeling up to it!
Melrose, thank you for the wealth of information! Will read through it, so much to take in. I don't even know some of the answers (like the shot) but will make notes and ask my onco.
I am going for post op with BS tomorrow and hoping for no infection and remove drain. Had 3 surgeries when I was expecting one, so anxious to move into next step.
I will have TC+ H x6 with herceptin continuing for 1year. Though my actual tumor was small, I am triple positive and have lymph node involvement (6 of 13) and lymphatic invasion. Luckily PET scan clear. I am also in clinical trial for Pertuzumab. Will start researching these drugs and reviewing what you shared along with other threads. Thanks again and take care,
Kristi
Jul 16, 2012 11:06 PM browerl wrote:
Kirwin, I will have 6 doses of chemo then surgery no further drugs bc I am triple negative and I will not know about my lymph nodes until surgery at the end.
Jul 16, 2012 11:15 PM kirwin524 wrote:
Browerl I know you said you opted for chemo first so guess we will blaze that trail together then I'll hold your hand through surgery. I wasn't offered an option so not sure whys and wherefores on all of this stuff but just rolling with the plan.
Hope all goes well for you tomorrow!!!
Jul 16, 2012 11:48 PM browerl wrote:
kirwin-they said medically either way was fine. with chemo first I can watche (hopefully) the tumor shrink, and I am far more afraid of chemo then surgery. I will be doing total removal of both with reconstruction. my cancer is triple negative therefore chemo and surgery is my only option.
Jul 17, 2012 12:26 PM kane744 wrote:
Hello. I start chemo Aug. 1. This is my second time; first was four years ago. On the one hand, now that I know exactly what to expect, I'm not going so crazy over it. On the other hand, now that I KNOW what to expect every now and then I have "a moment" so to speak.
For me, the first round was the worst. It was the week of Thanksgiving, we were having a lot of company and I was determined not to be whipped by it. HA!! We ended up ordering one of those grocery store meals and then several guests made their special dishes. I could barely eat a thing. Tried a tablespoon of this, one of that and for the first time in my life knew what heartburn was! I wouldn't let me husband call the dr. on Thanksgiving Day and he finally gave me a couple GasX and that took care of it!
Even though I read all about chemo, talked to my onc at length, etc., I was totally unprepared for the exhaustion wallop. Everyone reacts differently, but man oh man, it knocked me on my rump. I fought it. Oh how I fought it. I did not win but finally gave in. This is the lesson I learned for me. Week 1, flat on my back. Not hungry for anything, forcing myself to eat. Week 2, feeling much better but still required lots of rest. Fought it. White cells down to 0 and had to wear a mask anytime I went out. At end of that week started losing hair big time. Shaved it off. Too depressing to see clumps of hair on pillow, in shower. Bought several wigs and lots of hats. Hated hated hated the wigs. Donated some, kept some. Bought lots of hats instead. Have always loved hats. Week 3, feeling almost like myself but alas time for another hit of the poisons. Still did a lot of battling, not listening to my body. Trying to be a "good cancer patient" and fight like a girl. By my 4th and final treatment I gave in. It was much easier on me.
So, ladies, as my second time with chemo draws near, I can tell you that I will totally change my way of dealing with it. I will quit wasting my energy trying to be "normal" and rather listen to my body. If I am exhausted, I will rest. I will allow it and appreciate my dh and friends who want to help and not try to do it all myself. I will allow the chemo to do the job of killing the cancer and be grateful that we have those drugs. I will call the dr. at the start of any unexpected side affects and not think that continuing to suffer them shows strength of character.
My second time I will not try to disguise my cancer with wigs and hats (except to prevent sunburn). I will wear my baldness without shame, realizing that I will meet a lot of women who are entering this journey and need any encouragement I can offer. I will also meet many sisters who have been through it before me and welcome their sisterhood.
This time, I'm keeping my fake nails. I have my own tools, know how to sterilize them, and trust my nail tech totally. She is a bc survivor, too. I know its vain and superficial, but I feel so much better with them. Ain't got no boobs, won't have hair, but, damn it, I WILL have my nails! Small victories.
Wishing you all an easy challenge. I wish my hair to grow back red.
Jul 17, 2012 04:49 PM JoyceNYC wrote:
Ladies, a word of encouragement to all of you. I completed 6 cycles of taxotere/cytoxan on 4/20/12 after a BMX; I have also just undergone a BSO. This isn't an easy road, but you can do it! Read the threads from the months (I'm on the January 2012 thread) to be prepared. MO rarely tell the real story of what life during chemo is really like; your chemo sisters will tell it exactly like it is!
BTW, if anyone is getting a RX for Anzemet 100mg, please PM me.
Good luck to you all!
Jul 17, 2012 06:13 PM kirwin524 wrote:
browerl that makes sense ... have been thinking of you today and sending you positive vibes and peaceful thoughts ... hope it goes as well as chemo can go!
Kane, thank you for sharing the history and what you've learned from your first go round. Sorry that you are here again, but happy to travel with you. I am also hoping my hair grows back red LOL but who knows. I am pretty sure I am going to be unprepared for the realities of the chemo. Am busily reading as many of the posts on all threads and reading anything I can get my hands on but imo you just don't know what you don't know till you get there. I will think of you on the first when I go through first dose! Hugs!
Joyce, thanks for the heads up and the encouragement. Thank God for chemo sisters is all I can say!
Jul 17, 2012 06:34 PM Melrosemelrose wrote:
For all you newbies- Please check on the first forum thread in the chemo section for links to chemo threads to help you prepare for chemo.
Here is the link forTopic: Important Chemotherapy Threads for Newbies:
community.breastcancer.org/for...
It is great help with listing of things you may need while in chemoland.
Jul 21, 2012 12:42 PM Moderators wrote:
Thanks Melrosemelrose!
We were just stopping in to provide some more helpful links, starting with the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Chemotherapy, including what to expect, types of chemo meds, and side effect management.
There are some really helpful key threads here in the Chemo forum too!
Great tips and practical advice on the following discussion board threads:
Hope you find this helpful!
--Your Mods
Jul 23, 2012 10:40 AM websister wrote:
Good morning
I will be starting chemo in August, I see the MO on Wednesday of this week. I am looking forward to reading of others experiences and sharing mine through this thread.
Take care
Jul 23, 2012 10:20 PM Laura5 wrote:
Thanks Moderators, for the quick links to helpful chemo threads you posted. I just noticed this thread for the August starters and stopped by to post a few tips and to make sure anyone who hasn't started chemo was aware of cold cap therapy. I feel so bad whenever I read a post from someone who was not aware of the caps until they stumbled across the cold cap thread, but by then it was too late.
Jul 24, 2012 07:19 AM kirwin524 wrote:
Welcome websister, hope that the visit with MO goes well.
Hoping that browerl did ok with her first dose.
Kane and I are both starting on 8/1.
I have been dealing with infection from re-excisement surgery, have had 3 surgeries since 6/11 and still have open wound on breast. Thankfully last drain gone and though my right arm is numb or painful depending upon the moods of my nerve endings, the incision from the AND is healing nicely and is no longer a worry!
I have read a lot of posts and am making my list of questions for the onco. I have also noticed that a lot of folks mention "chemo class" so put that at the top of my list to ask if that is something my facility offers and if so schedule so that I can hopefully take advantage.
Thanks to moderators and sisters who continue to share helpful links, resources and tips -- thank goodness for each and everyone of you!
Jul 24, 2012 11:18 PM browerl wrote:
Thanks for asking kirwin I am doing great very little side affects. In fact I even went back to my Zumba class last night. But the best part is my tumor,you could look at my chest and see last week, can barley be felt. I really had to feel around today to find it and I am only one week in. That is why I wanted chemo first I wanted to see it working and it is! I feel great and life is good I only hope it is a good for all my fellow sisters.
Jul 24, 2012 11:26 PM browerl wrote:
Kirwin-I also had "chemo class". It was with a nurse practicioner and she just went over everything that could happen during chemo and what to expect. If you have one you should have your questions ready. However, the standard answer is "it effects everyone differently" so just because group a had these symptoms does not mean you will and so forth and so on. I just had my support group tonight, at the cancer center, for TNBC and there is 5 us in there. Everyone of us have had the same chemo but it has effected each of us differently. The week before I started chemo was way worse then the week after. I know I have only had one treatment and it can still get bad but it has in no way reach what I had feared. Fear is so powerful, stay positive and stay strong.
Jul 25, 2012 02:41 PM Jinkala wrote:
Chemo wasn't in the plan for me originally - simple surgery and done - the shadow of positive lymph nodes and the consequences of that happening was there but not considered to be likely to happen in my case. I was happy to learn after surgery that the two lymph nodes they removed were all clear. The fact that there was a small IDC component didn't seem overly important since it was tiny and all my margins were large with the mastectomy.
I didn't really start looking into just what HER2 positive meant until a few days before the first meeting with an Oncologist and I suddenly realized that chemo was not just a possibility but would likely be recommended for me. I didn't get much sleep Monday night and on Tuesday, my worries were right, I was strongly recommended for chemo plus herceptin. She wants to start me as soon as we can get all the scans and tests and stuff scheduled. If things move as fast as she seemed to indicate, I'm looking at starting probably the week after next. She said I could pick the day of the week and I'm thinking Wednesday will work the best for me which would probably mean the 8th.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this. I don't feel prepared at all. I don't want to do it (and I can choose not to) but if I don't do it and cancer does appear elsewhere, I will really regret not doing all I could beforehand.
The regimen will probably be TCH for 6 doses and then Herceptin only for a year. The doses will be given every three weeks. I also have to deal with type 2 Diabetes which is currently controlled with low medications and diet.
Jul 25, 2012 03:48 PM browerl wrote:
jinkala just do it, you do not want this crap to show up anywhere else you are in this far!
Jul 25, 2012 08:19 PM, edited Jul 25, 2012 09:45 PM by Aqua-girl
Hi Everyone,
I'm new, too. I was dx in June, surgery on June 29th, and I start chemo on August 1. Scares me. I saw the chemo nurse manager today and she gave me a bunch of prescriptions. One is for a steroid. Are any of you going to take Dexamethasone for nausea? I don't want to take steroids. Anyone know if I have to? Or if they help? My port goes in on Friday. I hope it won't hurt. Good luck!
Jul 25, 2012 10:54 PM kirwin524 wrote:
Browerl so good to hear from you! Glad you have the first one behind you AND that you are already seeing/feeling a difference! So pleased for you!! I will call tomorrow and ask about class I tend to do better when I'm prepared and educated but I suspect that is the case for most.
Jinkala, wish you hadn't felt a little blindsided on the chemo, doesn't give you a lot of time to gather info and noodle it does it? I am triple positive so I knew chemo was in the cards but when I learned of nodes and lymphatic I felt like it was a no brainer at that point. Is a double whammy to have diabetes on top of this -- hang in there! You will make right decision for you and we'll be here for you!
Aqua girl you are on same roller coaster ride I see, your head must be spinning. I have not gotten any scripts and am not familiar with that med. if you are worried or want more info call the office and ask questions. I am finding that if I ask questions people take the time to answer me but I think sometimes I get that deer in the headlights look and they just move through the process! Good luck with your port on Friday, I have one but went in when I had surgery. Haven't had any issues and when I was in hospital I came to appreciate that sucker! Let us know how it goes.
So glad to have some sisters on this path. Some days I feel like a warrior and others I feel like a scared chicken! Hang in there ladies!!
Jul 26, 2012 02:26 PM, edited Jul 26, 2012 05:46 PM by Lynn27
Thank you Kirwin for starting this topic. I found it so helpful to have partners in the process on the June MX topic. Already there is good information and support here.
Port goes in on the 1st. TCH starts on the 2nd. Being HER2+ scares the ** out of me. Is anyone else getting carboplatin? I see so many cytoxans. Does anyone know if the SE are substantially different?
For any of you starting chemo later in August, a warning that I didn't get until chemo class. Your MO may say no dental/medical procedures during chemo unless it's an emergency (including simple dental cleaning). That means you have to get all that done before chemo starts. The time to schedule all the med/den stuff not related to cancer that you've ignored since getting your diagnosis is now, not in the one week between class and the start of chemo.
Aqua girl Decadron is a short-acting steroid (not the long-acting kind that gets athletes in trouble). It has many uses, one of which is a powerful suppressor of fluid retention. Talk to your MO, but there is no way I'm skipping any of my doses. (BTW-if I do, my MO will postpone my chemo. She's that certain it's necessary.)