More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo
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Wow, great information!
I'll be starting chemo in a couple of weeks, and it's nice to have an idea of what to plan for.
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Starting chemo 10 am today. Thanks for all the tips!
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I want to add something that I didn't see in this very useful list -- I had very bad stomach gastritis and took Pepcid for it -- well, it was a mistake -- the Pepsid made my mouth and tongue even "hairier", and also I had horrible heart burn from it, my throat super dry and burning. Once I stopped the Pepcid and started taking glutamine for the gastritis, it was all well. (this is not glucosamine, it is GLUTAMINE -- helps the lining of the stomach.)
Eni
PS: if you like, check out the art I've been recently creating to help the healing process: http://muddyglasses.com/cancerclub/chemotherapy/ . Thanks!
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MuddyGlasses ~ Thank you for your post. Your art is very powerful!
BC Sisters ~ I can't stress enough the importance of chewing ice chips or sucking on popscicles during the chemo infusion. Doing this can completely prevent the mouth sores. Ice bags to the feet and ice gloves for the hands can also prevent or at least minimize neuropathy. The ones I used were homemade and worked like a charm.
Best of luck to you on this journey,
Nico
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Hi ladies, I just found out I'm going to be needing chemo:-( I'm 37 years old, had a BLM Jan. 31st with reconstruction and my oncotype test score was 21 (14% chance of recurrence) My BS said I would probably get CMF (I have to meet with 2 oncologist he recommended and choose one). I'm hoping to see the oncologists next week or the week after. I love this list, once I know when I'll be starting I'll start gathering things together. Has any done CMF chemo, everything I read says TC or AC. Just curious. Thanks
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Best of luck to you on your journey, JennL ~
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Hi ladies, saw oncologist yesterday and really liked her, she said CMF was not for me wouldn't really do much but recommended TC or AC-T (she prefers I do AC-T). They are both stronger then I expected but now I feel like if I'm going to do it and get SE's why not give my all and do what would lower my recurrence the most. I still have to see another oncologist on Monday and see what she says. If they are the same then I know what I will do if they say different things (if the other does say CMF is fine and TC and AC-T is to strong) I don't know what I'll do!!! These decisions are hard! Any advice out there? Thanks for listening.
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Well it's either AC-T or TC both oncologists agree now I just have to choose!! What to do, pick your poison has a new meaning to me now:-). Any suggestions?
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chose AC-T, starting March 20th.
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I had my first chemo (Taxitere) on Feb. 7th, and it really wiped me out. I was in ER twice for fluids and on the 8th day when I went back to the Oncologist for first visit, I was so dehydrated they hung fluids for 7 hours. Onc said he would do CMF next round. I have had one round of five - 28-day cycles. This has been much better, but still rather rough. I asked Onc if he could please give me something for nausea this time. He said "You should still have some. I gave you refills." I told him then he never gave me one drop of medication after the first infusion except the Nulasta the next day. He looked at me like I was lying, and then went to the computer. He never said a word, but I believe he was astonished that he didn't prescribe anything. He gave me some Zofran at that time, and I take it faithfully. Now I don't have that "queasy" feeling all the time. I just wonder if things would have taken a different course if I had had medications of some type, but I can't change it. I would be through April 10th, and now I have to go through July....and then will face radiation after that. If you haven't been down this road, you don't know what to expect. I thought I had done everything I was supposed to. I spoke with someone who was about three weeks ahead of me with the Taxitere at another Cancer Center, and she had minimal problems. She said her Onc gave her two medications to take daily. I would be curious to see some other experiences.
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Hi Merrinell, sorry you had such trouble! You may get more responses if you post in one of the specific chemotherapy forums. There is one for Taxotere at http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/781232?page=21#post_2928902
Hope this helps!
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Love this thread! I'm starting treatment a week from tomorrow and am making my shopping list. Thank you for all the tips and suggestions.
One thing I haven't found is what people take with them to treatments. I have no clue as to what I should take. I don't like to sit idle. I'm thinking books, magazines, crocheting, music. Should I bring any personal items such a blanket or pillow?
Suggestions greatly appreciated!
TIA
Renee'
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RunnerGirl,
Sorry to hear that you will be doing chemo. Everyone agrees that it sucks but is do-able.
Definitely bring stuff to do with you (any and all of what you listed). Don't forget to bring two liters of bottled water to stay hydrated, some healthy snacks and a friend. It is always nice to have someone there to keep you centered.
Your chemo center should provide a blanket and pillow if you ask. I wore a zippered hooded sweatshirt and just removed the infusion arm from its sleeve.
Good luck to you.
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Browsing the list, I wanted to say that acidophilus is not just for yeast infections. Thrush in the mouth is the same as yeast down there and acidophilus will help against both. Further, acidophilus also helps your bowel work normally.
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Good to know, PhillyBird. Thank you!
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Teh first time I got on this thread and realized why you we're all bumping this thread up for newbies, I started crying. It was the nicest thing I could think of for humans to do for one another. Every time I tell someone about it, they tear up too.
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Stacie ~ We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our bc sister "rock" for this thread. She's the best!
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