Come join others currently navigating treatment in our weekly Zoom Meetup! Register here: Tuesdays, 1pm ET.
Weigh in: What are the best and worst gifts for people with breast cancer?
Share with us: What are your proudest moments of 2024 and personal goals for 2025?
Take our poll: How are you feeling as we near the New Year?

Starting Chemo in Nov. 2011...anyone else?

1…1819212324…116

Comments

  • linnyhopp
    linnyhopp Member Posts: 466

    Just checking in this evening to see how everyone is doing.  I am so happy for those that are starting to feel normal again.  GrandmaV I have taken the Immodium and am hoping that will stop the awful cramping that I have experienced.  I know the old saying is "This, too shall pass." but I honestly didn't want to experience that literally!  LOL! When I get past this time, I will take Immodium at the first sign of cramping even if, as you call it, the "Big D" doesn't happen at the same time.  I so want to just get out of the house.  Boxcars, as yaya said...keep calling your onc's office.  You should NOT have to suffer with nausea and there are many drugs to use if needed.  I am grateful that my onc's office doesn't let the day pass without returning a call or e-mail and I think ALL of us deserve that courtesy when dealing with these painful issues.  Not to be mean, but maybe if they made all these doctor's have a "practice" chemo infusion they would be totally empathetic!  As I can truly now say...cancer isn't for sissies! 

    Hope all have a peaceful, uneventful, restful night's sleep.

  • linnyhopp
    linnyhopp Member Posts: 466

    Just checking in this evening to see how everyone is doing.  I am so happy for those that are starting to feel normal again.  GrandmaV I have taken the Immodium and am hoping that will stop the awful cramping that I have experienced.  I know the old saying is "This, too shall pass." but I honestly didn't want to experience that literally!  LOL! When I get past this time, I will take Immodium at the first sign of cramping even if, as you call it, the "Big D" doesn't happen at the same time.  I so want to just get out of the house.  Boxcars, as yaya said...keep calling your onc's office.  You should NOT have to suffer with nausea and there are many drugs to use if needed.  I am grateful that my onc's office doesn't let the day pass without returning a call or e-mail and I think ALL of us deserve that courtesy when dealing with these painful issues.  Not to be mean, but maybe if they made all these doctor's have a "practice" chemo infusion they would be totally empathetic!  As I can truly now say...cancer isn't for sissies! 

    Hope all have a peaceful, uneventful, restful night's sleep.

  • Kim137
    Kim137 Member Posts: 105

    I would love to hear from anyone who has started back to work. I'm due to return to work December 9th from having my bilateral mastectomy with tissue expanders placed. This was all scheduled prior to me knowing I would need chemo. Having received my first round of AC last Thursday, and still feeling nauseous today, I just can't imagine working while feeling like this. On the other hand, I feel like maybe working would push me to not get down and keep motivated. I'm a travel nurse and work mainly in local health departments. Some days I have to drive and hour to & from work, other days I'm only 10 minutes from home. Any thoughts or suggestions?

  • Kim137
    Kim137 Member Posts: 105

    Gamer girl, how is the Zantac helping? Did you talk to your Oncologist about using it or just get some OTC? I'm in need of relief! this burning sensation is the pits!

  • bahamamom3
    bahamamom3 Member Posts: 275

    Kim137-I am trying to work as much as I can.  I am a seventh grade language arts teacher, so even if I take off, I still have to have all my reports, grades, parent conferences, lesson plans, etc., in.  So I try to take off as little as I can because it is actually harder on me to be out.  If I am there, I can stay caught up much better than running by the school every day or two, emailing plans, etc.  I took off 2 weeks when I had my surgery.  The doctor said 3 weeks, but the grading period was ending, and I had to figure out who had to make up this/that from absences, etc., and get all my grades together and give the end of six weeks assessments, etc.  I did fine and was very glad to be back to some level of normalcy.  Since then, I have had to take off for some tests (Muga heart, bone and CT scans and visits to the oncologist).  I also am off this week because I had my port placed yesterday and saw the oncologist today.  We already have off Wednesday-Friday, so that worked out pretty well.  I will be having my treatments on Fridays, so I will take those days off and return to work on Mondays. I was also able to schedule my labs in-between my first and second treatments after work on the non-treatment Fridays, so I was glad of that.  I have accumulated over 100 sick days over the years, so I am able to take off, but like I said, for my job it is harder to be absent than it is to be there.  Plus, so much of this disease has been so out of my control and has been life-changing (to say the least), that I really find myself wanting to be as "normal" as I can.  I can't say much for sure since I will not have my first treatment until this Friday, but for now, that is my plan. I haven't told many people about my diagnosis at my work.  My boss does know because I didn't want him to think I was just shirking my job and responsibilities, and I have told my 2 best friends there also, but I asked them not to share the information with anyone else.  I figure that once my hair starts to disappear, it will be pretty obvious anyway, but at first I just couldn't even talk about it.  I felt like if I said the words breast cancer, it would make it real, and I wasn't ready for that. Now that I have gotten used to the idea myself, I am not feeling quite as private about it as in the beginning anyway. 

  • Kathy9433
    Kathy9433 Member Posts: 23

    Hi Ricki,

    Sorry you had to join the Triple Negative Club :O(...My treatment is 4 AC every three weeks and 4 T every three weeks.....I am 2 down, 6 to go...Yay!!   I say, YES, eat before you go and bring along some snacks and lots of water, water, water!  Start your nausea meds that morning and take as long as you need them, I usually take them about 5 days.  Side effects haven't been horrible, some constipation, REALLY stinky gas (my husband says he would be proud to claim those, real comedian), food tastes "off" for a few days, sense of smell is "off", too.  By the end of week 2 feeling good and week 3 is great!  Then you get to start all over!   Side effects for me have been following a pattern but nurse tells me it's cumulative...we'll see!  And, oh yes, don't freak out after your first pee with the A.....it will look like cherry kool-aid!  Hugs to you and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  OXOXOXO to everyone!

    Kathy :O)

  • Kathy9433
    Kathy9433 Member Posts: 23

    P.S. for Ricki,

    Forgot one more thing, hair loss should start about two weeks after your first treatment, starts slowly at first and then it's a losing battle.  :O[  I think it's better to know what to expect so you can be prepared and be proactive!  You might even be surprised that you don't look as bad as you thought you would!  I'm not hating the hairless head...it's just a "different" look :O)

    Kathy

  • Lory48
    Lory48 Member Posts: 266
    Today I noticed my fingernails are lifting off their nail beds..Surprised My nail tech recommended white iodine to help save them..Oh MY
  • Nel
    Nel Member Posts: 597

    Hi all,

    Question.  I have had my 3rd treatment with hercpetin & taxol, # 4 on Friday. I have cut my hair short, but yesterday it began falling out a few strands at a time. Today the same. My onc said maybe it would all fall out or maybe jsut thin.   Others experience with this, how soon should I get myself to a wig shop or at a minimum buy a hat.  I have bad hat karma from an early age and very seldom wear one even heere inthe miserable cold Northeast.  Managing pretty well with other SE, so if this is the worst of it for now, I am good 

    Thanks

    Nel

  • el-jaye
    el-jaye Member Posts: 25

    Kim137 - I have returned to work - Everyone I work with knows about my diagnosis and is walking with me through my chemo!  I took off a week when I had my partial mastectomy in Septemeber. 

    I have my chemo on every third Friday, giving me the weekend to take it easy.  On the Monday I work 4-6 houirs and then increase it every day.  Last round I spend week 2 in the hospital and not at work.  I was able to do some work in the hospital with my laptop and a cell phone style internet connection.  

    I am a legal assistant and much of  what I do is done on line.  I am very fortunate. 

    Returning to work was not easy as I wanted to be able to put in a full day, but was only able to do a few hours the first day.  

    Today is pretty good, I had Chemo last Friday and worked for 3 hours afterwards.  Then yesterday I lasted 6 hours.  Today I am aiming for 7 but we will see.  My boss is being so wonderful about me leaving early and working from home on the days I really can not face the world!   My goal this week is to work Wednesday a full day so that my co-worker who has been covering for me can leave early.  But we will see.  

     I am very happy that I have decided to work during my treatment.  I feel much better when I am contributing to the family income and not just sitting at home.  I bring my arsenal of drugs to work with me, my themometer and any other items I might need.  Between my husband and my coworkers, I am well taken care of.  My Co-workers make sure I eat on time, that I have lots of water to drink and that I take breaks through out the day.  

    Here's to more weeks of working, I hope you are able to find the balance that works for you too.

  • Kim137
    Kim137 Member Posts: 105

    Thanks ladies for your response. I'm so worried about returning to work! I'm getting chemo (AC) every 2 weeks. I feel so fatigued and nauseous I just can't imagine working thru this. I'm worried that by the time I start to feel well, it will be time for another round.....*sigh*





    On a brighter note, I am feeling less nauseous as the days wear on. So hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!

  • gamergirl
    gamergirl Member Posts: 53

    Kim - the zantac was what my onc said to use.  The nurse said almost everyone with this dose of AC has "acid issues".  It is working nominally well.  I have given up high acid foods, like anything with tomato sauce and I am eating much smaller, more frequent, meals.  I also quit eating anything in the evenings, otherwise I can't lay down at night without feeling the burn in my throat.

    I can't imagine how you ladies are able to work.  the nurse said it's very hard to work during dose dense AC, and I know I couldn't do it.  I actually had just started to look for a job when I was diagnosed, so I'm fortunate I didn't have to give up work.  I'm just delaying it a few months.

    I'm not surprised you ladies are able to work though.  We are a tough bunch, that's for sure.   

  • linnyhopp
    linnyhopp Member Posts: 466
    Kim ~ Glad to hear you are feeling less nauseous.  That was such a wonderful thing for me when it finally happened.  I have had issues with serious gastric cramping and today is much better for me, too!  I actually went out and ran an errand.  Felt good to be out and part of life.  I am hoping to go back to work next week.  I may have tried this week, but I am an office manager at a school and we are off all week for the holiday.  I hope all goes well for you when you return...and me, too. 
  • sueshane
    sueshane Member Posts: 68

    I am having TC chemo tomorrow- I am a little nervous as my first round resulted in a huge skin/tissue burn due to the chemo infusing into the tissue around the vein.  Hoping this doesn't happen again.  On a different note, Wednesday can't come soon enough- the sooner the treatment, the sooner my life moves forward.  In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank you loving God for giving me my family, friends, doctors and life.  Life is a blessing-  I feel very blessed.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

  • bullwinkl4
    bullwinkl4 Member Posts: 33
    Bonseye, good luck on Friday..I will be thinking of you! We can go through this together :-)
  • bc50
    bc50 Member Posts: 12

    Hi everyone.  I had a BMX on Oct. 31st and am meeting with the oncologist for the first time this coming Monday.  My surgeon said I would probably be starting chemo in a couple weeks.  This site has been wonderful since my surgery and I am looking forward to chatting with those of you getting chemo at the same time as I am.  I have no idea what the treatments will be until Monday, but I am so happy to have this site to come to after I see which drugs I will be getting and find out more information on them.  Looking forward to fighting the fight with the rest of you.

  • YaYa5
    YaYa5 Member Posts: 532
    welcome, bc50.  sorry you have to be here, but so happy you found us.  you'll find a wealth of information here and very kind, supportive women.  i finished chemo last monday and will be starting rads in two weeks or so and i'm from oklahoma too!  please let us know what you learn on monday.  hang in there ... waiting is the worst part of it all.
  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045
    bc50, thank you for joining us.  The support by this wonderful group of women is amazing and we're looking forward to hearing more from you in the near future and being here for you and each other.
  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045
    YaYa, How are you doing?  I know you were having a rough time a few days ago.
  • bc50
    bc50 Member Posts: 12

    YaYa5 and GrandmaV, thank you so much for the welcome!  I have seen several Oklahomans on this site.  And GrandmaV..you aren't that far away from me either.  I feel lucky to have found this site the night I was given the bad news.  I have checked it out every night or day since then and feel so much better.  Since I don't know what treatment I will have yet, some of the info is like a foreign language to me.  I can't wait to find out so I can get a better handle it all.  I too am looking forward to having you all here for support and be of any help I can.

  • bethu77
    bethu77 Member Posts: 263

    Good evening everyone! I had my 2nd treatment today. I didn't sleep well at all last night. I had blood work this morning at 10, shopped (window shopped!) and met my daughter for lunch. I was soooo anxious I didn't want to eat but my nurse said I had to have food on stomach. Who really goes to Applebees and orders a baked potato? ME!!! My sister drove me to the treatment and on the way, I took a Xanax. I cried and did my deep breathing exercises. DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

    It wasn't so bad! This was my first treatment in the port. The nurse wiped it with betadine and put the numbing spray on told me to take a deep breath and hold it and i didn't feel a thing. I am so glad it is over. I have a yeast infection and thrush so I have Diflucan for these two things. I am also very nauseous this evening. I was hoping I wouldn't feel this way so soon. I was so nervous the first time that I don't remember when it hit.

    Thank you all so much for all the encouragement you give. Even when SEs are listed, I take the information to heart and try it.

    Good night and I wish good sleep tonight for each of you!

    Beth

  • YaYa5
    YaYa5 Member Posts: 532
    grandmaV, thank you for asking.  i'm just sort of ok.  the se's this time have been the hardest. some nausea and the big D so not much appetite and weird tastes in my mouth that i didn't have with the other tx's.  lots of tiredness, too.  HOWEVER, things can only get better now!  i'm so grateful i'm done and i should have been prepared for the cumulative effect of 6 tx's.  i am so hungry and the weirdest things sound good, but they are things that would wreck my stomach, i'm sure.  it's just so odd.  i'm just hoping i can eat some dressing on thanksgiving without spending the night in the bathroom!  how are you doing?  when will you have your blood work done again?
  • dtholden
    dtholden Member Posts: 23

    Greetings Ladies,

    Its been a while since I posted....been going through my breakup with my boyfriend of only a couple of weeks....I realized he wasn't the one I need to be with me during my  breast cancer journey and I feel so much better now that we are just friends.  I have the needed love and support from my friends and family....will seek Mr. Right after all of my treatments and surgery. 

    To all my fellow Triple Neg. BC Ladies....hang in there...we have a special challenging journey but I know we will be surviors as long as our attitudes...good medical care and changes to our lifesyle will made us long term survivors. To all of my sister warriors....we are all strong women and this truly is a mind boggling and soul wrenching journey but we will survive and be able to to share our testimonies with others later as we claim NED and breast cancer Survivors!!!

    I had my 3rd AC chemo treatment today and I am feeling great so far.  I go back to the hospital for my shot tomorrow am.   My treatments are every two weeks (8 AC sessions) and (8 Taxol sessions).  My 2nd chemo sessions went remarkably well....the only side effects have been my hair was falling but I was prepared for that by shaving it before chemo started....it grew back into a very short cut but starting getting spotty so I now just keep it shaved and wear my bald head at times and wigs when I want to the do the glam girl look.  My nails beds on my hand are darkening but I keep bright red or pink to cover them so not a problem. Also my tongue has these dark spots on it but nobody is looking in my mouth that closely so I can live with it.  The steriods make me retain fluids and I have a 5-7 lbs weight gain my chemo week but after a few days its all gone....I take a duiritic every other day and drink lots of water.  Constipation use to be an issue in the beginning but I nip that in the bud early with meds to keep me regular.   So overall things I can live with until this chemo journey is over with.

    I think I contribute most of my very minimal SE to taking the advice of others on this forum on how to deflect some of the SE:  I do these things daily during my chemo week... Taking Claritin early and daily; taking my nasuea meds often; taking a stool softening and Metimucil often; endless water consumption;  I eat mostly fruits & veggies and do protein smoothies with flaxseed oil and wheatgrass and eat chicken and fish ocassionally for variety; I take a mulivitamin, along with vitamin D3 2500 IU & B12 daily.  I will start my exercise program next week on my off week since my energy levels jumps way back up that week.

    To ladies with SE,,,hang in there...talk with your onc dr. and let them help work things out for you....everybody reacts differently....we have to talk things out openly,,,purge and do what we need to feel good but still know chemo is our best defense to becoming cancer free.   I call my chemo my new best friend for the next 7 months...I have a dense dose..the "red lady toxin" but I also pray that she works overtime killing the bad cells and simply do her best to spare me of any major side effects and discomfort.

     My prayers and thoughts are with everyone!   Big Huggs!!!!!! 

  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045

    Good morning everyone,

    Beth, you're moving right along.  You're half-way through AC.  I'm glad your second tx went well.  Keep up with your anti nausea meds, and call your doctor if they aren't helping.  If you're like me, you're grateful for the port.  It's so much easier on us than IV in the vein. 

    YaYa, I hope you get better real soon.  The Big D is so miserable.  You should be over the hump now and continue to good health.  I would be interested in knowing how rads go, I'll be doing that after chemo is all done, so I hope you keep in touch.

    dtholden, It was so good to get an update.  Sorry to hear about your breakup.  We have enough to deal with.  I hope your SEs are few with your 3rd tx.  Only 1 more of those and you can move on to Taxol. 

  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045
    YaYa, I forgot to mention, I go today to get blood work and meet with onc.  The waiting never ends, no matter what stage we're at.
  • bethu77
    bethu77 Member Posts: 263

    Hello My Friends!

    I want to share something with all of you. I had bilateral DCIS in 2008. My treatment was lumpectomies with 33 radiation treatments. In March of this year, I had a clear mammogram. In July, I felt a large lump in my left breast.We had just come back from a wonderful vacation and my youngest daughter surprised us the news that we were to become grandparents for the first time. I was so excited! And then, I was diagnosed with IDC on August 23, 2011. On August 25 (my birthday) I was having an MRI. On August 27, our daughter lost the baby. I am so blessed to have a great support system for me and my family.

    Yesterday, I was so anxious about the first port treatment that I made myself eat even though I felt sick to my stomach. Our daughter and her boyfriend--the same one--presented me with a baby bib that says, "Who needs Santa when I have Grandma." Such a bright spot to look forward to. Our son is getting married in June 2012. So I have several things to look forward to.

    I think I wa so anxious and my stomach started out upset that I haven't slept much and I feel sick to my stomach today. I am drinking the ginger ale and taking my meds. I have to go back for my Neulasta today at 3 and then home to bed. We live in a very small town--we have a post office and elementary school--so when we go close to Indy for the treatments, etc., my sister and I like to go to some of our favorite shops. I can always sit in the car if I get tired but I don't want to miss a thing.

    For each of you, Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for letting me share things because you are going through them with me.

  • racerdeb
    racerdeb Member Posts: 114

    bethu77,

    We will all make it through this journey together!  I too value being able to share our ups and downs, and I hope you're soon feeling better.  Best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving.

  • GrandmaV
    GrandmaV Member Posts: 1,045
    It's been a roller coaster, hasn't it Beth.  It's either up or down, there doesn't seem to be an in between.  You are facing this situation with grace and courage and I have no doubt you'll beat this horrible disease.  We are grateful to you, too, for being here on this forum to share your experiences and bolster us for what is to come.  Thank you.
  • Bonseye
    Bonseye Member Posts: 124

    Bullwink14- Thank you for then well wishes! I will do well and am trying to keep positive and get through this whatever way I can laugh and survive! Will post after treatment....



    Bahamamom3-you will be in my prayers as we walk this path together on Friday....we will do great!!! No amount of nausea/pain will get in my way on a path to a full life.....Blessings to you from NJ!!



  • Bonseye
    Bonseye Member Posts: 124

    Bullwinkl14- Thank you for then well wishes! I will do well and am trying to keep positive and get through this whatever way I can laugh and survive! Will post after treatment....



    Bahamamom3-you will be in my prayers as we walk this path together on Friday....we will do great!!! No amount of nausea/pain will get in my way on a path to a full life.....Blessings to you from NJ!!



Categories

Join Us on Zoom: Upcoming virtual meetups. Read more...
Give your account some personality! Add a profile photo.