Starting chemo August 2014
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gatomal, thank you so much.1 is done, 5 more to go..... The center is nice, they give good lunch, a volunteer from American cancer society took my wig measurement. It's been good so far.....
Hope40, I'm glad you feel better today....
Thinkpink4ever, my port is still sore, inserted yesterday . I will post a picture of port's seatbelt pillow. The best invention from the center's volunteer !! (Breast cancer survivor)
stay strong everyone!!! Hugs to you all....
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Thinkpink: I'll be right there with ya getting started that day. I hate hate hate steroids but have already had to be on them for 2 weeks because of getting some rare syndrome...all better in time for Chemo and more steroids. Yuk...but we will get through this.
Purple: The post op pain from my port was really bad for about 2 days. It was bad enough I took the strong pain meds they gave me. I usually skip those for over the counter. The good news is it goes away fairly quickly...even the second day is much better...just try not to use your arm. That really hurt for me. Good luck w Chemo Friday! After this time we will have it on the same days. F
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Purplegurl - when I had my port placed, my neck hurt the day of and the next day. It was then sore for about a week but tolerable. It felt more weird than sore and now I don't even notice it.
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Hey Robyn. I had pain for just a few days when my port was placed and now it feels fine. I wish the same for you.
I had my visit to the cardiologist yesterday to discuss a slight irregularity on my echo. She does not think I need to be on any medication right now. BP was a little high but we'll watch that. And if anything changes during the normal every three month schedule of echo tests then we can deal with it then. One less pill! Yay!
Had my second chemo session today. They cut back the steroid so I'm hoping to be able to sleep better this week. My main SE's were headache (which MO thinks is related to Zofran), flu-like joint aches and pains, constipation and fatigue. Days three through five were the worst. Also had a couple of emotional breakdowns. I don't know how much those were medication induced and how much was just from the stress and anxiety of starting treatment.
Also finally told the companies that I represent about my diagnosis. They have all been wonderfully supportive but it has been draining to go through this "second round" of telling the news. Not as bad as telling my family and close friends but still kind of exhausting. My favorite reactions have been from people who swear at BC when they hear my news! Yeah, Cancer is a JERK!!!!!
I'm grateful and happy to be feeling good right now. I want to send hugs to all of you who are new, just getting started, and those dealing with nasty side effects. You are all in my thoughts every day and I'm so glad we are in this together.
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Pantigor, I just saw the picture of the port pillow. I've got to make myself one! Does is have fluffy fill inside?
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Thanks TP and Wizard. Makes me feel better knowing this is normal and pretty temporary. For some reason I was thinking the port placement was going to be a piece of cake. I may take a pain pill tonight which I haven't done since right after mx. I have a work event tomorrow with lots of hand shaking. Fingers crossed the pain is lessened by then
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Sandy, thank you as well for info on port pain and recovery. I know it's hard to tell clients what you are going through. I've found mine to be supportive without exception and I hope same for you. My chemo will be scheduled every other Friday with neulasta shots on Monday. It seems like many here are finding days 3-5 the worst for SE's, which I guess for me would be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I thought having the weekend to recover after Friday chemo would be best to miss as little work as possible, but now I'm re-thinking that. Thoughts?
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Robyn, I had my port placement today too. I have neck pain also. My surgeon prescribed pain meds, enough for a couple days. She also inserted a needle and small tube during the surgery . I have my first chemo infusion on Thursday and she said I will still be sore. Chemo nurse just needs to hook meds up to the tube for this treatment. Initially I did not want the port, but I'm glad I have it now.
Diane
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Hi Diane,
I think I still have some pain meds left from mx. I may take that tonight if I can't get comfortable to sleep. I am so happy to have the port. The nurse had to call in reinforcements today to help find a vein just for a blood draw. I don't think I would have a prayer of making it through eight rounds of chemo without a port! I'll be thinking about you and the other ladies starting chemo this week. I'm sure we will all be comparing notes with one another and everyone who started earlier in August.
Robyn
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Robyn, I drove myself crazy trying to figure out which day would be best for chemo. I originally thought Friday, but my docs are not there that day of the week. Thursdays are pretty heavily booked there, but once I'm in the groove and appointments should not be so lengthy, maybe they can squeeze me in. Day 3 and 4 were my worst last week but we'll see what this week brings. First appt was a Monday, had it today, and then next week back to Monday. Then maybe flipping back to Tuesday after Labor Day. I plan to work the day after treatment, maybe take an admin day working from home on the third day, and trying to push through working beyond that. I've had to force myself to let go a little and just see what happens. I'll adjust as I go along. (Singing "Let it Go" from the movie Frozen!
I love to think I can have everthing organized and under control but, Ha Ha, BC had other plans for me!0 -
LadyB - so glad you are feeling better.
Pangtitor - hope all went well today with your first treatment, you are in my thoughts.
Hope50 - sounds like you are doing better, hoping it keeps getting even better for you each day.
Jess - hope you are starting to feel stronger soon.
terry - I love treating myself to man/ped on my days off, really bummed when I heard not to. Enjoy!
Gatamol - thinking of you and your babies everyday.
I met with my MO yesterday with a list. He said I should have called at the time of SEs, probably would have made me come in for fluid IV. Honestly couldn't even help myself at the time, but put a plan together for the next treatment. I am ready with my list of meds to take for any SE that may come my way. I was afraid to take too many meds at the time because didn't know if I could with the chemo med. I am feeling really good the last couple of days, thank goodness.
Good luck to the people that will be getting the first chemo soon. I wish smooth sailing thru for all of you.
I know there are a lot of cat people here. I would love to get a cat and have been looking, but my husband is so allergic. We just recently lost our two senior dogs a month apart. We love having animals, but kind of enjoying the freedom right now of not taking care of any. Our dogs had a lot of seniors issues at the end and needed a lot of care, besides the expense. Totally torn!
Cathie
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Sandy, I guess I will see how it goes this first tx and then make a change to chemo day if needed. Frozen is such a cute movie and that is a great theme song for this whole journey! I see you are from MA. I lived in metrowest until moving to GA about 15 years ago. Still have lots of friends and family in the area.
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SandylovesLucy... It has fluffy fill inside. Soft enough to be pressed against your chest and thick enough to raise the seat belt over your port site. My port is on my right chest and I'm on the passenger seat. The pain was at its worst on the following morning of the port incision . I took a pain pill 14 hours ago and haven't used/raised the right arm today . Pain free so far...:-) Let it go let it gooooooo!!!!! I plan to work on Thursday to Saturday, will see how I feel.
Cathie57, so far so good ...:-) hoping the same thing to you too. The nurse asked if I have any furry pets at home when she gave me the discharge instructions. I don't know if it will affect chemo patients or not.
Robyn, the IV cannulation through port is less painful than the one through regular peripheral vein.it stings for about 5 seconds, that's all. Another 2-3 seconds sting when they pull the needle out. You should ask the script for lidocaine or EMLA cream if you can not deal with the pain.
Cathie57, the shopping list discussion on chemo: before, during, after is really helpful. My oncologist advised me not to take Tylenol or Motrin on day 4-7 post chemo so I will not mask the fever I may get. Talk to your MO.
Gatamol, thinking and praying for you and the babies.
JustAmy and thinkpink, good luck on your coming chemo.....
Other August ladies..... My thoughts and prayers for you guys. Sending hugs to you all.....
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pangtidor,
I think about day 8, I almost felt 100% normal. Today, I've had a lot if itching in my hair. When I washed it tonight, I lost several strands. Tomorrow I get my wig. I'm not shaving my head, I'm not one who finds it's exhilarating! I'll hang into it as long as I can, and as long as it looks decent. I even had some wine this weekend at dinner with my hubby! Good luck to you. And drink water!!!
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Thank you so much for your info Terri. Will cut my hair short tomorrow just like the wig I have ordered. The wig and cap were given by American cancer society for free, will be shipped to home in the next 10 days. I drank a lot of water during treatment. 70-80 oz, around 3 liters. I am waiting for the 100 oz water jug for incoming sessions. Oh my...
I'm so glad you get through the hell week. Hope you will like your new wig ....:-)
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purplegurl
I don't know about the port and neck pain as I don't get mine until Thursday. But I just wanted to say we start on the same day with the same treatment. I will be thinking of you Friday!
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Hi Kellogg,
Yes, we are having the same chemo regimen, but my MO has now added carboplatin to the taxol for #4-8. I will be thinking of you on Friday too!
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just getting caught up on all your posts. So sorry to hear many are having bad SE! Hang in there
A couple questions, you say day 3-5 are worst? So if start on Monday, is that Thursday to Saturday will be the worst? I have 4 treatments which will be every two weeks, supposedly they are cumulative so I won't fell bad the first one really, but a little more the second , etc. ugh!
My port is sometime on Friday, won't find out til Thursday afternoon. I didn't think it was a big deal til I was reading here. I am thinking I will be put out. Is that what you all did?
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Kellya, I had "twilight" sedation with a local. So I was not put to sleep, just relaxed with versed and some other medication I believe,then lidocaine used as a local pain blocker. The surgery itself today was not bad but I am in some pain now even with tylenol and it sounds like that may continue for a day or two.
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Hi Kellya,
I was sleeping, thru the procedure. They did not use general anesthesia where you need the tube down the throat. More like twilight sleep. Once I was awake in recovery they brought in an x-ray machine and took a chest x-ray to be sure the port was where it should be. Then I finally got my coffee!! Good luck to you.
Diane
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i was in twilight too. The surgery itself wasn't bad. I went to the mall and shopped for a few hours straight from the surgeon's office. The post op pain later was a lot worse than I thought it would be. The pain meds they gave me knocked it right out but I just didn't want to have to take them cause they made me loopy. It has been a week and it is barely sore if I press on it
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purplegurll,
Days 3 and 4 were my roughest so far. Rest, rest, rest and drink lots of water.
Wish everyone the best who is starting this week. You are not alone!!
Keep thinking positive!!
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I had twilight sedation during port placement as well, but I was dozing on and off during the procedure. Several times, I woke myself up with my own snoring. I could hear them talking most of the time. One time, I felt a little pain, and the doctor said "Sorry" and after a pause where I assumed he zapped me with some more pain meds through the IV, he said "can you feel that, or do you just feel pressure?". I did only felt pressure, responded as such (at least I think I opened my mouth and words came out), and then I probably immediately started snoring again. Lol! I haven't had much pain today, and I think I'm happy that they gave me the option of placing it in my arm. I took 2 extra strength Tylenol earlier today, and took two more tonight.
Tomorrow I will be popping two steroids in preparation for chemo on Thursday, and I have no idea how it's going to affect me. It bothers the hell out of me that my body is going to be out of whack, first due to the steroids on Wednesday and then due to the chemo on Thursday. But I look forward to the day when this will all be behind me. After all, I was already a 13 year BC survivor until the cancer recurred....
Stay encouraged, my friends!!!
One love,
tp4ever
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tp4ever, I too will be popping steroids tomorrow in prep for chemo on Thursday. I wish you the best and I will be thinking of you.
We got this!
Hugs
Diane
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Thinkpink4ever, I get to start steroids tomorrow as well and chemo on Thursday. Gentle hugs to you!!!!
SandylovesLucy -- I LOVE your pillow!!!! I have a bigger one that my husband says I could use for new boobs. NO THANKS!!!
My surgeon inserted my port during surgery, did anybody else have this option? I notice a lot of ladies had to go back for their port to be inserted.
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Ah Nomatterwhat, it's quite a few of us starting on Thursday! I'm wishing an uneventful chemo day and the days following for all of us. My port wasn't inserted during my BMX and reconstruction because I didn't get the results of my oncotype test until after the surgery. With an oncotype score of 30, it didn't take much thought to go with the chemo treatment. My goal is to reduce my risk as much as possible so that there's not a battle #3. Two is enough!!! So, you knew prior to surgery that chemo was in your future??
One love,
tp4ever
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pink, my gosh, once is enough. I know so many who unfortunately go through more than once. I sure hope I kick it's &/?@- and go through it only once.
I don't know if it is my choice for twilight or whatever for the port. I guess I find out when I go for the procedure.
You all are talking steroids, I know I'm taking something the morning of chemo and then for three days following I think. I will have to look when I get home.
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forgot, I was given a pillow after my lumpectomy and sentinal node removal...which I am still bothered by. The pillow was great to have for sleeping, sitting etc. anyone still have weird pain in your elbow to shoulder area? Still hurts to raise my arm and it's been about 3 1/2 weeks. It's like I can see these ligaments or something as I stretch my arm up.
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Yes, during the lumpectomy the blue dye turned most of my right breast blue so the surgeon took out 1.2 cm and the sentinel node only. She told me after the lumpectomy that she was pretty sure that the right breast was 98% full of cancer, but no lymph nodes were involved, and the left breast had pre-cancer cells in it, too. There wasn't much of a choice left by the time we figured out breast cancer ran in my family, oncotype score was 26 and I am a wimp and don't want to go through this again. Both she and my oncologist tell me that the cancer is gone and that this preventive maintenance. Hmmmm......
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Robyn, my neck was quite sore after port placement for about a week. I was nervous to even turn my head. Then it seemed like suddenly the soreness went away and the port itself settled down. I haven't had it even two weeks yet, and I don't even think about it. In the meantime I just popped regular Tylenol.
And I was OUT for the placement. No one suggested anything else and I think I would have been too wimpy for anything lighter.
Kellya, it sounds like you may be developing cording. I did, too. My surgeon has recommended a physical therapist who specializes in post-mast patients. Apparently you can mitigate the effects, and it is best to get started as soon as your surgeon says it is OK. I need to get scheduled myself.
I am so glad I have the port. No fuss at all getting the infusion started.
I am on Day 4 after my first tx and still feeling good. The end of my tongue is a bit more tingly but it isn't bad. My onc of course told me that Taxol was pretty tolerable and I was afriad to believe her. But so far, so good. I know the effects will become more noticeable over time, though.
Hugs and love to all who struggle today.
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