Chemo starting January 2019
Comments
-
Hi everyone. I got my call today to go to the cancer center to meet with the Nurse navigator, Nurse educator, dietician, Social Worker, and financial counselor. Things are finally gonna get rollin.
I had my DMX on 12/7/18 but had complications with skin on my flap healing where the reconstruction was planned on the Left side (cancer side. ). Went in the hospital 12/23/18 with a 103* fever, had IV antibiotics and surgery to clean out the dead tissue. Happy to say feeling much better the next day.
My chemo will be Adriamycin and Cytoxan every 2 weeks for 4 treatments and then I'll have taxol 1 time a week for 12 weeks. I am hoping that I will be able to return to work during these treatments. Does anybody else have experience with this regime?
Thank you....Chris
0 -
Imagine923...go back to some of the previous month's Chemo threads to find people who did your treatment and read what their experience was like. I checked back 4 months doing the research for what to expect when I started this month.
Salsadancer... the nurse was highly surprised when my DH went to go get my cold mitt and cool slippers prior to starting my (aborted) chemo. She had never heard of using that to prevent nail issues. Made me question whether I misunderstood some of the advice I got here or if it wasn't scientifically sound. Did your care team know about doing that?
0 -
Shannon—glad to hear it was uneventful today. Keep me posted. I start tomorrow.
MLAnne— when I went for my chemo training, the PA made a point to talk to me about icing my hands and feet. She told me she had seen great results.
0 -
MLAnne, sorry to hear of your rough day!
I had my first round of Herceptin, taxotere and carboplatin January 2, was quite uneventful, and now30 hours later, I still feel pretty good. I did fast the day before and day of, with some chicken broth, lots of green tea. I’m still waiting for the day 3 and 4 side effects to appear, but so far so good.
Fasting was not nearly as difficult as I imagined it would be. At first I thought I’d break the fast after chemo, but wasn’t that hungry so decided to wait till today. Egg potato burrito for breakfast, yum
I did have some pins and needles feeling in my soles last night, better during the day. My MO had not been in favor of icing hands and feet when I asked initially, but I talked to the RN today and asked if he would reconsider. I have a friend who is in middle of course of Taxol and she says docs there encourage everyone to do it. RNs here didn’t know of anyone doing it. Funny there is such variation
0 -
Thanks ladies! ♥️
RdhJoyGood luck tomorrow!
My nurse wasn't surprised by the socks--she acknowledged that it was a preventative measure for neuropathy. Didn't say anything about the nails. She did say though that neuropathy happens but isn't extremely common. But she wasn't condescending about it so that was nice. Whether it is likely or not, totally worth the try for me!
0 -
I just finished my first infusion of AC (doxorubicin & cyclophosphamide), I was SO nervous but the nurses were really nice, careful & reassuring and it all went smoothly. Yay! One hurdle out of the way.
Now I just feel a bit spacey & tired, but my husband says he feels the same! So might be unrelated. Or might be due to the fact I haven’t eaten for 54 hours!!!
Good luck to everyone starting in the next few days.
0 -
B74, yes I would venture that not eating for that long has something to do with it! 😁 Good for you for doing the fast! I lowered calories but couldn't full fast. Because I'm weak. lol!
Kaylajane good to hear about your first couple days! Another faster, I'm so impressed! Are you doing any anti nausea meds due to the fast?
It really is so odd the different responses regarding icing hands and feet! I'm not sure why they would be against it. It's ultimately our decision, right? Did you end up icing kaylajane?
0 -
Shannon I wonder if the different advice on icing hands & feet is just related to people being on different drugs, or if some doctors/nurses are just unaware of the evidence? My current treatment (AC) doesn't list peripheral neuropathy or nail changes as side effects, so I'm only going to start icing once I start Taxol. But I totally agree - ultimately this is our decision!!
Kaylajane - I've read it's actually quite important (if you're fasting) NOT to eat for a while after chemo (eg. 24 hours), because it puts too much of a load on your liver if you still have a high level of drugs in your body. I'm interested to hear how you go in terms of side effects over the next few days! I feel pretty normal at the moment, but yes have heard the side effects often take a couple of days to kick in.
With the fasting, it was hard but I'd read so much to support it that I was fully committed. I did get to a point after about 36 hours where I thought there was NO way I could continue, I was so weak and lightheaded. But then around the 48 hour mark, something (ketosis?) kicked in and I felt totally fine! I actually feel like I could keep going ?indefinitely? if I had to (which is lucky since I still have another 22 hours to go - but who's counting?!).
0 -
Finally have my start date of January 14th. Little frustrated as no one called me to schedule and of course its the week my DH is scheduled to be out of town on business. Anyway, glad to have a start date finally.
I was told the center provides the icing for my hands and feet. Will see!
I am on the fence with fasting as I am not sure if I could truly handle not eating! Lol! I can go for about 12 hours but then I start to get snippy and woozy.
0 -
Way to go, warrior princesses and fasters!!
Jumping in again to report I had a pCR from my chemo... no live cells in my path report. <------ KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE and when you feel like chemo is lethal... it IS!
The fasting knocks the cancer cells back, and gives a little boost to your immune response that helps the chemo too. And it lowers SEs. It's a trifecta!
"Fasting Mimicking" is the form I did which is very low cal w/ specific ratios. But you have to do 5 days w chemo day as day 3.
0 -
Hi All, It looks like I will be joining you later in the month. I’ll report in when I have more details. Its not a place any of us want to be, but just knowing we can support each other is awesome. If my start date is too far in I’ll hop in with the Feb group. Good luck and know you’re not alone in this sucky journey
0 -
Hello, I will be joining too in a few weeks it looks like? (No start date yet) Had my MUGA test last week so everything is a go...now for the port placement next week. Thanks for all your encouragement and support on this site it truly makes this a bit more bearable. (We shall see?) looks like 4 rounds of A/C every 2 weeks and then Taxol every week for 4 rounds, followed by radiation. It's my son's senior year of high school so I'm trying to make this as normal as possible, just not really sure how this all going to go to be honest.? My daughter goes back to college tomorrow so at least she won't have to be around for the treatment schedule. Hope everyone had a good holiday now let's do this! 💪
0 -
Welcome Rosie. And of course you are welcome to stay even if your start date is February. I think some folks here actually started in December!
I thought I would have a harder time doing the fasting. Stopped eating after dinner 2 days before chemo day. Fine till about 2 pm, then I could hear my husband in the kitchen, some packages crinkling, and felt so hungry. I felt like our chocolate lab, who hears any noise from the kitchen and immediately shows up, hoping for handouts. Then the hunger faded by dinnertime, chemo day I was anxious, so easier not to eat, plus we have a 2 hour drive to cancer center. Afterwards it was ok not to eat, but I was ready to eat again by 11 am the next morning, which was not quite 24 hours but almost (20 hours from time carboplatin finished). No nausea chemo day or day 1, but I woke up this am with some, so have taken some meds, improved a bit. Walking the dog seemed to help.
Re: icing, I had asked my MO about it beforehand, and he didn't recommend it, so I didn't. Then night of chemotherapy, I felt pins and needles in the soles of my feet, so I asked his RN when she called if it was OK if I did it even if he didn't think it would help. So I think I will from now on. I'd rather do it even if it doesn't help, than get neuropathy and wonder if it would have?
Good luck to everyone!
0 -
Welcome SkyGirl also!
0 -
I've tried to add everyone to our starters list but if I've missed anyone or made mistakes please let me know, I don't think I'm firing on all cylinders at the moment!
For some reason I was expecting side effects to kick in on day 3 or 4, but last night it hit me like a freight train. Dizzy, headachy, nauseous, and so exhausted I couldn't get out of bed. Of course - the fasting could be confounding things. I took one of the extra ("as needs") anti-nausea meds the hospital gave me and it didn't do a THING. What did help was applying extra pressure to the seasickness bands which I bought yesterday - so glad for that recommendation from ladies on this forum! I'd heard so much about dexamethasone keeping you awake all night, but am happy to say I slept more or less like a log (in between waves of nausea).
Thankfully I feel slightly better this morning. Went for my shortest and slowest walk ever - probably only about 10 min! - but even though it was the last thing in the world I felt like, it definitely made me feel better. I still have around 6 hours until I'll break my fast, but honestly I couldn't eat at the moment even if you paid me.
I'm interested to hear how everyone else is going after the first infusion. Take care ladies!
Ps my 13 yo daughter stayed up til midnight last night, turned out she was making me a book of "50 quotes for tough times" (she has a thing for quotes!). No 2 is "You never realise how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have".
0 -
I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and had a double mastectomy in December. I am HER2+. I start Paclitaxel + Trastruzumab on January 15 x 12 week. I am interested in sharing information on side effects and best ways to deal with them.
0 -
HI from the January 2013 Chemo thread! I just wanted to pop in and say HI. You all have found a group of women that are going through the same feelings, treatments and issues! You can do this! Lean on each other, ask questions, share tips, fears and love! Chemo is scary but doable. I've passed my 6 year mark. There are so many from the 2013 that are thriving!!! You can make it to the finish line! Keep fighting ladies!
0 -
Hello all! Had my first treatment today TC.
My blood work showed my WBC count was really high. Normal is 6-10K and mine was 25K. I'm fine not sick no fever. My hubby is sick so maybe I'm fighting something?
Anyway, they didn't give me the Neulasta patch. Want me to come back Monday for more blood work. She is sending a smear to pathology to look at......
The treatment itself went seamlessly. Was surprisingly calm and ready. Only thing was pink cheeks from steroid. Was there 5 hours total. Had a light dinner after
My 12 year old daughter was so upset—she thought I was coming home hairless today! We made a deal, I’m going to let her cut my hair the day before I get it shaved for my wig delivery. That made her happy!
Resting now and praying it’s a smooth weekend!
0 -
Hi beautiful strong ladies,
I also had my 1st session of TC on the 3rd. I don’t have a port as I am not on medical aid so the nurse struggled a bid to find a good vein as I was so nervous. But it all went well Indeed. The only side effects I am experiencing at the moment is diarrhea but I am eating food recommended for slowing it down and drinking lots of liquids including the sugar and salt mixture for diarrhea. Otherwise I am still full of energy and thanking God for that. I also eat a lot of food that boost immune system and bone marrow hoping it will help me recover my healthy blood cells quicker and help with resistance to infections.
My next one is on 24 Jan now I think I am looking forward to it to do something that will kill this little monster. Then starting work on 1st Feb
Good luck and hugs to all you.
0 -
RdhJoy Thank you so much for encouragement and support
0 -
Skigirl72, Thanks so much for encouragement and support. We really appreciate
0 -
I finished chemotherapy last year but I'm stuck in bed after a port replacement, have acid reflux and am achy from a cough and feel like I am back on the chemo train so I just wanted to say hi to everyone and illustrate to those who haven't started yet and who are scared that it probably won't be like something you haven't experienced before. Rather more like something you have experienced before, but dragged out over a few months and your hair falls out.
0 -
WC3, I like your attitude. That is kind of like I was thinking this am, this nausea sucks, but is it really going to last for 4 months? Then I reminded myself, you can do it just for today. Just for today. And today is better than yesterday was.
Sentha, welcome. Hope finding the vein goes easier the next visit!
0 -
Hi @B74, I’m from the December group, and had my 1st AC treatment on 24 December. I did fasting mimicking and found it helpful. I too had side effects nearly right after the infusion. Slept almost 3 days straight. This was my way of over coming the dizziness, headaches, and nausea. But by day 4, felt much better and no more side effects afterwards. By New Year’s Eve (day 7), walked for a full hr. Day 10, worked out at the gym (strength and endurance) training for an hr. My physio therapist, also a lymphedema specialist, trains me at the hospital gym. She encourages working out 2x a week (on my good week) to build body strength to endure chemo.
Next treatment is Tuesday Jan 8, I feel ready to take it on!
0 -
Thanks Angie. I fasted too (water fasting not FMD), and I think I’d hoped it would be a bit of a magic bullet, so the side effects have been hard to take. However you’ve given me hope that maybe it’ll turn around soon (it’s just over 48 hours since I finished #1). Thank you and good luck for #2!
0 -
@B74, my side effects were quite tough, I must admit. Felt like the worse flu ever with a massive hangover. I’m addicted to my iPhone, and even then, didn’t want to look at it for 3 days straight. No appetite to eat, that also was for 3-4 days. Had to remind myself to stay hydrated and drink lots of water, tea, whatever I could manage. But then on day 4 or 5, felt like I awoke from a deep slumber. Was craving everything. And ate all the time. Still have my taste buds. Was back to feeling like myself by day 6.
I’m hoping you’ll have similar bounce back within a few days! And if you’re able to do some exercise, it really does help so much! Stay strong! Sending you lots ofgood vibes!
0 -
why aren't you getting herceptin if ur her2+?
0 -
B74,
my chemo is different than yours, so take this with a grain of salt.
If chemo was day#1, I felt fine that day and day#2.
Day #3 and #4 was nauseous and taking Zofran every 7 hours 55 minutes (couldn't hold out for the 8 hours exactly!), and this morning, Day #5, woke up feeling really good. So hang in there!
Angie,
not looking at your iphone....that is really something! I think I am a bit addicted now to family and friends emails and texts of support.
0 -
Kaylajane,
So true! During the 3 day hibernation, the only time I would dare to peak at my iPhone was if I heard the message bing. Though, I could not muster the energy to reply. Definitely is comforting to hear from friends and family when we are feeling our lowest. This whole experience has brought me closer to a few friends and I’m so thankful.
We are not alone. This fight is not easy, but I love how much support we, my warrior sisters, have for each other.
xx
0 -
Hope everyone is hanging in there! Sounds like some rough first few days. 😥
I must say I'm pretty happy with how I've felt so far. I'm only day 4 though and I've had the luxury of being able to rest as much as I want. The preloaded nausea meds and Decadron (steroids) did their job. I was pretty hungry through day 3. I needed to hold myself back from eating too much. I've eaten pretty much whatever I want, though after I look back, I broke some of the food rules. I handled the first zarxio/neupogen home injection pretty well, taking it last night before bed with a preload of Claritin. Just feeling sore back and shoulders. Can't decide if that's from laying around too much or the zarxio. Today day 4 appetite is decreased and a little nausea after eating but food still has flavor. Right now I feel pretty great except needing to go poop still. 😳 Lol!
0
