Starting Chemo in February 2016?

I am planning to start chemo first. My team dr meeting is Feb 3 then port the next week and start chemo ASAP after that. I meet with chemo dr tomorrow morning. 1 surgeon wants lumpectomy first then other surgeon and cancer clinic nurse say chemo first.

My genetic counseling appt was last Tuesday and blood drawn. It was sent to Ambry Labs. I was told 2-3 weeks but haven't heard from them. I have a high deductible and was told they would call me first to confirm that I would pay. But I told the clinic to let the lab know I don't care the cost-- it has to be done!!

The port placement surgical office called to sched for Feb 8 but I said I was having a super bowl party the night before. My last big party til I know how the chemo will treat me!!!! Port ~Feb 10. Then chemo. Need to try to figure best start day for our family sche

Hi Ladies: I'm in for February. Just got confirmation. Starting Monday, Feb. 1st. AC-T: 4 cycles of dose dense AC followed by 12 cycles of weekly Taxol. Just had a PET scan yesterday, and after a serious challenge getting a good vein (3 people, 4 attempts, 5 tourniquets, and a partridge in a pear tree) my biggest panic right now is just making sure that part of Monday goes way more smoothly. Really do not want to infiltrate a vein with the "cocktail" they're giving me!

@Chambo: Thanks for starting! Was wondering where our group was! Also, love your quote. A little British humor goes a long way in this whole process!

@HausFrauMi: Good luck with your test results and your party, sounds fun!

@Mods: Thank you for all the good info and being on it!

@Amber: I just completed the egg freezing. Thankfully the place I was knew of some financial assistance programs, which ended up covering 90% of the medications and a few years of storage. I'm not sure if the same resources apply in New Zealand, but it's worth a shot (links below). Also ask your oncologist about ovarian suppression during treatment. I'll be doing injections of Lupron throughout for that.

http://www.livestrong.org/we-can-help/fertility-se...

http://www.walgreens.com/images/pdfs/pharmacy/Pres...

Best,
Tara.

Hi, I will be meeting my onco today and shd be starting chemo by mid February. I am scared n still can't digest all Thts happening to me... I hope our chemo journey will not be too hard...

Ash..

Chambo, thank you for starting the thread. Hi everyone! I will be having port inserted 2/3 and chemo starts 2/5 ( friday). I am so nervous. I will be doing 4x TC. I think taxotere/ cytoxan. It has been just a challenge trying to get everything on my shopping list ready and now we are expecting a large snow storm on Monday. They even cancelled the Look Good Feel Good program.

Hausfrau, I am hoping that watching the Broncos will allow me to forget SEs! I am here in CO and am certain they will shut down the city just for that.

Well, let's get through this everyone. 

Chambo my concerns are probably too numerous to fit into this page! This cancer thing sucks! But to sum it up, these are my top issues:

• Infections - I know our immune system takes a huge hit and I am concern that since this is flu and cold season, someone will bring home something (especially the kid). In the past, I had used Sambucol (black elderberry) with great success (I have not had a cold in 5.5 years) to prevent infection but I heard that we are not suppose to take antioxidants during chemo (contraindications). On top of that, there are so many more serious infections that can surface. I actually went to the dentist and got a deep cleaning done just to prevent any hidden source of bacteria.
• HAIR. Seems funny but I think it is easier losing my breast. I already had it cut just below shoulder but have had long healthy hair for the longest time. My heart will break when I start seeing it fall out. Perhaps, we associate it with youth and the symbolism of it falling out may suggest the lost of our youth and vitality. Sigh!
• Headaches. I have suffered from migraines since having the kid 16 years ago (never had a headache before then) and it has gotten worse in the last 10 years. Everything from a change in routine to stress can trigger my headaches. I hope chemo will not make them worse.
• Nausea. Not so much nausea itself but that they bring on my migraines. I had stocked up ginger ale, dry crackers, and ginger tea that will hopefully help. Some on the forum have had success using Seabands, the ones that go around the wrist, and I got some from Target.
• Neuropathy. I work with the computer as well and am afraid of long term consequences. Chambo I took a look at the gloves as well but they are expensive especially when you have to get the ones for the feet too (I am an avid runner and hope to keep at it after this little 'inconvenience' we are having to get through). My cancer center does not provide any but the oncology nurse suggested making ice gel packs. This is a link for those who want to make them http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-a-Gel-... , they are reusable. I heard others mention using frozen peas too. I am also going to take B6 and L glutamine.
• Chemo brain. My work involve analyzing numbers and data and I am afraid I will lose that ability.

Does anyone else know of other supplements that can help during treatment? I have stocked up on Claritin to hopefully starve off some of the aches and pains with Nuelasta.

So here is my 'short' list to start.

kiks1 - I have some info on supplements for the brain, but have to find it. Also, getting bracelets gor nausea.

Chambo - thank you for starting!

Hi ladies! I hope it's okay to join you here, as I'm meeting my MO tomorrow and know I'll be starting chemo soon, just not sure exactly when.

This is my second rodeo, so to speak. I was dx'd with ER+ Luminal B IDC in Nov. 2011 and started AC-T in Jan. 2012 (four years later us gals are still wonderful and supportive friends on FB). Last Friday I learned I have a new cancer - not a recurrence of my previous cancer - that is ER-/PR-, and probably Her2- (waiting on final report later this week). It's in the same breast as before, right next to my previous tumor bed so it was zapped with 23 rounds of whole breast radiation and 7 targeted boosts. Because of that radiation is not an option for me this time, nor is Tamoxifen or other AIs, so it's down to chemo and mastectomy. I'm hoping for port placement either this week or next, and assume I'll start chemo shortly thereafter.

Being an "old-timer" I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, if you like. I did dose-dense AC (every two weeks) and dose-dense Taxol (every two weeks for 12 weeks) as part of a clinical trial. It's hard, but doable.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Nancy

Hi Michelle, Tlims, Nancy and Pinklife. Looks like group is getting bigger, we'll just have more support.

@Michelle, be good to know what supplements are useful during chemo, anything to help alleviate the SEs naturally would be great.

@Nancy, I saw you in the other thread. Hope your parents are doing ok? You have so much on your plate right now, I am so sorry. Thank you for offering your support and experience to our very new group. Hopefully when you get your treatment plan in place it will give you more peace and direction.

@Pinklife. I understand thoroughly the fear of uncertainties and on some days, it is overwhelming. I am fortunate that I only have a 16 year old daughter to worry about and she has been a god send through my surgeries and treatment. I cannot imagine how so many women have coped with young kids through this illness. They are brave and you will be too. One day, one prayer, one step at a time. What chemo regimen will you be on and for how long?

@Tlims, I am getting port inserted tomorrow too. So scared, seems like all these invasive procedures never end. Mine is first thing in the morning and I hope we can get there in time ( it has been snowing like crazy here all day). I still have so many more errands to get done. Wishing you an uneventful day tomorrow.

@Elizabeth and Hausfrau, my thoughts and prayers are with you all on chemo day.

Hi Kik1, so nice to have a port placement twin :-) I have to go in the am also. I'm nervous, this is the first time I'll be sedated. I sure hope tomorrow is uneventful for the both of us. Since I hardly had to go to the hospital nor have had any procedures before I wasn't aware of my "bad" (rolling) veins but I certainly found out during my MUGA last week when they unsuccessfully poked me 5 times before giving me an IV to dispense the tracer :-/

For that reason, I am glad to get the port in. Any less trauma associated with this disease the better.

Safe travels in the am.

Hi everyone! One more for chemo starting in February - I start next Monday on the 8th! I'm having 6 rounds of neoadjuvant TCHP, one every 3 weeks, and then surgery and radiation. I'm also going to try the Penguin Cold Caps and they're supposed to arrive tomorrow. I had my port installed yesterday, which feels a little weird, but overall not too bad. I wonder if these huge blobs of surgical glue will ever come off? I'm also going to ice my fingers and toes but haven't exactly decided how just yet. I ordered 1 pair of the Elastogel hypothermia slippers to see what they're like and if I like them, I'll order another pair. They're non-returnable and I haven't found any info yet on how long they take to refreeze/reuse so I was afraid to commit to more than one pair. I had considered ordering the mitts too but I think I'll try to just keep my fingers in ice or wrap them in frozen peas first to see if that works. I'm also using OPI Nail Envy and Avoplex Oil on my nails - which several people on other forums swear by.

This should all be quite interesting! Eliz1973 - I see you're in Shelbyville so we're close! Can't wait to get to know everyone here - good luck to all of us!

Leigh Ann

Hi Leigh Anne, I start neoadjuvant same regimen TCHP every 3 weeks on the 8th, surgery and radiation. Although this isn't a club anyone wants to be apart of it feels nice knowing there's other brave women tackling this beast right with us!

My port was places today and I was pretty relaxed considering that I was scared. I pretty much slept through the procedure and the nurses took good care.

I am developing a chemo shopping list and looked at some other threads for ideas. I will be buying the OPI Nail Envy by the weekend and purchased an electric blanket from Walmart today. My next stop is the vitamin store, any recommendations are appreciated.

~T

Hi Tlim, I was awake during the whole port thing! I was feeling very anxious and was even worse when the OR nurse told me that I will feel pain and discomfort but it will be manageable. So much for trying to stay calm. He actually turned out to be a good guy and was very attentive to my comfort during surgery. The whole process was not bad at all. No pain just weird tugging. I am pretty sore in my neck now but doable. Still scared about Friday .

Best wishes to all starting chemo tomorrow.

Regina

Hi everyone! I am popping over from the "Starting Chemo in October 2015" board, having just arrived at the "other side" of my chemo journey (6 TCHP, one every 3 weeks). I can't stand all the platitudes and silly things people say when they don't really know what else to say...so I'm trying not to sound like that. But...I do want to say that although it's not fun and it's not always easy, but it IS doable. You are all strong and can do this!

Please feel free to pop over to our board...there are a bunch of wonderful women who would be happy to answer any questions. Or email me directly and I'm happy to answer any questions or chat about anything.

I know that nobody asked me, but my number one piece of advice is to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Rest when you need to. Give in to the fatigue even if your normal mode is to go, go go.

I personally feel that the first round is the hardest because you just don't know what to expect. You will be more susceptible to picking up an infection than you feel like you are, especially at the beginning, so be very careful with hand washing and limiting exposure to the stuff that is going around.

AND...be your own advocate! If something doesn't seem right, speak up about it...to a nurse, a doctor, a pharmacist, someone. I had a very troublesome side effect that I really thought wasn't right, and I kept calling the nurse triage line. They kept saying it was normal and just wait it out, and it turned out to be an infection that cost me three nights in the hospital. I am trying not to scare anyone, but don't be afraid to speak up.

I'm sorry...I sound like all those well wishing people doling out un-asked-for advice...I have lots of other tidbits and tips, but I'll keep them to myself unless someone asks.

In the meantime, I will be thinking only positive thoughts for all of you and wishing you all the best on this crazy road.

*hugs*

@Tlim, I know, the neck has been the worst. Now that I can finally roll after bmx, I am back to sleeping on my back. Friday is THE day ( chemo), I am really dreading it.