Topic: Starting Chemo February 2021

Feb 11, 2021 01:32PM CAWR wrote:

Hi all. AB45, I'm sorry you had such a rough time of it. We'll be thinking about you.

Like LW422, my first two days were ok. Day of chemo (tues) and yesterday I felt tired but generally fine, likely because of the dexamethasone jack up. Sleeping was poor mon and tues nights, probably because of dex and pesky night sweats (started a couple of months ago, just for a few days each month). No real nausea and while I'm not terribly hungry, food still tastes normal.

Last night I slept terribly and did have some bone pain (got neulasta yest) that woke me up. So I'm tired today (day 3), still have joint pain and a weird occasional shooting pain where the onboard thing was on my stomach. Wicked heartburn because I'm taking alleve to address joint pain (pepcid isn't cutting it yet - but this reaction is normal for me when I take advil or alleve). I also have a sore throat.

That is my summary of today's fun!

Feb 11, 2021 02:00PM mslo100 wrote:

My first TCHP chemo was Monday. I was anxious, but the nurses were great! So far, my side effects have been insomnia and a loss of taste.

Feb 12, 2021 11:15AM JN5000 wrote:

Hi CAWR.

I'm glad you're done with one!! Congratulations! I wish it were easier. I'm wondering if your docs have suggested you try Claritin for bone pain. I've read on a few other posts that it helps. I don't mean to make suggestions -- just wondering about ways to address it. I hope you get better sleep tonight!!!

Feb 12, 2021 04:36PM CAWR wrote:

Hi all. Hope everyone is hanging in there. JN5000 and AB45 - yep, claritin was/is part of my neulasta arsenal, I forgot to mention it. I switched to tylenol instead of alleve and the heartburn is much better. I'll take the ache over heartburn anyday! I'm feeling better today, but perhaps I'm just more used to the laundry list that afflicts us? I was able to go for a slow walk today and zoom-meet with one of my graduate students. I'm pretty darn proud of those accomplishments and now I'm back to my (new) usual resting position.

Feb 13, 2021 01:31PM AB45 wrote:

LW422, Do you have to start AC after taxol or just taxol and you are done? I start taxol after Ac, I hear taxol may be a little easier than Ac, I sure hope so!! Ac has kicked my butt the first round, I dread thinking about any more Ac treatments after this one, they are cumulative so the MO expects them 2 get worse, guess I am wishing and hoping this will not be the case

Hope all is well for everyone going through your chemo recovery!! This is tough

Feb 14, 2021 09:44AM sbelizabeth wrote:

My chemo was almost 10 years ago and I don't know if my particular recipe is given much anymore. I was given the choice of AC+T or TAC, and I told them I wanted it over with as quickly as possible, so it was six rounds of TAC. I was one of the extremely lucky ones who tolerated chemo very well. Every round I had a couple of days (days 3 and 4 after chemo day) when I felt foggy and a little achy and tired. Chemo was always on Wednesday, and I always took Thursday off just to ride my bike and play. Friday and Saturday were foggy days, Sunday it was lifting, and I was back to work on Monday.

I had no problem working full time during chemo, but I wasn't working long shifts with the public anymore, just administrative. I found that if I had a bike ride every day, however gentle or brief, it helped a lot with feeling well. Exercise seems to be key to thriving in chemo.

Feb 14, 2021 08:56PM JN5000 wrote:

Thinking about you, AB45, hoping the next one is better. You made it through one!

Feb 15, 2021 07:06PM Jvfireball wrote:

Hi friends, starting Chemo Wednesday and starting to feeling pretty anxious about the unknowns. Just wanted to tell you all thank you!! I appreciate to community and friends I have found on this site.

Feb 15, 2021 07:31PM Jvfireball wrote:

AB46

I'm doing TC, was originally going to be AC+P but when the full pathology came back ONCO decided TC was enough.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Feb 16, 2021 03:03PM Jvfireball wrote:

CAWR...Thank you very much!

Feb 17, 2021 12:19PM JN5000 wrote:

Hi all.

I hope everyone on this list is doing okay -- we'll get through it!!

Thinking about you jvFireball! And AB45, I hope you're feeling a better every day.

LW422 -- stay warm! I will be thinking about you on Friday.

CAWR I start AC a week from today. I get the port on Tuesday, the day before. I hope you're doing okay!

Feb 18, 2021 12:02PM Jvfireball wrote:

Hi all.....so emotional roller coaster yesterday. I was all prepped and psyched up and lets go get er done. Checked in to the infusion center and got told they just got word from my PS that we wanted me to finish all fills for my expanders before starting Chemo...uuuugggghhh!! Anyway, I have one more appointment next Tuesday with plastics, then I can start chemo on Wednesday the 24th.

Big picture its only a week, it was just the okay, here we go and just kidding....everything happens for a reason...so this will be okay too it was just frustrating.

Praying for all you girls too!

Feb 18, 2021 04:36PM Maddy83f wrote:

Jvfireball - sorry to hear about the last minute delay. A leak was identified in one of my expanders after I had started chemo and they could only fill it right before my chemo (every 2 weeks). I think it was because of concern over infection but honestly I can't remember specifics. Enjoy this extra week and take care of yourself!

Feb 19, 2021 12:28PM Jvfireball wrote:

AB45 and Maddy83f,

Thank you both for the encouragement.....the extra week must of been needed. Doing better with it...just that day was hard or frustrating...Next Wednesday here we come!

Thanks....Julie

Feb 22, 2021 07:19PM LW422 wrote:

Hey CAWR. I'm not losing any significant hair yet, but I've only had one Taxol. I had to skip last week due to the stupid weather in Houston shutting down the entire town.

I spoke with my MO today and he said he didn't believe missing a week would have any significant effect on my treatment. My chemo appointment is on Thursday this week instead of Tuesday, so he wants to start "walking them back" to be on Tuesday again. Just when I thought 2020 was the worst year ever, along comes 2021.