Newly diagnosed

Hi, I'm cher, and I begin my chemo on Jan 9, just 6 days after you.
Mine will be A/C chemo first, for 4 21 day cycles, then taxotere for the same
number of cycles.
I think the thing that helped me the most is reading all the helpful hints
that I got from this site.
One of the biggies that I don't know if you will pick up otherwise is
to suck on ice chips (or a popcicle of your favorite flavor) during the
chemo if your mix includes Adriamycin (doxorubicin)...If they there is an
a in the initials they give your treatment this is what it is. Ice chips
keep down the burnt taste and mouth sores. Check with your nurse who adminsters
but chances are good that they will gladly let you suck ice.

There are lots of good postings here. I only found this site 2 weeks
ago, but I have read about 500 so far. It has nearly as much information
as any of the medical sites, and it is far more personalized.

Hopefully you can express your fears to your doctor (or adminstering nurse)
tomorrow and they will give you support all the way.

I am lucky that I have a very good chemo team, They are great at
explaining things if a call for help.
I will pray for you tonight and tomorrow and into the future.
I feel that my quick recovery from the surgery was due to all the prayers
offered on my behalf.

Keep in touch. Remember we are all going through it, or have been there.
i will add you to my friends list. Check my web page (although it is
going to get some reconstruction this week)
hugs and prayers, cher

Hi there. welcome to the group. I haven't had chemo but have had radiation & am on Tamoxifen for recurrance of my BC. I am a long term survivor (19/20 years) with recurrance in last year so there is a lot of hope out there. You'll get heaps of help just reading past posts here let alone from all the new advice you will get. Just read & learn all you can & ask, ask ask your medical team so you know what's happening to you and query anything you are not comfortable with. You have this right. Praying for you & I know you'll get the answers you need. Love & hugs. Pam

tekgal said:

Hi ~~ We have ALL been in your shoes and know exactly how anxious you are feeling! My thoughts and prayers will be with you. I found it helpful to think of the drugs actually FIGHTNG the cancer cells in my body. Just think positive thoughts -- everyone's experience is different, but if it helps, I'll tell you mine. I was a nervous WRECK! I cried the entire weekend before my first treatment! But the actual treatment wasn't bad, and by taking Torecan (an anti-nausea drug)afterwards, it really cut down on the nausea. About 2 days after my first treatment I felt extremely TIRED and, basically, like I had the flu. It came on quickly, but it also left quickly after about 18 hours. Most of my treatments were very similar, but I did notice that my second one was much worse because I thought I could "wing it" without the Torecan ..... NOT! If they offer you anti-nausea drugs, take them because they really help.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. Just think, after tomorrow you'll be on your way to recovery. :-) ~~ Jody

Hi there, It is scary going into the unknown for the first time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!! I had my last chemo two weeks ago,I started in Jan 00,but the past year has flown by so fast. The first thing to do is be comfortable with your oncologist. If you are not then demand to change. It is your right to have someone who is going to be on your side and help you fight. My first onco was quiet and negative, he gave me 1-2 years survival,because it had metastasized in my liver.I started out with six tumours on my liver and at last report was down to two and shrinking!!(I will get another report on Jan 17) I am a strongwilled,opinionated person, so I called the clinic and demanded that they give me a new onco and told them why, the one I have had for the past year is wonderful, he has come to know my spirit and treats me accordingly. No complaint is too trivial to be voiced,remember that. Zofran is an excellent anti-nauseant if you need it, so is Gravol, 8 hr extended capsules, they worked wonders for me, my first chemo i threw up for three days, had the shakes really bad, but the shakes were later attributed to the Stemetil,another anti-nauseant,so I stopped taking it and then shakes stopped. You will get tired, but dont be afraid to rest and accept help if you need it, it took me up until my second last treatment to be able to accept help from anyone,like I said, I am pigheaded!!!! Go with your gut instinct,it is usually right. Remember,it is your body, tell your body to heal itself and kill the cancer. Mind over matter is a big thing. I have started visualizing,I close my eyes and see my blood cells converging on the tumours and destroying them, and I talk to the cancer and tell it that I am too strong to have something like it in my body, so get the hell out and leave me alone. I cant wait until my next ct scan,no matter what it says,no worries, I live my life the way I want, not the way drs,or society says cancer patients should behave. You know, weigh 90 lbs, pale,depressed, bah, thats for losers,and we are definately not losers on this site!!!!! I wish you all the best and let us know how you made out,lean on us and we will give you our strength to get you through this.
Hugs from Tiger xo