Getting ready to start chemo and I am scared
Comments
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Hey there SBMom
Welcome to
Hey there SBMom
Welcome to our little group!
You are in the right place. Everyone here either has been or will be going through a similar experience as you, and all have wonderful insights and advice. I will have my 3rd chemo next week. I have a port too. It's a good thing. Makes hooking up the IV very easy. I can only give you my own chemo experience, I'm on TAC which is similar to what you are on plus Taxetere, and so far I havn't had any problems with nausea. The antinausea drugs they will give you really work, so don't fret too much about that. The nulasta shot might make your bones ache a little, but that is controlled with over counter meds like advil. Just stock up on some bland foods in case you don't feel like eating the normal stuff. I know it's a scary whirlwind, and the 1st chemo was the scariest part for me, not knowing what to expect...
But it will be ok. Ask any questions you have and I'm sure someone here will know the answer.
Good luck
Dee0 -
WelcomeBev1969 said:Hello,
I am having my second
Hello,
I am having my second chemo treatment Monday. Mine is Cytoxan and Taxotere. My first one went very smoothly. I had no problems with nausea. The anti-nausea medicines are great!! Good luck with your treatments.
Bev
I had A/C 4 treatments two weeks apart with the Neulasta shot the day after these treatments to build up the WBC(White Blood Cell) count. Now I am on Taxol w/Herceptin and since I am having it each week the Neulasta shot is not given.
The port is wonderful--blood draws can be taken and you only get poked once.
You will be starting your chemo the day that I finish my chemo treatment and i hope your treatment goes as smoothly as mine has.
I will be on Herceptin for a year after I finish the Taxol cocktail.
Take the anti-nausea drugs as directed and make sure you understand how to take them.
Make sure you have plenty of plastic ware to use because when and if you get a metallic taste in your mouth you don't want to use silverware because it only makes it intensify.
You can ask any question any time on here. You will get honest answers. Usually there is someone on line 24/7.
Best of luck.
Hugs,
Margo0 -
Same Treatment
Hi, Sorry about your dx. I too am on Adriamycin/Cytoxan. The same as you. I have not had my surgery yet. I will have that after treatment. Im stage 2a. No primary tumor in the breast , only lymph node.I will be on Taxol for 12 weeks and Herceptin for a year total.
I have only had side effects of being tired and some weakness. I also get palpitations but I get an EKG at each visit. I also had a echocardiogram done before treatment. I also have the Neulasta shot the day after. I get a little achy, but take tylenol for that. I take Kytril and Decadron for nausia and steriod. I wish you well and hope that I was of help. Diane0 -
SBMom... Sorry for the
SBMom... Sorry for the reason your here.. but glad you found the group. I was dx in May as well.. however you are ahead of me on the treatment plan, I won't know mine until probably Monday... if not, then July 28th... The women here are amazing... you'll meet them from all walks of the journey.. beginning, middle and all the way through to the other side...
I don't have any imput on your meds, but I know plenty here do from personal experience. I just wanted to welcome you!
Gentle Hugs,
~T0 -
Porttaleena said:SBMom... Sorry for the
SBMom... Sorry for the reason your here.. but glad you found the group. I was dx in May as well.. however you are ahead of me on the treatment plan, I won't know mine until probably Monday... if not, then July 28th... The women here are amazing... you'll meet them from all walks of the journey.. beginning, middle and all the way through to the other side...
I don't have any imput on your meds, but I know plenty here do from personal experience. I just wanted to welcome you!
Gentle Hugs,
~T
Are you having the port put in by an interventional radiologist or by an anesthesiologist?
If you are having done by an radiologist it will be under conscious sedation and if by an anesthesiologist it will be done under general.
I had mine done under conscious sedation.
We are all scared going through the process but we take it one minute, one hour, one day at a time.
We are here for you.
Margo0 -
Welcome, SoftBallMom2
We're all here to support and encourage each other - so, again, welcome to the group. Only those who actually travel the journey can truly understand the experience. You are now surrounded by survivors.
Chemo can be frightening; yet, it is doable. You will get through it. We will be with you.
Visit often, any time you like or need to. Sending my best wishes...0 -
Welcome SoftballMom
I had the same cocktail you are getting. I only had the Neulasta shot once, it helps keep your white blood cell count up. So it's good they already have it scheduled for you. We all handle the chemo differently, but it is all doable, and you will come through it, no matter how scary it sounds. You will get lots of info from the wonderful people on this site, and please visit often.
Cat0 -
don't know how much i can
don't know how much i can help - I was diagnosed not long ago - however, my circumstances are a bit different. I get to experience 3 months of chemo before I have my surgery and then another 6 months of chemotherapy. I've had one chemo treatment - mine are every 21 days - they're nothing nice. However, I haven't thrown up once - yeah. My first day I felt like I had the worst hangover I've had - ya know when your body tells you to EAT to absorb the poison you put into it the night before? Day two was the same basically.
By the third day I was feeling like the flu and my appetite started to go down - day four was fluish as well.
Day 5 I was feeling better - noticing some differences in my system - my teeth didn't feel like they were mine - my forehead felt thick as well - just kinda in a fog.
I'm getting ready for chemo #2 - my date with the flu and I hope this one goes a little better.
Had long hair - cut it on Monday - shaved it today. Wearing a bandana tonight - it was rough but history.
I hope this helps - chemo was not as bad as I had imagined it - it is doable - manageable - definitely uncomfortable but the reality is - I'm Alive.0 -
Welcome, slarnedslarned said:don't know how much i can
don't know how much i can help - I was diagnosed not long ago - however, my circumstances are a bit different. I get to experience 3 months of chemo before I have my surgery and then another 6 months of chemotherapy. I've had one chemo treatment - mine are every 21 days - they're nothing nice. However, I haven't thrown up once - yeah. My first day I felt like I had the worst hangover I've had - ya know when your body tells you to EAT to absorb the poison you put into it the night before? Day two was the same basically.
By the third day I was feeling like the flu and my appetite started to go down - day four was fluish as well.
Day 5 I was feeling better - noticing some differences in my system - my teeth didn't feel like they were mine - my forehead felt thick as well - just kinda in a fog.
I'm getting ready for chemo #2 - my date with the flu and I hope this one goes a little better.
Had long hair - cut it on Monday - shaved it today. Wearing a bandana tonight - it was rough but history.
I hope this helps - chemo was not as bad as I had imagined it - it is doable - manageable - definitely uncomfortable but the reality is - I'm Alive.
Yes, chemo can be rough; yet, it's doable, we survive it - we do it in order to continue surviving. We're all here to support and encourage each other.
Again, warm welcome.0 -
slarned-welcomeslarned said:don't know how much i can
don't know how much i can help - I was diagnosed not long ago - however, my circumstances are a bit different. I get to experience 3 months of chemo before I have my surgery and then another 6 months of chemotherapy. I've had one chemo treatment - mine are every 21 days - they're nothing nice. However, I haven't thrown up once - yeah. My first day I felt like I had the worst hangover I've had - ya know when your body tells you to EAT to absorb the poison you put into it the night before? Day two was the same basically.
By the third day I was feeling like the flu and my appetite started to go down - day four was fluish as well.
Day 5 I was feeling better - noticing some differences in my system - my teeth didn't feel like they were mine - my forehead felt thick as well - just kinda in a fog.
I'm getting ready for chemo #2 - my date with the flu and I hope this one goes a little better.
Had long hair - cut it on Monday - shaved it today. Wearing a bandana tonight - it was rough but history.
I hope this helps - chemo was not as bad as I had imagined it - it is doable - manageable - definitely uncomfortable but the reality is - I'm Alive.
You're right, after acceptance of bc comes, everything that follows soon becomes (as you called it) "history" and the bottom line is that you're here to talk about.
Sounds like you are moving forward like a real trooper and I congratulate you. Welcome to the boards and post as often as you feel able and keep us informed of your progress. We love to hear survivor stories here.
dmc0 -
SBMom...T is righttaleena said:SBMom... Sorry for the
SBMom... Sorry for the reason your here.. but glad you found the group. I was dx in May as well.. however you are ahead of me on the treatment plan, I won't know mine until probably Monday... if not, then July 28th... The women here are amazing... you'll meet them from all walks of the journey.. beginning, middle and all the way through to the other side...
I don't have any imput on your meds, but I know plenty here do from personal experience. I just wanted to welcome you!
Gentle Hugs,
~T
glad you found us. If I say so myself, there are some amazing folks here. All of us are here, not be choice, but have chosen to fight none-the-less and we will stand by you every step of the way.
I, too, had 4 C/A and 4 T treatments. The first four were rough for me, but for several of the women here they really were not so bad. The last four were a breeze in comparison. I was given the Neulasta after every treatment, Benedryl before/during treatment, and nausea meds were given days before and after. I still worked, though I did have some challenging days, but I made it happen. I had a friend take me to chemo on a Thursday so that I would have the week-end to recover before returning to work. My husband and daughter assumed all the household duties and friends and co-workers sent suppers home. Though I couldn't eat most of them, my family had some good meals. My daughter also cooked.
I ate popsicles to help stay hydrated and it helped to over-ride the metal taste in my mouth. I drank ice water during treatment to keep the mouth sores under control. I found that if I took precautions, the chemo was much more doable.
I made a picnic lunch for my friend and I and we made the best of what we could of a lousy situation. I was amongst friends there (many of us became friends because we often had chemo on the same schedule) and this gave me a sense of peace. I'm sure it was mutual.
I hope this helps. You'll get through this, in the expanse of time this part of your life really is a very small piece of it. Keep us posted and we will be with you every step of the way.
dmc0 -
i was scared too....
yeah been through all what you have. I welcome you and they are some great people here for support!! I am soon totake my 3rd treatment which was suppose to be yesterday but my white count was low had to take shot so that put everything til next week.. oh well that seems to be a habit lately.. My 1st treatment was tough my second went well guess it just depends on the person because i have heard differently and it affects each one differently.. but hang in there do what the doc tells you and ask any questions and tell them what problems you have and it will be ok.. they will give you things to help.. good luck!!! best wishes!!0 -
I did A/C and had somebrenda247 said:i was scared too....
yeah been through all what you have. I welcome you and they are some great people here for support!! I am soon totake my 3rd treatment which was suppose to be yesterday but my white count was low had to take shot so that put everything til next week.. oh well that seems to be a habit lately.. My 1st treatment was tough my second went well guess it just depends on the person because i have heard differently and it affects each one differently.. but hang in there do what the doc tells you and ask any questions and tell them what problems you have and it will be ok.. they will give you things to help.. good luck!!! best wishes!!
I did A/C and had some nausea but the meds controlled that for the most part. As far as being scared that is natural, this whole darn thing is scary, but you can do it! We are all here for you.
Good luck with your Treatment
Tjhay0 -
Thanks so much for all the
Thanks so much for all the encouragement and advice from everyone. How bad was it when u lost your hair? I feel like everyone elses life is moving forward and mine is standing still.0 -
I didn't mind losing mySoftBallMom2 said:Thanks so much for all the
Thanks so much for all the encouragement and advice from everyone. How bad was it when u lost your hair? I feel like everyone elses life is moving forward and mine is standing still.
I didn't mind losing my hair because I could never do anything much with it anyway. It was one way to see what I'd look like with very short hair (after it started growing back). It was nice not to have to deal with it for awhile. Now it's back to normal. I was diagnosed in 2003.0 -
Moving forward/standing stillSoftBallMom2 said:Thanks so much for all the
Thanks so much for all the encouragement and advice from everyone. How bad was it when u lost your hair? I feel like everyone elses life is moving forward and mine is standing still.
"I feel like everyone else's life is moving forward, and mine is standing still."
SoftballMom, you've hit the nail on the head about how I feel, too, so please know you're not alone. I was diagnosed two months ago, and have had two biopsies (then waiting), BRCA testing (more waiting), a PET scan (more waiting), then lumpectomies (more waiting), and am now...yes, *waiting* again to start chemo.
I had to cancel my summer vacation trip, and say no to so many church activities and invitations from friends, because my answer to anything having to do with my schedule is "I don't know." I, too, feel like my life is just in a holding pattern right now, while I focus all my energies on staying healthy and staying sane and just trying to get through each day.
I don't have any advice for you (yet -- maybe I'll get wiser as this goes on?! :-), but I just wanted to you know that I share your feelings.
Traci0 -
We had to cancel vacationsTraciInLA said:Moving forward/standing still
"I feel like everyone else's life is moving forward, and mine is standing still."
SoftballMom, you've hit the nail on the head about how I feel, too, so please know you're not alone. I was diagnosed two months ago, and have had two biopsies (then waiting), BRCA testing (more waiting), a PET scan (more waiting), then lumpectomies (more waiting), and am now...yes, *waiting* again to start chemo.
I had to cancel my summer vacation trip, and say no to so many church activities and invitations from friends, because my answer to anything having to do with my schedule is "I don't know." I, too, feel like my life is just in a holding pattern right now, while I focus all my energies on staying healthy and staying sane and just trying to get through each day.
I don't have any advice for you (yet -- maybe I'll get wiser as this goes on?! :-), but I just wanted to you know that I share your feelings.
Traci
We had to cancel vacations and plans too. My daughter is 12 and plays competitive softball. They go to alot of tournaments and I have already missed some. It is like you can't enjoy just everyday things because your sick. It has been hard to keep my spirits up, but I know I have too. I have two kids boy-17 girl- 12 and I want to be here with them, so I know I have to do these things to be able to do that. It is just hard. Keep alot of how I feel to myself. Hope everything goes well. Keep me updated and I will do the same.0 -
Holding patternSoftBallMom2 said:We had to cancel vacations
We had to cancel vacations and plans too. My daughter is 12 and plays competitive softball. They go to alot of tournaments and I have already missed some. It is like you can't enjoy just everyday things because your sick. It has been hard to keep my spirits up, but I know I have too. I have two kids boy-17 girl- 12 and I want to be here with them, so I know I have to do these things to be able to do that. It is just hard. Keep alot of how I feel to myself. Hope everything goes well. Keep me updated and I will do the same.
Softballmom, it really does feel like a holding pattern. When I was diagnosed, my two best friends were pregnant with their first children and all my other friends were having great lives (or so it seemed to me). I felt isolated and supremely unlucky and angry that my life wasn't going as smoothly as I thought others' lives were. But you know, everyone has their challenges. One of my friends had to drop out of school, is unemployed and deeply in debt. Another friend is going through a bitter divorce. This is not to compare tragedies or to suggest that one is easier than the other, but to look at this mess in the context of your whole life. Although it may not feel like it now, chemo will end and you will recover. Right now, you are not in a holding pattern, though. You are moving forward toward health and recovery. It's very important work, difficult and rewarding.
I had AC (along with T) as well. Everyone has a different experience, but everyone makes it through. I did all right, although I can't say I want a repeat. You might want to check out www.youngsurvival.org, a group for cancer patients and survivors under 40. It's a very large group with lots of experience and perspectives. Let me know if you want to get on their bulletin board and I can help you navigate the site, if you want. Good luck to you.
Mimi0 -
Summer got put on holdSoftBallMom2 said:We had to cancel vacations
We had to cancel vacations and plans too. My daughter is 12 and plays competitive softball. They go to alot of tournaments and I have already missed some. It is like you can't enjoy just everyday things because your sick. It has been hard to keep my spirits up, but I know I have too. I have two kids boy-17 girl- 12 and I want to be here with them, so I know I have to do these things to be able to do that. It is just hard. Keep alot of how I feel to myself. Hope everything goes well. Keep me updated and I will do the same.
Hi Softball Mom~
It looks like you and I are in the same boat as we both start chemo in less than 2 weeks (I start the 24th). I'm getting TC x 4. My summer vacations plans got cancelled too. My boyfriend and I had plans to hike the Grand Canyon in September. The Canyon will be there next year and hopefully we will hike it then. Keep me updated on your progress starting the 23rd. Jane0
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