Finally going to Chemo...

lindamc
lindamc Member Posts: 27
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi to everyone, I last posted in May and I appreciate Cindi's response.I finally am able to start my Chemo tomorrow!!! yeah to finally going on with the treatment, see my web page for details, it has been a long road and now 6 months of chemo but I am glad to finally be at this point! I appreciate all of your comments to each other I have been a silent listener since my diagnosis and when no-one was able to help me with my question in May it made me even more shy to jump in, but now i feel like I have a reason to get in the group(chemo) though of course i know i did before...you know how sometimes you just need that one last straw to say-YES, I NEED support! So, here goes out my plea to think of me during my chemo and I will continue to keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers as well. Linda

Comments

  • nocarb1
    nocarb1 Member Posts: 99
    Hi Linda,
    My thoughts and prayers are with you!! I am 38 and just finished a year with chemo. I was stage 2a and no lymph node involvement, but I was her-2 pos so I took both 6 rounds of AC and 6 rounds of taxol and rads. I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Feel free to email me anytime at nocarb1@yahoo.com Remember each one you get past is one less you have to endure. Keep your head up!!! :):)
    Carlye
  • nocarb1
    nocarb1 Member Posts: 99
    Hi Linda,
    My thoughts and prayers are with you!! I am 38 and just finished a year with chemo. I was stage 2a and no lymph node involvement, but I was her-2 pos so I took both 6 rounds of AC and 6 rounds of taxol and rads. I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Feel free to email me anytime at nocarb1@yahoo.com Remember each one you get past is one less you have to endure. Keep your head up!!! :):)
    Carlye
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    nocarb1 said:

    Hi Linda,
    My thoughts and prayers are with you!! I am 38 and just finished a year with chemo. I was stage 2a and no lymph node involvement, but I was her-2 pos so I took both 6 rounds of AC and 6 rounds of taxol and rads. I would be glad to answer any questions you have. Feel free to email me anytime at nocarb1@yahoo.com Remember each one you get past is one less you have to endure. Keep your head up!!! :):)
    Carlye

    Thansk so much Carlye! Everyone has told me sooo much about the chemo that I feel pretty ready, have my bottled water, pretzels, ginger ale,popsicles, now just need to get myself to go tomorrow! Do they ever give you anything to relax anxious people like me?
  • jeancmici
    jeancmici Member Posts: 665 Member
    lindamc said:

    Thansk so much Carlye! Everyone has told me sooo much about the chemo that I feel pretty ready, have my bottled water, pretzels, ginger ale,popsicles, now just need to get myself to go tomorrow! Do they ever give you anything to relax anxious people like me?

    Quite often they give you an Ativan tranquilizer before getting started. Ask them about it - soothing!!! :-)

    Zofran is almost always used for anti-nausea - wonderful - works well with most people. Ask again - always ask your health care professionals whenever you have a question - but they will probably tell you ahead what they are doing the first time.

    Good Luck!

    Jean
  • jmears
    jmears Member Posts: 266
    Hi Linda
    My diagnosis was found just like yours ... my baseline mammogram was fine and two years later I had cancer. I don't have any family history though so it was a very big shock. I've been out of treatment for over a year now and I feel cured. For a very long time I couldn't let it go ... I still haven't as you can see that I am still in this group everyday. Anyway...the chemo will go faster than you ever imagined and you will get through it ... even though at times you may not believe it. Keep doing what you are doing and you will be in my thoughts. Good Luck. Jamie
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    Sorry Linda I went back and couldn't find the post that you sent in May, are you sure it was accepted? please tell me the date.
    I am sorry if we would make you feel shy in anyway. You must somehow think that leaving posts and answering posts is something that comes easily, but in fact being on a site like this makes is easier for some of us but no matter what there are others who are like yourself and are very shy, too shy in fact to leave the first post. I am glad that you did that first step. For me I answer and leave posts using this as a sounding board and often times a place to leave all I feel when I feel like my own son and family wouldn't understand my concepts. I finally have found a place that I can be myself and no one can judge me because I am just like you, I too have had breast cancer. I hope you too will feel like this can be a sort of place to come home too and feel and be all you can be, without worrying about what others may think.
    I am glad you came back to try again and you know that you can email individuals by clicking on their name and sending an email. When you do this you are also making a list on your own web page that you can consider your very own friends.
    I look forward to chatting if I ever can be in there when others arrive. Sometimes it is hours before someone else comes in. It has been well worth the wait. If my name is in I have been called away and left the darn thing on, I have an absent mind of coarse.
    Be good to yourself,
    Tara24242
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398
    24242 said:

    Sorry Linda I went back and couldn't find the post that you sent in May, are you sure it was accepted? please tell me the date.
    I am sorry if we would make you feel shy in anyway. You must somehow think that leaving posts and answering posts is something that comes easily, but in fact being on a site like this makes is easier for some of us but no matter what there are others who are like yourself and are very shy, too shy in fact to leave the first post. I am glad that you did that first step. For me I answer and leave posts using this as a sounding board and often times a place to leave all I feel when I feel like my own son and family wouldn't understand my concepts. I finally have found a place that I can be myself and no one can judge me because I am just like you, I too have had breast cancer. I hope you too will feel like this can be a sort of place to come home too and feel and be all you can be, without worrying about what others may think.
    I am glad you came back to try again and you know that you can email individuals by clicking on their name and sending an email. When you do this you are also making a list on your own web page that you can consider your very own friends.
    I look forward to chatting if I ever can be in there when others arrive. Sometimes it is hours before someone else comes in. It has been well worth the wait. If my name is in I have been called away and left the darn thing on, I have an absent mind of coarse.
    Be good to yourself,
    Tara24242

    Good luck by the way remember to keep well hydrate helps to keep headaches at bay. My thoughts are with you and I too will keep you close at heart.
    Tara
  • nocarb1
    nocarb1 Member Posts: 99
    lindamc said:

    Thansk so much Carlye! Everyone has told me sooo much about the chemo that I feel pretty ready, have my bottled water, pretzels, ginger ale,popsicles, now just need to get myself to go tomorrow! Do they ever give you anything to relax anxious people like me?

    Yes they can give you alot of different things. Plus I always was premedicated with benedryl which put me right to sleep. What are you taking and what is your stage? You are in my prayers!!
    Carlye
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    jeancmici said:

    Quite often they give you an Ativan tranquilizer before getting started. Ask them about it - soothing!!! :-)

    Zofran is almost always used for anti-nausea - wonderful - works well with most people. Ask again - always ask your health care professionals whenever you have a question - but they will probably tell you ahead what they are doing the first time.

    Good Luck!

    Jean

    Thansk, I definitely will ask for any and everything!
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    jmears said:

    Hi Linda
    My diagnosis was found just like yours ... my baseline mammogram was fine and two years later I had cancer. I don't have any family history though so it was a very big shock. I've been out of treatment for over a year now and I feel cured. For a very long time I couldn't let it go ... I still haven't as you can see that I am still in this group everyday. Anyway...the chemo will go faster than you ever imagined and you will get through it ... even though at times you may not believe it. Keep doing what you are doing and you will be in my thoughts. Good Luck. Jamie

    Thanks, Jamie! you all have made my day.
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    24242 said:

    Sorry Linda I went back and couldn't find the post that you sent in May, are you sure it was accepted? please tell me the date.
    I am sorry if we would make you feel shy in anyway. You must somehow think that leaving posts and answering posts is something that comes easily, but in fact being on a site like this makes is easier for some of us but no matter what there are others who are like yourself and are very shy, too shy in fact to leave the first post. I am glad that you did that first step. For me I answer and leave posts using this as a sounding board and often times a place to leave all I feel when I feel like my own son and family wouldn't understand my concepts. I finally have found a place that I can be myself and no one can judge me because I am just like you, I too have had breast cancer. I hope you too will feel like this can be a sort of place to come home too and feel and be all you can be, without worrying about what others may think.
    I am glad you came back to try again and you know that you can email individuals by clicking on their name and sending an email. When you do this you are also making a list on your own web page that you can consider your very own friends.
    I look forward to chatting if I ever can be in there when others arrive. Sometimes it is hours before someone else comes in. It has been well worth the wait. If my name is in I have been called away and left the darn thing on, I have an absent mind of coarse.
    Be good to yourself,
    Tara24242

    Hi Tara...I went back myself to look and it is on June 5th 8:56am, my mistake ..I remember seeing the oncol in May so thought I wrote the question then..Thanks for your support. I looked forward all day to everyone's replies and feel supported and like a group going out to chemo, not so alone...Thanks!!
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    nocarb1 said:

    Yes they can give you alot of different things. Plus I always was premedicated with benedryl which put me right to sleep. What are you taking and what is your stage? You are in my prayers!!
    Carlye

    i'm stage 1 I filled out a web page so that is full of info(too much prob). I will be taking M-F of the CMF regimen, not the C part, only the Methotrexate and 5-fu(sp).Did you atke the Benadryl or do they give it to you? Should I take anything at home before getting there or wait until I get there?Thanks, for all the help/support!
  • nocarb1
    nocarb1 Member Posts: 99
    lindamc said:

    i'm stage 1 I filled out a web page so that is full of info(too much prob). I will be taking M-F of the CMF regimen, not the C part, only the Methotrexate and 5-fu(sp).Did you atke the Benadryl or do they give it to you? Should I take anything at home before getting there or wait until I get there?Thanks, for all the help/support!

    They gave it to me in the IV before treatment. You can ask for it or something else that you can pre med with to take the edge off. Once you get past the first one it does get easier!! I took AC and taxol and never lost my hair! It was a miracle:):)
    I will be thinking about you!
    Carlye
  • nasa2537
    nasa2537 Member Posts: 311
    Hi Linda....I'm so glad you are finally moving on with the chemo. Make sure you talk to them about pre-treating you for nausea. I have a dear friend who is having her chemo now, and she has done so well by being premedicated through her IV, and then she takes nausea pills for 48 hours, and has had no problem. Lots of thoughts and prayers are coming your way, and I am really glad you have decided to talk again. Sometimes it helps just to listen, but I can't help but think it will help you more by talking about how you are feeling...we're all here for you! Keep usd posted on your progress. Love and prayers, Cyndi
  • banker
    banker Member Posts: 317 Member
    Hi Linda, I wish you the best. I am presently undergoing chemo, have 3 treatments left. Had chemo yesterday.If you want any questions answered, just e-mail me.
    Hugs....Emmi
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    nasa2537 said:

    Hi Linda....I'm so glad you are finally moving on with the chemo. Make sure you talk to them about pre-treating you for nausea. I have a dear friend who is having her chemo now, and she has done so well by being premedicated through her IV, and then she takes nausea pills for 48 hours, and has had no problem. Lots of thoughts and prayers are coming your way, and I am really glad you have decided to talk again. Sometimes it helps just to listen, but I can't help but think it will help you more by talking about how you are feeling...we're all here for you! Keep usd posted on your progress. Love and prayers, Cyndi

    Thanks, Cyndi, I realy appreciate your thoughts and prayers, I felt really O.K., going there and they did premedicate me with the anti-nausea meds so I actually was hungry after, even tho I didn't eat for a few hours, was afraid I might start something, nut never did. All went well and drinking lots to flush it out. I thinktalking before going really decreased my anxiety level. Thanks, again!
  • lindamc
    lindamc Member Posts: 27
    banker said:

    Hi Linda, I wish you the best. I am presently undergoing chemo, have 3 treatments left. Had chemo yesterday.If you want any questions answered, just e-mail me.
    Hugs....Emmi

    Thanks, Emmi, one down, 11 to go...2 per month. Good Luck to you as well! I'll be thinking about you as we go through this together. Linda