Getting ready to start AC

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karenack
karenack Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My bone scan and CT scan were normal. My blood work showed that I am slightly anemic. I had my MUGA scan yesterday and hopefully it is okay. I am very anxious about beginning my chemo but at the same time am ready to get it over with....What a way to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month!!!!

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  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #2
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    Karen,
    You first A/C treatment will probably go much better than you expect. I know that I was extremely nervous about the first treatment.... and it turned out to be easier than my mind had made it out to be. When I was in Chemo... I just kept my mind focused on the end goal... finishing treatment so I could get on with the rest of my healthly life...

    Take Care... God Bless..

    Susan
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #3
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    Karen....

    And we will be right here cheering you on!!!!

    Just think, next year during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month...you will be over and done!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #4
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    Yes, I will hopefully have all of this behind me by then. Did any of you have strong side effects from the A/C? Anyone have any advice on good anti-nausea drugs that worked for you that I can ask my onc. about? Also, did any of you have any pain with the treatment?
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #5
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    Dear Karen, just like Susan and you and im sure all of us , i was very anxious about starting the 1st A/C. It is extremely appropriate, imagine if we hadn't or didn't feel that way. i'd say there goes someone w/an unbelievable case of denial. So, sweetie, welcome to the A/C Saving My Life Club. I'm so glad all of ur other tests turned out as really good as they did! I can still remember clearly those first tests, and now thinking about, in retrospect, they were worse than the 1!st aydrio. All those huge machines, the radioactive injection, soo many others waiting for their's and i didn't want to be a part of them. and then i was so upset seeing a child, already hairless coming out of the bone scan room just before i went into it for my 1st one. and that was all def worse than the 1st A/C.

    Then i had it and like Susan said, it was just fine. i had no throwing up, a little nausea but that was it. After 2nd same, but tired and weak, and they gave me some pill that prevented any more nausea.
    i was so happy. i felt really quite good, and i had the killer meds to fight this beast, and we were going to win. i was convinced, absolutely clear, that this was going to take care of it. i believed it in every corner of my brain.

    I was part of this group now, and i had my team, and we were going to beat the crap out of that other beastly team.

    I'm just as sure u will too, OK?
    ((((((((((((((((((hugs, Kathy)))))))))))))))))))
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #6
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    karenack said:

    Yes, I will hopefully have all of this behind me by then. Did any of you have strong side effects from the A/C? Anyone have any advice on good anti-nausea drugs that worked for you that I can ask my onc. about? Also, did any of you have any pain with the treatment?

    I did pretty well. Had my treatments on Tuesdays.. and on Thursdays I stayed in bed until about mid day. My Fridays were slow and my the next Monday I felt pretty much back up to par except for being more tired after each treatment. The only pain I had was the bone pain from Neupogen ( a different version of Neulasta... it didn't work for me)to maintain my White blood cell count. But the bone pain was much less for Neupogen than Neulasta.

    All in all I was just really tired. However, I did work most of the time and all of the time on my off treatment weeks.

    I found that just taking each day as it presented itself was best for me. Some days I would have energy and others I wouldn't. I tried to listen to my body and rest when it demanded it and tried to walk I could...even when I was tired. It normally would make me feel better.

    Also, try to enjoy the little things.. it really helps your mood... (I learned to enjoy a bird feeder that I had put in front of my breakfast area window.

    Take Care... God Bless...

    Susan
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #7
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    You guys are great and I thank God for a forum like this where I can share my fears and feelings with those who know exactly how I feel. My heart goes out to all of you. I didn't want to join this sisterhood but now that I am here, I feel such a strong bond and wonderful support from all of you. It makes me feel that I can really beat this awful disease that has invaded my body. Thank you for helping me.
  • pansylover
    pansylover Member Posts: 80
    #8
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    karenack said:

    You guys are great and I thank God for a forum like this where I can share my fears and feelings with those who know exactly how I feel. My heart goes out to all of you. I didn't want to join this sisterhood but now that I am here, I feel such a strong bond and wonderful support from all of you. It makes me feel that I can really beat this awful disease that has invaded my body. Thank you for helping me.

    I was given EMEND for nausea..no problem what soever. I took the whole time off during my treatments...i focused on healing..I also used GUIDED IMAGERY cd's.
    keep a good foresight and things should go well. we're here for you. yes this is a great forum --I am glad I found it.
    (((hugs)))
    Cindie
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #9
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    For those of you who had bone pain, how did the doctors treat that?
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #10
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    karenack said:

    For those of you who had bone pain, how did the doctors treat that?

    From and earlier post.... you will beat this beast. There are so many of us that have already beat it ....
    As for bone pain... neupogene causes much less pain than nuelasta.( but it has to be taken daily versus every two weeks.). Over time my onc convinced me to start taking sleeping pills. It really had made a differenct.

    Take Care... God bless..

    Susan
  • bestill
    bestill Member Posts: 5
    #11
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    Sending a good thought and a hug. It's been nearly 14 years since I was where you are. What I've learned in these wonderful, post chemo years is to focus on today - even when today is a chemo day. Be okay with however things are..if you feel tired, rest. If you feel great, dance (or take a nice walk). If you feel like whining a bit and curling up in a ball - do it. With a smile... Bev
    Have you contacted ACS about a Reach to Recovery visit? It's nice to have someone to talk to in person or via phone if you want to.
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #12
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    bestill said:

    Sending a good thought and a hug. It's been nearly 14 years since I was where you are. What I've learned in these wonderful, post chemo years is to focus on today - even when today is a chemo day. Be okay with however things are..if you feel tired, rest. If you feel great, dance (or take a nice walk). If you feel like whining a bit and curling up in a ball - do it. With a smile... Bev
    Have you contacted ACS about a Reach to Recovery visit? It's nice to have someone to talk to in person or via phone if you want to.

    Thanks for all of your supportive words. I told my husband that we have to "live it up" this week because it will probably be the last before I begin my treatment. This anxiety is about to kill me. I have been having nightmares about botched chemo treatments making me really ill as well as other frightening experiences. All of this time to think about it isn't helping.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #13
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    karenack said:

    Thanks for all of your supportive words. I told my husband that we have to "live it up" this week because it will probably be the last before I begin my treatment. This anxiety is about to kill me. I have been having nightmares about botched chemo treatments making me really ill as well as other frightening experiences. All of this time to think about it isn't helping.

    Oh, Karen! I remember these thoughts well!
    But, here I am, 7 months post chemo...doing just fine!!! You trust your medical professionals, and they know what job they have to do. I always had a pre-chemo treat (first bag) of benedryl, which made me sleep thru most of the rest. I did NOT fight this...brought my own warm blanket, and only woke to use the bathroom...from the WATER (don't forget!!!! 2 quarts a day keep the tingles away!!!!!).
    If anything seems wierd, talk to your doc immediately...may be nothing, but this is not a time to suffer in silence!

    Hugs from a been there/done that!, Kathi
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #14
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    KathiM said:

    Oh, Karen! I remember these thoughts well!
    But, here I am, 7 months post chemo...doing just fine!!! You trust your medical professionals, and they know what job they have to do. I always had a pre-chemo treat (first bag) of benedryl, which made me sleep thru most of the rest. I did NOT fight this...brought my own warm blanket, and only woke to use the bathroom...from the WATER (don't forget!!!! 2 quarts a day keep the tingles away!!!!!).
    If anything seems wierd, talk to your doc immediately...may be nothing, but this is not a time to suffer in silence!

    Hugs from a been there/done that!, Kathi

    Hi KathiM! That's a good idea with the benadryl! How long will the treatment take to administer?
  • jdubious
    jdubious Member Posts: 113
    #15
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    karenack said:

    Hi KathiM! That's a good idea with the benadryl! How long will the treatment take to administer?

    hi karen,
    I'm a couple years out from chemo, but I agree about the benadryl - it was given to me before the chemo and really helps. The whole infusion process takes 2-3 hours. I think it takes longer at first because they want to see how you react to the treatment. I got benadryl thru the IV, but I also took a tablet right before treatment (amend? something like that)after 2-3 treatments, they can speed up the infusion, if your system is ok with it. I had weekly AC treatments (dose dense) for 12 weeks, then 8 weeks of taxol. I took everything that was offered to me. I was never sick and I only needed nuelasta once. I worked as well, leaving early on my chemo day, and back at work(desk job)the next day, but I had to work. I also drove myself to and from treatment. Just shows how we are all different, and we each have a different experience.
    I looked forward to it once I got started - I felt like I was actively fighting, but at the same time it was a nice quiet "me" time where I could just sit and relax and read all the gossip magazines that I would never buy! The first time is harder because it's new, but the caregivers are so wonderful it really helps with the stress.
    I didn't get side effects till late in the treatment, then I got tingling and numbness and joint pain, which is gone now. Walking helps with the joint pain - just keeping active helps. Water helps too.
    I thought the very worst part of chemo was not having eyebrows! They are pain to draw on and then you have to remember not to touch then, or they might disappear! But I guess if that's the worst, then it really wasn't that bad! ;-)

    jill

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