Starting chemo tomorrow!

woodsygal
woodsygal Member Posts: 64
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi Friends,

I am sooo scared, I start chemo tomorrow morning! I wore one of my wigs to work this weekend, everyone thought I just got my hair cut!! I feel so alone through all of this. It will be just me and the nurses. I hope that I do not get sick, I have to work and all! I envy all of you whom have significant others! Carlie
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Comments

  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655
    Calm down honey
    Calm down Carlie, its going to be ok. First off remember that you are suronunded by all your sisters in pink who will be here to help you understand all there is to know about the side effects. Second, your Dr. will give you meds to help with those side effects.
    If I could I would go with you and hold your hand through the whole thing. Your going to be ok. I did not have any one to help me either, and I am proff that you can do it. Take each day slowly, your going to be ok.
    tjhay
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    Hey Carlie....
    It's Ok to be scared. You are going to go through some scarey stuff. But somehow I think you will be strong and forge ahead to do whatever it is that you have to do. You will get to know the nurses in no time and probably make some new friends by the time you are done. How awesome is it that no one noticed you were wearing a wig!! I don't know if you contacted ACS yet about this, but you really should look into the "Reach to Recovery" program they offer where they match you with a BC survivor to be your buddy through this. It may help to ease some of your fears. And of course we are always here too. Good luck tomorrow and remember, we're with you in spirit. Post when you get a chance and let us know how you did! :O) Pammy
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    Akiss4me said:

    Hey Carlie....
    It's Ok to be scared. You are going to go through some scarey stuff. But somehow I think you will be strong and forge ahead to do whatever it is that you have to do. You will get to know the nurses in no time and probably make some new friends by the time you are done. How awesome is it that no one noticed you were wearing a wig!! I don't know if you contacted ACS yet about this, but you really should look into the "Reach to Recovery" program they offer where they match you with a BC survivor to be your buddy through this. It may help to ease some of your fears. And of course we are always here too. Good luck tomorrow and remember, we're with you in spirit. Post when you get a chance and let us know how you did! :O) Pammy

    Carlie
    We are here for you!!! Praying and holding you!!! close your eyes and you will be able feel us right there beside you!!!
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    Good luck tomorrow
    Good luck tomorrow Carlie!

    ☺Lex☺
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    Carlie, try and be calm.
    Carlie, try and be calm. Chemo is not pleasant but very doable. It was not as bad as I had feared. Oncology nurses are a very caring, and compassionate group of people. They will be there for you through the whole treatment. Mine were even there to comfort me one day when I was particularly emotional. Also there will be others around you also having treatments and you will feel a sense of comraderie. At my cancer center, each infusion chair had a mini TV and there were racks of magazines. They gave us snacks and at lunch time the came around and offered us our choice of boxed lunches. I happened to have my sister and hubby with me but I remember thinking that if they hadn't been there, I would have still felt supported from those around me.

    They will give you plenty of anti-nausea meds. I felt a bit queasy during treatment but my meds kept my side effects reasonably under control in the days that followed. You will see; it won't be as bad as you might think. Take a deep breath and remember to keep breathing deeply whenever you get nervous---it will help. Good luck! Let us know how you do tomorrow night. Eil
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    Carlie
    you will be okay tomorrow! I'm hoping that tomorrow won't be as bad as you think.The nurses will take great care of you,I'm sure.
    I am a Reach to Recovery volunteer and I will vouch that it's a wonderful program! If you are interested,I can show you how to take advantage of the program.
    Let us know how things go tomorrow when you feel up to it...
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    Carlie
    you will be okay tomorrow! I'm hoping that tomorrow won't be as bad as you think.The nurses will take great care of you,I'm sure.
    I am a Reach to Recovery volunteer and I will vouch that it's a wonderful program! If you are interested,I can show you how to take advantage of the program.
    Let us know how things go tomorrow when you feel up to it...

    Hi Carlie

    I am hoping that it will not be so bad on you tomorrow. Everyone will help you.

    Just know that we are with you in spirit, holding your hand!


    ☺♥ Noel ♥☺
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    Hope it went well and you
    Hope it went well and you are feeling good!
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    Noel said:

    Hi Carlie

    I am hoping that it will not be so bad on you tomorrow. Everyone will help you.

    Just know that we are with you in spirit, holding your hand!


    ☺♥ Noel ♥☺

    Carlie
    I haven't gotten that far yet but I'm sure you will be okay, I'm sorry you have to go through this alone, take the advice given about getting a recovery volunteer. It sound like a great program that could help a lot.

    I'll keep you in my prayer

    Aurora
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    elm3544 said:

    Hope it went well and you
    Hope it went well and you are feeling good!

    Carlie
    Carlie,
    The first time is scary but once you get there you will see that it is doable and you will be fine. Take the anti-nausea pills as directed. Everyone reacts differently--some have not effects at all and am praying that you are one of them so you can sail through this treatment just fine.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    Dear Carlie.....
    I haven't started chemo yet and can understand how scared you must be but as the other's who have been through it say, it's doable so hope your's is easy on you.

    I will be posting tomorrow when I find out my schedule. I find out the results of my pet scan tomorrow too so I am pretty nervous about that.

    We are all here to support each other and I do hope that is goes good for you.

    Keep us updated!!

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • butterfly343
    butterfly343 Member Posts: 39
    Hi Carslie,
    I wish you the

    Hi Carslie,
    I wish you the best. Try to have calm feelings and think of all of us who are right there with you. We are by your side! I have the same fear you do- even though I have great support who goes to all my appts with me- it is a really scary thing. But remember, WE ARE WITH YOU!!!!
    Please let us know how it went today.
    julie
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    Carlie...
    I haven't been on the boards for a couple of weeks, so first I want to welcome you into the "presence" of a great bunch of folks.

    Since my husband is deafblind, he could not go with me to chemo and my daughter was still in school and could not go with me either. A dear friend drove me to chemo and stayed with me for the 3-4 hours I sat (or slept) through treatment. It made the time pass by, but it was also a comfort to have her with me. I made a picnic lunch for us to share, before I fell asleep from all the pre-drugs they gave me, and I made the best out of a lousy situation.

    If you don't have a friend to go with you, and you have to go it alone, remember that there will be others there, too who are feeling exactly the way you are feeling. Befriend one of them, then neither one of you will be alone and you can do this together. Going through tough times is always better with a friend.

    My friend, who is more outgoing than me, befriended someone while I slept and they are still friends today. That was three years ago.

    Yes, chemo is scary. The fear of getting sick is scary, too. This whole thing is scary, but at least you found the boards and we understand fear--all too well, and we will be with you every step of the way.

    dmc
    PS
    A small suggestion: when you go to chemo, you may wish to just wear a hat or scarf. After I swallowed my pride, which wasn't easy, I left the wig at home. It really was much more comfortable without it, and I realized that I wasn't there to impress anyone. And, you want to know something else? I wasn't the only one there without my wig.
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    hey Carlie
    I've had to do

    hey Carlie
    I've had to do most of the chemo thing alone too. I just had #4. I had a friend with me for the 1st one, but I will tell you that for me, being able to turn off the lights and crawl into bed for 24 hours if I want to, without having to explain how I'm feeling to anyone...is a
    relief. It's nice to be able to vegetate for a few days if you're feeling icky. Just be sure to stock up on fluids and comfort foods first. Good luck
    Dee
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    Noel said:

    Hi Carlie

    I am hoping that it will not be so bad on you tomorrow. Everyone will help you.

    Just know that we are with you in spirit, holding your hand!


    ☺♥ Noel ♥☺

    Good luck Carlie. Keeping
    Good luck Carlie. Keeping you in my prayers.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    ((((HUGS))))) We are so
    ((((HUGS))))) We are so with you, Carlie! We understand the scared feeling; I have posted before that my first day of chemo was scarier for me than the diagnosis and surgery combined. It was so emotional watching the IV being attached to my hand and realising that poison was gonna be coursing through my veins. But after that, every infusion was just fine! The chemo RNs were so nurturing, and I felt a perverse comfort knowing that the poison which initially scared me was not killing me, but killing the Beast! It empowered me to be there!

    Keep us posted, and oh yeah don't forget to drink water! Keep your system flushed and hydrated!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930

    Carlie
    you will be okay tomorrow! I'm hoping that tomorrow won't be as bad as you think.The nurses will take great care of you,I'm sure.
    I am a Reach to Recovery volunteer and I will vouch that it's a wonderful program! If you are interested,I can show you how to take advantage of the program.
    Let us know how things go tomorrow when you feel up to it...

    Wishing you good luck
    Wishing you good luck tomorrow Carlie!

    Please post when you can and let us know how your chemo went and how you are feeling.

    Just try and relax.

    ♣Susie♠
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    Carlie
    Hi Carlie! It is ok to be scared. Everyone is when they first start chemo. But, just know that it is killing the cancer.

    Post when you can and let us know how you did.


    Hugs, ♥Lex
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    Alexis F said:

    Carlie
    Hi Carlie! It is ok to be scared. Everyone is when they first start chemo. But, just know that it is killing the cancer.

    Post when you can and let us know how you did.


    Hugs, ♥Lex

    Hi Carlie
    Wishing you good luck today Carlie with your chemo.

    Hugs, Diane
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    Dear Carlie.....
    I haven't started chemo yet and can understand how scared you must be but as the other's who have been through it say, it's doable so hope your's is easy on you.

    I will be posting tomorrow when I find out my schedule. I find out the results of my pet scan tomorrow too so I am pretty nervous about that.

    We are all here to support each other and I do hope that is goes good for you.

    Keep us updated!!

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Be sure and post tomorrow
    Be sure and post tomorrow Vicki and let us know how your PET scan came out.

    ☺♥ Noel ♥☺