First Chemo Treatment was yesterday

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Sam726
Sam726 Member Posts: 233
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
hi everyone..my first dose of chemo was yesterday! This sounds wierd, but I am so glad. I was so done with all the tests, doctors, etc, etc..and I was ready to move on and get rid of this beast inside of me. The nurses and support staff are great and very helpful. They did all they could to make me comfortable. Had a short reaction to a med, but got though it with a breeze. Well, just wanted to share and hear any other stories from people that have just started their journey to recovery...I am new to this site, and would love to hear from anyone. Im feeling tired today but good! No nausea yet...lets hope it stays that way.
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  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
    #2
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    Hi sam
    Congratulations for starting your journey. You are 1 day closer to being done.
    Can you tell us what meds you are taking? The side effects are different for each of them.

    REmember to drink lots of fluids
    Hugs
    Linda t
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #3
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    Sam726--Welcome
    First welcome to this awesome site where anything can be asked.
    Second-my story: First chemo treatment was 3/10 and my last one was 7/23--I am still having Herceptin treatment but it is not a chemo drug.
    I never had nausea while having treatments.

    Tips: Drink plenty of water. Rinse mouth with 1/4 tsp baking soda and warm water several times a day. Use plastic ware--this keeps a less metallic taste in your mouth. When you can cook in glassware--this helps also with the metallic taste. Eat and rest when you can. If you have long hair and the oncologist has told you that you will lose your hair please cut it short. When your hair starts to fall out most of us have chosen to shave our heads. Keep shaving it until you start to get new growth that is very soft and then all your hair will be the same length. I lost my hair on 3/26 and shaved my head on 3/27. Losing my hair in the shower was worse than the doctor telling me I had cancer.

    If I think of anything else I will add later.
    Don't worry if you forget things because we all do when we are going through chemo and we call it chemo brain.

    Best of luck to you.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #4
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    SAM
    Just wanted to say WELCOME and I'm glad your on your way!! I still have 7 more chemo tratments to go. I'm taking Taxol and Herceptin now. I was on Adriamycin and Cytoxan. I was fortunate that I didn't have any side effects that were too bad. Just make sure you drink plenty of water to flush out your system and keep your kidneys working. I used Synsodyne toothpaste and rinsed with 1 tsp. baking soda mixed with water to prevent mouth sores. Please keep us posted and let us know if you have any questions we can help you with. Diane
  • Deb1969
    Deb1969 Member Posts: 165
    #5
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    Just curious, Im gonna have
    Just curious, Im gonna have my first treatment this Wednesday. What type of chemo are you taking and what reaction did you have?
    Deb
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #6
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    Deb1969 said:

    Just curious, Im gonna have
    Just curious, Im gonna have my first treatment this Wednesday. What type of chemo are you taking and what reaction did you have?
    Deb

    Hi Deb
    I am taking Heceptin, Taxotir and Carboplatin. Being treated for HER2. The only reaction I had during treatment was to the liquid they use to mix up the Taxotir. This is common. I had some shortness of breath. They just unhooked it, gave me a steroid and some adavan and things went smooth from there. Good luck to you and let us know how things are going for you.
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #7
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    mlmjt1 said:

    Hi sam
    Congratulations for starting your journey. You are 1 day closer to being done.
    Can you tell us what meds you are taking? The side effects are different for each of them.

    REmember to drink lots of fluids
    Hugs
    Linda t

    HI Mlmjt1
    Herceptin, taxotere and carboplatin..just tired and weak today with headaches. Im sure theres more to come and I'm ready!! Trying to stay positive and take it day to day.
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #8
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    tommaseena said:

    Sam726--Welcome
    First welcome to this awesome site where anything can be asked.
    Second-my story: First chemo treatment was 3/10 and my last one was 7/23--I am still having Herceptin treatment but it is not a chemo drug.
    I never had nausea while having treatments.

    Tips: Drink plenty of water. Rinse mouth with 1/4 tsp baking soda and warm water several times a day. Use plastic ware--this keeps a less metallic taste in your mouth. When you can cook in glassware--this helps also with the metallic taste. Eat and rest when you can. If you have long hair and the oncologist has told you that you will lose your hair please cut it short. When your hair starts to fall out most of us have chosen to shave our heads. Keep shaving it until you start to get new growth that is very soft and then all your hair will be the same length. I lost my hair on 3/26 and shaved my head on 3/27. Losing my hair in the shower was worse than the doctor telling me I had cancer.

    If I think of anything else I will add later.
    Don't worry if you forget things because we all do when we are going through chemo and we call it chemo brain.

    Best of luck to you.

    Hugs,
    Margo

    hi Margo
    Thanks for all the great advice..I will remember it if I can with my Chemo Brain!! Good luck on the rest of your journey. How are things going with the Herceptin? That is what Im taking, along with Taxotere and Carboplatin.
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #9
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    Sam726 said:

    hi Margo
    Thanks for all the great advice..I will remember it if I can with my Chemo Brain!! Good luck on the rest of your journey. How are things going with the Herceptin? That is what Im taking, along with Taxotere and Carboplatin.

    Herceptin
    Herceptin is a breeze by itself.
    My first cocktail was A/C (Adramyacin w/Cytoxan)(spelling?)once ever two weeks for 8 treatments.
    Second cocktail was Taxol w/Herceptin-once a week for 12 treatments
    Third cocktail is Herceptin-once every three weeks for a year.

    Keep up with the anti-nausea meds and if they don't work for you make sure you call your doctor and they can change it to something else.

    Margo
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    #10
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    Sam726 said:

    Hi Deb
    I am taking Heceptin, Taxotir and Carboplatin. Being treated for HER2. The only reaction I had during treatment was to the liquid they use to mix up the Taxotir. This is common. I had some shortness of breath. They just unhooked it, gave me a steroid and some adavan and things went smooth from there. Good luck to you and let us know how things are going for you.

    Hi Sam
    I just wanted to welcome you, I don't have to have chemo, but I am starting rad's next week!
    You'll find great support here and many people to talk to about all most any thing, so tell us little more about your self, what were you dx's with, and what is your over all treatment plan.

    oh and which one are you in the picture? :)

    Take care and good luck with chemo,

    Aurora
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #11
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    tommaseena said:

    Herceptin
    Herceptin is a breeze by itself.
    My first cocktail was A/C (Adramyacin w/Cytoxan)(spelling?)once ever two weeks for 8 treatments.
    Second cocktail was Taxol w/Herceptin-once a week for 12 treatments
    Third cocktail is Herceptin-once every three weeks for a year.

    Keep up with the anti-nausea meds and if they don't work for you make sure you call your doctor and they can change it to something else.

    Margo

    Sam .. going to jump in here .. VickiSam from Corona, CA
    Started my chemo on 9/8 .. No side efforts until Wednesday, .. sunburned from spending 10 min. outside picking up doggie do ..fatigued .. hard to get back on normal sleep pattern - personally I think do to the horomone therapy a few days before .. as onc nurse stated .. legal speed. Hot flashes .. a few mouth sore ..bearable.

    I have been able to eat, drink and sleep. .. only problem is consipation--miserable. stool softener given - did not work until 3:00 this morning .

    I wish someone would of handed out a 'chemo cocktail' do's and don'ts for dummies - and given me the manual when I left onc office, no such luck ..

    My experence so far : Her2Postitive - DCIS ..

    -- 3 lites of water, liquid daily
    -- No sun
    -- stay out of the heat (hot here in California)
    -- fatigued/dizzy
    -- eat when hungry, small meals .. applesauce, toast, bananas, cottage cheese, lite soups
    -- toothpaste info as stated in this string of emails

    DON'T .. give up your schedule or life because you are taking chemo treatments. Scale back and live .



    --
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #12
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    aurora2009 said:

    Hi Sam
    I just wanted to welcome you, I don't have to have chemo, but I am starting rad's next week!
    You'll find great support here and many people to talk to about all most any thing, so tell us little more about your self, what were you dx's with, and what is your over all treatment plan.

    oh and which one are you in the picture? :)

    Take care and good luck with chemo,

    Aurora

    Hi Aurora
    Thanks for the welcome...everyone here has been great. Diagnosed with HER2 positive, early stages. Started Hereceptin, Taxotere and Carboplatin on the 10th. Then on to lumpectomy and radiation. Takin it one day at a time. Oh, and Im on the left! Good luck with your treatment...and stay strong!
  • GG40
    GG40 Member Posts: 28
    #13
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    Sam726 said:

    Hi Aurora
    Thanks for the welcome...everyone here has been great. Diagnosed with HER2 positive, early stages. Started Hereceptin, Taxotere and Carboplatin on the 10th. Then on to lumpectomy and radiation. Takin it one day at a time. Oh, and Im on the left! Good luck with your treatment...and stay strong!

    Welcome Sam
    Hi Sam....welcome to the site...this has been my arm and leg over the months. I have had many complications since my diagnosis on June 19th. I have had tons of tests, doctor appts., surgeries, (double mastectomy with reconstruction) etc., and I am with you I am ready to start treatment to get rid of this beast. My latest surgery to remove a mass called a thymoma from my lung is delaying my chemo for a few weeks. But Monday I will at least get a start on radiation on the cancer that matasticized to my hip. Radiation will be 10 treatments (one each day) and then my first chemo treatment is scheduled for October 2. It sounds to me like we will be taking nearly the exact same cocktail...I am glad to hear your feedback -- and that of everyone else...it will help me when I start. I am scheduled for one treatment every three weeks for 6 treatments (18 weeks) is that the same as you? WE CAN DO THIS..........I hope everything stays "simple" for you with your chemo reaction. I was glad to get the shaved head advice because that will be the worst for me too...I will do it hard as it is...but I know it will grow back. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!! We're in it together. Good luck. Blessings to you.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #14
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    Welcome Sam
    Just wanted to say Hi and hope you visit us often. I just finished rads so I am not as talkative as I would normaly be as I am soooo tired. Just wanted to make sure I welcomed you! ♥ Pammy
  • Sam726
    Sam726 Member Posts: 233
    #15
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    GG40 said:

    Welcome Sam
    Hi Sam....welcome to the site...this has been my arm and leg over the months. I have had many complications since my diagnosis on June 19th. I have had tons of tests, doctor appts., surgeries, (double mastectomy with reconstruction) etc., and I am with you I am ready to start treatment to get rid of this beast. My latest surgery to remove a mass called a thymoma from my lung is delaying my chemo for a few weeks. But Monday I will at least get a start on radiation on the cancer that matasticized to my hip. Radiation will be 10 treatments (one each day) and then my first chemo treatment is scheduled for October 2. It sounds to me like we will be taking nearly the exact same cocktail...I am glad to hear your feedback -- and that of everyone else...it will help me when I start. I am scheduled for one treatment every three weeks for 6 treatments (18 weeks) is that the same as you? WE CAN DO THIS..........I hope everything stays "simple" for you with your chemo reaction. I was glad to get the shaved head advice because that will be the worst for me too...I will do it hard as it is...but I know it will grow back. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!! We're in it together. Good luck. Blessings to you.

    We CAN do this!!
    I am sorry to hear about your delay but sounds like they are moving you along in the right direction. Yes, I will be on the chemo cocktail for 6 treatments, a lumpectomy, Heceptin for a year and then radiation. This is the plan...things can change obviously but Im staying positive. I dont want to lose my hair, I have always had very long, thick pretty hair. Not sure how I will deal with it but Im just taking one day at a time. Being 33, and a single mother makes this just that much more challening. Dont know many my age going thru this. Anyone out there young, single, like me going thru this? Would love to hear how you feel?
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #16
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    Congrats
    Concrats on completing your first treatment. I know how you feel. I was so ready to just get the chemo started and experience it so that I could prepare myself down the road. Rest as much as you can and when you feel you need it. Take care.

    P
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #17
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    Hi Sam!
    Welcome to the Board! Your story is very similiar to mine. I too am tired of all these tests and appointments and am ready to move on! I was just diagnosed 8/11. Tuesday I meet with the surgeon to discuss putting in a port(which I am not thrilled with, but gotta do what I gotta do) to start Chemo. I will be on the same "cocktail" as yours so keep me posted on how you are doing with it. Tired is normal and glad your are not nauseated! What a blessing that they have meds now to help with that! Anyway,just think that after every chemo treatment you are one step closer to recovery & survival!
    Prayers & Hugz,
    Cathy
  • Cat64
    Cat64 Member Posts: 1,192
    #18
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    Sam726 said:

    We CAN do this!!
    I am sorry to hear about your delay but sounds like they are moving you along in the right direction. Yes, I will be on the chemo cocktail for 6 treatments, a lumpectomy, Heceptin for a year and then radiation. This is the plan...things can change obviously but Im staying positive. I dont want to lose my hair, I have always had very long, thick pretty hair. Not sure how I will deal with it but Im just taking one day at a time. Being 33, and a single mother makes this just that much more challening. Dont know many my age going thru this. Anyone out there young, single, like me going thru this? Would love to hear how you feel?

    Hair
    I "had" hair almost down to my rear. I decided to get a head start on the process and had it chopped off just Wed. and sent it to Locks of Love. (paying it forward) When it starts to fall out, it'll get buzzed. It's very short now & it's an adjustment.(When I put my robe on I keep grabbing for my hair to flop it out, only it's not there!) The advantages though are less shampoo,conditioner,brushing,styling, etc...and some say I look younger so I'm good with that! I just found a website this morning called hatsoff-to-chemo.org/ that will send you a free hat or turban. Another that was recommended on here is franceluxe.com for a free scarf. You will probably get other suggestions as well. Cheap is good,free is better! It's amazing how many resources there are out there and such wonderful people willing to help with the "small" stuff! Hope this helps!
    Cathy
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #19
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    Sam726 said:

    Hi Deb
    I am taking Heceptin, Taxotir and Carboplatin. Being treated for HER2. The only reaction I had during treatment was to the liquid they use to mix up the Taxotir. This is common. I had some shortness of breath. They just unhooked it, gave me a steroid and some adavan and things went smooth from there. Good luck to you and let us know how things are going for you.

    Hi deb... I just
    Hi deb...

    I just completed my chemo treatments... I had 4 treatments of adromycin and cytoxin every 2 weeks ... then 4 treatments of taxotere every 3 weeks... the AC made me super tired with some nausea.. but the anti-nausea meds work great.. with all the drugs out there no reason you should suffer if nausea/ vomiting become an issue...

    The taxotere was a lot harder on my body... I would get horrific bone pain in my back and legs, horrible mouth pain( which would start on day 3 after the treatment and last about 5 days) and my nails on my hands and feet got thick and yellow.. and 1 week after starting taxotere all my eye lashes fell out...

    The chemo made me menopausal... (I'm 36), gave me terrible headaches, and insomnia...

    Get your rest... The treatments do build on you... the first one is relatively easy compared to the future treatments...
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #20
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    Hey Sam
    welcome! I finished my chemo treatments just after the New Year in 2008.
    Glad that your chemo treatments are going well so far!
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #21
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    Hi, Sam. Just wanted to
    Hi, Sam. Just wanted to welcome you to the boards. I am currently going through my chemo which is taxotere and cytoxan. I have completed 2 treatments and have 2 to go. Then, it's on to rads. Good luck to you as you begin your journey!

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