Made it through my first chemo.

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braelee2
braelee2 Member Posts: 130
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well I made it through my first chemo treatment now 11 more to go. I was really tired , upset stomach and it felt like I was swallowing razor blades if I drank anything that a chill to it. But My Doctor also gave me the bad news of my pet scan results. He found a mass in my pelvic area. Now I have to go see my ob and have a ultrasound so he can see what this mass maybe. I am not surprised with reading everything it seems to come with the it. I go for my ultrasound on Monday, and for a pap smear on wed. so I guess its another waiting game.

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  • geotina
    geotina Member Posts: 2,111 Member
    #2
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    Braelee:
    Congrats on getting through your first treatment. I think everyone pretty much experiences the cold sensation. Be careful opening frige and touching stuff, especially the freezer. George found if he let a drink sit on the counter a few minutes, used a straw, it was easier.

    Take care - Tina
  • maglets
    maglets Member Posts: 2,576 Member
    #3
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    geotina said:

    Braelee:
    Congrats on getting through your first treatment. I think everyone pretty much experiences the cold sensation. Be careful opening frige and touching stuff, especially the freezer. George found if he let a drink sit on the counter a few minutes, used a straw, it was easier.

    Take care - Tina

    good girl!
    number one done....good girl....that oxy is a kicker....that's for sure...just go along hon and do one chemo at a time....

    if you have to open the fridge and get stuff then put a little pair of gloves on a magnet on the fridge door. Heat your drinks even your water in the microwave for a few secs so it is warm....I used to take a thermos with hot water to bed. Stay nice and warm with socks in bed. Try to take it as easy on yourself as possible. Stay in touch Braelee and let us help where we can with this ...ask anything!

    hugs and hugs

    maggie
  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #4
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    Good going!
    Congratulations on making it through your first chemo. I think the first is the worst, because you don't know what to expect. I am sorry a pelvic mass was found; please let us know as you find out more.
  • Lori-S
    Lori-S Member Posts: 1,277 Member
    #5
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    Congratulations
    Congrats on making it through the first round. Sorry to hear of the mass they found. I have said that I am so grateful that I had a hysterectomy just under 3 years before my cc dx. If I hadn't, I would have had involvement of the uterus and ovaries due to the nature of my cancer. I see so many women that have to deal with this cancer spreading to those areas. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and waiting with you to hear what becomes of this. Don't you hate the waiting game? Hang in there.
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #6
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    you'll get through it
    Hi Braelee,

    Yeah, the oversensitivity to cold sensation is a rough one. Be prepared also before going grocery shopping. Although you may feel a little weird wearing gloves, it will be helpful to bring some along when grabbing refrig and frozen items. I remember going without gloves and having to quickly grab the item and practically throw it into my cart. Then, once I got to the checkout register, it was the same thing with picking it out of the cart and putting it onto the conveyer belt. I felt frustrated and embarrassed at the same time & finally mentioned why to the person behind me & they kindly helped me pick up the cold items. So, either remember gloves or take someone along with you. The chemo I'm on now doesn't do anything like that & is much easier on me. But, oxaliplatin is a powerfully strong chemo in working on those cancer tumors and cells.
    This, too, shall pass. Oxaliplatin is the worst chemo in this way, but just keep reminding yourself for every time it bothers you, that it's also kicking the cancer's butt, and that's definitely what you want.

    Best wishes to you & I hope they figure out what to do when you see your ob/gyn. It's possible they may want you to have a hysterectomy- I'm not sure if they'd want to interrupt chemo to do that or wait until after chemo & maybe the chemo will shrink it all away.

    Praying for you,
    Lisa
  • Luv2lunch
    Luv2lunch Member Posts: 270
    #7
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    Braelee,
    Glad you made it
    Braelee,
    Glad you made it through your first treatment. I'm sorry about the pet scan. We will be praying for you.
    Sincerely,
    Linda and Ellie
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
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    Treatment
    So glad you got through the first treatment. That's awful that they found a mass but hopefully it isn't cancer. Just keep us informed to what is going on. Be careful of cold food too as this can cause the razor blade feeling.

    Kim
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #9
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    Annabelle41415 said:

    Treatment
    So glad you got through the first treatment. That's awful that they found a mass but hopefully it isn't cancer. Just keep us informed to what is going on. Be careful of cold food too as this can cause the razor blade feeling.

    Kim

    Congrats!!! You did it!!
    Congrats!!! You did it!! we all know the razor blade feeling, just hang in there!
    Kathy
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #10
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    Good for you!
    Congratulations on making it through the first one! You can do it, girl!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #11
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    tootsie1 said:

    Good for you!
    Congratulations on making it through the first one! You can do it, girl!

    *hugs*
    Gail

    One down
    Braelee,

    Just think of it this way, one down eleven more to go. You have done the hardest one, it's scary not knowing what to expect, now you know. As others have said, gloves will help for sure. The cold sensitivity is a little rough. For me it has not really gone away, I'm now like that kid I used to make fun of who wore his jacket in the summer. I live in the desert where the daily temps are 90 to 100+. I am in a sweatshirt most of the time. During the winter last year, I would sit on a transformer at work to keep warm. I work in a huge machine shop that is very hard to keep really warm. Just remember that when your tired, rest. Your body needs it and everybody around you will just need to pitch in and help a little. I know it's harder on you gals, because your jobs are never over. If you have some good friends ask them to help with all the household chores. Folfox can be a rough one, so ask for help when you need it. Also hoping things turn out okay in regards to the mass, will be saying a prayer and keeping you in my thoughts.

    Don
  • Jane822
    Jane822 Member Posts: 50
    #12
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    Just think
    I remember my first chemo treatment. I was scared to death not knowing what to expect. I remember feeling the same as I did on my first day of school and I cried all that day in class thinking I'd never see my home again! I've had almost a year of chemo and none were as bad as the first. Just think of it as one treatment closer to getting well. It seems that the sensitivity to drinking cold things just gets better and it's time for another chemo treatment. I left my glass on the counter with a straw and let it get to room temperature before even trying to drink it. A few seconds in the microwave is a good idea too. Keep plenty of straws on hand. I wish you well on this journey it's a series of highs and lows.........keep praying and kick butt!
  • HollyID
    HollyID Member Posts: 946 Member
    #13
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    Hi braelee2
    Not sure if we've met or not. Welcome to the Board!

    Congrats on making through the first round. When they're all done, you won't believe how fast the time went.

    Good luck with the ultrasound and the pap. I finished chemo in June and had a hysterectomy in August. That stinking cancer gets all over, doesn't it?

    Love and Hugs

    Holly
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #14
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    One down!
    The first one is one of the hardest - mostly fear of the unknown. And you haven't been able to tweak anything yet because you don't know what to expect. After the first one or two you get into a pattern with the bowel issues (constipation or diarrhea) and you can tweak nausea meds to get that under control. And you learn the ways to deal with the oxy weird cold neuropathies. No more cold food or drinks for a while.

    I'm sorry they've found a mass. You never know - it could be something other than cancer. Be aware that chemo messes with Pap's - it probably won't tell you much. I had cervical cancer that started over 8 years ago. I started off CIN I and progressed to eventually stage IIa. I've been NED for 6 years now. Last year after my colon resection, I went in to get caught up with all my other medical screenings. My Pap came back ASCUS. They wanted to repeat it in 1-3 months. But my GYN and my Onc said it wouldn't do any good. Chemo messes with it too much. I was planning on getting it rechecked after I finished chemo, and then had my recurrance. So before starting this round of chemo, I just had it done - normal! Whew!

    Glad you've got one down and are past the worry of what will chemo be like stage. Now you can feel confident you can do this. I hope your ultrasound goes well - that whatever the mass is, it has nothing to do with cancer.
  • Kathryn_in_MN
    Kathryn_in_MN Member Posts: 1,252 Member
    #15
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    I forgot...
    I keep forgetting to mention to you that there is another resource you might like. There is a site with a forum started by two young women that had colorectal cancer. The aim is to connect those diagnosed before age 50. I was amazed at how many of us there are, and how young some of them are.

    ACS is a wonderful organization, and this is a great board, but I really like the other option also.

    Check out colonclub.com
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #16
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    The first one
    The first chemo treatment was the hardest for me. It really hit home as I sat for 6 hours in the chemo suit getting pumped full of crap. "I do have cancer"

    Brooks
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #17
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    just4Brooks said:

    The first one
    The first chemo treatment was the hardest for me. It really hit home as I sat for 6 hours in the chemo suit getting pumped full of crap. "I do have cancer"

    Brooks

    First one down, now you are

    First one down, now you are a pro!

    Time will go by quicker then you think, just do the count down! Hugs@
  • dorookie
    dorookie Member Posts: 1,731 Member
    #18
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    I remember
    my first Chemo, like I remember all the big events in my life. I dont think I will ever forget that day. But like others have said one down, then it will be two down, count it like that, instead of saying you have 11 or 10 left.....

    I pray for you to have peace, strength and good results with your treatment.

    HUGS
    Beth

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