First chemo tomorrow. Scared!

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tuffenuff
tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
First chemo tomorrow. Scared! I know they will be giving me Aloxi in my IV and are also giving me Emend, Zofran, compazine and Ativan to use as needed. I know there's a good chance I will be fine since I'm doing lower weekly doses and god knows I have every weapon available to help. What I need are some good positive stories from people who didn't get sick as a dog from chemo.

Also should I eat before I go? The nurse said make sure to bring lunch but that seems crazy to me.
Cindy

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  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
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    Hi Cindy
    Don’t worry I too was scared on my first Chemo and had to get some meds to keep me at rest. But after the first it was all history then I did not need any meds after, you will do great.

    Praying for you
    Hondo
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #3
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    Hondo said:

    Hi Cindy
    Don’t worry I too was scared on my first Chemo and had to get some meds to keep me at rest. But after the first it was all history then I did not need any meds after, you will do great.

    Praying for you
    Hondo

    I know everyone says that
    I know everyone says that radiation is the worst part of treatment because it can result in some very painful situations. Pain does not scare me... feeling horribly sick does. Although, may story may change in a few weeks!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
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    Piece of Cake...
    I had three types of Chemo on those days...AMEND is awesome. They prescribe the EMEND for the first three days, first day of chemo and the next two...each one is labeled for the specific day.

    I never got sick at all, a few blah days, but never sick.

    Take a lunch for sure.

    First day is usually longer because they don't know you, your reaction, or how fast they can feed the meds. I was there nearly 10 hours my first day.

    If you have a choice, sit near the rest room...they give you lasix to flush the chemo. Hint: they nick named me the Pee King on my first day, LOL...

    But, we didn't bring lunch, all of the regulars cracked out there lunches and I was starving..., my wife didn't wanna leave on my first day...we were stuck with cheese crackers from the vending machines, LOL.

    I was usually pretty wired after the fact, they gave me steroids and other stuff during the day... I'd be up until 4:00 in the morning, then sleep most of the next day.

    Days after, drink plenty of fluids an stay hydrated...

    I'm sure you'll do just fine...

    After all...., you are "TuffEnuff"...

    JG
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #5
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Piece of Cake...
    I had three types of Chemo on those days...AMEND is awesome. They prescribe the EMEND for the first three days, first day of chemo and the next two...each one is labeled for the specific day.

    I never got sick at all, a few blah days, but never sick.

    Take a lunch for sure.

    First day is usually longer because they don't know you, your reaction, or how fast they can feed the meds. I was there nearly 10 hours my first day.

    If you have a choice, sit near the rest room...they give you lasix to flush the chemo. Hint: they nick named me the Pee King on my first day, LOL...

    But, we didn't bring lunch, all of the regulars cracked out there lunches and I was starving..., my wife didn't wanna leave on my first day...we were stuck with cheese crackers from the vending machines, LOL.

    I was usually pretty wired after the fact, they gave me steroids and other stuff during the day... I'd be up until 4:00 in the morning, then sleep most of the next day.

    Days after, drink plenty of fluids an stay hydrated...

    I'm sure you'll do just fine...

    After all...., you are "TuffEnuff"...

    JG

    They have allotted 4.5 hours
    They have allotted 4.5 hours on my schedule but I will be there a couple hours early because I requested to do rads before chemo session. I didn't want to be worrying about effects of chemo and then have to be bolted down to a table. I'm pretty sure that would be unpleasant lol!

    Your success through the treatments is always encouraging for me. I did ask about the Amifostine but my doc just doesn't like it and is of the opinion that a person would have nearly the same results whether they take it or not. She seems pretty smart so I decided to not push the issue. I hope it's not a mistake on my part.

    I'm hoping to drink LOTS of water in an effort to flush it out and feel better faster. One good thing is my doc will have me go in for IV fluids for 2 hours every monday and friday. I think that sounds like a great addition to the treatment.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    tuffenuff said:

    They have allotted 4.5 hours
    They have allotted 4.5 hours on my schedule but I will be there a couple hours early because I requested to do rads before chemo session. I didn't want to be worrying about effects of chemo and then have to be bolted down to a table. I'm pretty sure that would be unpleasant lol!

    Your success through the treatments is always encouraging for me. I did ask about the Amifostine but my doc just doesn't like it and is of the opinion that a person would have nearly the same results whether they take it or not. She seems pretty smart so I decided to not push the issue. I hope it's not a mistake on my part.

    I'm hoping to drink LOTS of water in an effort to flush it out and feel better faster. One good thing is my doc will have me go in for IV fluids for 2 hours every monday and friday. I think that sounds like a great addition to the treatment.

    Hydration
    They also scheduled me for hydration a few days after chemo as well.

    The big chemo days of EMEND were the nine weeks of three cycles, and wearing the pump with 5FU for a week.

    The concurrent chemo/rads, I only had chemo on Mondays with rads right after (and each day the rest of the week). Chemo on those days lasted only about 2 - 3 hours, then about another 30 minutes for rads... Monday included an X-Ray to make sure the mask still fit tightly.

    Only Zofran and Phenigrin those days, but I wasn't nuseaous, so all was good.

    The Amifostine helped a lot for keeping away the thick phlegm I beleive, never had is at all. As for saliva, it seems many get that back even without Amifostine.

    JG
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #7
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    chemo #1
    Hi Cindy,

    I did not get sick from my first chemo and the nurse actually brought me a sandwich and a drink. I don’t know if you should bring a picnic, but maybe a little something just in case. You will find out that the nurses know a lot.

    Good luck, smooth infusion, no nausea.

    Matt
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
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    It sounds like your Oncologist...
    has you ready to battle any nausea you might have had...by that I mean, with the Emend, the Zofran, the Compazine after chemo....taken religiously for the next few days...you'll be saying "nope, I felt kind of puny, but never got sick"...

    Yes....take a lunch...when everybody pulls theirs out, you'll get hungrier than you've ever been in you life...LOL....that happened to me :).

    p
  • amy_h414
    amy_h414 Member Posts: 98
    #9
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    Bring food
    You'll be there for hours and on major anti-nausea drugs so eating shouldn't be a problem. Are you doing cisplatin? That's what my husband did (weekly for six weeks) and the major thing he's dealt with has been fatigue. His treatment is on Fridays and he feels ok Friday night, but then is pretty wiped out the next couple of days. Then he feels better and it's right back for more. One more to go and he's done!

    You'll be fine! You've got the nausea stuff covered. Not much can be done for the fatigue except rest.
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #10
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    tuffenuff said:

    They have allotted 4.5 hours
    They have allotted 4.5 hours on my schedule but I will be there a couple hours early because I requested to do rads before chemo session. I didn't want to be worrying about effects of chemo and then have to be bolted down to a table. I'm pretty sure that would be unpleasant lol!

    Your success through the treatments is always encouraging for me. I did ask about the Amifostine but my doc just doesn't like it and is of the opinion that a person would have nearly the same results whether they take it or not. She seems pretty smart so I decided to not push the issue. I hope it's not a mistake on my part.

    I'm hoping to drink LOTS of water in an effort to flush it out and feel better faster. One good thing is my doc will have me go in for IV fluids for 2 hours every monday and friday. I think that sounds like a great addition to the treatment.

    You ARE ready
    Tuffie....I didn't have the chemo, so can't help much there. But it sounds like you have all of your ammunition at the ready and will go into this battle well prepared. Wishing you the best possible treatment outcome and a quick recovery. Keep us all posted on how you are doing and ask whatever questions you may have.
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #11
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    Chemo and Eating
    I was treated with six weeks of Cisplatin and Erbitux. I never vomited; my nausea was mild.

    However, my nausea was worse when my stomach was empty. I would nibble constantly, mostly on crackers. This must be common, since a patient can find free crackers almost anywhere in the cancer center. I found that just a couple of saltines every two hours cut the nausea a great deal. I don't think there will be a problem with overeating during chemo.
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #12
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    ToBeGolden said:

    Chemo and Eating
    I was treated with six weeks of Cisplatin and Erbitux. I never vomited; my nausea was mild.

    However, my nausea was worse when my stomach was empty. I would nibble constantly, mostly on crackers. This must be common, since a patient can find free crackers almost anywhere in the cancer center. I found that just a couple of saltines every two hours cut the nausea a great deal. I don't think there will be a problem with overeating during chemo.

    Thanks for all the positive
    Thanks for all the positive reinforcement! I'm nervously excited to get this started and over with.

    I will be doing just Cisplatin 35mg (I think it was mg) every Wednesday. My doc recommended weekly due to my concern with getting sick. He assured me there is no difference in effectiveness vs the weekly giant dose. He never mentioned adding any other chemo drug to my mix. Ii just hope for a quick response so my second head that has been growing from the side of my neck starts getting smaller!
  • nick770
    nick770 Member Posts: 195
    #13
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    tuffenuff said:

    Thanks for all the positive
    Thanks for all the positive reinforcement! I'm nervously excited to get this started and over with.

    I will be doing just Cisplatin 35mg (I think it was mg) every Wednesday. My doc recommended weekly due to my concern with getting sick. He assured me there is no difference in effectiveness vs the weekly giant dose. He never mentioned adding any other chemo drug to my mix. Ii just hope for a quick response so my second head that has been growing from the side of my neck starts getting smaller!

    You will do great
    You will, i recommend as other have sad bring a a lunch , it doesn't hurt going at all and it sounds like they have the rigth stuff for you in terms of meds. From what i recall i ididnt start feeling bad until the day after. I did my final round of chemo today and i feel good (currenntly)

    Take food, ,sleep if you want, be sure to take all of your meds they tell you. And you will do great
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #14
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    nick770 said:

    You will do great
    You will, i recommend as other have sad bring a a lunch , it doesn't hurt going at all and it sounds like they have the rigth stuff for you in terms of meds. From what i recall i ididnt start feeling bad until the day after. I did my final round of chemo today and i feel good (currenntly)

    Take food, ,sleep if you want, be sure to take all of your meds they tell you. And you will do great

    So happy to hear you've had
    So happy to hear you've had your last session! Give me 7 weeks and we will celebrate :o)
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #15
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    tuffenuff said:

    So happy to hear you've had
    So happy to hear you've had your last session! Give me 7 weeks and we will celebrate :o)

    Tumor
    As you have probably read many times from my redundant posts, LOL....

    I had the tonsils removed up front before any treatment (STGIII). But I also had a tumor that had popped up on the same right side of my throat.

    Not big about half a grape in size, but you could definitely see and feel it.

    They chose not to do a dissection due to it being close to the caratoid, and wait to see the effects of the big doses of chemo, then concurrent with rads.

    My first chemo was the TPF (cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU), once every three week cycle for nine weeks.

    The day after the first cycle the tumor was inflammed...scared the crapola out of us. But some meds helped that.

    A week or so after the second round, the tumor was noticeably smaller.

    After the third round it was completely gone... a follow-up CT confirmed this.

    Hoping you have the same results...

    Best,
    John
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #16
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Tumor
    As you have probably read many times from my redundant posts, LOL....

    I had the tonsils removed up front before any treatment (STGIII). But I also had a tumor that had popped up on the same right side of my throat.

    Not big about half a grape in size, but you could definitely see and feel it.

    They chose not to do a dissection due to it being close to the caratoid, and wait to see the effects of the big doses of chemo, then concurrent with rads.

    My first chemo was the TPF (cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU), once every three week cycle for nine weeks.

    The day after the first cycle the tumor was inflammed...scared the crapola out of us. But some meds helped that.

    A week or so after the second round, the tumor was noticeably smaller.

    After the third round it was completely gone... a follow-up CT confirmed this.

    Hoping you have the same results...

    Best,
    John

    Me too because this thing is
    Me too because this thing is gigantic. Apparently a lot of it is necrotic fluid (dead cells I guess) but its frightening to look in the mirror and see the side of my neck sticking out. But it definitely makes it impossible to ignore.
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #17
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    tuffenuff said:

    Thanks for all the positive
    Thanks for all the positive reinforcement! I'm nervously excited to get this started and over with.

    I will be doing just Cisplatin 35mg (I think it was mg) every Wednesday. My doc recommended weekly due to my concern with getting sick. He assured me there is no difference in effectiveness vs the weekly giant dose. He never mentioned adding any other chemo drug to my mix. Ii just hope for a quick response so my second head that has been growing from the side of my neck starts getting smaller!

    Cisplatin
    I started with the full dose of Cisplatin and spent the next week going daily for 2 hours of hydration. Doctor made a decision to do the half dose weekly as you described and I am so thankful she did! It was so much easier on me and, like your doctor, she said just as effective. Between the rads and chemo, Lorazepam became my new BFF. Had lots of side effects but nausea was not one of them. God Bless!
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #18
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    tuffenuff said:

    Thanks for all the positive
    Thanks for all the positive reinforcement! I'm nervously excited to get this started and over with.

    I will be doing just Cisplatin 35mg (I think it was mg) every Wednesday. My doc recommended weekly due to my concern with getting sick. He assured me there is no difference in effectiveness vs the weekly giant dose. He never mentioned adding any other chemo drug to my mix. Ii just hope for a quick response so my second head that has been growing from the side of my neck starts getting smaller!

    Cisplatin
    I started with the full dose of Cisplatin and spent the next week going daily for 2 hours of hydration. Doctor made a decision to do the half dose weekly as you described and I am so thankful she did! It was so much easier on me and, like your doctor, she said just as effective. Between the rads and chemo, Lorazepam became my new BFF. Had lots of side effects but nausea was not one of them. God Bless!
  • tuffenuff
    tuffenuff Member Posts: 277
    #19
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    hwt said:

    Cisplatin
    I started with the full dose of Cisplatin and spent the next week going daily for 2 hours of hydration. Doctor made a decision to do the half dose weekly as you described and I am so thankful she did! It was so much easier on me and, like your doctor, she said just as effective. Between the rads and chemo, Lorazepam became my new BFF. Had lots of side effects but nausea was not one of them. God Bless!

    The chemo is going ok so far
    The chemo is going ok so far with minimal side effects. All the worry I had about being sick was nonsense because all I want to do is eat but can't taste anything. Ironic.
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #20
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    tuffenuff said:

    The chemo is going ok so far
    The chemo is going ok so far with minimal side effects. All the worry I had about being sick was nonsense because all I want to do is eat but can't taste anything. Ironic.

    Food Network
    No matter how hard it became to eat, I couldn't stop watching the Food Network. I'm going to be a heck of a chef when I get through this!

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