First day of Chemo!

ChocolateDva

Hello friends, I will be receiving my first of 4 chemo treatments tomorrow in Greenville, NC. I am anxious, I guess, because of the unknown. I had hodgkins disease in 1979 and received 10 weeks of radiation after surgery. Along came May 25 and I was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma (stage 1). I opted for a mastectomy of the right breast, I had one positive node. I will only have 4 treatments of the cocktail TC (taxotere and cytoxan), followed by 5 years of hormonal therapy. Prior radiation to the chest/abdominal area contributed to the decision of having my breast removed. I also had the oncotype dx test to help me with my decision-making. I have been drinking a lot of water because my veins are small and have a tendency to wonder around:-). I was told to take a sweater, music, books, puzzles, socks,to keep me warm and busy. Okay! I'm ready to do this, any more suggestions?

Rainess13171

Hi Chocolate Diva! You are
Hi Chocolate Diva! You are going to be fine. Sounds like you are well prepared for your first chemo. I would also bring some snacks. They usually have some at the oncology office, but if you bring your own you know it is something you like. Chemo is not as bad as you may think. I am no expert, but I've had 2 rounds of taxotere and carboplatin for my lovely stage 3 bc, then surgery, radiation and hormone therapy. Each person reacts differently, but for me I feel good on chemo day and the following day, then day 3, 4 and 5 I just feel very tired. Make sure you drink lots of water, before and after chemo. Also, make sure you take a laxative (I take Senokot) the day after chemo for at least a week. This helps with constipation. And make sure you gargle with salt water about 3 times a day for 5 days post chemo. This will prevent mouth sores. Other than that surround yourself with friends and family, rely on them, let them bring you food, and relax. You are going to be fine.
(oh yeah, on day 3,4 and 5 you may have no appetite but make yourself eat something to keep the nausea away)

Good luck!
Michele

Ritzy

Rainess13171 said:

Hi Chocolate Diva! You are
Hi Chocolate Diva! You are going to be fine. Sounds like you are well prepared for your first chemo. I would also bring some snacks. They usually have some at the oncology office, but if you bring your own you know it is something you like. Chemo is not as bad as you may think. I am no expert, but I've had 2 rounds of taxotere and carboplatin for my lovely stage 3 bc, then surgery, radiation and hormone therapy. Each person reacts differently, but for me I feel good on chemo day and the following day, then day 3, 4 and 5 I just feel very tired. Make sure you drink lots of water, before and after chemo. Also, make sure you take a laxative (I take Senokot) the day after chemo for at least a week. This helps with constipation. And make sure you gargle with salt water about 3 times a day for 5 days post chemo. This will prevent mouth sores. Other than that surround yourself with friends and family, rely on them, let them bring you food, and relax. You are going to be fine.
(oh yeah, on day 3,4 and 5 you may have no appetite but make yourself eat something to keep the nausea away)

Good luck!
Michele

I didn't have chemo as part
I didn't have chemo as part of my treatment. I just wanted to wish you good luck and to say hi to you.

I know some of the pinkies that did have chemo will offer good advice for you.


Sue

skipper54

Ritzy said:

I didn't have chemo as part
I didn't have chemo as part of my treatment. I just wanted to wish you good luck and to say hi to you.

I know some of the pinkies that did have chemo will offer good advice for you.


Sue

add ice water and a pillow
and talk to your dentist about a special "toothpaste" that's a neutralizer get to help prevent mouth sores and chemo cavities. I also had an MP3 player with my favorite music. Sweater sounds good but a lap robe or shawl might be better depending on where they start your IV or if you have a port.

Lynne Logan

By now you're doing it!!!
By now you're doing it!!! Welcome to the club but sorry you had to join. All the ladies here make the experience so much easier. You're never alone and your questions are answered. I was exactly where you are about a month ago. I am receiving the same cocktail as you but for 6 treatments followed by 3 weeks of radiation then hormone therapy.
I was anxious the first time naturally but wanted to get on with it to make the unknown known. My first infusion ended up being a 7 hour day since all departments involved at the hospital had gotten behind. My daughter surprised me and stayed the full time. But I had gone prepared with a laptop and a book.
Continue drinking lots of water! Remember all those nasties that need to be flushed from your system. If your symptoms are anything like mine on this "cocktail" I was pleasantly surprised. The steroid they gave me wired me so I was chatty Cathy that night. I was pretty okay the following day, and then some side effects started showing up. Not anywhere near as bad as I anticipated. No nausea (and I'm the side effect queen and if a med says MIGHT cause nausea, I WILL have nausea) and the side effects were well mannered enough to take turns. The aches and pains were probably the worst but very manageable with rx. Your oncologist will see to it you have anything you need to control all your side effects. I was prepared with Immodium, mouth rinse, Vicodin and a comfy bed. I was able to get up each day and knew by noon I'd be lying down staring at the walls. I did get a book finished without falling asleep as normal. So it's not the sleepies, just fatigue.
By day 10 or 12 if you're like me on this cocktail (and we're all different of course) you'll see most all side effects go away. I'm due for my next infusion on Labor Day and have learned from our pink sisters that each treatment does make the side effects more intense. But I know what to do now so feel confident it's all doable.
And while the printouts I received about TC said hair loss in 3-6 weeks, I got a buzz cut 2 weeks to the day after my first infusion. I looked like Big Foot the day before as my hair was covering my damp self. So, I hope you've prepared for that aspect.
Best wishes and we'll be pretty much doing this together.
Lynne