Starting chemo soon

retiredfromstate

Anyone with stage1a serous endometrial cancer that can help me prepare? I will be starting 6 months of chemo soon. What can I expect.

TeddyandBears_Mom

Hi Retired. Welcome to the

Hi Retired. Welcome to the board and I'm sorry you had to come here! This is a great place to be for any and all questions.

I had stage 1a serous with a hysterectomy last July, then chemo finished in December and brachytherapy completed in Jan. of this year.

There is a thread titled 'Ladies Going Through Chemo' that several of us used to document our chemo journey. I think it will help you understand what is ahead for you.

Have you had your surgery already?

Please come back and let us know how you are doing or if you have any questions.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

beccabtown

I'm a newbie myself. I'm

I'm a newbie myself. I'm sorry you had to come here, but this is a very helpful group.

I'll have my second round of chemo this week. Everyone's experience is different, but most people seem to tolerate this kind of chemo quite well. Based on my experience in round 1, I recommend having lots of liquids before & after treatment (even if it is a pain to go to the bathroom every hour during your infusion, as I did), taking your anti-nausea meds on schedule, even if you don't feel sick, and having an antihistamine like Benadryl or Claritin ready for leg and foot discomfort. Do read through the "Ladies Going Through Chemo" thread.

There are several of us on the list who started chemo in the last month or so.

Good luck!

EZLiving66

Welcome to the group!  I had

Welcome to the group!  I had Stage II UPSC and the first chemo was pretty easy.  Everyone is different.  What kind of chemo are you having?  Keep us updated on how you do.

Love,

Eldri

debrajo

Another one...

Hey, and welcome!  I am UPSC 1a also.  It's hard, but NOT the hardest thing I have ever done.  Actually, though I didn't think so at the time, I had a pretty easy time.  I also had five rounds of Bracyhytheopy, which for me, was a cake walk!  You also need to read the thread"shout out for the dialators"  Long story short, but I didn't and have had to give up sex for life.  Ask us anything...nothing is out of bounds!  Best, Debrajo

TeddyandBears_Mom

NoTimeForCancer said:

I thought Editgrl had started

I thought Editgrl had started one of the thread about going through chemo but I found this one:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296461

This might help as well:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296915

Post: - thanks Cindy!!!

Retiredfromthestate, please feel free to ask anything. There are good women here and there is a lot of information on the site.

NoTime

Editgirl started one for post chemo treatments (I can't remember the title but I'll see if I can find it). AWK started the one you listed where we documented side effects and asked questions about chemo impacts as we experienced them.

Post Update:  Here it is... http://csn.cancer.org/node/299449

NoTimeForCancer

I thought Editgrl had started

I thought Editgrl had started one of the thread about going through chemo but I found this one:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296461

This might help as well:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296915

Post: - thanks Cindy!!!

Retiredfromthestate, please feel free to ask anything. There are good women here and there is a lot of information on the site.

TeddyandBears_Mom

NoTimeForCancer said:

I thought Editgrl had started

I thought Editgrl had started one of the thread about going through chemo but I found this one:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296461

This might help as well:  http://csn.cancer.org/node/296915

Post: - thanks Cindy!!!

Retiredfromthestate, please feel free to ask anything. There are good women here and there is a lot of information on the site.

You're welcome! I went back

You're welcome! I went back and reread all of the input on the thread Chris started. Wow, it sure is a great reminder for how far I have come since December. I'm so glad we all took the time to document stuff.

brissance

welcome

Greeting Retired,

There are so many smart women with inspirational stories in this forum I feel hesitant to give much info...  I too am Stage 1 UPSC (serous).  I was diagnosed in Jan, hysterectomy Feb.  I have had 3 chemos..   I was scheduled for Taxol and Carbo Platin.  I had a sensitivity (like super duper) to taxol.  Tried it and but only had carbo 1st then tried it 2 time after all the super prep more sterioids etc.  But then another reaction so just got Carbo again.  3 go round had carbo and taxotere.  Went fine... so have completed 3 chemos.  Completed 25 external radiation and a 2 day brachy low dose.  Now I still have 3 chemos left.  I can say I have been fine through the ordeal.  Am tired and small little issues along the way but on the whole it has been fine.  As long as I can kill the cancer I am happy.  Good luck my friend and if I can help, would love too.  

NoTimeForCancer

debrajo said:

Another one...

Hey, and welcome!  I am UPSC 1a also.  It's hard, but NOT the hardest thing I have ever done.  Actually, though I didn't think so at the time, I had a pretty easy time.  I also had five rounds of Bracyhytheopy, which for me, was a cake walk!  You also need to read the thread"shout out for the dialators"  Long story short, but I didn't and have had to give up sex for life.  Ask us anything...nothing is out of bounds!  Best, Debrajo

Debrajo, Here is the thread

Debrajo, Here is the thread you mentioned, "Shout out for the dialators".    

http://csn.cancer.org/node/302013

TeddyandBears_Mom

Hey Patty.... ALL input is

Hey Patty.... ALL input is valuable because we all have different experiences to share.

You have a great attitude and that will continue to help you get through the remaining 3 chemos.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

retiredfromstate

Serous uterine cancer

Thanks so much ladies. I have had my surgery . I had pet scan and MRI. Showed nothing. I have lymph-vascular invasion . Less than 50% Myometrial invasion which Dr. says is good thing. I am glad I found you all. Thanks again. Dr. says after chemo my chances go into the high 90s of not coming back. I sure hope so.

retiredfromstate

Chemo treatments

I am going to be treated with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin. I will be having 3 weeks on and 1 off. I see Dr. this week. I guess they will tell me more. I have to get my port in also. 

Kvdyson

retiredfromstate said:

Chemo treatments

I am going to be treated with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin. I will be having 3 weeks on and 1 off. I see Dr. this week. I guess they will tell me more. I have to get my port in also. 

Best advice I received for chemo treatments

Hi Retired, I finished front-line treatment at the end of May (Taxol on day 1 & Ifosfamide/Mesna on days 1-3). I also had external pelvic radiation "sandwiched" between my 3rd and 4th chemo treatments. All of that was after a TAH-BSO surgery with 14 lymph nodes excised.

I was very lucky to experience only mild side-effects from the chemo and radiation so was able to continue working full-time (not during chemo days). The oncology nurses do a great job of pre-treating me with steroids, benadryl, anti-nausea meds and hydration to be sure that my treatments are as well tolerated as possible.

The best advice I received about treatment was 1) stay hydrated - if you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, 2) keep moving - even if it's only a few steps - do it, 3) eat high protein meals - your body needs the protein to recover properly, 4) take Miralax during chemo, it helps keep you regular and 5) stay positive - you can't control much about what is happening to your body but you can control how you react to it.

Wishing you good luck! Kim

retiredfromstate

Chemo treatments

Thanks so much Kvdyson. This info is very helpful and calms my nerves . Do any of you ask for anxiety meds before treatment? I have very bad anxiety. Currently taking Citalapram. May need to up it. Thanks

TeddyandBears_Mom

I did take Lorazapam for

I did take Lorazapam for anxiety when I first found out I have cancer. It helped me a lot. I have not had to take anything for months now but if I ever have the need again, I won't hesitate to use them. Learning that you have cancer is not an easy thing to process.

Good luck with your treatments.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

CheeseQueen57

Kvdyson said:

Best advice I received for chemo treatments

Hi Retired, I finished front-line treatment at the end of May (Taxol on day 1 & Ifosfamide/Mesna on days 1-3). I also had external pelvic radiation "sandwiched" between my 3rd and 4th chemo treatments. All of that was after a TAH-BSO surgery with 14 lymph nodes excised.

I was very lucky to experience only mild side-effects from the chemo and radiation so was able to continue working full-time (not during chemo days). The oncology nurses do a great job of pre-treating me with steroids, benadryl, anti-nausea meds and hydration to be sure that my treatments are as well tolerated as possible.

The best advice I received about treatment was 1) stay hydrated - if you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, 2) keep moving - even if it's only a few steps - do it, 3) eat high protein meals - your body needs the protein to recover properly, 4) take Miralax during chemo, it helps keep you regular and 5) stay positive - you can't control much about what is happening to your body but you can control how you react to it.

Wishing you good luck! Kim

Liking the hair Kimmy!!!!

Looks like hairs coming back!

retiredfromstate

Chemo treatments

Thank you Cindi.

Kvdyson

CheeseQueen57 said:

Liking the hair Kimmy!!!!

Looks like hairs coming back!

Fuzz on top!

Hi Cheese - thank you! I'm so glad that there is finally enough fuzz on top for me to feel confident to go without my beloved scarves. It has been soooo hot here lately. Love the beach photo - you look great!

Kvdyson

retiredfromstate said:

Chemo treatments

Thanks so much Kvdyson. This info is very helpful and calms my nerves . Do any of you ask for anxiety meds before treatment? I have very bad anxiety. Currently taking Citalapram. May need to up it. Thanks

Pre-treatments

Hi Retired, I tried to read up on what to expect so it kind of took the anxiety away. You may be surprised that it is not nearly as bad as you think. Bring something to keep yourself occupied but nothing that takes too much concentration. I took my Kindle and read for a while then watched TV then slept (my day 1 lasted about 8 hours, days 2 & 3 lasted only 4). 

I got my chemo treatments at my gyn-onc's office. He has a small infusion room with only 10 seats so the two nurses were never more than a few feet away. They probably would have given me something if I had asked. The benadryl that they gave me as a pre-treatment made me quite sleepy.

Have you gone through an orientation meeting with your infusion team yet? It can be a lot of information but it may put your mind at ease once you see the setting and how other patients are just sitting around and talking or watching a movie. Don't hesitate to call your medical team if you have any concerns. I'm sure they will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable.

janaes

Hi retired, just wanted to

Hi retired, just wanted to say hi and let you know i am currently duing chemo.  I have had 2 treatments so far.  Welcome to the group.  Its a great place to find suppport.  There are a lot of wonderful women here who are very helpful.