Starting Chemo on Friday 10/5

Double Whammy said:

how'd it go?
Round 1 is over (well, sort of). Hope the infusion went without a glitch and you have few or no side effects.

Suzanne

mamolady said:

Tonia,
You have already
Tonia,
You have already gotten wonderful advise. I will only add that once you are through this first one, you will get your groove. You will know what foods you can stomach, what days you can get stuff done and what days you should just be a couch potato. If they are giving you the injections, pick up a sharps container at the pharmacy to so you can dispose of the needles safely. I had to do mine as my husband has issues with needles!
Like everyone says, drinks lots of fluids. I added an extra serving of protein and that seemed to help. The steroids really helped me eat.
This will be over before you know it.
Cindy

desertgirl947 said:

I finished chemo July 16. I
I finished chemo July 16. I did four rounds of adriamycin/cytoxan every other week and that was followed by four rounds of taxol every other week. My nurses told me that what they had in the preliminary drip was enough to offset nausea from Monday through Wednesday. (I did not know at first, and so I started taking my anti-puke pills (2) the day after an infusion.) I did my three days of steroids Tuesday-Thursday. I had to take two. The nurses told me that a smart thing to do was take the second pill mid-afternoon rather than 12 hours or so after my first dose. They said I had a better chance of sleeping if I did that. I did. I slept fine.

I never had issues with vomiting. The oncology people told me that there was no reason that I should. If my meds were not working, I was to call them and they would prescribe something else. I did have days of queasiness and would make myself eat some, as I knew I should. I drank tons of water. I wanted the crud washed out of my system quickly. I tried to take in 2-3 qts. of water.

Food did not appeal to me, although I did better when someone else prepared it. When I was doing Taxol, my infusions took longer than they did with the other stuff, and so I was at the office into mid-afternoon. Packing a lunch from home did not work for me; I did better having my driver-of-the-day go out to get us something from a local fast-food restaurant. I really had to play mind games some time.

AC: only time I felt queasy (usually from about Thursday through Saturday, after chemo Monday)
T: never felt queasy; did have a reaction to the drug twice -- the last two infusions -- that twice stopped the infusion temporarily; had issues with coughing and taking deep breaths for parts of the last four weeks of taxol, but an allergy pill like Clariton helped a lot.

When I knew my hair was starting to flee, I had a friend of mine come over and give me a buzz cut. I thought bristles were not likely to clog drains and be less of a nuisance, especially because that particular weekend my husband and I were going to visit family (over 400 miles from us)for a brief reunion.

Neulasta -- I had to go get the shot. It only really began to bother my legs, etc. the final month I took it. My numbers were always good, and so I did not have to get a shot after my final chemo.

It is good if you can have a driver, whether or not he/she opts to stay with you and be company for you. Not sure what you set up is. My church set up a list for volunteers to sign up to be my drivers. I had people for all 8 infusions plus I had people offer to drive me for my shots and blood draws. I live about a half hour from where I had to go for all of this.

I have observed that how one reacts/handles chemo may not be the same as someone else. However, what any of us here share helps give you an idea of what you could expect. Just don't be surprised if you are rather individual.

mom62 said:

On the Bus
Hi,

I'd be happy to be on the bus when you go to chemo. I hope you have a symptom free treatment. We will be here if you have any questions. Good job getting the wig early. I found shaving my head when my hair started to fall out empowering. This was just my experience. It was like the only think I had control of. I'll be here you for you if you need me.

Terry

Wendy Joy said:

The Claritin the night
The Claritin the night before the Nuelast shot and a few days after helped with any body aches. I don't know why, but it works! Also, I had heard if you chew on ice during your chemo injection you will not get mouth sores. I don't know if it worked, but every injection I got an ice tea from McDonalds and kept having the nurses fill it up with ice. it was so cold in the room, but I did not stop having ice in my mouth the entire time and no mouth sores. Again, maybe a myth but either way worked for me. Also you will figure out what food you can eat and what you can't. I though all I would want was ice cream and then found out I wanted chicken broth and nothing milk based. 4 or 5 days after the injection I would start doing the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) and it would keep me from getting diarrhea. Keep benadryl on hand. I broke out in a rash on my chest and had to take it. You will learn so much after your first round and by the time it is over (yah) you will be an expert on how it is going to effect your body. We are all different. Just stay calm, rest and let people help you. Good luck!!!!!