Starting Chemo

knarrly
knarrly Member Posts: 24
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I just got out of the hospital on Tuesday. The cancer is at stage 1c. I'll be starting chemo on Monday. (Carbo and Taxol?) Anyone have any advice, or just some insight on what to expect?

Comments

  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #2
    Chemo
    Hi
    Stage 1 is very good; the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the ovaries.You will have 6 treatments every 21 days which is standard. Your first treatment should start with a pre-treatment of meds to keep you from having an allergic reaction and probably something for nausea. If you are taking carbo/taxol as your chemo drugs it will take about 5-6 hours for the treatment. I was ok for 2-3 days after the treatment but about the 3rd to 4th day I would have leg pain and would be weak. This usually only lasted a week at the most.You will lose your hair, so be prepared. One thing I learned was that before and after I had a treatment I would start taking a stool softener because the chemo drugs will constipate you. The more treatments you take the worst your symptoms may become or you may not be affected at all. Everyone is different in how they react. Make sure you have good nutrition. Try to drink lots of water. Also, try to get some form of exercise. The place I go has much to offer, pillows, blankets, snacks, beverages, TV. Keep us posted.These women on this board are wonderful, courageous and wise. They will help you through all of your problems and worries.
    Hugs and Prayers,
    Terry
  • ladyjogger31
    ladyjogger31 Member Posts: 289
    #3
    Chemo
    Sorry, I almost posted twice.
  • ColleenN
    ColleenN Member Posts: 73
    #4
    welcome
    Hi Knarrly,

    Welcome to the group. Terry's right with drinking extra water before and for a few days after treatment. I recently found out that coffee doesn't count though. My onc. nurse told me that it actually has the opposite effect and pulls liquid out of your body making veins harder to find. If you went with a port though, it shouldn't matter as far as the "sticking" part. Terry's also right on the treatment and everything else. I was diagnosed with IC in July, and will be having my last chemo the day after Thanksgiving.

    Other advice, remember to take your antinausea meds they give you for after treatment on time. Unless you're really lucky, you'll have good days and bad days. Enjoy the good ones, and have the telephone, good books, the tv remote, or whatever you like to curl up on the couch with for the bad ones. Remember, you're beautiful (with or without hair), and you can get through this.

    I haven't heard of anyone not losing their hair with this treatment. On the bright side, you end up not having to shave your legs!

    Good luck, take care, and keep us posted.

    Colleen
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #5
    I got thru chemo fine
    Knarrly, these ladies gave you very good advice. I was stage 3c but I'm still here. My hair has grown back and I have no side effects except occasional chemo brain. I didn't have alot of trouble with chemo. I never got nausious but I did have a metalic taste in my mouth. I felt hungry and had alot of cravings. I think it was because of the steriods in the chemo they gave me. A couple of days after chemo I would feel tired and short of breath when I went up stairs. Otherwise, most of the time I felt fine. I didn't feel tired all the time, just after the treatments. The worst thing for me was the loss of hair. Such vanity but we are women! It was hard dealing with the hair falling out. I had it cut short and then I shaved it when all that remained were some ghoulish strands. I looked better bald. But I usually worn scarfs, small ones. I prefered the silky ones but I had cotton ones, too. I learned how to fold them just right. I had some very pretty ones. I used to get compliments. Good luck!
  • MJ
    MJ Member Posts: 18
    #6
    ladyjogger31 said:

    Chemo
    Hi
    Stage 1 is very good; the cancer hasn’t spread beyond the ovaries.You will have 6 treatments every 21 days which is standard. Your first treatment should start with a pre-treatment of meds to keep you from having an allergic reaction and probably something for nausea. If you are taking carbo/taxol as your chemo drugs it will take about 5-6 hours for the treatment. I was ok for 2-3 days after the treatment but about the 3rd to 4th day I would have leg pain and would be weak. This usually only lasted a week at the most.You will lose your hair, so be prepared. One thing I learned was that before and after I had a treatment I would start taking a stool softener because the chemo drugs will constipate you. The more treatments you take the worst your symptoms may become or you may not be affected at all. Everyone is different in how they react. Make sure you have good nutrition. Try to drink lots of water. Also, try to get some form of exercise. The place I go has much to offer, pillows, blankets, snacks, beverages, TV. Keep us posted.These women on this board are wonderful, courageous and wise. They will help you through all of your problems and worries.
    Hugs and Prayers,
    Terry

    Stage I ovarian cancer
    I am too new to this and I am going to chemo on Monday. I had a major surgery on October 2 and it was Stage I. Please help.
  • MJ
    MJ Member Posts: 18
    #7
    I was diagnosed Stage I C
    I was diagnosed Stage I C too and I am starting chemo on Monday and quite scared and I don't know how to use this chat room. thks
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #8
    Special Vitamins
    Start taking L-lysine for the prevention of mouth sores and Vit. B-6 plus L-glutamine for the neuropathy that chemo causes. I did this and had minimum neuropathy and no mouth sores. My oncologist gave me prescriptions for nausea and I started those as soon as I got home from the infusion and seldom had a problem with that. If you get Carboplatin and taxol like I did, it will take about 72 hours after for it to hit. Come back with any questions you may have...Take something to listen to or read because the infusion could take about 6 hours. I got pre meds of benedryl and anti nausea before the two bags of chemos.
    The benedryl made me drowsy but I seldom sleep during the infusion. Good luck. (((Hugs))) Saundra
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #9
    Thinking of you
    Can see you already got lots of responses and support. The women here are wonderful and have so much knowledge. I agree with Saundra about the L-Lysine and Lglutamine. Drink lots of water and give yourself lots of rest time. Sending lots of hugs N prayers Bonnie
  • knarrly
    knarrly Member Posts: 24
    #10
    Thank you!
    I went for the chemo, and I'd like to thank those of you who recommended the supplements. I feel okay so far, so maybe they're helping. :)
  • MJ
    MJ Member Posts: 18
    #11
    Hi
    To all, this is MJ: I had my first chemo on Monday 11/17/08 (Carbo/Taxol) and last night had pain in my hips and the legs; and could not sleep at all (was it the steroid that was also injected during the chemo?).

    Today I had been depressed and crying from time to time. As days go by will I get better or worse? Are the drugs starting to take effect now?

    Have taken an hour walk this morning.
  • MJ
    MJ Member Posts: 18
    #12
    How are you feeling today?
    Water is very important. I have started to have a metallic taste and I am using plastic spoon/fork since yesterday.

    Also have lots of fruits and vegetables.

    Take care.
  • ColleenN
    ColleenN Member Posts: 73
    #13
    MJ said:

    Hi
    To all, this is MJ: I had my first chemo on Monday 11/17/08 (Carbo/Taxol) and last night had pain in my hips and the legs; and could not sleep at all (was it the steroid that was also injected during the chemo?).

    Today I had been depressed and crying from time to time. As days go by will I get better or worse? Are the drugs starting to take effect now?

    Have taken an hour walk this morning.

    normal
    Hi MJ,

    Leg and hip pain is pretty normal. Some people get by on Tylenol, some need stronger medications. This usually only lasts a few days. Not sleeping the first night is due to the steroid, and is also very normal. As far as depression and crying from time to time, that's not unusual either. Talk with your doctor if it gets to be too much, some people need to take antidepressants or speak with a councelor. You're going through a lot right now, and it can be overwhelming. I celebrated the first time I made it though a week without crying. Take care.

    Colleen
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #14
    MJ said:

    Hi
    To all, this is MJ: I had my first chemo on Monday 11/17/08 (Carbo/Taxol) and last night had pain in my hips and the legs; and could not sleep at all (was it the steroid that was also injected during the chemo?).

    Today I had been depressed and crying from time to time. As days go by will I get better or worse? Are the drugs starting to take effect now?

    Have taken an hour walk this morning.

    MJ
    Welcome to the group,I'm sorry you have to be here. The pain your talking about is caused from the chemo.I was on percocet for it so ask the Onc for a RX if tylenol doesn't help. Drinking lots of water or using a stool softner may also be needed if you start to get constipation.....another normal side effect. Take care and keep us posted~~~Joanne
  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #15
    MJ said:

    How are you feeling today?
    Water is very important. I have started to have a metallic taste and I am using plastic spoon/fork since yesterday.

    Also have lots of fruits and vegetables.

    Take care.

    ORALL PROBLEMS
    Oh yes, I remember that 'metallic taste' all too well. Eventually, my tongue got so distressed, and I lost most of my taste buds (it comes back somewhat). Anyway, nothing really had any flavor to me, which made my interest in eating minimal. But what helped my tongue and mouth sores a great deal with ice chips. I bought a snow cone machine and froze not just water, but juices (not too acidic) and even milk shakes that I added some protein powder to. I put them in the snow cone machine, and it made really fine pieces. I would just let little bits melt in my mouth. It was refreshing and I at least got liquids and some nutrients.

    Don't go wild on mouth rinses. They can be more harmful than good. If you get mouth sores, use Orajel, Orabase, or Zilactin. The Zilactin coats the sores, and gives you a chance to eat without discomfort.

    Well, I hope this helps. Don't dismay. I know this is difficult, but you WILL get through it. Try to keep a journal. It really helped me, especially during those long, lonely nights when I couldn't sleep (and they were frequent). Writing things down was like a big release, like saying it so I could let it go and move on. Soaking in a warm/hot tub helped me also. It alleviated some of the body aches and relaxed me so I could sleep. I used mineral bath salts or my favorite, lavendar, which is very soothing and can help you sleep.

    Love, hugs and prayers to you. Keep visiting and we'll all help you to get over the rought spots.

    Monika

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