Getting ready to start chemo and I am scared

luana56 said:

Scared and ready as well
Hi,

I do understand how you feel. Today is your new begining. We are lucky, we can be treated by the most advanced methods available. We are on the road to a full recovery.
I am in a similar situation and starting my treatment early next week with the same regimen. Catheter and treatment starts the same day. I am very scared myself but I know I will be OK. Nothing ever came easy to me but I am a fighter and never gave up. All this is only temporary for a permament cure. Please keep your spirits up, you WILL BE OK.
Please let me know how did it go today.

Best Regards,

Kylez said:

Hope your chemo went ok!
Hope your chemo went ok! Let us know when you feel like it.

jojo elizapest said:

#1 down the tubes
Hope all went well. I was dx in Feb. and did have the same cocktail at the beginning. I have now had 7 chemo sessions, 3 weeks apart, and have found that by tracking how I am feeling I can still plan and look forward to enjoying the day to day stuff that at the beginning went by the wayside. Watch for and relish the good days...they will be there. I have also learned that it is better to take the electronic cart at Walmart and be able to shop than to 'wait until I am strong enough to walk around', better to shave the head and prepare with a couple of trusty hats and scarves than to wait to wake up with a furry pillow.

This site is a tremendous resource on what to expect and dealing with side effects, ONCs and well meaning friends and family....Welcome!!

aztec45 said:

Scared
I am new to this site but I already feel that I am in good company.

To those who are starting chemo...I was so scared during my first chemo session my hands would not stop sweating. But once we got started, it wasn't that bad. The port is awesome. My veins tend to roll so it is quite difficult to draw blood or start an IV for me. The port makes drawing blood and administering the chemo drugs easy. The needle stick hurts a bit but the pain passes quickly. They can give you some cream to numb the site.

Let the nurses know if you experience any funny sensations or start feeling sick or anything during your chemo session. The nurses will take care of it immediately. One of my chemo drugs burned my nose so they had to slow it down and feed me mints.

Take your nausea meds as prescribed and let them know if they don't work. They may try something different. Drink plenty of water and force yourself to eat. The water flushes the poison out of your body and eating helps keep your strength up as well as build your white blood cells back.

Just know that you will get through this. It may be hard at times and it disrupts your life beyond belief but this will all pass and you will be healthy, well, and back to normal.

As for hair loss....my hair is falling out as I am sitting here typing this note. It started earlier this week. The onc nurse warned me I would lose my hair around my second treatment. I had long hair and cut it short. I donated it to Locks for Love. I figured if I was going to lose it, at least someone could get some use out of it. Donating it helped me deal with losing it. It is still a shock and I feel like a big cat shedding my hair everywhere, but I am not quite ready to shave it just yet. I plan to wear some beanie caps vs. a wig. My work environment is too hot for a wig. Winter may bring about a change but we'll see.

I am very partial to my hair but it will grow back. I would rather have my hair grow back than another tumor.

Try to keep your chin up. You will get through this. Best of luck to all.

P

SoftBallMom2 said:

Hey Guys! Today is the first
Hey Guys! Today is the first day that I have felt like getting on here. I had an allergic reaction to the nausea medicine I received. On sat. my jaw got all twisted up and I could not swallow. My jaws hurt so bad. Couldn't talk. I was really scared. My husband had to take me to the emergency room. They gave me a bunch of benadryl and lots of fluids. I was so sick. Today is the first day I have been out of bed. I told my husband if this is how it is going to be that I know I am not going to make it. Hopefully, next time will be better. I have had diarrhea for 2 days. But today I am finally starting to bounce back. Just really weak. I want to thank everybody who wrote and was worried about me. It really means alot to me that you all care. I will keep you updated. Is the first time usually the worst?

SoftBallMom2 said:

Hey Guys! Today is the first
Hey Guys! Today is the first day that I have felt like getting on here. I had an allergic reaction to the nausea medicine I received. On sat. my jaw got all twisted up and I could not swallow. My jaws hurt so bad. Couldn't talk. I was really scared. My husband had to take me to the emergency room. They gave me a bunch of benadryl and lots of fluids. I was so sick. Today is the first day I have been out of bed. I told my husband if this is how it is going to be that I know I am not going to make it. Hopefully, next time will be better. I have had diarrhea for 2 days. But today I am finally starting to bounce back. Just really weak. I want to thank everybody who wrote and was worried about me. It really means alot to me that you all care. I will keep you updated. Is the first time usually the worst?

SoftBallMom2 said:

Hey Guys! Today is the first
Hey Guys! Today is the first day that I have felt like getting on here. I had an allergic reaction to the nausea medicine I received. On sat. my jaw got all twisted up and I could not swallow. My jaws hurt so bad. Couldn't talk. I was really scared. My husband had to take me to the emergency room. They gave me a bunch of benadryl and lots of fluids. I was so sick. Today is the first day I have been out of bed. I told my husband if this is how it is going to be that I know I am not going to make it. Hopefully, next time will be better. I have had diarrhea for 2 days. But today I am finally starting to bounce back. Just really weak. I want to thank everybody who wrote and was worried about me. It really means alot to me that you all care. I will keep you updated. Is the first time usually the worst?

taleena said:

I just wanted to let you
I just wanted to let you know that I too am keeping you in my thougts.. hang in there and know that we are all here for you...

Hugs to you my friend.
~T

tjhay said:

SBM2
I am so sorry that you had a bad time, it will get better. Thank you for checking in, we have been very worried about you
sending hugs your way
tjhay