start chemo on Mon

Tinabug
Tinabug Member Posts: 158
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I got my chemo schedule today & I start on Monday. I am so ready to get the "show on the road", so this journey is soon a part of my past. Not this site...ya'll are all so amazing!!! Is anyone else starting chemo next week? I am going to have taxtore/cytoxan every 3 weeks for 4 treatments. I requested No Neulasta...she agreed.

My friend & I shopped for a wig today with luck. She was so sweet & bought a skull cap for me to keep my head warm. I have an appt to have my long hair cut short tomorrow...trying to prepare for being bald.

Getting closer to being completely cancer-free.

Huge Hugs,
Tina
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Comments

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #2
    Good luck Tina!
    You will soon be dancing with NED!

    Sue :)
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
    #3
    Best to you...
    As you start this part of your journey. I had the same cocktail that you are having and didn't have the Neulesta shot. I did fine w/o it except for some aches and pains that went away after a few days. Only needed extra strength Tylenol.

    Getting your hair cut prior to losing it is a good idea. I lost mine on the third week after chemo. My last chemo was Oct 9th and I have about a good inch of hair. Maybe in the next month or so I'll go "sans scarf!" My eyelashes and eyebrows are really growing in...finally!

    All done with treatments including 33 rads. Saw the radiologist yesterday and all is good. See the oncologist next week and hope for the same.

    Peace and well wishes to you, Tinabug!!
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
    #4
    pattimc said:

    Best to you...
    As you start this part of your journey. I had the same cocktail that you are having and didn't have the Neulesta shot. I did fine w/o it except for some aches and pains that went away after a few days. Only needed extra strength Tylenol.

    Getting your hair cut prior to losing it is a good idea. I lost mine on the third week after chemo. My last chemo was Oct 9th and I have about a good inch of hair. Maybe in the next month or so I'll go "sans scarf!" My eyelashes and eyebrows are really growing in...finally!

    All done with treatments including 33 rads. Saw the radiologist yesterday and all is good. See the oncologist next week and hope for the same.

    Peace and well wishes to you, Tinabug!!

    Good Luck with your
    Good Luck with your treatments. Remember drink, drink, drink (water that is) HA!
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #5
    Tina, glad to hear you now
    Tina, glad to hear you now have your treatment plan. I totally understand getting the "show on the road". I finished my treatments, chemo (same cocktail) and rads on Christmas Eve. Just in case you do need the Nuelasta shot, it wasn't all that bad for me. I did get some lower back and leg pain but controlled it with extra strength Tylenol. Hoping for tolerable treatments for you. Keep us posted on your progress. Take care.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    MyTurnNow said:

    Tina, glad to hear you now
    Tina, glad to hear you now have your treatment plan. I totally understand getting the "show on the road". I finished my treatments, chemo (same cocktail) and rads on Christmas Eve. Just in case you do need the Nuelasta shot, it wasn't all that bad for me. I did get some lower back and leg pain but controlled it with extra strength Tylenol. Hoping for tolerable treatments for you. Keep us posted on your progress. Take care.

    Wishing you good luck with
    Wishing you good luck with your chemo Tina!

    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • LadyParvati
    LadyParvati Member Posts: 328
    #7
    I know that feeling!
    I was soooo ready to get this show on the road! I began chemo on Jan. 4, and I had a Shaving Party the same day--it was a blast! About 30 people showed up and the positive energy, encouragement, hugs, and love were palpable--such a spirit-lifting event!

    Hang in there, Tina! The way you're taking charge of this rather than just letting it control you, you'll do fine!

    Sandy
  • teresa41
    teresa41 Member Posts: 471
    #8
    LadyParvati said:

    I know that feeling!
    I was soooo ready to get this show on the road! I began chemo on Jan. 4, and I had a Shaving Party the same day--it was a blast! About 30 people showed up and the positive energy, encouragement, hugs, and love were palpable--such a spirit-lifting event!

    Hang in there, Tina! The way you're taking charge of this rather than just letting it control you, you'll do fine!

    Sandy

    good luck
    i had the same cocktail 4 rounds wishing you luck take care!


    :0) teresa
  • scout5000
    scout5000 Member Posts: 94 Member
    #9
    GI Jane
    It sounds like you are ready. I too cut my hair down to one inch before I started chemo. My husband and I watched GI Jane, replaying the scene where she shaves her hair off. Then I put on his very old Air Force uniform and used his hair trimmer to buzz off all of my hair, while he filmed it. I had a blast. It was liberating. When do women ever get to do something so dramatic? Good luck with your chemo and remember that you will get through it.
  • Skeezie
    Skeezie Member Posts: 586 Member
    #10
    scout5000 said:

    GI Jane
    It sounds like you are ready. I too cut my hair down to one inch before I started chemo. My husband and I watched GI Jane, replaying the scene where she shaves her hair off. Then I put on his very old Air Force uniform and used his hair trimmer to buzz off all of my hair, while he filmed it. I had a blast. It was liberating. When do women ever get to do something so dramatic? Good luck with your chemo and remember that you will get through it.

    Hey Tina,
    You sound ready! I had the same cocktail for 4 cycles, finished 12-11. You'll do great. I had 4 Neulasta and they really didn't bother me so if you need it as you go along, don't be afraid. We're all diffrent and react differently and it can be a lifesaver. Keep us posted with your progress..

    Hugs, Judy :-)
  • BethInAz
    BethInAz Member Posts: 203 Member
    #11
    Chemo treatments
    Tina,
    Blessings to you! It's always good to know you're on the schedule and ready to "kick cancer butt." I took treatment 3 yesterday - taxotere/cytoxan as well. I was anxious before the first treatment which went extremely well. The 2nd treatment I reacted to the steroids pre-med (or so my doctor thinks). They had to infuse the taxotere very slowly so it took longer than the 2 1/2 hours they told me. Yesterday treatment took about 5 hours from start to finish because of my particular case with the sensitivity to whatever I'm sensitive to. Got through it, though, and am doing fine. No nausea whatsoever! (Thanks to the antinausea drugs in the pre-meds.) I'm sleepy for the first few days but after the first week, I feel more like myself. I anticipated being more affected so I feel very blessed. I pray the same for you. If you have any questions, I'm here to help. My hair began falling out on day 14 after the treatment. It was Christmas Eve when my daughters cut my hair short. I babied that haircut through three more days then they cut it to half an inch. I'm saving that hair and putting it out in the spring for the birds to make their nests out of. Having no hair is great for getting ready quickly in the morning - I can do it in 1/2 hour - throw on the wig and you're set to jet. Hope all goes well!
    Beth
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #12
    Good luck, Tina
    You'll do fine and before you know it you'll be a chemo graduate. I like your attitude.

    Mimi
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #13
    Great attitude. You'll be
    Great attitude. You'll be vey happy you are cutting your hair. wishing you wonderful, healthy cancer free days.
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #14
    natly15 said:

    Great attitude. You'll be
    Great attitude. You'll be vey happy you are cutting your hair. wishing you wonderful, healthy cancer free days.

    Good luck Tina!
    Good luck Tina!


    ♠♣ Susie ♠♣
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #15
    Good luck Tinabug
    But why no
    Good luck Tinabug
    But why no nuelasta? I think if your white cell count drops too low they will have to stop the chemo, and you dont want that to happen....
  • Mama G
    Mama G Member Posts: 762
    #16
    dyaneb123 said:

    Good luck Tinabug
    But why no
    Good luck Tinabug
    But why no nuelasta? I think if your white cell count drops too low they will have to stop the chemo, and you dont want that to happen....

    I think you are amazing, Tina!
    What a great FIGHTING attitude! I agree with the neulasta. If you don't NEED it don't bother. Let your body do the fighting on it's own. But like dyaneb says, if you NEED it, you know it's there for you.
    God bless and FIGHT like a GIRL!!!
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #17
    Mama G said:

    I think you are amazing, Tina!
    What a great FIGHTING attitude! I agree with the neulasta. If you don't NEED it don't bother. Let your body do the fighting on it's own. But like dyaneb says, if you NEED it, you know it's there for you.
    God bless and FIGHT like a GIRL!!!

    Tinabug ♥
    I am wishing you the best of luck on Monday with your chemo!

    Love, Jeanne ♥</♥</font>
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #18
    Good Luck, Tina!
    What a great attitude, Tina. And you are right: it is all about becoming completely cancer-free. I remember my appt to get my hair cut very short pre-chemo, over a year ago.

    I just had a trim last week. My days of being bald are like a bad dream I had long ago. It will be that way for you, too, and sooner than you think. You will be fine, especially with your wonderful attitude.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #19
    Moopy23 said:

    Good Luck, Tina!
    What a great attitude, Tina. And you are right: it is all about becoming completely cancer-free. I remember my appt to get my hair cut very short pre-chemo, over a year ago.

    I just had a trim last week. My days of being bald are like a bad dream I had long ago. It will be that way for you, too, and sooner than you think. You will be fine, especially with your wonderful attitude.

    Sending you lots of good
    Sending you lots of good luck for Monday Tina!

    Angie
  • sallyf
    sallyf Member Posts: 33
    #20
    Starting the journey
    Hi Tina!

    With your positive attitude that's shining through, I know you'll be fine : ) Good for you for scheduling the haircut, getting your wig shopping done and being pro-active!
    I am about to have my 2nd T/C combo. Of course, we all have different reactions, but you may feel flu-ish on about days 3 and 4.
    I'm interested that some of you all are opting out of the Neulasta. Does your onc. then, just keep a closer watch on your white cell count with more blood draws, or what?

    Here's a big hug. Oh, DRINK WATER, WATER, WATER, ALL DAY thru this process!
    Sally
  • Tinabug
    Tinabug Member Posts: 158
    #21
    THANK YOU
    Ladies,

    Thank you for your sweet words. Ya'll are truly the BEST...this journey would be so difficult without your support & encouragement!!!

    I did get my hair chopped yesterday. Wow, what an adjustment, but I actually love it!!! Jan 30th is my shaving party...so excited. Not about being bald, but I live in AL & I have best friends driving from NC, TN, & GA. I feel special...they probably just want to laugh at my ugly head(ha, ha.)

    I asked not to have the neulasta shot because of the pain associated with it. My doctor said from looking at my spinal xrays it was hard to believe I'm only 43. Years of hitting the ground from horses & dirtbikes has caused permanent damage which has already caused back pain. I'm a little bit of a tomboy. After the 1st treatment if my wbc is way too low, I will have to have the shot.

    Thank you for your encouragment!!!

    Huge Hugs,
    Tina

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