Starting Kemo

teresa41 said:

wishing you the best
wishing you the best tat i didnt have the same chemo as you . hang in there and fight like a girl!




teresa

Hi Tat
I didn't have your cocktail either. But if you go to www.nosurrenderbreatcancer.org, they have a section dealing with each of the chemo's and the side effects. But when you read it please keep in mind that not any one has all of those. I certainly didn't. But it goes thru the chemo's and tells you what each one does, how it works. I had it printed out and took it to my onc on my first visit. Every one reacts differently so no one can tell you how you will feel. We can give suggestions on things to have on hand that you may need.

When are you starting your chemo? It's really scary going in there the first time, but it's doable. I also have a port and love it. I don't ever want to give it up! You put that Emla cream on an hour or so before you go and you don't even feel a poke..always a plus.

Keep us posted.

Hugs, Judy :-)

A plan in place...
No one wants chemo. Yet, it is necessary for so many of us to get to NED. We'll be here for you, each step of the way.

A long way to go; yet, you'll get there. Please keep us posted.

Best wishes to you.

Kind regards, Susan

You can do it!
Yes, I have been in your shoes. I had a port put in, 6 rounds of chemo, double masectomy, and 6 weeks of rads. You have a long road ahead of you but there is an end to it.
I really did not have a hard time with chemo. I just felt tired through the whole thing. The rads was the worst for me because of the burning of my skin. Keep a good attitude and have hope. I was 37 last year when I received the news and now I have not felt this good in a long time. I still have reconstructive surgery ahead of me, but I am beating this demon and so will you. Good luck and keep the faith.
Cynthia Wilson
cindywilson007@msn.com

tat2granny said:

Skeezie
What is that cream you were talking about? Emla? Can I buy it over the counter, or do you have to have a script for it?

Good Luck
Good luck to you. We are here for you if/when you need us. Have your onc give you a script for the cream. This cream numbs the area where they insert the needle into your port. It won't hurt as much. Take care.

P

chenheart said:

I had adriamycin, cytoxan,
I had adriamycin, cytoxan, and taxotere and then rads..I am ER+ and finished 5 years of Arimidex a year ago next month. I was NOT ever ill from the chemo, but did experience horrific cumulative exhaustion. I had a port, and as my WBC plummeted, I also had a Neulasta shot the day after each infusion. ( every three weeks)

It isn't a vacation, a picnic, a walk in the park~ not much good about chemo at all except for one GREAT "side-effect"....chemo kills cancer!!!!

Hugs,
Chen♥

Sending you hugs and wishing
Sending you hugs and wishing you good luck with chemo!


Hugs, Leeza

Same chemo treatment
I had the Adria/cytoxan then taxol over 16 weeks with a nuelasta shot after each one. With the A/C I didn't have much in the way of being sick. THey made sure I had enough drugs to keep me moving. Demand Emend if they don't offer it! The Nuelasta is what made me sick about 2 days after the shot my lymphnodes in my neck would swell and hurt and other nasty things in the way of GI upset. With the taxol I had bone pain but only for about a week. I'd get better in time for the next treatment lol They gave me vicodin for the pain.I also had mild nuropathy in my fingers and toes, that has passed as well. Finished on Dec. 9th 09.

About 4 or 5 weeks after last dose I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes and my finger and toe nails started to pull up from the nailbeds.

But now almost 3 months down and eyebroews and lashes are back hair is growing in nicely, nails are growing out good too! Chemo is a rough road, but very doable. Even with the same treatment the side effects can/will be different. This was just my experience. Don't want to scare ya! You'll do great and it will be over before you know it!

Your in my thoughts. Take care
TY

Kathy09 said:

Mix
I had the adriamycin and cytoxan mix. I had it every three weeks. The port was one good thing I had done. About three weeks after the first treatment I started to loose my hair. Get Ready. I usually only had one down day. Friday was treatment ok then sat went for shot ok till about 4 pm then tired by sunday down for the day and back to work on monday, feeling slightly poopy for the week. didndt want to eat. Seems like after every treatment I would find one thing I would like (kind of like if you were pregnant and you get a certain weird food craving. It wasn't till the second dose of chemo which was the Taxotere that tore me up ended in oct. I am still suffering the eye effects and the nails are all messed up or still falling off If it helps I would have gladly taken the adrimycin and cytoxen mix again over the taxotere. email me if I can answer more for you.

I just finished the A/C and Taxol 2 weeks ago
Like the others have said, each person has different side effects. Mine were horrible with the A/C for 3 days each time, but I was able to work (I'm a 5th gr teacher) throughout the whole thing. The taxol was a piece of cake compared to the A/c.
Drink lots of water the day before each treatment, chew ice during each treatment, and drink again afterward to wash it out of your body. I found bananas, apples, hard boiled eggs, and ginger ale the most appealing. Just like being pregnant, you have to munch a little bit all the time or it gets the best of you. Keep crackers near your bed.
Good luck! and God bless,
Lorraine

Hi Tat
Sending cyber hugs to you as you start the journey to kill the beast. I can't add any more than what has been said above me here, except to listen to these ladies,they are wise beyond all our years put together. Even though our diagnoses and treatments are different, we are all one body and when one hurts - we all hurt. I'm glad you are getting the port - I wish I knew about the cream before this! It makes it a lot easier to receive the beast killer. I will be praying for you!
Hugs - Pat

Tyari said:

Same chemo treatment
I had the Adria/cytoxan then taxol over 16 weeks with a nuelasta shot after each one. With the A/C I didn't have much in the way of being sick. THey made sure I had enough drugs to keep me moving. Demand Emend if they don't offer it! The Nuelasta is what made me sick about 2 days after the shot my lymphnodes in my neck would swell and hurt and other nasty things in the way of GI upset. With the taxol I had bone pain but only for about a week. I'd get better in time for the next treatment lol They gave me vicodin for the pain.I also had mild nuropathy in my fingers and toes, that has passed as well. Finished on Dec. 9th 09.

About 4 or 5 weeks after last dose I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes and my finger and toe nails started to pull up from the nailbeds.

But now almost 3 months down and eyebroews and lashes are back hair is growing in nicely, nails are growing out good too! Chemo is a rough road, but very doable. Even with the same treatment the side effects can/will be different. This was just my experience. Don't want to scare ya! You'll do great and it will be over before you know it!

Your in my thoughts. Take care
TY

New to chemo
Ty,
Ya, the nuelasta started to hit me at work on Fridayafternoon. Very strange GI tract issues happenedfor sure. My ankles and toes really hurt over the weekend as for today that has subsided but i have other strange things going on, at least mild. I have to say the medicine they have me taking during the treatment has made dealing with the chemo better than i thought, at least for now. Not usre how long this will last. I do want to be able to work and not be home sick. I am feeling pretty good at this time. I wasn't sure about taking vicodine for fear of the reaction with treatment regiment.

Congrates for completing your treatment.Hate to hear about the eyelashes and nails. Did you lose your hair? I have received a couple of wigs just in case that happens, which i have been told will.
Take Care
Wanda

Mama G said:

I just finished the A/C and Taxol 2 weeks ago
Like the others have said, each person has different side effects. Mine were horrible with the A/C for 3 days each time, but I was able to work (I'm a 5th gr teacher) throughout the whole thing. The taxol was a piece of cake compared to the A/c.
Drink lots of water the day before each treatment, chew ice during each treatment, and drink again afterward to wash it out of your body. I found bananas, apples, hard boiled eggs, and ginger ale the most appealing. Just like being pregnant, you have to munch a little bit all the time or it gets the best of you. Keep crackers near your bed.
Good luck! and God bless,
Lorraine

Incase I missed your post
Incase I missed your post Lorraine, Congrats on finishing chemo!

Hugs, Leeza