chemo

I DID try Claritin, but it didn't seem to help.  I only took it the day before, day of, and day after the shot though.  Should I take it earlier?  Do you think it matters that it's 24 hr Claritan D rather than the 12 hr the Dr. said to get?

Yes, I'm triple negative, too.  I had a 3cm tumor.  I could've had a lumpectomy, chemo, then radiation, but chose to do single mastectomy with sentinel node and chemo instead.  DCIS is ductal carcinoma in situ which is cancer in the milk duct that hasn't spread out of the duct.  Once it breaks through it's called IDC or invasive ductal carcinoma. I was just talking with an RN who told me that if the cancer is DCIS and between 1-5mm, that no chemo is recommended whether it's triple negative or not.  It's only once it becomes invasive that they worry.

Aligrace....did I read correctly no treatment? If so thats great!

Wow! That was a lot of helpful information! I just started chemo last Friday and already I had some itches on my head that hurt when I scratched. I thought I was being overly sensitive and while it sucks that we are all experiencing similar symptoms, I feel better that I am not alone in the process!!

   Hello DKMoore2,

                    I am sorry you are experiencing this nausea and inability to keep anything down.   After my first chemo I had the same thing happen. I urge you to call your Onc. Nurse right away and tell her what is happening. You should be able to receive an injection of an antinauseant to stop this.


                     I know it is discouraging but in my case after experiencing what you are going through the Oncologist reduced the chemo for the rest of the rounds of treatment a little (which is often done) according to side effects...Chemo is usually given in proportion to one's weight but in some cases it is not tolerated and so a small reduction is made.

                    What they did really worked for me and as well the anti nausea medication was increased and I was also given an IV of Stemetil after I received every Chemo and just before I was to go home.

                    After all these measures were adopted I did not have one bit of nausea or vomiting.

                    Please call you Onc. or his Nurse right away so something can be ordered for you.

                    Re-consider backing out...I am living proof that the first chemo and only the first chemo I received caused these symptoms...There is SO much that they can do to Stop these side effects...

                    Do not be discouraged, I understand how you feel I remember, but this can change.

                    Take care and will wait to hear how you are doing...Love,





Annie

Hope this in replying to the kind people that wrote to me from Canada.  I had issues reloggin in.  I did call my oconoligist and told him that I still could not hold anything down.  He said it was unusal and that there was nothing more he could give me.  He did agree to "add some more anti nausea" in round 2 of chemo.  I am so scared and I really dont want to go back.  Thank you for your advice.  How can I find information of people that didnt do the the chemo with triple neg and survived for many years.  This decision is so hard to make and freaking out my mother, my daughter and my husband.  I feel like they are killing me.  Help.

Dk, are you taking Emend? I ate like a horse while on chemo, thanks to Emend and the other anti nausea meds that I took.

dkmoore2

   

       Hello DKMoore2,        I see that you were able to eat yesterday that is great. Also read the above about your Onc.

                        I just wanted to mention that along with giving me a separate IV bag with Stemetil in it after the chemo was done and before I went home, I also was prescribed tablets of Stemetil to take twice or three times a day following chemo...I forget the exact dosage but I took it in addition to the other strong anti-nauseant I was also taking which was Zofran.

        You could ask your Onc if he might want to consider to prescribe more anti-nauseant pills like the one I mentioned or another one he may prefer depending on it going along with the other anti-nauseant you take and the type of Chemo you are receiving. I am not sure if he is reducing your dosage of chemo a bit.

        Here in Canada we see the Onc a day before Chemo where he reviews our blood work and goes over anything and the next day chemo is given...not sure how it works where you are.

                        As far as you seeing some recurrance here, yes that can happen depending on several factors.   However there are COUNTLESS people who are doing very very well without any recurrance years and years after chemo and Radiation. It is just that they are now busy living and going on with life.

                        In order to do all we can to prevent any recurrance especially in TNBC chemo is CRUCIAL to increasing the chance of a good outcome. I know that chemo upsets people, I have known some with that attitude too but as my ONC said we have to hit it hard! and this is the best way we have.

                        YOU, will get through this!!! we are all here to help you along ANYTIME you need us or have any questions or just need to talk. Remember that and we will be thinking about you on Tuesday and I will be praying for you...Take care...Love, Annie

Dkmoore2,

Annie and Arabella have given you excellent advice. TNBC is very aggressive and chemo and radiation are all we have to fight this disease. There is a higher rate of recurrence because it is more likely to travel thru the lymph or vascular system than other bc. We also don't have adjuvant therapies like Tamoxifen or Herceptin to help reduce recurrence. We have to throw everything at it and hope it doesn't recur. As you can see from my signature I've battled a recurrence. I've had chemo twice and never had any nausea. I believe it was probably due to excellent anti nausea drugs given to me, including steroids. I actually gained wait while on chemo, ugh! With my recurrence, I used acupuncture to help me. I believe it really helped with my fatigue level and clear out my liver enzymes. I'd recommend it too. You can do this!

Donna