What To Bring To Chemotherapy

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Forum Name: Let's Talk About Chemotherapy
Forum Description: A place to discuss Chemotherapy
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=11791
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Topic: What To Bring To Chemotherapy

Posted By: 123Donna
Subject: What To Bring To Chemotherapy
Date Posted: Feb 08 2014 at 3:41pm

Be Prepared: 22 Things to Bring to Chemo

http://www.whatnext.com/blog/posts/be-prepared-22-things-to-bring-to-chemo?" rel="nofollow - http://www.whatnext.com/blog/posts/be-prepared-22-things-to-bring-to-chemo?

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DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15

Replies:

Posted By: Sunshinegirl
Date Posted: Feb 08 2014 at 6:27pm

Hi Donna,
It's been awhile since I have posted. It is now almost 4 weeks post op from Bilateral mastectomy.
I am doing well , just in some residual pain from expanders, I am starting chemo treatment on Monday .
I am very anxious and scared but also looking forward to actually kicking cancer in the butt.
Tumor 2 cm no nodes. A/c for 4 treatments every other week, and then taxol for 4 treatments every other week .
I did have a question about the a/c chemo, when I am receiving treatment , what will I feel.
Also thank you for this great information on what to bring to chemo.
Hugs
Jennifer

Posted By: nancykind
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 4:04pm

i didn't feel anything when the drugs arrived at the port. i definitely didn't like watching that bright red adriamycin creeping down the line, but the drugs themselves came with no sensation.   i was nauseous with the first bag they gave me which contains another anti nausea drug (irony!), some steroids and something else i can't remember.   the a/c treatments were 'busier' than the taxol treatments, in that there are more bag changes.

the a/c treatments didn't make me drowsy, just nauseous and light headed. i brought a friend, and some crackers, asked for a blanket, a ginger ale and some ice, i'd put on my sea band wristbands (highly recommend!!) and that was it.   i'd have brought a book if i didn't have a friend with me, but our rooms also had tv's.    one friend of mine brought a little stuffed animal that is dear to her, to her treatments.

i did have to go to the bathroom. a LOT!    at least 5-6 times every round! LOL

i was well hydrated going in and the infusions are a lot of fluids on top of that. do drink lots of water to keep yourself well flushed - through your entire treatment! the adriamycin will make your urine red so if they didn't mention it yet, don't be shocked. and it will happen very quickly. drink drink drink.

my sister came with me for my first taxol round and i did my cracker, blanket, ginger ale, ice and wristband routine but the first thing you'll get for those rounds is a hefty dose of benadryl and to be honest i don't remember much after a few seconds. i only woke up when i had to go to the bathroom and again due to the benadryl (i called being under its influence 'benadrunk'!) they had to help me get there or i wove a comical weave down the hallway and anyone in that hallway was at risk for getting bumped into. LOL

but here again, there was no particular sensation with the drugs. and i didn't have to go to the bathroom as often as with the a/c. later, my sister told me that i'd wake up once in a while, look up at the bag, heave a great big sigh, and then pass out again. i don't remember that part at all. she said i did it at least 7 or 8 times over the course of the 6 hours. Big smile

port accessing was easy for me but i did turn my head away as i didn't need to actually watch. with the numbing cream i didn't feel anything more than the pressure they would apply.   if i forgot to put it on they always gave me some, and a few minutes for it to work.   once, i had a port flush without the cream and while it didn't hurt exactly, i felt the needle when they pulled it out and it was creepy. not painful, just rather a creepy feeling i could have done without if i'd thought of the cream ahead of time.

wear clothes that they can work with - a long sleeved turtleneck for example just won't do.   i wore tank tops and sundresses (it was summer) and had a cardigan sweater over my shoulders sometimes.   with the blankets they supplied i was not cold, and i suppose the hot flashes i soon experienced helped with that too!

i do laugh about a lot of it now, and did at the time. it's possible i have a warped sense of humor, but honestly, some of the things that will come up are just ridiculous and will simply deserve to be laughed at.   i hope all your treatments go easily for you. you are on the same schedule that i was on and i am two years cancer free.

oh, and when you get the neulasta shot they have to put it in way up on your upper arm so again, wear something that will allow them to get to that area.

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Lg lump never visible on any films but found 9mm. Lump 1/25/12, DX 1/31@50yrs IIIC/TN/DCIS/INV, Margins Unclr, Ki67 40%,Gr2. MX L 2/24. 3.1cm total. 11/17nodes. AC/T 2xWk,33rads. 12/12 MX R. 9/13 NED!

Posted By: nancykind
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 4:12pm

also, some people i know brought their favorite snack in the world to chemo and could never eat it again afterwards. that didn't happen to me, but it is possible.

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Lg lump never visible on any films but found 9mm. Lump 1/25/12, DX 1/31@50yrs IIIC/TN/DCIS/INV, Margins Unclr, Ki67 40%,Gr2. MX L 2/24. 3.1cm total. 11/17nodes. AC/T 2xWk,33rads. 12/12 MX R. 9/13 NED!

Posted By: Sunshinegirl
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 7:10pm

Thanks Nancy , definitely helps me calm my nerves down.
I am as ready as I can be . I will check in with you after tomorrow . It's nice to know there is an entire support group which I have never met before standing right besides me.
Hugs
Jennifer

Posted By: TriplePositiveGirl
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 7:42pm

Hey Jennifer,

I just wanted to wish you good luck tomorrow. I hope all goes smoothly for you. I had a different chemo than you and Nancy, so I can't add anything to how you might feel specifically from that combo, but I did have a friend with me for my sessions since I was in no shape to drive home afterward. I think it was the antihistamines I received that made me tired (pre-meds). I did try and drink a lot of water - during and after chemo. I did not experience nausea (fortunately) either during or after my chemo treatments. I mainly felt tired.

Before you know it, it will all be over. Take good care of yourself and get your rest!

Lisa

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Diagnosed Jan 2010; Stage IIa, grade 2, 3.2cm in rt. breast, no nodes and BRCA-. 4 cycles Carbo/Gemzar 3/10; Lump 6/10; 2 cycles carbo/gem after surgery 8/10; 35 Rads finished 12/1/10. NED.

Posted By: 123Donna
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 8:32pm

Jennifer,

Wishing you the best tomorrow. I found the anticipation much worse than the actual event. I didn't have A/C, but you'll probably get some premeds (ativan and benadryl) that might make you sleepy. I always enjoyed the little naps during treatment. Staying hydrated is very important. I drank extra water the day before chemo and would bring a couple of water bottles with me during chemo to drink. The chemo nurses are usually extra special and caring. I also met some very special people during treatment. Let us know how your day goes.

Donna

Posted By: MLindaG
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 9:13pm

Sunshine, I too had the A/C with a port and Nancy gave you some good advice. Be sure to use the cream on the port. The first time they go in you can feel it a little bit but after that its nothing. I had my dh for the beginning treatment but after that my Sister would go with me and we would always have some magazines that we were reading. I took a blanket a good friend had crocheted for me......my kindle.....my center had drinks and snacks available and they also came around with sandwiches/pudding/jello if you were interested. It actually is quite painless. We would watch some TV at times. It is true with the Taxol they give you benedryl as a premed and it does make you a bit sleepy. I had quite a reaction the first time......slurred speech.....could not walk to the bathroom......and asked them to give it to me slower so instead of infusing in 10 min. they had it go in for 45 min. I was able to handle that much better! I would take a nap for about an hour but other than that I was fine and I even drove home. (We would stop for lunch!) Then I would sleep for a few hours in the afternoon later. I was kind of surprised how well it all went. The nurses are angels - so helpful, kind and caring. You can ask them anything. What you are going to find along this cancer journey is that you will find many blessings. The Chemo nurses were one of them!!! Good luck on Monday!! Let us know how it goes. :)

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Dx TNBC 6/12; age 59; Stage 3, Grade 3; 3.5 cm, 3/10 nodes + chest wall nodes; A/C x4, T x 12 completed 12/12 with PCR, 2/13/13 lump; IMRT Rads x 33 completed 5/22/13 BRCA 1 negative.

Posted By: Sunshinegirl
Date Posted: Feb 09 2014 at 10:16pm

Hello everyone,
Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Yes the anticipation is probably worse. I am lookimg forward to actually doing preventative treatment . I will check in tomorrow.
Hugs
Jennifer

Posted By: brandymarie52
Date Posted: Feb 10 2014 at 5:33pm

Thank you so much for this post. It helped a lot to know what to bring to my first treatment.

Posted By: TriplePositiveGirl
Date Posted: Feb 10 2014 at 5:58pm

Wishing you all the best Brandy Marie!

Lisa

Posted By: brandymarie52
Date Posted: Feb 10 2014 at 6:38pm

Thank you. First treatment went well.

Posted By: MLindaG
Date Posted: Feb 10 2014 at 6:54pm

Good to know brandymarie! What chemo are you getting? One down!! (I kept a calendar that I crossed off each time!)

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Dx TNBC 6/12; age 59; Stage 3, Grade 3; 3.5 cm, 3/10 nodes + chest wall nodes; A/C x4, T x 12 completed 12/12 with PCR, 2/13/13 lump; IMRT Rads x 33 completed 5/22/13 BRCA 1 negative.