WHAT TYPE OF CHEMO?

hi I am new here, and so grateful for this site.  I will be having chemo in a couple of weeks. I had a lumpectomy one week ago for 1 cm grade 3 , 0/2 negative nodes.  I am 51, no family history.  Did all of you have chemo through IV?  some pills?  and when you say rounds do you mean, one week you had it, one you didn't?   Also, since you all seem to basically have the same chemo drugs, did you feel "ok" after a few days, or on your weeks "off?"   I will have appt with oncologist, to ask/verify treatment, I just want to be clear on what this all means.

Thanks!!  Just curious about some people having chemo every three weeks, vs every two...must be up to the onc.   Any helpful hints on managing side effects would be greatly appreciated!! Don't know if I'm on the right forum to ask that, I'll find my way around!  Thanks again.

Thank you, Pam!!  I will check those out.

I will, thanks for the encouragement.  Just hoping I will be able to work a few days each week, as I carry the health insurance!!  All the tips I am reading about will be so helpful.  What a great site this is!! So grateful to have found it.

Thank you.  I realize from reading posts that everyone can be so different, so I guess I will know soon enough what I will experience!    Tomorrow I get the pathology report from lumpectomy, and although I realize there is only something like a  1% chance the tumor  receptors will be positive instead of triple negative like the biopsy, I can still have a little hope!!!  And if not,  look what I've gained, wonderful people willing to help with this journey!!

Denise, I am still in shock, as I think my surgeion, husband is too....er- pr+ and her2-.   retesting everything and now having onc  (not sure if that's the initials) test done also.   He said its been a long time since this has happened.  Even if it comes back triple N...again.... the rest of the report was good,1.2 cm,  node negative, clear margins, no lympatic or vascular....so that's good!!! (biopsy was tested twice, two different places, triple N, but whole tumor may say different) won't find out for at least 2 weeks.

Yea Guygirl!  Almost there.  I am on the same "plan" as you, and had #1 yesterday, with 7 to go.  I feel pretty good so far.   Linda

I am being treated w/ Taxotere and Cytoxin. I feel pretty good w/ the choice so far.

Hi

They recommended using alcholol free mouth wash after you brush (like biotene) before chemo.  You want to switch to an alcholol free mouth wash during all of chemo because chemo can dry the mouth out.  Also, my mom uses a spray artificial saliva throughout the day because it is soothing. Three days after her chemo is when she got a few mouth sores and thrush.  She was ordered Magic Mouthwash (combo of liquid benadryl/lidocaine/mylanta) for the sores and Nystatin (for the fungus of thrush).  She also rinsed with salt/water/baking soda (recommended by Donna from this site). Because her white blood cells dropped so low, the thrush spread quickly and took all week to resolve.  All the rinses definitely did help her though.  They were soothing and did help clear it faster. You may want to ask for an order of Nystatin Suspension the day you get the chemo, that way if you get the thrush over the weekend, you can fill the order at a pharmacy.  Also ask the doctor about when you should come back for blood work.  I am guessing they will ask to see you Monday just to check on your white blood cell level.  My mom needed a shot of Neupogen on the Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday following the chemo.  The next time she goes (12/2), she was told already that will get a shot of Neulasta on 12/3 because that is a longer acting agent and she will not have to return for as many shots as she did last time.  Unfortunately, there was no way to predict that her white blood cell count would drop so low (they knew it would drop, but hers got real low).  She will also be asking if she should use the Nystatin starting on 12/2.