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WHAT TYPE OF CHEMO?
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msjag View Drop Down
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thanks for the info, it is so helpful.  I will get the md's number, and ask about meds for sores/thrush.  I saw on here about making a magic mouthwash, I am going to try to get biotine mouthwash/toothpaste.  I heard that eating ice chips/cubes while on chemo may help with sores.  I am going to be on a steroid day before, day of and day after.  Did your mom get a steroid?  I heard that taking Claritin or Claritin D the day before and of chemo helps with the N shot the day after chemo.  I will be getting that one shot after each chemo treatment. I was also told my onc to take mild laxitive day before chemo and a few days after. 
 
I feel prepared, but I guess I won't know what I need/don't need until it happens!! I guess it doesn't feel like cancer til you go through chemo, cuz I feel great after lumpectomy/ SN surgery.
 
 
Armed and ready!! Thanks again to you and everyone here, how lucky are we all to have such great support . 
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Hi
My mom did get a steroid (dexamethasone) and took it the day before, day of and day after (take it with food b/c it can upset your stomach).  They said that was for the Taxol because it can cause allergic reactions and the steroid helps to prevent that.  My mom took Allegra which is very similar to Claritin (she takes that every day even before chemo she has bad allergies).  She didn't do the ice chip thing, but she might on Thursday this time now that she knows what can happen.  She did take tylenol when she got the Neupogen shots...but just remember to take your temperature before you re-dose on tylenol, other you can get a lower temperature reading because the tylenol lowers it a bit.
As for the laxative, I would take the laxative like your doctor said.  My mom got constipation the first few days, but then it changed to mild diarrhea and she stopped the laxative. 
Good luck on Thursday.  It may sound weird...but my mom is looking forward to Thursday because then she will have 2 of 4 treatments done...50% finished at that point...halfway mark.  :)
 
My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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msjag View Drop Down
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 I certainly can understand your mom wanting thurs to come quickly, I'm with her..by the end of the year, I will have two done also..can't wait.  Already celebrated all the holidays last weekend with my adult kids who flew in...so I will be all set for the holidays!!   I am going to chemo with quite the bag of tricks!!Most learned from here!!  I also am told some cancer centers have patients put ther handsfeet/nails  in cold water ice to prevent side effects.  Frozen bags of peas, ice chips to eat and gloves/large socks to put ice in for first 1/2 of treatment was recommended.  I'll try anything to avoid neuropothy, or mouth sores/bone pain.   I will be working, when possible throughout my treatment, I carry the insurance, so I need to keep my job although I am lucky to have many sick/vacation days to help me along. 
 
Thanks again, and I wish your mom a side-effect free chemo treatment. 
JoAnn
 
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msjag View Drop Down
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Points: 36 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote msjag Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec 03 2010 at 8:23pm
Well, had my first chemo yesterday T/C, did the ice chips for mouth sores, and the ice for hand/feet.  So far so good, not sure when these side effects start to show up.  No nausea, feeling good, eating ok...sleep is another thing..those steriods you take prechemo, then during chemo, certianly keep you up.  But that's ok..I drank water every time I got up and flushed those chemicals right out!!  Chyxgrl, hope your mom did fine during her 2nd treatment.  Tonight I will take a sleep aid, never have taken one before, but I want to sleep more than 1 hour at a time!!!
hope all is going well with everyone.
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123Donna View Drop Down
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msjag,

Glad your treatment went well.  The first tx is the scariest because we don't know what to expect.  Do you get the Neulasta shot?
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
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chyxgrl View Drop Down
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Hi msjag!
I thought about you yesterday! Glad the first treatment is done!  I asked my mom and she said she does feel like she had extra energy because of the steroids but she was able to sleep at night.  Keep drinking the water and use salt water rinses or biotene if you feel anything funny in your mouth.  My mom got a Neulasta shot today.  We went to the diner before chemo for breakfast...then she got chemo and I hung out there...then we were hungry so we got tuna fish sandwiches at the bagel shop.  Both of us got sick last night though...Ironically, she felt fine from chemo, but the tuna fish did us both in.  Today she is better and has minor constipation.  She said food tastes a little strange, but she definitely has an appetite.

When do you go back for blood work? Take it easy this weekend. Let me know how you are feeling.  Where are you from?  We are from Long Island, NY.

Hope you continue to do well
Michele
My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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123Donna View Drop Down
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Points: 13510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 123Donna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec 03 2010 at 9:13pm
Michelle,

Your mom might try Collace or any stool softener.  Chemo/steriods seem to cause constipation after treatment.
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
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msjag View Drop Down
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 Donna,I didn't have the shot, onc is testing blood each week, if my wbc goes down, then I will get the shot.   I guess cuz I'm not having red devil chemo, she feels that it is not necesasry unless count goes down.
Chygirl,  I live in MA.  I do have relatives that live on Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens!  I was born in Brooklyn!   Sorry to hear you both got sick. Hope you're mom does well this time around.  I am faithfully using the biotene, and drinking lots of fluids!!
Next treatment is 12/23, 
 
Well wishes to everyone!
 
 
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trip2 View Drop Down
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Msjag I hope things continue to go smoothly and that you were able to get some sleep.  Rest is important and many of us have used a sleeping pill.
Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007
BRCA 1+
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msjag View Drop Down
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hello all, checking in!! Well, it was an interesting week after first chemo.  I was so lucky with mimimal s/e.  no nausea and actually went back to work four days later. BUT NO SLEEP for 6 days.  finally onc heard my pleading and I was prescribed ativan on wed. I have slept for 6 hours for the past three nights yahooo..not much but I literally didn't sleep during the day either!! so hopefully I will be armed with ativan after next chemo and sleep won't be a concern.   My w/b/c was very low 1.7, and I have been eating, moving and feeling good, so I may have to start the N shot after my next chemo, I'm being monitored, was told this low was expected, now it needs to start climbing..keeping my fingers crossed.  I hear conflicting reports, eat beta carotene, drink green tea, exercise for help with count, then I hear cant do anything, your body does it all. any hints/suggestions?
Hope everyone is doing well.  Scalp is getting itchy, tingly, I guess I know what that means! Going to  Look Good, Feel Better on Monday.   I know this is crazy, but I feel so good today, and I keep wishing one treatment was enough,....don't we all wish that. 
Oh I wanted to share that Edy's Lemon frozen bars were my best friend during the first few days of chemo, tasted great and made my mouth feel good!!!
Take care everyone!!!
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denise07 View Drop Down
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msjag,
Glad your first chemo was okay,that is a good sign that you will be fine for the rest of your treatments. God Bless!
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chyxgrl View Drop Down
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Hi!
Glad you are doing well.  My mom never had a problem with sleep...but everyone is different.  Glad that is resolved now. When do you get your blood checked again?  If you need to, get a neupogen shot.  They helped my mom's WBC count rebound.
~Michele
My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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Hi msjag

Glad you are getting some sleep - it will help you be strong for the rest of your chemo treatments. I don't understand why the practices are so different for the Neulasta/Nupregen shots -  I would think that keeping up the white blood cell count from day 1 makes sense and everyone should get the shot - would avoid missed treatments, complications,stress, etc. 

Tracy in Toronto
TN&non-TN tumors April/10 Gr3&2;1 metaplastic
Rmast.1/9 nodes w/isolated t.cells
Taxotere&Cytoxan x6
Bone cancer 1980 age17;surgery&chemo AC+Methotrexate
BRCA-ve
On hormone therapy & Metformin Trial
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msjag View Drop Down
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 Tracy, My onc will test my blood one more week before giving the shot, because I'm on T/C not the "A". THey expect your blood count to go down, but it should be back up hopefully on thurs or else the N shot.
Great news today, all scans (bone, catscan of abdomen and chest xray) came back clear!!  such a relief.  Now  2nd chemo on 12/23, can't wait to be done.
 Michele, hope you're mom is doing well.  I feel great, now that i'm getting sleep. been back to work since last week.  Hope the next chemo is this way.  Did your mom feel more tired or have more side effects with second?
My hair is holding on, soon to come out I"'m sure, I have the itchy head, and it is day 12, so just a matter of time!
Hope everyone is well.
JoAnn
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JoAnn congratulations on the clear scans!
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msjag View Drop Down
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Thanks Pam, and thanks for all the great info you put on this site. You certainly have helped me.
Today my hair is starting to "shed"...so its just a matter of days before I shave it! I'm ready, not freaked about my hair at this point. just want this over so I can start radiation.
Hope everyone is doing well.
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trip2 View Drop Down
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JoAnn, that is one thing we can take control of, shaving our heads!  Of course we all have to get to that point where we can do it, it is emotionally hard.  Hope you have some headwear lined up.  There should be some links for headwear in the TNBC News/Resource section of the forum.
Also I might throw in that I found having a sleeping cap was nice, especially for the Winter months and a satin pillow case is nice.
Stage 2 2003
Stage 1 2007
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chyxgrl View Drop Down
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Hi JoAnn
I shaved my mom's head for her day 14 after treatment.  It was actually Thanksgiving night.  I used an electric buzzer.  She had prepared herself, so she wasn't that upset.  Now she is using head covers around the house.  When she goes out she either uses halos with hats or her wig.  She got her halo pieces from headcovers.com and from the TLC catalog from the American Cancer Society. 
Next treatment is only a week away.  Time seems to be moving fast!
Michele
My mom- 62y/o @ DX 9/2010; lumpectomy, Stage 1B, Grade 3, 1cm tumor left breast, neg nodes; TC once every 3 weeks x 4 doses then 33 rads; BRCA negative; 9/2011 mammo NED; 3/2012 MRI NED
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msjag View Drop Down
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Thanks everyone, I will look into all your suggestins, I do have a wig and many scarves, but I don't have a halo or a sleeping cap.
 
Went to onc today, blood levels are right up there, so no shot, she told me she was at the San Antonio meeting, TN getting alot of buzz.  She also mentioned perhaps increasing my treatments to  six in stead of TC 4 times...depends on research/certain findings.  I do notice some people get T/C 6 times while others get it 4.   I guess I'll know more as the months go on.
Hope everyone is doing well....I'm so ready for 12/23 treatment...bring it on!!
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all.
JoAnn
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Hi Joann,

Happy news about the blood levels.  Have a great Christmas holiday.  Sue
Dx 7/10, age 53. TNBC left breast, stage I, grade 3, IDC 0.5 cm, DCI 2.5 cm, 0/8 lymph nodes neg. BRCA-. T/C x4 finished 2/09/11, rads x34 finished 4/21/11.          
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