About to undergo chemo for the first time

[Monica]

I am going to be undergoing chemo for the first time April 1st, AC every 3 weeks, then taxol for 12 weeks. I am dreading it. I realize everyone has their own unique experience, but I'm interested to hear how much your first chemo treatment changed your daily life - did it vary much between treatments? If you were working, did you continue, go part-time, stop for a while. Also what advice do you have going in? Is there anything you did to prepare or wish in restrospect you had?
Thanks so much,
Monica

[Merridith from Canada]

Hi Monica:

I am just a few treatments ahead of you doing the same chemo. I too, was completely terrified. I took a friend with me to hold my hand during the treatment. This helped a lot.

One of the drugs that they infuse in your arm (the red one) hurts a bit going in. Make sure that the nurse puts LOTS of saline with it when she is injecting it AND flushes with plain saline after. This mitigates the effects the corrosive effects on your vein.

I also prepared for my chemo by going just before and getting my teeth cleaned by the dental hygenist (cut down on bacteria!)and getting a special toothpaste called biotene which is available behind the pharmacy counter for approx $12 Can. I also got a special use-daily mouthwash on the advice of my dentist. So far (knock on wood!) I have had NO mouth sores at all.

After my first chemo I went for a 4-hour waterfront walk with my friend. We ate, we laughed, she drove me home. I wasn't sick. The next day I was just FAINTLY nauseous. I made sure that I took my anti-nausea medication on-the-dot. On the first four days, when I get up at night, I eat a piece of banana, and that helps keep my stomach settled. I also have found eating high protein foods during this time frame helps. (eg I crack a can of mussles or tuna and eat a couple of teaspoons throughout the day) So far, that experience has repeated itself for each treatment.

On the first 4 days after treatment I am more fatigued, and I have to take frequent naps. I can ski and bike and do what I normally do, but I have a lot less energy after the first 4 days. I can only do about 50% of the physical sports activities that I normally can do.

According to my research, physical exercise makes it easier to endure the effects of chemo. It helps your bones build up the white and red blood cells that are broken down during chemo. As a result I make it a rule to do something (exercise) each day even if I have to do it slowly.

I have an extended health plan which allows me to be off work with full pay for a year which I am taking advantage of. I wouldn't want to be working at this time as I consider that my full-time job at this point is getting my health back.

Good luck Monica. You've just joined the toughest football team in the world. We are all here to help you.

[JaneP]

Good luck. I started with Taxol and have been working and doing chemo for nearly 2 years now. My only problems were at the very first and partially caused by me! I didn't like the way water tasted, so I quit drinking it! Bad idea! You need to drink lots to flush the drugs toxins out of the body and to keep the digestive tract working.

Keep us posted.
Jane

[Lolly]

Hi Monica,
Good advice from Merridith and Jane. I got through A/C fine as long as I took the anti-nausea on schedule, as Meridith points out. I carried low-salt prezels with me to nibble on when out and about, that helped. I was able to not work while going through treatment, which was a great luxury, but I know that many on this board have worked while on chemo. Just try to rest when at home, and if friends and family offer to help around the house, accept! Taxol was much easier to take, the aches and pains were manageable with meds. You'll do fine, and you'll be amazed at yourself and how tough you are!
hugs, Lolly

[Elisabeth in Ontario]

Courage my friend, as Meredith said " you are on the toughest football team" and we are all here to support you. The best thing for me was that I never went to chemo alone. The distraction was good, especially after the first treatment. Everyone responds differently and it also depends on which chemo you are getting. You mentioned taxol, is that it or are there other ones, like cyclophosphamide, fluracil or epirubicin- red stuff. I started loosing hair after my first cycle (about 3 weeks) for me it was more devastating than my mastectomies. But I got a great wig and that lifted my spirits very well. In Canada we have a program called Look Good Feel Better- if something like that is available go for it. You get tips on skin care, make up etc and lots of free product. IT is true, when you look good, you do feel better. Take all the help you can get. My church provided a meal a week while I was on chemo. It was a much welcome relief. I was not able to work due to the nature of my job, too much exposure to 'bugs', shiftwork and physically demanding. Take life one day a time and enjoy it!
Blessings, Elisabeth

[Steph N.]

Hey Lady -
Just by being here and asking the questions, you are a step ahead of the Game. Some of the tips already posted will help stave off some of the effects.
I had NO trouble with nausea, and got Kytril 20 minutes prior to the chemo for that.
I also had Adriamycin (Big Red, as we called it) for 12 weekly treatments. I got some pretty bad mouth sores and had to skip a treatment a couple of times (they tack it on at the end!). One problem was something called THRUSH or a yeast infection in my mouth. Had to take some pills to get rid of that and it got better quickly.
Th Big Red drug is administered from a large syringe attached to a line that the nurse sits there and pushes gently on until it is all in. I got mine with 2 lines merging into one into my portacath. One line was saline and the other had the Big Red so the color of the fliud going in was pinkish. I found that having the drug adminsitered over about 17 to 20 minutes (slowly, in other words) was the best timing.
Eating some CRUSHED ICE or a popsicle during the infusion also helped lessen the mouth sores. I also drank a lot of water after the process. I did not know about the baking soda, but doing this before and after the treatment might have helped. I had to avoid citric items (they stung!)and soft cheeses and plain butter that coat the tongue felt good.
A product called UlcerEase was great for helping my mouth sores. It is a rinse that you swish around and hold. The clinic also gave me something that was a powder and you added water to the container and shook it until it was all dissolved. This helped, but the UlcerEase was better.
Adriamycin will make you tired, but be careful what supplements or vitamins you take, as too much of some can interfere with the work of the chemo. Eating a lot of fresh and organic foods will go a long way to giving your body what it needs to keep going during this onslaught of toxins.
All best wishes and keep us informed!

[eleanor]

Hi,
I hope you are receiving lots of support and help here.
I stopped working for awhile because I had an extremely stressful job and I was having trouble keeping track of my accounts while trying to juggle dr's appts and tests/scans/labs and chemo. Not to mention 4 kids.
I relied on mind over matter. I would just keep telling my self - this is not so bad and somehow I got through it, with pretty much no side effects. I lost my hair, was a little tired and nauseated, but I compared it to morning sickness and got through it. YOU CAN TOO!!!
Remember, we have all been there and will help in any way possible.
Hugs to you
el