1st treatment

rinaina · 05-26-2006, 01:31 PM

Do you mean you had FEC for your chemo tx or is tec different?

Jean · 05-26-2006, 06:16 PM

Had my first trt yesterday! All went very well. Do not have a port so I was a bit concerned how my vein would handle it. NO problem! Rhonda I thought I was the same trt as you but as it turned out I am on herceptin for 9wks,
then 3 wks thereafter for 1 yr. My chemo is TCH Docetaxel and Carboplatin.
They went well also. I am a bit tired had the same meds for nausea and had a co-pay of $68.00 but the next order will be covered completely since I ordered it straight from the insurance express scripts and then the co-pay is dropped which is great. So far so good. Feel very tired but I worked a full day today also will not repeat this in the next 3 weeks chemo trt. will shorten the day or take it off. The meds are working and I feel good - did not sleep to well with the steriod the two nights prior - but I finished those meds. this morning until the round in three weeks. So I will be better prepared. Had to take a sleeping pill around 1:00AM or I would have tossed all night. I am just so grateful to be on trt and moving forward - no complaints! Eating more protein and my appetite is good. Just want to keep my schedule on time as you said Rhonda.

Good Luck Rina!
Hugs,
Jean

Bev · 05-26-2006, 08:27 PM

Hi glad it's working OK so far. In general mugas should be every 3 mos, but I think you get a little slack if everything is OK after long periods of time. I asked to be switched to echos to see if they're easier. ( I have a large machine 2" from my face phobia).

Don't remember the $ as we BC people usually max out on out of pocket costs. Emend is priceless though.

It sounds like you'll be able to deal with chemo, so best wishes, BB

rinaina · 05-27-2006, 05:20 AM

I have a question about after you lose your hair. Did any of you sleep with anything on your head at all? My oncology nurse mentioned that since we lose most of our body heat through our head, although we are going into summer, that she recommends wearing a cotton covering of some type to sleep in. Just never thought of that and was wondering if any of you did, and if you did, what did you wear?

Thank you,
Rina

madubois63 · 05-27-2006, 05:41 AM

Check out the TLC site. http://www.tlcdirect.org/Default.aspx I am sure there are copies of the catalog in your onc's office, but this is just as convienent. I wore light cotton caps to sleep during the winter. I tend to have hot flashes, so the caps came off as needed.

rinaina · 05-27-2006, 06:01 AM

thank you for your prompt reply, I appreciate it. that's what I love about this forum....someone always has an answer and is willing to help.

Rina

Cathya · 05-27-2006, 06:18 AM

Hi;

I also used small caps at night as I like the room cold. I found the first treatment the worse. It is amazing what you can get used to. The first time I walked into the chemo room....about 40 beds and chairs.....it took my breath away and I remember think it was going to be hard not to admit I might be sick after this....lol. Once my hair really started to fall out I had a hairdresser clip it all off...that was better as the little roots kind of hurt as they come out....perhaps itch is a better word. I lost my body and head hair on AC and my eyebrows and lashes on Taxol. There is a "look good feel better" program which is cool....they give you lots of makeup, creams and stuff and advice for how to do wigs etc. It was nice to meet with others locally going through the same thing. Ask at the chemo room as they'll know how to hook up with it. The free package is worth a couple hundred dollars.....which impressed me....lol. Watch out for constipation at first. I suffered with the first one and after that I took these little red capsules each day and was fine. The first treatment is quite a shock to your body....it also adapts. Don't drink tomato juice....it made me throw up. Keep us posted on your journey.

Cathy

sadie · 05-28-2006, 05:49 PM

I wore a terrycloth cap during the winter months. I couldn't find one in the stores so I ordered it thru the TLC catalog.
Sometimes I would take it off in the middle of the night because of hot flashes.
If I didn't wear it when I went to bed, I would end up putting it on in the middle of the night due to being cold. It does make a differnce, so if you're questioning whether to get one or not, I would recommend getting one.
Now that warmer weather is here, I usually don't wear it; But I have about 1 inch of hair now, so maybe that makes a difference too.
If it's a chillier evening and I'm at home, I put it on at that time too (even now).

rinaina · 05-28-2006, 05:59 PM

thank you again for your input. i did end up ordering one from the tlc catalog online. figured it is good to have. i also ordered this little lace cap that is suppose to catch your hair as it falls out so it isn't all over the bed and pillow. i here like you many b.c. patients hair grows back more grey or white than it was before. wonder why. my natural color is brunette but i highlight it and have a lighter basecolor added because of grey up front than in back but who knows, been so long since i saw my uncolored hair so probably for most of us we may seem like we grow in after chemo more grey but probably some of it is that we just don't know how really grey we were before chemo. i also heard it comes in curly and sometimes with more texture but relaxes as it grows.

Seems so silly we are talking about these things when i just read about how gravely ill one of the young moms on here is....diagnosed with a form of leukemia and is in hospital or going into hospital. made me cry so. i pray she will be okay.
rina