OK This is for real now

[Mare4201]

Hi all and Happy New Year.  You may remember my long rambling post "Anxiously awaiting results" from a while back.  

Well now, I am scheduled to have my port put in and my 1st round of chemo next Tuesday.  I am scared as h*** and am feeling very anxious today. One question is--will I feel like traveling home two hours after the procedure (son is taking me) or should I stay the night in a hotel? On the one hand I know I will want to be home in the comfort of my own surroundings but on the other I know I will be wiped out and just want to rest. If I do go home, do I carry some bags for sickness or what?

And what do you do while having chemo?  Do I want to eat something during or before? I will not have had anything since the night before because of the port placement. I am scheduled for the surgery at 5:30 A.M. and after a little recovery time will go straight to chemo.  I value your opinions--you are all such brave, kind people.

I know I will have lots more questions so bear with me please.  Thanks,  Mare

[crecco]

Mare,
   The others are right. The feelings that you are having are completely normal, we all had them. It is more the fear of the unknown than anything.
  I was the same way. And hopefully you will be like me and find that it was not near as bad as my fears were. My first 2 treatments I pretty much slept the whole time. Later I started taking a good book with me and read if I felt like it. Still I find it better to just give in to the meds and sleep as it passes the time much more quickly.
  You should feel like going home, esp if you have someone driving you. I still travel an hour everytime and I sleep on the way home too. If you get hungry, there is nothing wrong with having lunch. Whoever takes me usually goes out and brings something back. and many times there are snacks of different kinds provided by members of the community.
  I also lost my hair quickly, 12 days after my first treatment. Please do not feel bad if you still get very upset about it, even though you think you are prepared. It is not an easy thing to go through.
  As the others have also said, we are all here. We will be waiting to hear from you and will try to answer any and all questions that you have. Do not hesitate to ask us anything as no question is dumb or odd. Hang in there girl. It can be a tough fight but you can do it.
      Chris

[Mare4201]

Thank you all for responding. Lots of good tips and hints from all that I value.

I will also be on the carbo/taxol mix for 6 treatments. Already got my hair cut short ( for me) thinking of getting it cut shorter. Helps to have one of my best friends (and ovca survivor) as my hairdresser. She even offered to shave all of my friends heads for free!!  No takers so far!

I have decided to travel home. You know as Dorothy says:  There's no place like home-there's no place like home, etc.

I just feel so much for my 21 year old son just losing his Dad 3 months ago and then having to deal with his Mom also having cancer and taking me to appts and such. But in a way it has brought us closer and he is such a joy to me.

Again, thank you all and I will keep you updated.      

Mare

[survivor_susie]

I agree with all of the above, except to say that I seemed to breeze through chemo.  Yes, I slept a lot on days 3 and 4 of the cycle, and had just one cycle of the vomiting stuff, but the docs were great and gave me intravenous anti-nausea stuff from then on.  

I worked full time, worked out at the gym every day that I was allowed to go (I swim).  Never got tired.  I'm not a jock; I'm a baby-boomer overweight/anxious/ wreck and did just fine!

Hey, good luck.  I hope your experience goes as well as mine did.

Susie

[margo1110]

I was so scared the day I had my first treatment, I was in tears! I was already being treated for anxciety before my dx  of stg 3 ovca. The nurses were great, I got a little anti-anxciety med along with the benedryl and anti-nausea meds before they started the taxol/carbo drip. I calmed down quickly w/help from hubby and nurses!
For me it actually was not a bad experience during the treatment...I brought a PB&J sandwich, crackers and water, a book, and my portable CD player. I did get hungry, ate, listened to my music and fell asleep! lol
Drink alot of water! It helps flush out your kidneys. I was lucky, I guess, because I never got unbearable side effects.
If I had to make a choice I would want to be home, even if it was a long drive. After my treatments I would snuggle up in bed, watch tv, or listen to music.
Like the other ladies have mentioned, constipation was an issue so make sure you take a stool softener,or whatever your dr recommends. Docolax worked fine for me. And like I mentioned before lots of water!
I wish you all the best, this is no walk in the park. But it is doable.
I'm 5 months from my last treatment and as time goes by the crappy part of the whole ordeal does become a somewhat faded memory. When or if (huge preyers!) I have to do it again I will. Life is worth fighting for!
Stay strong!!

[yrrek]

Sorry for all my typo's, I should of pre-read before posting.  I think it is still comprehensive:)

[bohan54]

Can't believe I forgot about the constipation part.  You have to find a way to manage it as it can be extremely uncomfortable.  I did 2 stool softeners and a Senna tablet every day.

[yrrek]

I too did not feel bad until the next day.  It is so important to stay on top of constipation which is generally caused by the anti-nausea meds you will want to take.  I wrote down what pills I take and when I would take them, a med diary to help me stay on track.  For constipation I would start the day before chemo and continue  until day 4 or 5 after chemo.  I would drink miralax twice a day and take stool softners.  This is what worked for me, some here this might of made them have massive diarreah but not me this is what I worked for me.  I just slept a lot, watched movies ate what sounded and tasted good, which wasn't much.  I would eat some of what the clinic provided day of chemo, but my daughter would bring me a blizzard from DQ.  It always tasted the same (good).  Oh and drink, drink and then drink more.  I could only drink green tea ice cold, if I did drink other stuff I had to put ice in it, weird I know.  I did not wear a wig, I was given brand new beautiful wigs, but it just didn't feel right.  I would wear baseball caps or stocking hat when it was cold.  My hair fell out 2 weeks after first chemo.  I cut it short before that.   I was not prepared for the creepiness of my hair suddenly falling out.  Just know it is kind of creepy.  I too had neulasta shots.  I had them 3 times.  They do cause bone pain, but I didn't have it too bad.  It hurt mostly in my breast bone and on position changes.  I got a nasty scalp infection but other than that I just slept alot, watched movies and tried to keep on top of my meds so that I would not be constipated or nausiated.  What I took for nausea was zofran and phenergan suppositories.  I also tried to get out of the house and walk around the block at least, and on really good days go shopping and run errands, go to church.  It is important to get out.  Some can continue work especially if your work is accomadating.  I was off work for about 4 months, but they held my job.  I was DX'd 1c, had four cycles of taxol/carbo. with one IP of cisplatin.  So I had two ports.  I finished chem mid April of 08.  Back to work by May and have been working full time since.  My Ca125 remains constant at 8.  I have about 3 inched of hair on my head.  It did come back curly and gray.  I have colored it since.  I got my ports out in August.  I wanted them out.  I now go back every 4 months for check up.  I hope my info helps you.  You will find your way thru this,  It is very scary, You will find that you are very strong and couragous.  It is a ****** thing, cancer, chemo and all the rest that goes with it, but it too can be empowering.  We are here for you.  Kerry

[bohan54]

My mom and sister kept me company during chemo.  Sometimes we'd get to laughing and the nurses would come in and want in on the action!  The benedryl does make you sleepy, it wore off for me within an hour or so.  
They provided bag lunches at my hospital, sandwich, apple, pretzels.  They also had muffins in the morning and various juices, coffee and tea.  Eat whatever and whenever you can as chemo not only causes nausea but makes things taste different.
I would go home afterward if I were you.  You will probably feel ok til about the third day after chemo, that's when the steroids wear off and the fatigue sets in.  
Pamper yourself and visualize the drugs killing those nasty cancer cells!
Sharon

[Kaylouise25xx]

Hiya,

I know what you mean by being anxious, i was nervous as hell before my first chemo as i didnt know what side effects i would be feeling, i think that was the worst for me not knowing how id feel after it.
I was fine day of chemo, sat in the reclining chair feet up with a blanket and a good book, taxol/carbo took about 6hrs to start then less after. I cant say i like chemo cos i hate it, they stopped the taxol and just gave me carboplatin instead as i had the most terrible joint pains, now with the carbo i just cry for a whole week lol but no pain or discomfort or any sickness.
My lovely long hair fell out exactly 14 days after my first chemo i would suggest you cut it short before it falls out its not so distressing, and you will not have to shave anywhere for at least 6 months which is great lol.
Take Care and good luck, your in our thoughts any questions feel free to ask,
Love and Hugs - Kay xx

[manneca]

Hi! I agree with the preceeding comments. I was fine day of chemo. I'd want to be back home, but you might enjoy a hotel. I had friends bring me lunch (mine was carbo and taxol and took 6 hours) and chat. I did sleep a lot. I'd bring my laptop and so some work. Where I had my chemo they had drinks: soft drinks and fruit juices and lots of snacks (chips, bars, cookies, nothing nutritious). I am a water drinker and drank lots of water

I lost my hair two weeks after my first chemo and had friends shave my head at a "party" I went bald. My last chemo was July 3 and my hair is about an inch long and very curly and steel gray (I hate it). I put on about five pounds during chemo. I was also very, very constipated (there are constipation threads on here!).

Do what you can, pamper yourself, get outside if you can, get as much exercise as you feel like (I generally exercised the first couple of days after chemo, then not for a week or so, then slowly got back into walking and then it was time for the next chemo).

[westajul]

Happy New Year!!! I usually sleep through much of my chemo. They give me benedryl through my port and it knocks me out. My doctor gives me Neupogen instead of Neulasta for low blood counts and I have had little side effects from it.  I agree bring withsomething to drink. I do recommend that if they gave you naseau medicine that you take it before your chemo. They will give more anti-naseau medicine during your chemo. You want to stay ahead of the naseau it is much easier to prevent that to get rid of it.I have had very little naseaubut I start taking my naseau medicine at least 4 hours prior to my chemo. I find I do better with my treatments when I wasat home rather than when I stayed in a hotel. Also when I started chemo friends who had been through it gave me a few pieces of advice. They told me to use Biotene toothpaste and mouthwash to help with dry mouth and help prevent mouth sores. The mouthwash made me sick...so i don't use it...but I have had no mouth sores. Also they told me to use plastic silverware all the time and to use a straw when I drink. It is important to drink as much as you can the first 24 hours after chemo...drinking a lot will help keep toxicity build up down. I prefer decaf tea...juice and milk. Water tastes funny now but I put lemon in it and I can drink it...if you develop mouth sores stay away from lemons. As far as eating...go ahead maybe stay away from greasy foods. I eat whatever I crave. I have had 8 of 10 chemo treatments. My hair began to thin after my second treatment...so I got my hairdresser to shave my head and it has been slowly  growing back. I have always worn bandana's...but you should think about a wig. Hopes this helps. Also let us know what chemo treatment you are on...others are probably having the same chemo drugs and they they may be able to offer better advice. My chemo regime is  avastin,5-fu.oxilaplatin and levourcin . Julie

[dian07]

Hey there....I completely understand your feelings.  Although we are all different when it comes to chemo; most of us are fine the day of chemo.  You will definately want something to drink during chemo and I was hungry as well......after chemo my husband always took me somewhere nice to have lunch or dinner.....usually dinner as it took me 6 - 6 1/2 hours to finish.  I always enjoyed that.....I think I had a margarita with everyone of those meals!
  I wasn't feeling bad until  at least day 2 after chemo.  I slept an awful lot.  After each chemo I was given a Neulasta injection to keep my blood count up and that caused pain in my bones......big pain at that. My oncologist gave me pain meds for that and something for sleep; I also had rx for nausea....more than one as a matter of fact.  My pharmacist is a compounding pharmacist and he put together a cream I could rub on my wrists and it got rid of the nausea immediately allowing the longer lasting meds to take effect.  They were in the form of pills as well as supositories.
My chemo was Taxol and Carbo....what are you going to be getting?
I am three years out from my last chemo but I still have my port.....I will keep it until I am at least 5 years out.
Also, I lost my hair pretty quickly after my first chemo.  I did get a really nice wig but wore it only when I had to.  I wore nothing at all at home .....when I was outside I wore a base-ball cap so my head wouldn't burn.
I began counting down after my 2nd chemo.....I am not saying it is fun but it is do-able.  
Mare.....I will watch for you and answer any question I can.  Please don't feel alone.....we are all here for you.....just imagine us there with you always......during chemo and at night when your mind is darting about......we have been there and some will be there at the same time as you......you are not alone, kid!
Hang in there and keep us posted.
Oh, by the way, Happy New Year to you!
Peace.
dian