First day of Chemo tomorrow

HI CLDCR,
I'll be starting Chemo in a few weeks myself though it's taken me 8.5 years to get there. I'm not really bothered by the idea just not looking forward to the inevitable fatigue. You are really getting some intense Txs, how does your body feel after all of that? . . . Q

CLDCR,
My husband has been on Docetaxel for 2 cycles and is on a chemo break right now. The drugs you get before the chemo starts help immensely - yes on the hair loss and fatigue. BUT try to visualize the cancer cells dying off as the chemo does its work. Just to help it along a bit, you know? After all, you need to have something to do while you're sitting in that chair!
It will be ok, CLDCR. There will be more people than you know thinking of you. Be strong for yourself!
Wishing you the very best,
Susan

Good luck.
Music/earbuds, as Almost a 10 suggested.
Does the room have a view? The infusion room at Northwestern is on the top floor downtown.

Hello,

Just want to wish you all the best as you begin your Taxotere treatments. After your first treatment, you will feel so much more relaxed, as you will soon begin to see that each treatment begins to follow a routine pattern.

Getting through your first treatment is a HUGE step and then you will feel experienced after that. Honestly, I wish I could alleviate all the anxiety that each of us has felt before our first treatment. Looking back, I think I envisioned some sort of torture rack with about a thousand needles being injected into my body --- instead, I needed to be visualizing a comfortable recliner, a supportive medical staff, a caring environment, snacks and drinks, and just one tiny needle inserted into my hand. It helps to talk to someone who has actually been through the experience first-hand. This forum has done a lot towards that goal, I feel.

Several of us have added to the suggested thread listed above that details a wide range of our collective experiences. We've all done our best to illuminate various aspects of chemotherapy treatments, from a first-hand point of view, trying our very best to be objective and honest. We've all done our best to relate experiences which wouldn't be listed in the "medical brochure" about chemotherapy treatments found at the hospital ...

Over time, there have been advancements in making the chemotherapy treatments MUCH more tolerable than they used to be years ago. We definitely have a "Chemo Club" here with many members that have been through the experience. We ARE here to support you in any way that we possibly can.

I can honestly say, I went to work every single day. My appetite stayed intact, my energy level stayed fairly constant for the most part, and my side effects were minimal overall, with the exception of hair loss. I'm very mindful of others that have experienced higher levels of side effects, and realize I was very fortunate to have only mild side effects. I kept in touch with friends and family and kept up with my usual activities and hobbies and social events.

I felt very fortunate to be able to keep up a full schedule, but I also worked very hard to keep myself in shape during all those weeks of chemo treatments --- healthy foods, water consumption, good sleep at night, some exercise, staying in touch with the world, and not letting chemo treatments define my life --- you have to stay strong and stay determined through it all.

I knew I needed to pursue chemo treatments to take my rising PSA down, after realizing the hormone shots could only do a certain amount for me. A powerful statement that has stayed with me is that chemo is like loading up a double-barreled shotgun --- adding chemo to my other treatments was like adding a second BULLET to shoot at my cancer. That was a powerful image that kept me motivated through all those weeks of chemo treatments. Let that thought carry you through, because it's a powerful image ...

I was in the first wave of patients treated with the "early" chemo for advanced cancer following the FDA approval of this plan after the results of the CHAARTED study. Because of that, I was able to see that adding the chemo in addition to the hormone shots was bringing my PSA lower and lower with each chemo treatment. When my oncologist stated that the chemo is able to kill some of the cancer cells that the hormone shots can't ever kill, that was also a very POWERFUL message that has stayed with me and that I have shared with others. I know that researchers envision a day when there will be more tolerable treatments than chemo in the years to come, but this is what we have right now, and we need to consider using every weapon we have in the arsenal today ...

Chemo can be a tough road sometimes --- physically & emotionally --- we all acknowledge that. Lesson learned in my case: I soon found out that I was extremely allergic to Taxotere and also found out that the Taxotere trashed my immune system --- those are relatively RARE situations, fortunately. I NEEDED these chemo treatments to help me ... yet found that I was extremely allergic to the treatments. Despite those setbacks, my oncologist was immediately able to find strategies to overcome both of those situations for me and my treatments continued seamlessly. He added an extra infusion before each chemo treatment to overcome my body's allergic reaction to Taxotere and then later prescribed an extra injection of Neulasta to rebuild my immune system after each infusion. Those setbacks were quickly overcome and I continue to remain an ADVOCATE for early chemo treatments when the medical situation warrants, with your doctor's approval, of course. There are more of us on this forum joining the "Chemo Club" all the time ... and we are all here for you.

I'm a school teacher and my first chemo treatment began the first week of school --- great timing, right?!! My oncologist is VERY dedicated and watched over me with great diligence and I was able to keep teaching in an elementary school filled with hundreds of school children each day. Miraculously, I didn't even catch a cold or a fever during those months of chemo treatments.

I consider my oncologist a miracle worker, because he said it was HIS personal goal to maintain my health during chemo treatments so that I could keep teaching. He knew how important it was for me to be at school each day with my school kids. I have a lot of gratitude for all the care and support I felt from my friends, family, students, colleagues, and community members. It's important to have a support system during treatments --- find those people in your life who will support you --- and this forum is ALSO a tremendous avenue of support, 'round the clock, whenever you are in need.

Best of luck with your treatments --- please keep in touch with all of us !

Sent with my best,
Cyclone

Post Edited (ISU-CycloneFan) : 10/27/2015 1:46:33 PM (GMT-6)

Cldcr, Good luck and Godspeed!!! You'll do great!

CLDCR,
You will likely feel about the same after each tx. The worst day for you will likely be tomorrow or next day (the chemo crash). For Gary, the only cumulative effects are worsening hair loss and sometimes pain in fingernails. Some people lose their fingernails as well as hair. If you have long hair you might want to consider a buzz cut because it can come out in large quantities.
Good luck with future tx. Is there a reason your doc is starting you on chemo so 21st quickly without Mets or rise in PSA?
Beth

Dear CLDCR,

Glad you made it through your first treatment. From now on, you will know the routine, as each treatment follows the same basic pattern. Getting through the first treatment is so important on the "learning curve" and you will know what to expect for next time ...

You asked a good question ... in my experience, my reaction felt pretty much the same after each of the six Taxotere treatments --- soon enough, you will know your own body's reaction to each treatment ... my oncologist timed my treatments for late Wednesday afternoons, because then the "chemo crash" always hit me on the weekends --- I was NEVER sick after any of the treatments --- appetite stayed intact --- that first weekend, just a bit of lethargy --- a couple of relaxing evenings on the couch helped me re-charge my batteries for work --- and within just a couple of days, I could literally feel my body "ramping back up" and my energy level completely restoring itself --- I never did miss a day of work, which seemed like a miracle to me.

The Taxotere impacted my immune system and I teach school each day, so my oncologist prescribed a shot of NEULASTA for me after each chemo infusion --- most people don't need the extra NEULASTA shot, but my oncologist prescribed it for me to get my immune system boosted back up after each of the six Taxotere treatments and it worked. I will say that each NEULASTA shot is over $4,000 --- in my case, my insurance covered the cost.

I worked VERY hard at keeping myself in shape between each chemo treatment. I ate healthy foods, kept drinking the water, and kept exercising. With winter coming around the corner, do everything you can to keep yourself healthy --- I had to be very vigilant because I teach in a building with hundreds of school children.

My oncologist suggested I munch on ice chips DURING each chemo infusion --- he believed that this would keep my taste buds intact and it seemed to work wonders. I never lost any of my sense of taste whatsoever, which is a common complaint among many chemo patients. Other friends of mine FORGOT to ask for ice chips and they later lost their sense of taste for a while. It will cost you nothing to give this suggestion a try during all your chemo infusions.

My oncology nurses also had me rest both of my hands and both of my feet on ice packs all during each chemo infusion --- they told me this was a method for avoiding neuropathy in my fingers and toes and I do believe that this method worked, in my case. One of my friends was undergoing chemo treatments at another hospital and they didn't utilize the "ice bag" strategy and my friend ended up with terrible neuropathy in the fingers and toes ... and blackened fingernails and so forth. My friend asked what the difference might be and I told my friend about the ice bag method that had used for my hands and feet. This strategy sounded unconventional to me at first, but I do believe there is some merit to it, at least from my own experience --- it's what my oncologist and oncology nurses recommended for me, and I put all my trust into them.

Stay in touch with family and friends --- and your usual hobbies, interests, and activities --- it will help you forge through all your weeks of treatments. Do whatever it takes to build a system of support in your life --- and do everything it takes to keep yourself grounded and healthy during the weeks of treatments. Soon enough, you'll have a few treatments under your belt and then you'll see the finish line in sight after that.

Keep in touch with all of us here --- this forum is a perfect way to stay connected. We're all here for you.

Glad you got through your first treatment already,
Cyclone

Hello CLDCR,

Good to hear from you --- sounds like you are hanging right in there --- by the time the second treatment rolls around, you will be a man of experience with all of this, mark my words !

To answer your question --- sounds like you used "iced mittens" to prevent the potential problem of neuropathy in your fingers --- perfect strategy, which matches my experience.

In my case, here's what my chemo nurses did exactly, in case this would help someone else undergoing chemo treatments ...

First, they brought me a large cup full of chipped ice --- and told me to keep munching on it throughout the infusion time, to prevent losing my sense of taste ... I feel it worked and would recommend this idea to anyone --- no cost at all --- can't hurt, might help --- no harm, no foul either way. When one of my close friends went through chemo treatments right after I did and he went to a Mexican restaurant one night and reported back to me that he couldn't even taste Mexican food anymore ... he told me he forgot to ask for ice chips, and felt it might have helped him, as well --- true testimony from a good friend of mine.

Back to the "ice treatment" with hands and feet --- once I got seated in the recliner for each chemo infusion, the chemo nurses put a towel on my lap and then put a couple of ice packs or ice bags on the towel and told me to keep resting my hands and fingertips on the ice packs throughout the infusion process. I did so --- and never had ANY problems with neuropathy in my fingers or hands at all.

Meanwhile, they also placed a towel on the floor and told me to take off my shoes --- but told me to keep my socks on --- they placed ice packs or ice bags on the towel at my feet and told me to keep my feet on the ice packs while the infusion was going on ---

They did this for all 6 of my Taxotere infusions. I told some friends about this, and many people have never heard of this strategy. I do know it is mentioned in various places on the internet. I had a friend who went through chemo treatments about the same time I did at a different hospital and my friend had terrible problems with neuropathy --- so I felt fortunate after seeing what neuropathy can do to someone's fingers and toes.

So, at least in my case, I felt that the "ice" strategy for my mouth, fingers, and toes helped me --- this is just based on my own personal experience, recommended by my oncologist and my oncology nurses. It is something to consider and worth asking about ... I trusted my medical team on this, even though it sounded unconventional when they first suggested it to me --- and felt I reaped the benefit from the "ice" strategy ...

We're all here for you, CLDCR ! Keep posting and sharing your experiences with us !

Take care,
Cyclone

Dear CLDCR,

I'm thankful to hear you are battling through your first treatment --- glad to hear you are making it to the gym --- keep taking good care of yourself --- rest as needed --- keep drinking water --- keep eating healthy foods that you like --- I agree that getting through the first treatment is very important --- you will feel more experienced and prepared for the second treatment --- it's a learning experience.

Remember to stay strong --- stay focused --- one step at a time ---

Just wanted to let you know you've got a battle brother thinking about you and sending you my very best ---

We're all here for you, CLDCR --- keep us updated !

Sent with my best,
Cyclone

Hi CLDCR,
Glad to hear yiu are feeling better. That hangover feeling will go away. The way things taste after chemo is very odd to say the least. Sweet things have the oddest flavor and i found at mixng juices with soda water and lots of ice watered down the flavor enough for a little taste and kept me well hydrated. My appetite hasnt changed though and i thnk i gained sixteen pounds in the last three week. Not good for guy who is already severely overweight. Fatigue has been preety great as well.

I founf that your body eventually adjusts to the sleep disruptions. The first few treatmeants were rough on my sleep pattern but have gradually become better.

Bowel issues should lessen as your. body adjusts but if they persist talk with your Oncologist.

Just rememberr the end goal is to knock the beast back. Best wishes.

Hello !

What we've got going here on this thread is a great example of "brotherhood" in action --- we've formed a chain of experiences with chemotherapy treatments --- those who went through the treatments earlier, learning from their example, and then adding on our current experiences for those getting started --- now with their new stories, insight, and experiences to add --- the chain of experiences is being forged, link by link ... anyone considering chemo treatments is now going to find a wealth of insight from past postings on this forum ...

I think it's important to share those "true life" experiences --- things that are not mentioned in the brochures about chemotherapy that they hand you in the hospital lobby --- it's best to hear it from others who have actually lived it first-hand --- while experiences can vary from person to person, there's always common threads in all of our experiences, it seems ---

With the change in medical protocol based on recent studies such as CHAARTED, there's a new class of prostate cancer patients choosing to pursue the "early plan" chemo --- shortly after diagnosis for more advanced stages. I jumped on the "early plan" chemo as soon as my oncologist approved it and started immediately !

So --- it's important to keep encouraging each other --- we need each other --- sharing past experiences with accuracy and honesty --- and seeking new input from our brothers who are just getting started --- and those that are considering this path --- we all know that chemo can be a rough road, but many of us are truly finding ways to manage and minimize the side effects, as best we can --- as well as becoming advocates for the important benefits that chemo can provide, based on each patient's particular case and doctor's recommendation.

Nobody should go through chemo treatments alone --- if anybody going through chemo treatments needs a bit of encouragement, my E-mail is posted in my profile. It helps to know that there are others out there.

Keep reaching out to others,
Cyclone

Post Edited (ISU-CycloneFan) : 11/4/2015 7:13:48 PM (GMT-7)

Good morning<

Today is the 3rd of 6....halfway there. The advice given in this post was so helpful, especially the ice packs, and chewing ice chips during infusion. Also, load up on fluids......It works!!!

Thanks again and I will check in as the journey continues.Age at detection 58
PSA at detection 9
Biopsy 3/2015, 4 of 10 cores positive, Gleason: 3+4
Bone scan negative,
DaVinci 6/26/15
Pathology: 41.5 g, %involved by tumor 20%, no seminal vesicles involvement, Apical margins involved Gleason same 3+4
PSA 7 weeks post op 0.275
PSA 8 weeks post op 0.49
PSA 12 weeks post op 0.79
HT Started 9/30/15
Chemo will start 10/27/15

Post Edited (CLDCR) : 12/8/2015 6:01:35 AM (GMT-7)