Chemo here I go!

@Eastmum apparently they can put a port in your upper arm now. Wished I'd known about them. 

http://www.cfmedicine.com/htmldocs/cftext/ports.htm

Dear @Eastmum, I has AC too. I suggest you keep a chemo diary - each day, all side effects, what helped, temp. For me this worked because a sort of pattern shows up pretty soon, and this can help you get through any bad patches if you know it will probaly only last a day or so. The diary also helps if something is not going very well; you have good information to give to your clinic/GP/onc. I was pretty lucky - I could drive home after treatment. Best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW

Sadly not @Eastmum...

Spiced fireball whiskey sounds amazing!

@Eastmum yum -fireball 

I've never heard of spiced fireball whiskey - sounds wonderful!  But I'm trying to be good and stay off the booze.  Ho hum.

Thanks @sister - yes there's a wig library at both hospitals I'm involved with and I'll definitely check them out. I can't have a port because my air expanders come up so damn high! It's crazy - they're nearly at my collar bone - my oncologist says he's never seen them so high. He's a bit sceptical about my veins and mentioned that I may need a picc line at some stage (hope not!). My left arm is pretty much out of action because of the node clearance but he said that when I'm at the taxol stage he might use the left arm every second week, keeping a very close eye on any early signs of cellulitis. Pity - my left arm has much better veins. Ah well, trials and tribulations here we go....

@kezmusc - how good is the word phlebotomist! I heard it for the first time earlier this week - what an awesome word! I think I want to try and use it at a dinner party hahaha. When I was in hospital and I had an IV drip in my right arm, the node clearance in my left arm, they took blood from a vein in the top of my foot! I was uber-impressed. 

Thanks for the advice and wishes @Nadi - it's so awesome to have heard such a wide range of experiences.

I hope you found your black hat @kmakm - today, a fellow BC warrior told me that she enjoyed a shot of spiced fireball whiskey every now and then during chemo and hair loss - what luck that I have a bottle on my shelf! xxx     

Hi @Eastmum wishing you all the best next week. I had TCH with taxol. Great advice from all the wonderful ladies above. Suggest you get someone to drive you home for first session until you know how it will affect you. Dexamethasone made me feel like superwoman. I loved that stuff. Day 5 to day 8 were my worst times. Keep checking your temp - don't be complacent and get to Emergency if you get a fever - getting in early can reduce the time you might need to stay if you get neutropenic.!!! Worst symptom for me was being extremely short of breath from the taxol. Not everyone gets this  as a side effect though, only about 3% and it probably won't affect you like this if your taxol is weekly. But if you do get short of breath  don't panic, just get yourself checked straight away as you may need oxygen for a very short time. It does get better.

Most of us here have all been through this. You've got this. It will pass and at the end you'll think to yourself, 'well I got through that".

Best wishes, Take care and come and ask anything at any time. The women here are amazing and this forum was such a comfort (and remains such a comfort to me) when I went through treatment.

Nadine

I did all my chemo without a port.  I also had to have a blood test weekly. By the end I only had one good vein in action (which was getting pretty dodgy as well)  and several times they called the phlebotomist to come and do the cannula. It's amazing where they can put the thing.  One time it was half way up my forearm but on the outside!  

The veins have been a problem for a while with more tests, contrast for bone scans etc.  However, it seems they do repair.  I had a blood test two weeks ago and it was up an gushing again.  

I had TC chemo which is four doses and so doesn't normally come with a port. Six weeks after my last cycle was complete I had the double mx & recon and they really struggled with my veins. They said they were damaged and collapsed from chemo and at one point started muttering about ports and picc lines. Fortunately that didn't happen. It is zero fun when people poke around under your skin 'looking' for veins. That's happened three times to me during BC treatment. A port doesn't appeal but nor does the alternative!