More Tips (and a Shopping List) for Getting Through Chemo

TFPMurphy

Just a quick note of thanks to Rock and all the bumpers for this thread and keeping it in the forefront.  I start chemo tomorrow and the info is so very helpful.  I appreciate all the work that went into it. 

Anonymous

TFP~~Best wishes to you as you start treatment. I pray your SEs are minimal. Check in with us if you have any questions. We're here for you.



Blessings

Paula

badger

bump for TFPMurphy ♥ and all the newbies

("rock" you rock!) edit to add - Hey Paula!  :-)

Jaybird26

Bump for all of you. I know this post has helped me. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Anonymous

BUMP for AUTUMN!!!!

Nico1012

Bumping !

Anonymous

Bump

badger

Bump for the newbies.  ♥

badger

bump!

TFPMurphy

Just a quick note to let you know that your tips and suggestions were put into effect foe my first chemo session. I ended up using many of your ideas, things that I would not have planned for. Thank you do much for posting all that helpful info. Finding it all in one place made it so much easier!

RhodyMMM

TPFMurphy, I agree that the tips and suggestions were very helpful. When was your first chemo? I had my second round on Thursday. This time I was much more prepared thanks to the lists and to some of the other forums. First time around was a rush job so I didn't have quite as much time to prepare. Take care of yourself and I wish you well!

Bump it to the top!!!!!

Martha

Anonymous

Bump it up

Nico1012

Bumpity bump!

TFPMurphy

Martha - my first chemo was on September 18th.  My next is October 2nd.

Prayers to you and everyone.

RhodyMMM

TFPMurphy, good luck to you on your second chemo!

badger

bump!  ♥

Anonymous

Bump

Nico1012

BUMPING for the newbies !

badger

bump it up!

badger

bump for the newbies! ♥

Anonymous

bump

badger

bump!

MinusTwo

Thanks for the list & the bumps. I look at the active list regularly so the bumps brought me here. I've started reading but maybe some of you can provide some details l might miss.

I just finished 6 rounds of Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin&Perjeta April through September. I still don't have my taste buds back & the neuropathy is nasty. Not to mention that I've lost 50 lbs - mostly through continual "Big D". Love the Taxotere, etc. thread. Now I find I have to do more rounds with Adriamycin &Cytoxan starting this month. Anyone else done both? I'd like some hints that might make AC prep different. Or the different side effects. No worry about loosing the hair again. It's only grown back 3/8". And yes, darn it, I will have to to Neulasta again.

Any thoughts or comments about AC would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Anonymous

Minus Two~~I did AC before taxol. I had 4 treatments of AC and got them every 3 weeks so I didn't need Neulasta since I had an extra week to bounce back. Has anyone told you to take Claritin to combat the bone pain associated with Neulasta. The generic, Loratidine, works just as well for a fraction of the cost. I take it to combat the bone pain caused by arimidex (estrogen sucking drug).

We are all different, but I can tell you how AC affected me, and how I coped.

I had treatments on Fridays every 3 weeks. Counting Friday as Day 1. I felt fine for a few days. Taste buds left me about Day 6. But were fine by Day 9.

On Days 7-8 I had to pee what seemed like 400 times a day, and I had chills, but no fever. I later learned that was the steroids leaving my body. (Sticking their tongues out as they waved bye bye)

A few days after my second tx I got very light headed when standing (probably anemia from low RBC)

I stayed very weak throughout AC, but was never nauseus.

I kept mouth sores away by rinsing my mouth several times a day with a mix of 1 qt. water with 1 TBS salt and 1 TBS baking soda. I kept it in a closed container on the bathroom sink and everytime I went to the bathroom I'd rinse for 10-15 seconds and spit it out. NO MOUTH SORES EVER!

To avoid thrush of the mouth, I took acidophilus everyday. Eating yogurt works too. Just make sure it contains acidophilus.

If you can get your oncologist to let you do your AC every 3 weeks instead of dose dense it's better for you.

1) you won't need Neulasta

2) there's less chance of weakening the heart muscle

3) there's much less chance of developing leukemia in the future

I hope this helps. If I can can help in any way, please let me know.

Blessings

Paula

MinusTwo

Thanks Paula. I will be doing infusions every three weeks. But I will be having Neulasta every time like I did with the previous chemo. My blood counts are still down & don't bounce back in 3 weeks. Thanks for the mouth wash formula. I sucked on ice during every taxotere infusion to prevent mouth sores. Does that work for AC too? Also kept my fingers & toes in frozen peas & will only loose two toe nails. Should i do that again with AC? I appreciate your post.

Anonymous

Minus Two~~I'm not sure about icing the mouth. During one of my AC infusions the nurse gave me a Popsicle to suck on. She didn't say why.

I did find that foods and drinks that I usually enjoyed tasted terrible. I was an iced tea drinker and couldn't drink it at all during AC, but I'm drinking and enjoying it again now. I found that Taco Bell could be tasted more than other foods. Maybe it's the spices. Funny thing is, I never eat Taco Bell now.

Paula

Cougarlicious

minustwo - I eat Popsicles during the AC "push" and haven't developed any mouth sores. No icing of nails, I think that's a T side effect, not AC.

AC affects people differently, I have managed to go through without any side effects (except minor heartburn after #3) and feel fine enough to go about my normal life, whereas there are others who get extremely nauseous. If you're prone, then make sure your doc gives you rescue meds (Zoloft) prior to infusion and take them on schedule or as soon as you feel symptoms.

badger

bump it up! (Paula, love the new avatar pic!) ♥

Anonymous

Thank you badger!

Paula

MinusTwo

Thanks ladies for the tips. Not looking forward to another round & not looking forward to "the red devil", but your suggestions will help. Jan