Sore scalp and bone pain

mollykitten

Hi,

I just started chemo about 3 weeks ago. My hair started falling out about 4 days ago and is now just about completely gone. I am not so upset about that; it's more a factor of dealing with an itchy, sore scalp.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to remedy this problem? Does the sore, itchy scalp ever go away, or does it stay with you throughout treatment and beyond until your hair grows back?  

Also, I have talked to my medical onc about the bone pain that I experienced shortly after my 1st infusion. It lasted about 1 week total, then went away. I was given Vicodin for the pain which helped tremendously. 

I was told by him that bone pain is not common with BC chemo treatment, and he said that he is not sure why I had it. However, my onc nurse stated that bone pain IS common as the chemo drugs affect the red and white blood cells which make up your bone marrow. Since the marrow is being weakened, this is where the bone pain comes from. I have also talked to other women who have gone through bone pain with chemo, and it seems to be more comon than not. So now I am confused. Can bone pain occur with chemo treatment?  I know that I did not have this problem pre-chemo.

Anyone else have trouble with one of these issues or both?

Thanks for the help!!!

Take care and all my best.  

Josie : )  

           

Estepp

Hi Josie....

Yes, my scalp ached until it was almost gone and it was flaky... Rub lotion after ever shower just like the body... I use utter cream and or Coco butter.. this will take care of a lot of it! I wear a beenie all day and night... feel great and keeps those little aches at bay.

YES WE GET BONE PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is your onco kidding you! Taxol ar any of the taxaines will do this.. IT IS A SIDE EFFECT.. also..Your onco nurse seems to know more....

Look up side effect online of the chemo's you are on... they all have a web site and can tell you the side effects (SE)... I CANNOT imagine your CANCER ONCOLOGIST does not know this.. this is old news... I was given vicodin for the pain. I have been blessed that mine is slight and I do not need pain pills.

Look up your drugs online.. it will take you to their sites!

Gods Love to you!

Laura

kerry_lamb

Not common???   A-r-r-g-g-h-h-h-!!   Pain is a side effect of taxanes AND of the neulasta shot you get to boost your WBCs. I feel like every bone in my body is broken below the hips, plus wrists, feet and the centre of my spine.  It eases by the last week before chemo. Tell your onco what you learned on this forum.

cmb35

As Kerry said, AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH! That kind of crap drives me nuts. I had extreme bone pain as a result of the neulasta and the taxol. Yes, that significant of a reaction is not that common (I'm a big "less than 5% experience this side effect" girl), but some bone pain (the take some advil and you'll be fine kind) is very common.  Same places as Kerry said, the worst of it in my hips and center of my lower spine, sometimes it lasted 48 hours, sometimes longer. I will say it was easier to deal with when I knew what it was (as opposed to my first thought, which was of course bone mets.)

As far as the itchy painful scalp, mine did get less painful, but I mostly remember my head being cold, not itchy. You might try Aquaphor - slimy, but very moisturizing.

Hang tough my friend!

mollykitten

Hi Everyone,

Thank you so much for the replies. I really appreciate them.

I talked to my breast health care Soc worker today for about an hr and we talked a lot about the pain from chemo (she herself has gone through it.) She also told me that bone pain is more common than not during chemo, but especially with Taxol.

Tomorrow, when I see my onc before my infusion, I will make a definite point to let him know that  I have talked with my BC sisters, and my BC Soc worker and yes, bone pain is more common than not. I am going to make it very clear that he NEEDS to start taking me more seriously.

Also thanks for the tips on how to prevent or relieve my scalp trouble.   

I will make sure to let everyone know how I am doing.

Thanks again ladies for all of your help.

Good luck, and I wish the best for everyone.

Josie : )         

terrilee

I have the sore scalp as well, and it makes me want to shave what is left of my hair so I can get some cream into my scalp more easily. Will probably do that in a couple of days. I just ordered a beanie as well. Thanks for the ideas. 

Anonymous

Hi there,

I can't believe an onc. would tell you bone pain is uncommon.  Can we say crazy?! 

My bone pain was a miserable experience, and I needed Vicodin for quite some time. 

For my sore scalp, I found relief from using a lint brush (the sticky roller kind).  It felt soooooooo good to roll it all over my head.  Once the hair was completely out and I was shiny head bald, I felt much better. 

The scalp pain subsided a few weeks into tx., and didn't last the entire time.  Good gracious, I couldn't imagine if it did.  I would have lost my mind. 

Love and prayers, Deb

mollykitten

Hi Everyone,

Well, I had my 2nd infusion, and it seemed to go better than the 1st. Also now that most of my hair is gone my scalp does not hurt any longer.   

I did talk to my onc about the bone pain and also gave him all of the feedback from my BC.Org sisters, and my breast health care social worker. This time he was a lot more understanding and empathetic to my situation (about time), and actually followed up on my concerns.

For one thing I am being re-tested for the sickle cell trait which does run fairly rampant on my moms side of the family. I was tested as a baby, but my onc feels that since the test was performed so long ago (35 years), and because my maternal grandfather, my mother, aunt, uncle, my sister and brother are all carriers, he wants me tested again to make sure I am negative, and make sure the test was accurate. I know from living with my mom, brother and sister, that joint pain and low platelets can be a problem if you carry the trait. I too have always had a problem with low platelets (no asprin for me!) and some joint/hip pain. I would imagine that if I did carry the sickle trait, chemo treatment could just add to those side effects and make any bone/joint pain worse than it already is.

My onc also did give me a prescription for pain (vicodin), which seems to work very well. Right now, the bone pain seems to last about 7-9 days after infusions and then slowly lets up.

So, I have 25% of my treatment completed (2 cycles down 6 to go), and I have addressed some very important issues with my onc. and will continue to address any necessary issues with him as often as I need to as that's what he is there for.

Will just see what happens from here. Right now, I am just taking one treatment at a time. 

Thanks again for everything, and I'll let everyone know if there are any updates or changes.

Good luck to everyone.

Josie : )