Chemo June 2010
Comments
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RS711 - I had really bad acne around my mouth after my first treatment. My oncologist prescribed an acne cream (helped numb the area) and I also changed my facial moisturiser to good old aqueous cream bp (should be able to find at any drugstore) which provided the right level of hydration without irration to an already sensitive area. I now swear by the stuff - it's so funny how before I was spending a lot on various department store products for my face, body, hands and feet, and the huge tube of aqueous cream is literally now all I need from my head to toes!
I also found it helped to drink (even) more water, eat (even) more veges and do a few masks. I had dry skin around my mouth for about 3 days and it was a pain to eat, but I was acne free and back to 'normal' within a week. Hope this helps and good luck!
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Hello All, we yesterday was #3 TX AC/Bev. Made out well during the TX but was "pooped" all afternoon. Didn't run any laps I assure you. I did sleep last night ok except for the hot flashes. At one point I had not just covers thrown off my body!
I am still dragging today but have to push through it a bit because I have the neulasta shot and a saline fill on the reconstruction. I debated postponing that but haven't decided yet. I am so excited that I only have one more AC left. I know I am staring down the barrell of 12 Taxol but it is so refreshing to know I can say I am almost done with a leg of this journey. I met two sisters yesterday at TX. One was a 25 year survivor that just reoccurred. The other was a new member of our club and was struggling. I pushed over with my pole and asked if I could give her a hug. She was so surprised but said "Absolutely". When I got ready to head back to my chair she said "I really needed that!". Sure was glad I could make somebody feel a little better. What a wild journey we are on huh?Anyway, take care of yourselves today my friends. Rest if you need to, drink fluids if you need to and cry a tear if you need to. Otherwise smile - we will get through this together.
Hugs all around!
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Hi all, haven't been around for a while. Trying to catch up on all of the reading. I see everyone is having pretty much the same se's. I have my fourth and last AC today, WOOOHOOOO. My third was horrible, I was down and out for a week and a half. Plus my veins are not doing to good and hurt like heck and are swollen and hard. Probably gonna have to bite the bullet and have the port put in to get through the twelve weekly taxol. I sure hope what everyone says is true and that the taxol is a lot easier than the AC!! Good luck to all, I wish everyone no se's or very minimal ones!!!
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Isla, Thank you for the information. My onc is a man of few words so I appreciated the information. I haven't suffered too much fatigue except the last two days. It comes on so suddenly that I could not stand to watch the pot boil either! It last 30 mins to several hours. It worried me that it was so sudden in onset. Now I know.
I cycled for an hour this morning. I have to stop every 2 kilometers to blow my nose! Cytoxan is the stupidest drug ever. I fourth that motion. Is it unanimous?
Also a big thank you to all the ladies on this board. I could not do this without you and your ongoing support.
Love, Mimi
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the chemo god looked at me this evening and said "hey we missed this one - she hasn't thrown up yet since she started chemo - we better do something about that..." It's day 10 after my third AC and I just spent the evening throwing up in the toilet. No idea why it happened now for the first time, and this was supposed to be my "good time" before my next tx :-(
anyway, feeling OK now (one hour later), so maybe it was just a brief interlude...
feel better everyone!
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Well I've had a crappy day! Couldn't sleep last night, hot and cold, headache, temperature 102.6 this morning. Into the onc. office, blood work, urine sample, sent to hospital for chest xray, threw up at the hospital, now on antibiotics for a week and have to see onc. every day until they're sure I'm fine. At least the chest xray was clear and I'm feeling a bit better.
Julia
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hey everyone,
round three has been the hardest so far. still no nausea or vomiting but this fatigue is getting annoying and worse. my onc said it will get worse each round. I can't wait to get my energy back. I am half way done chemo though now and can't wait until it is over. I have to keep reminding myself that this is temporary and I can do this.
Isla: Im glad you posted that about fatigue and I can't wait until it goes away!
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Oh dear... Julia... hang in there... what a rough ride for you.
Thanks so much Isla for the info. There are times the fatigue is so profound. I feel like I should try harder, but everything is such an effort. I get so breathless.
Here's a suggestion I thought I would pass along. After my first tx I got a really sensitive and sore mouth. I did a lot of rinsing with baking soda and salt. Not fun. Then I switched to the toothpaste that has baking soda. Not sure if that's the reason, but my mouth has not been as sore at all this time.
Courage girls!
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Thanks Northerngirl! It just so sucks to be feeling really pretty good and then suddenly feel like you've aged 30 years! I feel like they're wrecking my body, I worry a lot about my liver and kidneys. How weird it is, the onc thought I'd pretty much breeze through chemo due to my overall level of health, lack of allergies, low BP, etc etc. Now he's talking about a long conversation re: changing my regimen.
Julia
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Today had round two of CTH with Decadron and Aloxi. (Noticed the Cytoxan, given last of the 5 bags, had been labeled by the nurses Black Bullet). Asked onc about severe headache and stiff neck and got no real answers. He listened to time line of onset and doesn't think it's chemo related. And says Decadron and Aloxi would have cleared out before the headaches got hold. Thinks a virus may have been responsible since my WBC was in the basement 7 days post chemo. Isn't waiting a week this time for Neulasta...I have to go tomorrow for that injection. Did get Rx for oxycodone and pharmacist made sure they are scored tablets so I can cut in half and start slow and low if I need it. Hoping no headaches come that can't be handled with Extra Strength Tylenol.
Feeling bloated from all the water I've had over the last few days. Drank over 64 ounces during the 5.25 hrs there and have been drinking ever since. I'll flush that crap out of me as fast as possible if I can or I'll float away.
Oh, onc loved the lint roller idea for hair stubble. He thinks one other person may have tried something similar but not that. He will recommend to patients in future. All thanks to you guys. You're the best. Hope you have a good night. Bon
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Wow, we are all in the thick of things aren't we? Keep up the positive attitudes girls--we'll get through this!
Julia-->what a rough day! Hope it gets better--glad your onc is keeping a close eye on you!
Northern girl-->I did the same thing with the toothpaste last round amd it worked for me too! I was going to post about it, but you beat me to it
Spent most of the afternoon in my room, napping and watching tv. Pretty tired today, but I know the next few days will probably be worse.
Hang in there everyone!
Tina
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Yikes Latte! Day 10! What's up with that? Hope you continue to feel better!
Jenweg-->congrats on the last AC! I'm almost there!
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So, 37 days after my first treatment, and 41 days since my last period, guess what happened today? I started my period! Surprise! I haven't had a 41 day cycle for 20 years!
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wow, what a mess we have been in..lol i started my period yesterday right on time, im having my #3 AC friday all bloodwork came out ok, i talked to ONC as u all said i should and she gave me something for my nerves and promised there is nothing else wrong with me or she would have found it before any chemo was allowed, i feel so much better,thank you all for insisting i do that!!!
skd, yes your right you can do it!! we all can!!!! and we will keep reminding each other of that!!!
julie, tough times baby, you got through it and will continue too!!! we all here for ya!!!
latte im right behind you, im sorry, im glad it didnt last long, now i know to try and lead it off at the pass!!
wow we are all here, right in the middle!!! we will do great!!!
jenwig,yay!!! im excited for you!!!
bon, you and i were dx on the same day...
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Hi Everyone. I haven't been here in a while, just spent some time catching up. I started my chemo 6/9-Adria/Cytoxan every 2 weeks x4. First round was a piece of cake. Must have "bragged" too much about it because rounds 2 and 3 have kicked my butt!
Isla: I was so happy to read your post-not that I want you to have the CRF, but for the fact that it describes me to a tee. It's hard for family and friends to understand that one minute you are talking, and the next you need to lie down because of exhaustion. Not that anyone cares that I do that, but it must appear weird to others is what I'm saying. Thanks for the bit about what your onc said that it disappears quickly after stopping chemo. YEAH! The fatigue is extremely annoying if nothing else, and a girl has to do something useful from time to time, right???
Northerngirl: Your comment that we are a struggling bunch compared to a couple of weeks ago is soooo accurate. When we were all first starting, there were lots of questions and comparisons. Now everyone states whats going on and we can all relate. I love this site! It helps me a great deal to hear how everyone is doing. Yes, we are well into a weary fight-I love that. That statement makes me want to be stronger and give chemo SE and Cancer the finger!
Congrats Jenweg on you last A/C tx. My last will be next Wednesday. Can't wait!
Happy dreams everyone.......LaurieZ
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So sorry to hear about everyone's struggles. This chemo thing can be a real drag. CANCER SUCKS!!!
I had my 3rd tx of AC today. My blood counts were back up. The onco said they were NOT terribly low, but I'm glad they were back up. I told her I had some more fatigue last time around. She said I might have more fatigue this time. Good news is that she said it should get better on the Taxol. I'm tired, just hanging out on the sofa. I told her I had nausea this time and switched back to Compazine because the Zofran wasn't cutting it last time.
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On my way to AC #4. I also noticed a stitch that didn't dissolve! So I have to have that snipped, I'm a little freaked out by that. I'm a lot freaked out by the absense of my period but I will speak to a nurse today for some reassurance that it's OK.
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Rs711-->Yay for #4! Hope the next 2 weeks aren't too bad for ya--keep us posted!
Good to hear from everyone checking in! Hope more of you do--there's a lot of names on the list we haven't heard from in awhile. We like good reports too!
Another day to get through---another day closer to being DONE!
Tina
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I'm getting a little nervous because I started with Taxol/Herceptin...I had my 6th this past Monday, then 3 more.... I start FAC after that....everyone seems to say Taxol is a breeze in comparison, for those who started with the AC etc....I'm handling the SE's okay, but for some reason this has been a rough week. I am hanging in there, but so tired! This fatigue is so hard to describe!
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Latte, number three for me was bad also, I also threw up but on day 7 and it last for a couple of days!
Julia, I hope you get well soon! Get plenty of rest
Thanks everyone, soooo glad to be done with the AC part, now on to taxol. Just had my treatment yesterday and feeling blah today, made it in to work and hoping to get through the day. Also bit the bullet and am having a port put in to get through the rest of my treatments. Don't want to be dug around in for twelve weeks straight!!
Well hang in there everyone!
We will get through this!!!!!!! -
Julie: I wouldn't be fearful about changing your chemo regimens. It seems like your onc is keeping close tabs on you and that would make me feel confident if he thinks you should change. That is sort of what happened to me. My fear in changing is that the new chemo wouldn't be as effective, but my onc assured me that the different regimens are really more alike than not in combating cancer. The major difference is the side effects. Since all our bodies are different, what regimens some girls can fairly breeze through, the same regimen kicks some of our butts.
I hope things get better for you.
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Yesterday I met with the nurse practitioner as my onc is on vacation. She was nice and asked me alot of questions about my SE's on the new regimen. She wants me to try something new this time to see if I can get more good days where I can eat or at least drink. I am to take Zofran and Ativan every 8 hours beginning this morning (next day after treatment) and do that for 2 days whether I have symptoms or not. Seemed interesting and I'm going to try it - but will probably be a zombie for those two days. I guess that beats being sick, though. Will check in and let you know how I'm doing on that. If the post has many typos, you'll know I'm out of it LOL!
I dont' remember who has asked about the relation between the wrong weight and the chemo calculations but I can tell you that my new regimen is based on my actual weight. The nurse removed the old weight and recorded the correct one before the new regimen was calculated. I am waiting on the onc return from vacation to ask about the AC/T original treatment and what weight it was calculated on.
Hair - my new routine is to lint roller my pillow each morning before I make the bed. There are a few short hairs every morning. Then when I take a shower, I lint roller my head after I get out and dry it. But I don't like what I see. I am ready for the shiny head, but I have some stubborn hairs that won't come out even with the roller. Mostly at my crown and a little at the front. My husband offered to buzz it again with his razor but I'm a little afraid because I've read about skin irritation, sores, etc. I know my onc office says no razors anywhere, legs, arms, head - to use electric razors. Do you think that would be alright for the stubborn hairs on my head. I had it buzzed short before the hair started to fall out so that when it started to come out I wouldn't have clumps of long hair everywhere. Yay or nay to having husband use electric razor to buzz off the stubborn hairs - it has a guard on it.
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One more and then I should be done for a little while before the room starts spinning.
Chey: I'm glad you talked to your doctor. My theory is that if you really trust your doctor (any doctor) then I want him/her to have the complete picture of myself, emotional, mental, children, husband, aches, pains, fears, etc. When you can do that, I believe the doctor has a better chance of giving you the best treatment, advice, etc. when they have the whole picture.
On a similar note, the nurse practitioner asked about my depression. I told her I didn't think I had any depression, but I checked with my husband sitting there to get a more honest opinion. He told the nurse that the only time he had seen me down was when I was really sick with SE's. On my good days, he told her I seemed almost normal and tried to do more normal stuff. I think being on here is good therapy for me. That and my naturally optimistic personality which has been challenged to the core on a few occasions lately.
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Sherry I used the electric razor to remove the final "stubble" on my head. Worked well and didn't irritate my scalp. I say "yay" on the electric razor.
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sherry-I'm so proud of you. Look how far you have come since those first, truly miserable days. As you brought up the electric razor topic, I would love to know if any of you have electric razors that you really like. I have never owned one (resent having to!). Having my nodes removed, has left my left arm pit numb, so, of course, I do not shave it....not a good look, a one-hairy-armed woman! Heck, Sherry, if you want to use your electric razor on your head, I say live dangerously (like we aren't already!). Of course if it nicks or cuts, stop. As an added precaution, you might just really swab with witch hazel after your trim. The only hesitation I might have is that you want those unattached hairs to fall out, so you want enough sticking up to catch on the lint roller.
cheyenna- You sound better already. I'm glad you talked with your Onc and they helped you with your nerves.
Like tmarina pointed out, there are so many names on this list that we don't hear from. I just noticed that we June girls have posted over 1,000 times. Wow, are we a chatty bunch! I also noticed that there have been over 10,000 views! I am hoping all of you shy girls who are viewing are getting some support and love too. Come on in if you ever feel like talking.
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Designer Mom- OK, shy girl here. Always lurking and keeping up on you guys, but only posted a few times.
I had my 2nd TCH treatment yesterday. It was uneventful, just like the 1st one. My hair is still hanging in there. I figured it would be much worse by now. The nurses were surprised how much hair I still have. I am definitely shedding a lot, but no real clumps. I am prepared with a wig, but mentally not so prepared.
I had a few minor side effects the first time around. Burning tongue, some diarrhea, but pretty minor compared to what some of you ladies have been dealing with. I had one scare. A fever of 102.4...turns out I had a skin infection on my left side. Somewhere between the chest muscle being stretched by the TE and my skin. It was all red, swollen and hot to the touch. It cleared up pretty quickly with antibiotics and I was cleared for treatment yesterday.
Thank you all for being here and sharing. It has really been a blessing for me to have found this place
Jen
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Designer Mom - I've never owned an electric razor because I'm not a naturally hairy person. I only have 2 or 3 hairs on each leg and maybe one hair under each arm. After my auxillary node dissection, I didn't have to worry about shaving. I was going to use my husband's electric razor. If your hairs are bothering you on your numb underarm, have you tried Neet or one of those sprays that remove hair?
Also someone remarked about their wigs that they are not crazy about. My mom actually bought me a wig (Rachel Welch brand) through my hairdresser. Not sure what she paid for it, but it is a nice wig. I had my hairdresser cut it in the style my hair was before all this mess and have worn it a couple of times. Friends have said that it looks like me again and that if they didn't already know, they wouldn't have guessed it was a wig. It's very comfortable, has a mesh cap, but I haven't worn it much since the temperatures in Tulsa have been 95+ for about 3 weeks. But when I start back to work, I plan to wear it more then.
P.S. I've decided the Zofran and Activan are not making me drowsy but hyper. LOL. I'll turn off my computer for a while and spare you all.
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jenmarie9-good to hear from you, and glad you are weathering the treatments. As I suspected, I have a feeling all our chatting is helping all our not-so-chatty sisters too. I guess all you quiet ladies balance out my never-a-quiet-moment chatter.
sherry- Wow, Neet hair remover. That's a blast from the past. I remember using it when it first came out in the 60s. I hadn't thought about that.
I am having such a hard time with motivation. It's like my get up and go, got up and went! I actually feel fine physically right now, and really need to be using this time to work on my business. As I closed my retail stores and have essentially "started over" with my online business, our finances are beyond stretched. Let's not even talk about the cost of living in NYC or the electricity I am burning up because of 94 degree days! I just feel like this BC diagnosis has taken over my brain, not only my body. So much of my time is spent researching, thinking, wondering about what is and will happen to me....and of course talking to you guys, which I love. It's almost as if everything else is on pause. So how do I jumpstart my old life and motivation???
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Just got my hair cut into a short, short pixie cut. This was after my second AC and it had started to come out. I'm not sure if the cut will even last a week or if I should have buzzed it. I'm such a weinie. My wigs won't be in for another 5 days. They are of course all long hair. Which will probably be weird after short hair and nada. I feel like a have a bell for a brain. It dings with worrying that the cancer will be terminated, to dinging about hair loss. Urggggg.
Rachel
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Greeting to all my pink sisters!
I haven't been very chatty the few days because I picked up a computer virus that was the absolute worst ever. I had to wipe my system. I posted something about it in my Facebook status yesterday after I got back up and running, and immediately got several messages concerned about my health. I appreciate the concern but it's obvious everyone just skims, isn't it? I got a good laugh out of that since I much prefer the puter to have a virus instead of getting one myself.
My second TC treatment is scheduled for tomorrow. I'm taking my premed steriods and pushing fluids today. I hope I get the treatment (I want this OVER with!) but I'm a bit worried because the cellulitis in my lumpectomy boob hasn't gone away despite the IV antibiotics and a week of twice daily keflex. I will just show up tomorrow and hope for the best.
To whoever posted about the free gailia headwear, THANK YOU! I picked a fabric and submitted a request for my free hat only a few days ago, and the most lovely package showed up today. I like it enough that I think I'll order a couple more.
Here's to a good, minimal SE weekend for all of the June ladies. Love you all.
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