February 2011 chemo pals

thefuzzylemon

I hope so ... but, if I know how this work stuff goes...it'll be more like on the weekends ... luckily I can still read the posts!!  So technically, you're all going back with me

jenn_h

Sad day Fuzzy...your boss BETTER be good to you, or he'll have us to deal with!

christina1961

Yesterday was my third ACT - this time I had adriamycin instead of epirubicin because the shortage of Adriamycin has ended.  Feeling ok so far but usually the third day is when it hits me.  I am at work today but plan to rest tomorrow. Just got my Neulasta shot a little while ago.

SpecialK

melanie - they did a bunch of cardiac work-up on me 15 years ago when I started having problems and of course it was all fine because there was nothing wrong with my heart!  I was frustrated though because I was in pain.  Be careful about too much of the spasm thing - it means you have acid coming up and it can cause esophagitis and your GI tract is already irritated.  You might want to look into a PPI to control it.

fuzzy - make sure you keep in touch so we won't worry!

Melanie_Ann

Oh I do take a PPI. I have for almost 10 years probably...I even took two on Saturday and it just wasn't cutting it. I'm better now though!

SpecialK

melanie - oh good. 

christine47

Melanie -   sorry to see you had such a rough time with your last TAC, so sorry.  I am still on the Protonix and have had to double dose several times this round. I also found it helpful to sleep with your head on a least a few pillows, keep the acid heading the right direction.   You are almost done, just 2 more to go!! 

lorenar

Hi ladies. Wanted to say I hope you sufering SE will get to feeling okay soon. I  as well have had lost more appetite after #4 nery odd.  O go next Fri. to a diff state 3 hours away to meet a diff onc/ for second opinion to see if I get treated better or not. I f so I will transfer, what they do is just set my taxol closer to home its 1 hour away. I am so tired of going through all this and they want o give me nothing for anxiety or bone pain. Since I already have back problems that scares me with the bone pain. They said where Im going noone should go like I have been getting treated. The american cancer society gave me the suggest when I called for advice. They say alot of people go out of state. Hope t turns out well. be well my sisters..

Melanie_Ann

Thanks ladies for the advice and encouragement. I love comparing notes and often wonder why some ONCs do things so different. Although, I do know that every person is different and we all have different stages and types of BC. I've got 2 more to get through! I may throw a party when it's over.

pejkug3

I can't believe I'm awake at this hour!!  2:05am, my time - and my kindergarten age sons are home from school tomorrow, dentist appts for my bigger kids and myself and haircuts for the kids.  Long day.

Has anyone been to the dentist since starting chemo?  I'm hoping for all good news since I'm just halfway through.  Nervous about having someone rooting around in my mouth though.

dogeyed

Lorenar, I also have a bad back, and AC #3 chemo made it much worse, and this goofs up my thinking, which is how come I am disabled.  So, when I talked to my doc, he doubled my pain meds, and he also told me that the chemo won't hurt my back, which was a relief, cuz I got scared like you.  I think what happened is, when the side effects of chemo get rough, we tense up our bodies and cannot relax well during the worst of it, and this makes hurts worse.  I have tried various stuff to relax, but it's all SO out of my control.  Stretching helped somewhat, but I really need a massage.

Pejkug, several of our group have had emergency dental work in the middle of chemo, you could check back maybe ten pages and pick up a couple of those.  I need several teeth removed, but am waiting as long as I can... it's a clinic and they won't pass out antibiotics, but I suppose my doc would give them to me if I wind up in dental chair as emergency.

Fuzzy, ahhhhh, the work world.  Hope you can stand up to it, the physical exhaustion from chemo may unexpectedly visit you once in a while, just sit right down if you're walking some distance and can't make it, until you catch your breath, the more the boss sees you trying to cope, the easier it will be to leave early sometimes.  If you're going over to Taxol, your feet may be sensitive, get some cushy things for bottom of shoes (or wear slippers!) and prop them up when you can.  I actually put mine up on a pillow and I'm already laying on the couch!  But that's what pain meds are for.

All, I went to get my end-of-AC heart scan at hospital yesterday, endless day, I told off one scan tech who was talking endlessly and loudly, I said that this was a hospital and people are sick, and I was sick of hearing him.  He was quiet for about five mins.  I figure it's payback from all the times I got so chatty as a schoolgirl and drove everyone nuts.  I am now home for one week, thank heavens, we get free HBO with satellite this weekend, God's "Tender Mercies" (good movie).  GG 

Mwasi

Yes I heard on PBS last week or the week before, about estrogen given to women with complete hysterectomies being a good thing, but only for 6 years. I was on estrogen 12 years.

Mwasi

M1nn1e - Taxotere/Cytoxin - is my chemo also. I had my first treatment Thursday. No problem til Sunday night. Back pain. I haven't slept for 3 nights, so this is normal? I took 2 tablets of diphenhydramine-sleep aide. Did not help. Before chemo, I could take 1/2 a tablet and I was out like a light. So, my back pain could be a SE? and it won't last forever? I hope it is an SE then. Tell me everything, I want to know what to expect and what I can do about any SE you have had and every one else on Taxotere/Cytoxin as well. I love you all!

SpecialK

mwasi - Taxotere causes bone pain.  Are you receiving Neulasta also?  If so it may be a mix of both.  My Taxotere is with Carboplatin so I can't address any issues about Cytoxin.  Are you icing you fingernails and toenails during your Taxotere infusion?

I too took 10 years of estrogen after complete hysterectomy - now a 96% ER+ tumor, coincidence, I think not!

Melanie_Ann

I'm on Taxotere/Cytoxin and Adriamycin. I had reallllly bad aches and pains the first time around, but since then I have taken Claritin the day of and a few days after. I also get Neulasta so I thought that was contributing to it too. The past two times I haven't noticed any aches or pains. However, I do twitch all over. I'ts rather strange but it usually only lasts a day.

Melanie_Ann

Question: Is anyone else losing feeling in their fingertips. I guess I noticed it last round but this time, it's really becoming noticeable. It's just the very tips of my fingers but it's really strange. My ONC said this would probably happen and it will resolve over time once I'm done, but just wanted to see if anyone else had that problem. I ice my hands but I guess it's not 100%. My nails still look good though and don't hurt so I'm happy.

LisaGH

I am pretty much like you MelanieAnn. I have loss of sensation in my fingers (and my feet somewhat too- even my left leg some- the chemo nurse called that side the 'sock effect'). I don't have pain or soreness- and my nails are ok for now. I keep them cut very short.

Having a little heartburn today from my herceptin- that hasn't happened before.

SpecialK

melanie - I have noticed that I have decreased sensation in my finger tips for the week after tx.  It isn't burning or tingling so I am not sure if it is neuropathy or not.  It doesn't stay though - or hasn't so far, and I haven't noticed it in my feet. The icing won't prevent neuropathy, only loss of nails.

lorenar

Dogeyed: Thanks for the advice, when I go out of state next Friday Im gonna ask for some pain meds, all they allow me in this gosh forsakin state is tramadol/, I know how crazy right?So funnt you told doc/ you were sick of hearein them made me smile. Hope everyone is well and safe.

Melanie_Ann

Lorenar, I can't believe they won't give you pain meds! I go to the same treatment center and I don't have a problem with medications. Typically, they're handing me stuff that I don't even want most of the time...??

charlottesmama

OK. I will no longer compose my posts directly on the site. I can't tell you how many posts I have lost before submitting. Also, you can't upload pictures! How lame is that?

Dental work. I did it after chemo #2. It was fine. Talk to oncology nurses first. Numb fingertips. Had that too days 3-5.

That's all I dare to write before it all vanishes in the internet ether... 

EmilyInOntario

I posted this on the taxotere thread but thought maybe some of you here might also have some ideas...

This is day Day 13 after round 1 of taxotere and I have a mottled red area on the backs of both hands around the back of  thumbs and below the pinkie finger down the edge of the hand. No pain or itch..looks like it COULD be developing into a bit of rash but more just reddened right now. Has anyone experienced this?

jenn_h

Melanie, I had 4 AC treatments, but after the 4th the tingling in my toes and fingers was at its worst, I wouldn't say no feeling, but more of a numbness. Taxol tomorrow, so worried that will get worse yet.

alison0415

pejkug3 - I had a root canal and crown last week because I broke a tooth!  I was lucky as I just happened to already be on antibiotics for folliculitis but my Onc did switch me to another one more appropriate for dental work I guess.

melanie_ann - Similar to Special K I have decreased sensation in my fingertips plus they are super dry, even worse than the rest of the hands.  I took off my acrylics a few weeks too late so my nails are a total mess!  They started bleeding when the acrylics were removed and now they are splitting, so that's actually worse than the fingertip issue.

 I wouldn't consider myself someone super into alternative medicine.  I have traditionally just popped a pill when I had an ache or pain.  I think I mentioned on this board that after TCH#2 I went to an accupuncturist and I had almost no major SE at all, especially compared to TCH#1.  Well I had TCH #3 last Thursday and felt fine over the weekend but then Monday and Tuesday I felt terrible.  So Tuesday afternoon I went to the accupuncturist and today I was 100% better.  Again, I can't say for certain that was it, but I do know that I am going to make an appointment much earlier for the next round.  It absolutely took care of constipation but in both instances, my general malaise symptoms significantly dissipated the day after.

Melanie_Ann

Alison- I never thought of doing something like that. I have terrible problems with nausea and I wonder if trying something alternative afterwards would help. In addition to the meds of course. I wouldn't stop those for the world. I have it bad enough and I can't imagine what it would be like if I took nothing. You'd probably have to scrape me off the floor.

Emily- I'm on Taxotere too and my hands looked the same for the first two rounds. It was kind of a rash but it didn't itch or anything. At first I thought it was dry hands, but I spoke to a nurse and she said it was just a SE of the Taxotere. I didn't really do anything special for it. However, I don't know if it was exactly the same without seeing it of course, so if you believe you need to get it checked out, then I would. But I've had two more cycles of it and haven't had any. I also started getting Benadryl IV for the 3rd and 4th cycle so that may have something to do with it. It's hard to tell. 

How's everyone doing in regards to chemo? Anyone finished? I have 2 more to go. 5 more weeks. It seems like forever, but I'm sure it will go by fast. 

Have a good day!

DivineMrsM

allison, would you have any suggestions on how to find a reputable acupuncturist.  And can you say what a session with one would cost?  I live in a small town, but am an hour or less drive from Wheeling, WV and Pittsburgh, PA.  I would consider going to an acupunturist but have no idea how to go about it.  Would I tell them I am being treated for bc?

I worry that SE from several of my upcoming chemo treatments are going to interfere with some banquets and ceremonies my son will be in next month being that he's a senior in high school.  That's why I'd be willing to try to have my SE diminished if possible.

Melanie_Ann

Also, I was wondering about acupuncture and lymph node removal. Do those count as needle sticks? If so, I'm not sure I would take the chance but I would love to try it.

JeanH

Mama of two use the copazine it helped so much and I did not notice side effects.

I need to do some serious catch up reading. The taxol was much easier regarding side effects, I will take aches and pains over nasueasa and headaches any day. I was able to work a full day Monday feeling like me.



I am extremely busy at work now, working to late and tired when home. Only thing I was able to do was pay bills.



I am in process of getting my second taxol now. After this only 2 more, I am 3/4 done!



Hugs to all and good luck to my Thursday sisters and Friday sisters who are scheduled this week.



Jean

JeanH

Mama of two use the copazine it helped so much and I did not notice side effects.

I need to do some serious catch up reading. The taxol was much easier regarding side effects, I will take aches and pains over nasueasa and headaches any day. I was able to work a full day Monday feeling like me.



I am extremely busy at work now, working to late and tired when home. Only thing I was able to do was pay bills.



I am in process of getting my second taxol now. After this only 2 more, I am 3/4 done!



Hugs to all and good luck to my Thursday sisters and Friday sisters who are scheduled this week.



Jean

jenn_h

Taxol #1 under my belt, 3 more to go. Wasn't bad so far. I was very tired by the time the four hours it took was done, Benedryl made me a little loopy for a bit, didn't like that feeling, but glad I'm home now! Will be going to see surgeon for follow up in Roswell (buffalo) next Thur. My surgery should be late June, I wonder if he will schedule tentatively next week, it's hard to have summer so up in the air. Anyone else here have or having a complete mastectomy? Time I start reading up on that I guess...