Chemo May 2011

Beaglesgirl

Hugs to all! I have been enjoying 4 wonderful days, the closest to what it was before life with cancer. I can only say close, but it has been bliss. Yes I have had pain in my joints, still losing my brows and lashes but my appetite has gotten so much better and my energy too I even made dinner. I have chemo tomorrow so I know that it may all go back to the way it was before the weekend. but I had my nails painted pink on Saturday and I went to a friends house tonight and wore make-up... even eyebrows! Wishing everyone at least a few days of sunshine in our storm 

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hi everyone,

my labwork today showed normal ALT, i was down to 60 (214 last week).  my oncologist decided to delay my #2 Taxol to next week.  i have been off chemo for 3 weeks now!  Also, change in my careplan, i will have Taxol on a weekly basis starting next monday instead of the dose dense of every 2 weeks.  the conclusion was, the liver damage i had was Taxol-related.

i hope liver remains healthy from now on.  will keep you guys posted.

laureen

Katarina

I've been away for a couple weeks but just reading all your posts and I have to say the positivity and share of good news all around is so inspiring. In spite of the fact that we're all going through a really incredible, life changing experience, everyone does sound hopeful and positive. I just wanted to share my observation. 

Keep up the high fives. Here's one from me to all of you.

Question: I have a bad case of hives or rash that is making me itch all over. I know people have posted on what to do about this but I can't find those posts. I'm taking Claritin and Benedryl but they aren't solving the problem but alleviating it a bit.  Any other meds or remedies that anyone can share?

I was starting to blame my cats and fleas but they're totally innocent here. It's either the Taxotere or Cytoxan.

Hugs,

Kat 

40-years-old-now

OH when getting the neulasta shot take claritin for 5 days *starting chemo day*, helps with bone pain, atleast it did for me.

mebmarj

Kat

Call the onc's office. If it's from chemo, they've probably seen and treated it before. I had some weird dry, red, scaly areas on my chin and face. Was given medrol dose pack that helped.



Give them a call and get some relief. Good luck!

neecee

Kat - it is a possible side effect of the Taxotere.  Mebmarj is right - call your onc, they should be able to prescribe something for it.

linda614

Life is better right now.  I had a good cry from the Martina McBride song, my leg pain is gone and I did a long bike ride today.  The bike rides are hard.  I have to stop every couple of miles to rest, drink twice as much water, but after i'm done I feel almost normal again.  At first I felt like a loser stopping along the road so often, but I finally realized if I look super tired (not difficult) the cars going by will think I'v just pedaled a long distance. :  )  And just like Scarlett O'Hara.....I refuse to think about tomorrow (or next tuesday's treatment)

Beaglesgirl

Kat I hope your hives are better today.



Linda, I think that is awesome thinking! We feel so different that we forget that to others we may look like a completely different scenario. Good for you for getting back on your bike



I had treatment today. 8 more taxol to go. Tonight I have wobbly legs, I have had several bloody noses, and general wooziness. A slight headache too. But eight more tuesdays and we will be celebrating!



Laureen, I really hope your body takes the taxol at a weekly level better, I am thinking about you!



Goodnight friends!

Katarina

Thank you everyone - I went into my Onc's office and they all could see I had hives / itching / swollen limbs and said it was chemo related. They immediately gave me IV, steroids, and meds, and i was able to stop itching within an hour. I now have prescriptions for steroids, diuretics, skin cream meds, etc.. I'm on the mend.

Yes, I'll put money on the taxotere. The rash and hives are just the bodies way of saying let this toxin out and so at least I know the chemo is working. just hope it's attacking the cancer with the same vengeance.

 Hugs,

Kat 

Cyborg

Bak94

Thank you! Today was the first day of rads. Went really fast. No pain. Most difficult part was actually findingba bra that fits without underwire! So don't be afraid of the rads! Love to u all.

Patriotic

Hi everyone. Glad to see you are hanging in there.



I had the first AC last Tuesday. It knocked me down for 2 days. I was dreading Neulasta but, I think it actually helped. I was waiting to see about any aches or bone pain but did not experience it. So, 3 more to go. Ugh.



Laureen, that elevated liver marker must have been very scary. Glad things have normalized.



Kat, hope your hives are better.



Beaglesgirl, love your new profile pic.

lifelover

Hi lovely May ladies!  Thanks for your well wishes.

I am out of hospital having been there for a week having IV antibiotics for cellulitis in my inner thigh.  I've had a seroma there drained 6 times now and it eventually became infected halting my chemo. 

I'm going to try and live with the seroma until chemo is over because I don't want to delay chemo any further - I want to get it over with and move on!  My oncologist says I need to start walking more - which I plan to start doing today.

My first Taxotere is Friday.  I am so grateful for all the updates posted on this thread about Taxotere and Taxol.  I've painted my nails a dark colour.  I'm drinking lots of water.  My oncologist forbids me to use any supplements, vitamins or herbs so I am trying to eat as healthily as I can.  So far, my blood counts have been fair so I'm hoping for the best.

Stay well and positive ladies.  I'm so grateful to you all for sharing your experiences!

linda614

Patriotic - I had Neulasta with every treatment.  First with AC and had no reaction, no bone pain.  I was thrilled.  Then second round was Taxol and the onc warned me it might be different.  The leg pain started shortly after I injected the Neulasta and lasts about 2-3 days.  Annoying pain and stiffness in my legs.  But managable with pain meds.  I don't know if it is just the Taxol or the combo of the Tax and neulasta.  I do know I'm glad I only have one more Taxol to go.  Whoot whoot

linda614

Also....would not give up the Neulasta regardless of the few days of pain.  It has kept me healthy and allowed me to do things that normally might be off limits due to possibility of infection.

lifelover

I just got back from an exhausting trip to the supermarket.  I had a large shop but I forgot my pin number and got locked out.  I was so upset and the although the ladies at the checkout were helpful I was so confused I just started to cry.  I called my DH and he was about to leave work to meet me to pay for the groceries and no doubt give me a big hug.  When . . . I finally remembered I actually had enough cash in my purse to pay!

I do hope chemo brain or fog, whatever you want to call it, doesn't last forever.  In the meantime, I keep checking to ensure I have all my clothes on when I leave the house - one of my biggest fears.

mccrimmon324

Lifelover, I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad time at the store.  Hopefully after treatment it will clear up.  I've had a couple of chemo brain moments myself.  I'm afraid that one of these days I'm going to forget to put my wig on before leaving the house! 

MamaV

Just wanted to check in with you all and send my best wishes.  I am almost 4 weeks PFC and starting to get appetite and energy back.  I am praying for you all!

Vicky

blondelawyer

Hey guys, sorry for being MIA--I landed in the hospital  I had a regularly scheduled checkup with my MO and he took one look at me and my labs and said I had to be admitted.  My WBC were basically zero, so I have been locked up since then.  My oncologist says that I should be able to go home tomorrow, though the bump in numbers today wasn't really big, so I really really hope that today is a big jump.

This unfortunately means no Hawaii for me--I'll just have to go some time post-surgery and without Gertrude.  She doesn't deserve a vacation anyway!  

mccrimmon324

Blondelawyer, I'm so sorry!!  That really stinks.  I hope your feeling better and definitely out of the hospital by tomorrow. 

DebRox

Blondelawyer:  So sorry to hear about your hospital stay and missing out on your trip.  But I am GLAD to hear gertrude will out of your life very soon!!!

MammaV:  Nice to see you popping in here.  How is your hair?  Any signs of growth on the horizon?

Lifelover:  Glad you hb was able to come to the rescue.  I hate chemobrain.  I seem to have a problem with word recall and articulating myself these days.  I came up with a replacement word for the word I am thinking of to make it funny.  For example I use the word mercury if I cannot recall the word I am thinking of.  My hb finds it funny as I keep saying mercury. 

Does your onc have a problem with l glutamine?  It isnt an antioxidant and helps prevent neuropathy.  I used it for that purpose while on taxotere. 

Patriotic:  Yeah 2 more to go.  You are way over the half way point.  Hang in there.

Cyborg:  Good to hear about rads.  I have been surfing the rads threads.  I am worried I have to have them, but did gleam some good tips in the June boards.

Beaglesgirl:  Hang in there with taxol.  You will be done before you know it.

Katarina:  Yes I would say rash from taxotere.  My friend got that rash.  It did resolve. 

Laureen:  Red beets are good for detoxifying your liver.  Eat them if you can.  Or better yet drink beet juice, mixed with carrots and apple.  I know it sounds gross, but it will help cleanse your liver.  Google red beets and you will be suprised.

I am now 1 week PFC and feeling pretty good physically.  Just wanting to return to looking and feeling like me again.  This will take some time and I need patience.  Take care friends. 

bak94

Blondelawyer, I was hoping you mia because you were already in HI, never thought you would be in the hospital! You are right, Gertrude does not deserve a vacation, but you do when you are all healed up!

Debrox-congrats on being done!

MamaV

Blondelawyer that is just unfair! So sorry!



DebRox- I'm 4 weeks PFC tomorrow (5th rad done today) and the hair growth is slow at best. I was hoping for more by now but I guess it's normal. I have about 1/4 inch of blond hair growth. Odd enough I am a dark brunette! I'm scared that this is some bad joke and it's all going to fall out when my real hair comes in! I have one eye lash that has popped out on each eyelid and 2 eyebrow hairs on each side! I inspect with a magnifying mirror every night. Ha ha!

DebRox

Mamav: wow blonde, most women grow gray hair to begin with. But yay, 1/4 inch that's great! I'm sure as it grows longer the color will change. Love your sig - hair watch 2011. I was researching foods that encourage hair growth - eat cucumbers, they are full of silica.



How are rads? I meet with my ro next Monday . I am soooo sick of doc appts.

MamaV

Deb-never had a gray hair on my head (even though I'm 41) so would have been shocked to see grey that's for sure! I will stock up on cucumbers



Rads have been a breeze so far! I was really nervous and still worried about my skin holding up and/or being wiped out again. I go at 4 so go on my way home from work. Its on my way so a quick 15 minute stop has been easy so far! Counting them down though!

blondelawyer

The research nurse just came up to see me and got me a copy of my blood work (I love how he does this for me every time!).  My WBC is at 2.7 (low normal is 4.0), but that's a good improvement from the 0.8 it was on Monday.  He also showed me the numbers that my oncologist is particularly interested in, which are segs and bands.  Yesterday I was only 0.32, but today I am 1.26, which is nearly to the 1.5 that the oncologist wants.  The nurse said that he is pretty sure that the oncologist will send me home tomorrow but that he might want to give me some blood because my hemoglobin is still low.  He also said that this shouldn't have any affect on my surgery date, so I should still be set for BMX on the 16th.  Whew... 

40-years-old-now

Blondlawyer, I am so sorry to here you ended up in the hospital but glad to see that your numbers are improving. Sorry about the trip too, but maybe you will be able to enjoy it more without Grutrude. I hope you had trip insurance for your self.

If grutrude trys to tell you that it is your fault for any reason, point out that she can go by her self and that it is not your fault, it is her crummy atuditude that is bring you down.

Take care,

Candice

Katarina

Blondelawyer --- I too am sorry you were hospitalized instead of going on your trip. It's not fair but at least you are being taken care of. Imagine if this had happened to you in Hawaii. They might not have been aware enough to help you fast.

Lifelover -- your posts make me cry. I too have felt that total frustration and utter breakdown moment. Just remember its' all temporary and will pass. Go easy on yourself. Comfort yourself. I'm sure you have a great husband and support when you need it.

My hives have resolved. Now just fighting gushing eyes and drippy sinuses. It's hard to see and type but things could be a lot worse.

Hugs to all,

Kat 

lifelover

McCrimmon - tee hee hee!  I forgot to wear my scarf shopping one day and nobody looked at me like I was crazy so I go without it now when the weather is very warm.

MamaV - Wow, congrats on the hair growth and making it through your chemo.  It's been 3 weeks since my last FEC (starting T tomorrow) and I have white fuzz growing on the top of my head   I have 1 or 2 eyelashes and a decent growth of eyebrows left.

Blondelawyer - sorry you've been in hospital - I know how frustrating that can be.  Wow, your WBC is low!  A trip to Hawaii is a great goal to have and something to fantasize about.  You'll soon complete your treatment and your bloods WILL get better!

DebRox - I'm going to ask my oncologist about L-Glutamine today and see what he says - however, here in the UK doctors are mostly against the use of any supplements.  That's so funny about you using the word "mercury" when you are brain fogged.  I just stutter and my DH just waits until I spit it out.  I can't wait to get my brain back.  I love your tips on good foods to eat so I'm stocking up on cucumbers and red beets today.

Katrina - thanks, I needed that advice - I am too hard on myself.  I also have drippy sinuses and teary eyes - hope you feel better soon.

Beaglesgirl

I woke up this morning and with the now rapid loss of my lashes and eyebrows I decided I resemble dr. Evil when I'm bare faced... So I quickly put my scarf on! Oh the joys of being deconstructed.

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beaglesgirl,

 i have lost 50% of my eyebrows and almost all eyelashes.  i look so weird.  friends often comment, "there something different in your face" when they see me.

laureen