Chemo May 2011

bak94

Hey mcrimmon32, just had my por installed. Had a slight complication, the original vein was too small so they had to redo it. It took 2 hours, but I was unaware as I was out. Did wake up  with the tube in my mouth, yuck! They took it out right away. Sorry you are having anxiety, glad you are getting meds!.

cotrinh- I am a haicolorist as well, I have not been back to work yet, by I am going to have to go back soon. I have always worried about chemical. We now use Aveda, which I think is better than alot of colors, but I know they have some new ones out there that are supposed to be even more safe.

Glad everyone is doing well, I am in the hospital waiting for my AC, as I have mentioned before they are doing a slow drip over a 24 hour period, but since my surgery took so long I will probably be here 2 nights. Yuck! I am bored already, so you better be ready for lots of posts from me!

cothi76

@skygirl- Yes I am self-employed. I have not worked, initially before surgery I decided to work through it all but since surgery I have not been back. I own a hairsalon and was the main hairdresser there. I cannot lift my arms the same, especially the right where lymph nodes were cut. I also have the fear of the chemicals because 60% of my work was with haircoloring. I'm possibly going to sell my business. I miss my passion(work). It has brought me tremendous stress but I gotta do what I gotta do. I'm trying to figuire out how to stay in the industry still without being so exposed to chemicals. I'm fortunate to have people around me helping my parents, friends, even the owners of the building of my salon have been very understanding. But I have to think of the long run and my health comes first. I understand your frustration. I'm glad you are able to work from home. Keeping yourself busy is good but when you need to rest, rest. Do you have a Whole Foods grocery where your at?, they have lots and lots of organic.   

cothi76

@bkj66-  I'm glad to hear of a fellow hairdresser. How is the Aveda line working for you? and Do you worry about the other sylist and the colors they use around you? I had thought about changing color lines but than I'm still exposed by the other stylist products around me. I look forward to your posts as I will be on AC also. I will be thinking about you and send good energy.

Cyborg

Inhabe been coloring my hair forever!!!! I am concerned about the chemicals. What do you girls think?

bak94

Just my opinion Cyborg, but I think coloring your hair is ok ,as you are not exposed everyday like those of us that do hair. In addition to the color fumes, I am exposed to hairsprays and such, although since we are now an Aveda Salon, we do not offer artificial nails, those fumes are nasty! (well, at least they smell nasty). You could always use a non ammonia based color if you are worried, and there are many new colors that say they have less harmful chemicals, just forgetting the name brands right now!

Cotrinh, we are a commission based salon so we all use Aveda, we are an Aveda concept salon and I love their principles and way of doing business. They keep their products safe as possible and if news comes out about an ingredient being bad in their products they will take it off market no matter how popular it is. They also do what they can to support 3rd world countries by using them as suppliers for certain items. Ok, I'm rambling! I do really respect the Aveda company.

solds19

I'm new to the group.  I'll be getting my port on May 11 and have my first treatment on the 12th.  I'll be receiving AC and then T.  Cut off most of my long, curly red hair yesterday and went to the wig shop today.  A little nervous about the coming week but trying to be joyful!

Cyborg

I love Aveda too. I love confixor, color conserve , all of their products --- Rosemary Mint Shampoo and conditioner, control paste.

Tonight i thought I felt eyelashes or eyebrows falling into my eyes. Saw a movie tonight.

No appetite and I have to eat something but mining is good once I get it in front of me.

Kalarris

Hi have just started my journey, go to see my oncologist on the 24th may,2011

i am injecting Betaferon for my MS and hope there is not a problem with this as i undertake my chemo, would love to hear from anyone who can advise me

Regards Bev and think positive

mccrimmon324

bkj66- hope your night went well.  I used to be a hair stylist a long time ago, in my 20's, then gave it up for a desk job and better benefits in my 30's. We used to use Aveda too, I loved it. 

 Dr. prescribed xanax for me, we picked it up yesterday then went on to pick out a wig.  Wasn't nearly as scary as I thought, in fact, we had a nice time and it turns out that the stylist that did my wig graduated from my husbands and my highschool only 2 years before me, we live in Fl now and are originally from Philadelphia, PA area.  What a small world.

bonnieandcleo

hey martbe ...did you say you had navelbine how did you do on it? ...I am on navelbine and avastin just wondered

bak94

solds19, I am having my slow drip ac right now as I type. They are doing a 24 hour drip on me in the hospital overnight, now probably 2 nights because they ran behind. It is kind of nice doing this way I realized because they have given me fluids the whole time and all the ather meds like anti nasua and the decodron, whish has made me shaky and senstive to room temp, keep changing it cause Im either too hot or too cold! Having food served to me isn't so bad either-don't have to cook ore clean!

But I feel pretty good! Maybe it will hit me later!

mccrimmon. I have always thought of leaving for better benefits and pay, but hair keeps pullimg me back! I love my clients and co workers, as most of them I have know for over 20 years, so it is a hard place for me to leave. I am going to school right now (online) for accounting, but have had a hard time concentrating and I m afraid I might fail this quarter. Im glad you had fun wig shopping. I am going thisweek as long as this AC doesn't kick my but this week.

Let's raise our chemo-cocktails to a week of kickend cancer cells a**!!!!!

Welcome Kalarri, I have no experience with this, but I am sure someone will come along that has!

Cyborg, I do remember the last time I went throught this I lost my brows on taxol but not ac:(

jrh1953

I am on TC.  I slept good last night.  Today, I am a little achy and my face and chest are red. No fever.  I tried to eat a breakfast burrito,but it was not happening, so I had a bowl of oatmeal.  I plan to stay on the meds and do everything they tell me too. I can use all the advice I can get.

thanks.

Anonymous

Bonnie, Yes I was on navelbine and had no SEs other than constipation and maybe a little bit of neuropathy, but it is hard to say since I still had neuropathy from the abraxane.  It was an easy treatment for me.  avastin messed with my sinuses and I sounded like I always had a cold, plus my eyes watered like mad.  But the good news is most of these SE go away after the treatment is over.

Re coloring your hair.....I had always been told not to do it when on chemo.  Then after all mine fell out and it came back totally gray, I just left it that way and actually like it, but then again I know I am a lot older than most of you.  I am 61 now.  I have been told I will lose my hair again on this one, but one woman told me she did not, it just thinned.  My treatment was on Wed. and so far no real SEs at all so I am very thankful for that. 

Cyborg

I think my kidneys hurt. Been drinking water but....

bak94

Marybe, you have beautiful gray hair! Yeah, coloring your hair while on chemo might really burn your scalp, and might change how the color turns out. Last time I went through this I waited until I finished chemo rads to color my stragglers coming in and I used a semi-permanent non ammonia color. It just added a bit of control and shine to my new fuzzies! Hopefully you will be one of those who doesn't lose her hair!m Glad you are not having any SE's!

DebRox

Cyborg: maybe a little lemon in your water will help. It flushes out the kidneys and liver. Acts as a detox. Also I read that it is important to keep up with protein while undergoing chemo. It help rebuild your body. Hang in there! I'm not far behind you!

DebRox

I'm at salon right now having my hair cut shorter, in prep. .



To those on tc, how are you feeling a few days out?

Cyborg

DebRox! Just got the lemon water rolling ! It tastes good.

U may like your hair cut! I'm going to miss my short hair cut. But soon, it will be out. Last night I thought I felt eyelashes or eyebrows in my eyes. My DH said, "just go with it," regarding the hair falling out . Maybe since I felt kind of liberated with the short hair, maybe it will be even better with the no hair deal-y-o.

jbub

Also new to the group ,my first post. Port May 11th and AC on May 12th.  My emotions are all of the above, hoping this group will help get me through all of this. My regimen is AC  x 4 then Taxol x 4.  I am thankful for all the wonderful advise. I will be reading...

Cyborg

Felt gross and then took compazine. Glad I took that sooner than later. I found somethigbthat tastes good. I made a fruit slush with frozen mangos water applesauce and frozen peeled carrots. I feel refreshed. I have already cried today... Feelings cone ad go. Watching TV and a recorded movie.

Patty252555140415

Hi ladies, i had my first chemo April 21st. One down seven to go CMF, I was wondering if someone can tell me how do they take the blood before chemo for the white blood count? f or some reason im thinking it is a finger stick.Happy Mothers to all. Pattypat.

Cyborg

They took it from my arm. I am getting TC for infusion.

Patriotic

Well, I had the first round of chemo. Pretty uneventful. I am at day 3 with no real issues yet. I hope it continues this way but, even if it gets progressively worse, I now know I can do this! Thanks for the encouragement.



Happy Mother's Day to all of you lovely ladies.

Cyborg

We are mothers of each other a lot of the time....

Patriotic

The blood can be drawn from your port. Otherwise, it's the needle, I believe. That's what they've explained to me.

CiaoVino

hi all -

i bought myself 4 rounds of toxic fun. TC every 3 weeks. i actually started April 28th (so i'm sneaking into your group! ) . i had a really rough go around. i am quasi hypersensitive to drugs (for example...i felt nauseous for 4 days after just my surgery alone!) so i knew that chemo would give me a run for my money. like some of you will have, i had a reaction to the taxotere almost immediately after it was started....i felt like my chest was thundering, couldn't get enough air, and i became hot all over (and bright red). my nurse was sitting with me in case this happened...and she was so in control. she stopped it, medicated me, and restarted it about 45 minutes later at slower rater. much better.

i was also pretty nauseous for 5 days. despite all the anti-emetics. and the only thing that sounded good? potatoes! french fries, baked, soup, whatever! so...stock up!

 and, finally, i already have some neuropathy and swelling in my hands and raised bumps on the palm-side of them. so they started me back on steroids for a few days...which has helped a ton! though..i still have tingling.

 i was back to work (i'm a critical care nurse) one week after chemo. and i feel pretty darn good now.

everyone says that the anticipation of the first chemo is the worst...but i think i'm more nervous about the 2nd since this first one was crap. we shall see.

-Mary

Cyborg

CiaoVino,

Sorry you had a rough start but it sounds like u are doing better. Mine started out good and now I am really tired and queasy.

I am so glad u are feeling better.

bak94

any AC pals here? Had my slow drip yesterday, felt really good while in the hospital , like better than I have felt all month since diagnoses. Went home from the hospital about midnight and overslept for my neupogen appointment at 10!  Oh well, I made it by 10:30 and they gave it to me. Had to take more decadron-yuck, makes me anxious so now took an ativan. Now lets see if I fall asleep or go for a walk. Very minor nauseousness, but I think it is all the emend that they gave me in the drip iv. Wig shopping tomorrow eith frienda so I hope I feel ok.

How many of you are working? I need to go back, at least a little, as we are running out of money. How does everyone at work react?

Anonymous

Hi all. I start my 'new' chemotherapy regimen on Wednesday - Ixempra + Sprycel (in a clinical trial). I was getting Taxol plus Avastin, but Taxol was stopped in January due to neuropathy, and now I've had progression while on just the Avastin.



Anyone here know about these drugs, or have any suggestions? I know I will lose my hair again - and it hasn't had the chance to really grow much yet!



Good luck, all, as we go through this next phase of the journey.



God Bless us, everyone.

bak94

I have heard of lxempra but not the other. I am just starting with ac so I can not help you, sorry! Hope some more ladies will stop by and give you some info!

Good luck and bless you too! Keep us posted on how you feel, I will be thinking of you.