Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

Anonymous

Rossileo and Frances - the nutritionist suggested that I keep a box of crackers nearby to nibble on now and then.  This is good for queasy stomachs and for the taste buds.  Just pick a cracker you like.  I am using Wasa crackers, but I break them into small pieces so they are less likely to scratch the inside of my mouth.  Once I start chewing, I can drink a whole bunch of water and it tastes better.  The nutritionist even said I should nibble on a cracker before getting out of bed in the morning.  Seems to keep me from feeling dizzy.  On the exercise front - try briskly walking around the block or stroll around outside in the evening.  I have been told that it is best to fight the fatigue with some sort of reasonable exercise.  I felt a bit of paresthesia in my calves yesterday (like ants crawling over my skin), but it seems to be gone now.  Keep wondering about my hair. . . .

FrancesC

Phillybird sounds like a good idea about the crackers. I have digestives biscuits at home n will try some if I feel queasy. I am using cold cap but hair is coming out in chunks! Must have shed at least 50% of my hair today. I thought I would be ready for this but it still suck big time.

StayHuman

Welcome Rossilio and hello to everyone else!  Seems like we are moving right along.  I am feeling really good.  Have been working from and loving it!  Getting a lot more too.  Boss may want to work from home all the time.  I go at 6pm tonight to get my wig.  She straightened it and wants to do a little shaping around the face.  Still nothing with my hair yet.  I am Day10 so probably too early.  I know part of me is in denial that the hair will fall out.  I find myself secretely thinking I will be the lucky one whose hair won't fall out.  Trying to be prepared.  Thanks for tip about not wearing flip flops... you are so right.  I had not even thought of that.  Is everyone getting Tamoxifen or something like that after chemotherapy is done?  I really appreciate being part of this group.  Thank you very much.

mscal02

Hi Ladies: Like Philly suggested.drink plenty of fluids. As they are infusing you, drink liquids and flush it out. I drug my iv pole to the bathroom while I was being infused.I did not lose my appetite or lose one pound. I was given something to take for nausea ,but didn't need it.Keep as active as you can. Allow people to help if it is offered so that you can concentrate on yourself.

Anonymous

Hi everyone!

Today I felt I bit run down by the end of the day, probably the heat (it is going to be 100 F tomorrow!), but otherwise I am fine.  After my chemo, I will do 6 weeks of rads, and then 5 years of tamoxifen.  Funny about the wig - if I don't really lose my hair, it would be such a waste to have bought it!  And now for the exciting news - I have found a new job - my dream job!  Even though it will be a change and a challenge, with lots of responsibility, I am so looking forward to sinking my teeth into something exciting and that will take my mind off this BC thing.

Snoopy73

PhillyBird - I am sorry abt the heat:-( its hot here but not too bad, last week we had the above 100degree weather, this week its been in the 80s so not bad:-) All the BEST on your dream job, i can imagine how exciting you are.

I just finished my 2nd round of TC so far feeling okay, lets wait and see what tomorrow will bring:-) my mouth just feels alittle dry and funky and have weird craving, like indian food, so my sister is fixing me something:-) she's a good cook, arent i lucky:-)LOL

rossileo18

Phillybird, that's wonderful news about the new job! I am so happy for you.

Thx for the cracker suggestion. I will try it. Sweet tastes don't seem to be as problematic but I need to stay away from the sugar. Salty might do the trick.

Before I started chemo I was really fixated on the hair issue. Got my sister to bring scarves and a wig she had. Watched videos on how to tie scarves. Once chemo started it completely left my radar screen until I started reading about all of you getting wigs! I'm only on day 8 and hair still seems pretty normal.. But I'm prepared for the worst. Hey the weather is so hot, maybe a buzz cut won't be all that bad. I've had long hair ever since jr high so this will be an opportunity for a totally new look.

mscal02

Hi Ladies: There are places that will give you hats. Hats off to chemo .org. is one of them. And a place that will send you a scarf will crystals on it. I can't remember right now but I will try to find it and post later.

StayHuman

Phillybird, Congratulations on the new job!  That is wonderful.  I changed jobs about a year ago and it has changed my life!  I just got back from hair stylist.  She cut some bangs and layers into the wig to make it look more like my "messy" hair.  I don't have any scarfs yet but interested to get some.  I will post pics when I get it back.  I have a naturopath that I see every week or so.  I am wondering if the routine he has me on is why I am experiencing little to no side effects?  Or maybe that won't be the case when go for Treatment #2.  I am not on Rx meds right now (other than what is given at chemotherapy).  I take probiotics, Vitamin D (currently deficient), Tumeric, Fish Oil and Juniper Shoots.  My stomach tolerates everything very well.  Except for the Vitamin D, everything else goes in my morning smoothie.  I had mixed treatment recommendations about whether or not to get chemotherapy and a low Oncotype score.  Believe it or not, my naturopath was the one who helped me decide what to do.  He explained that if I would constantly worry that I "should have" taken the chemo and possibly later regret the decision if I had a recurrence, than that distress would cause more problems in my body than the chemo itself.  There is really something to be said for the mind and body connection.  It is powerful.  We need to do our best to think positive and have confidence about our health progress. 

Anonymous

Hi everyone - I think my hair is starting to fall out (oh well) - day 13 of cycle #1.  I feel great, though.  Had a wonderful weekend.  Hope the week goes well for all.

FrancesC

phillyBird - cut your hair short if you haven't because the shedding is pretty scary and messy.

Snoopy73

Hi ladies, day 5 after my 2nd TC. Had an uneventful weekend apart from feeling tired every now and then and mouth feeling funky. Last note i had chills, my temp went up to 100.9 called the doc's office, they told me to take tylenol and rest, woke up this morning, didnt go to work, temp was low but had this weird headache and my body was feeling sooo tired!!! had bfast then slept most of the morning, woke up at 1pm feeling so energized and much better. Kids are in pre-school so making the most of the alone time:-) Hope you all are doing good.

rossileo18

Interesting -- I'm a day behind phillybird and after washing my hair this morning, I noticed quite a bit of hair coming out. 'Clumps' would be an overstatement, but I see the writing on the wall.... Also feel pretty good. Food tastes much better than last week and that's a lot more important than hair.



Snoopy73, sounds like you're past the worst of your 2nd cycle. Two down, four to go, I think?

Snoopy73

rossileo18, yes, 2 down 4 to go:-) my sister went back to toronto today:-( she was here for my 2nd treatment, sad to see her leave, me & my kids were getting used to being spoilt LOL... well, after feeling energized (don;t know why hahaha) i decided to go to the gym, walked for 2 miles, got my kids from preschool, cooked and had a nice family dinner yeeaahhh...hope tomorrow is another good day. Good note ladies, hope you have a blesssed day with minimal SEs.

Anonymous

Everyone - I forgot to thank you all for the congrats.  My spirits are so boosted by this positive change in my life.  It puts the BC in perspective.  I hope one day not to think about such things as hairloss.  I had a dream about it last night.  About taste, it clearly came back to me by day 13.  Today is 14 and I am ready to go bald if necessary!!!  I have an appt with the BS so she can check on my healing incisions.  She will be happy to hear that I am back to lifting at the gym and stuff.  Last night I did 45 min on the exercise bike at home - it was too hot to go back out to the gym.  Tasted my husband's glass of wine, and I was able to discern all the flavor and the alcohol did not burn the inside of my mouth.  Still doing my brushing, flossing and Biotene rinsing.  I slept with my new cocoa brown cotton cap (it looks pretty cool and I might try it with a brooch during the day) - to catch hair - but it did not seem to have any hair in it this morning.  So, it is a slow shedding event.  Sorry to ramble; it is nice to have people out there who don't mind listening to me babble on.

Have a great day all!

FrancesC

Phillybird I love your positive attitude!

Anonymous

Frances - It really is a new thing for me - the positive attitude.  I think I tended to be more of a grumpy person.  Moreover, some really bad things have happened to my family in the past three years.  Somehow, the BC diagnosis and treatment has resulted in me snapping to attention, rather than getting depressed.  I have become a woman on a mission; determined to enjoy everything in life.  My treatment center also offers training in mindfulness thinking and meditation, which I find very helpful.

So how are things in Singapore?  I was there a few years ago and absolutely loved the the hawker stands.  I remember picking out my own crab for the chili crab preparation.  It was delicious!

FrancesC

good morning from this part of world. PhillyBird, Singapore has changed in the lastvfew years in terms of physical landscape - 2 casino ( here we term them as integrated resort!) developments with shopping, hotels and conference venues have been added last 2 years, the one party political scene is still the same but we voted in an opposition party for for 2 constituencies and this is a landmark election (yippee for that). It's still a shopping and eating haven. Wow you tried the chilli crab! With this Dx, hawker food is one thing I sorely miss, no more blackpepper crabs, chilli crabs, grilled seafood, fried noodles etc.

Anonymous

Shedding like a dog!!!!  Just need to get through the weekend.  Then I will think about getting rid of it all.  My idea was to go to one of my favorite salons to shave it off and then out to dinner with my husband.  In the meantime, I will run around the house with the vacuum!  Even though I am trying to make light of this, I find it a bit freaky and scary.

FrancesC

Totally understand what you are going through. Last week, after I shampooed and conditioned, my hair got all knotted in clumps - the shedding bits and those that stayed got stuck together and I looked like a Mohawk! Totally freaked out, dare not comb through for fear of yanking off everything. Screamed for help and DH had to put olive oil and slowly comb through the mess. I am using cold caps and didn't think I will go bald on top!

rossileo18

Me too -- or like a cat. My bathroom trash is usually full of cat hair gunk, but now mine is there too. I've got a little crochet cap that I will use to bundle in my hair until it all goes.

FrancesC

Anyone has very loose stools following TC infusions?

StayHuman

Hi Ladies......  great to get caught up on how everyone is doing.  I had really low white counts last week, had to get the Neulasta shot and it brought counts back up.  And brought bone pain.  Hair started falling out on Saturday.  I was carrying my three year old at the farmers marker.  When he leaned on my ponytail, all this hair was left on my shoulder.  I wore my wig for the first time yesterday to work and again today.  It is hot itchy and distracting.  I am pretty grumpy - won't lie.  Just want things to be normal again.  Go for Treatment #2 on Tuesday.  See what that brings.  I am hoping to absorb everyone's positive attitude.  MAybe I will feel better in the morning,.

Anonymous

Frances - I have managed to stay pretty regular, but I eat a lot of fiber and sometimes I overdo it and they do get a bit loose.  No actual diarrhea, but looser on some days since the TC.  Again, I might attribute that to eating lots of yams and lentils.  I would suggest you eat a banana, some rice, apple juice and/or toast.  Don't eat too much of these four items, otherwise you will get plugged up.  Keep drinking water!

StayHuman - I feel for you. . . I am afraid of what I will look like today (still have my hair inside my sleep cap).  I might have to put on my wig today.  I just can't resist brushing out all the loose strands,  Don't know if I will make it through the weekend now.  I am doing my second infusion on Tuesday too!  Are you wearing a nylon wig cap under the wig?  Mine is like a mini knee-hi.  I wonder if that makes it less itchy.  Good luck and feel better.

rossileo18

Frances, glad you brought up this subject. It is rather embarrassing, but I also am having this problem. At first I blamed it on the spicy Indian food that my cubicle mate gave me. It smelled so good that had to try it, but it just ended up giving me indigestion. Tactfully told her that i had to stay away from food that irritated my stomach. I am going to try to control with diet as phiilybird suggests.



Hair is really beginning to go. I've been combing it out and now it just keeps coming and coming and coming. I'm surprised that I still have as much hair as I do. I have a wig that my sister gave me, but I'm going to try to do this with just scarves and hats. I've always been rather careless with my appearance and therre is no wig that would look even close to my real hair. I'm just dreading what people will say at work. Except for my group, most of the people in my department don't know.

FrancesC

PhillyBird I do take quite a lot of fibre. Rice is my staple diet being Asian and I juice twice a day, eat wholemeal bread when I feel like a snack, pistachios. Dare not eat toast bread though ad gums are thinning out so didn't want any accidental cuts which can cause ulcers.

rossileo I know how you feel about losing hair. I am bald on top now with very thin sides and I hide with bandanas or caps. Can't wear wig in our weather - HOt and humid. thank God my boss has granted me long paid leave to stay home to rest but occasionally I do need to go in todo work which others can't do. So I sneak in at night after 9 pm! I didn't want any of my colleagues to see me in this state.

Paintingmywaythru

Frances...loose stools, yuvky ones, constipation...seems like I get it all... I think TC is jsut very hard ont he body.

Stayhuman...go slow, be careful, stay away from anyone ill, keep those WBC's up...ennded up in hospital first chemo because of an infection du to low WBC....

Philly bird....hate no hair but yesterday I was driving onthe highway and was sick of my wig and adjsuting it so I took it off and was like..well this is me..I am driving bald. I didn't care. It was kind of freeing. I look  like a baby on my head....a few wisps which I am sure will come off soon since I had my second treatment

Snoopy 73 great that you are so energetic. Looking toward that day. My sister is coming for my third chemo but schedule got changed so she will be here for 5 days and the day she leaves I get chemo....not my fault, docotr didn't change orders for second chemo, but the oncologist was direct and took full responsibility and apologized so I can accept that as being human too.

Anonymous

Rossileo - I am doing the combing combing thing - but only once in the morning.  Then, I twisted it up and clipped it with a grabber plastic hairclip (my hair is shoulder-length, for a little while longer I hope!).  Felt great having it up and not falling out everytime I moved my head.  Don't worry what others think - wear a pretty scarf.  I am thinking that in the heat, a cotton cap under the scarf would be good.  Of course, what do I know?  I am just at the hairclip stage.  I made a tentative appt at a salon to get it shaved off for next Monday - but that might be hasty or it might be toooooo late - ha ha.  You just have to laugh; it is so much better than worrying.

Painting - I love the idea of the almost bald in the car idea.  You did have the window down, right?  I will have to try that when the time comes.  Loud music blaring down the highway.

Today was a great day.  Gave my notice about leaving my current position.  I will start the new job after Labor Day.  I expect to be bald by then.  Everyone (my friends and family) is so supportive, but I think they really just don't know how hard this is.  Physically, I feel great and strong and healthy even.  Inside I feel sad, even though I should be so happy.  I keep saying "what have I done to myself?"  It is so surreal, so frightening.  I am so glad you guys are all out there with me.

Thanks.

rossileo18

There is a noticeable bald spot by my part, I don't think the clip is going to work. So first day at work with head gear. One comment on my new look from a guy that sits right across from me. I 'fessed up. One quizzical look from a colleague with no questions. No other comments or overt reactions. Not sure if people are being tactful or what. I guess it doesn't matter. I'll get used to it.



Phillybird, I know what you mean about the surreal feeling. If it hadn't been for the BC I would be on a plane to Mongolia this very minute, but instead here I am slogging through work, fretting about how to hide my balding head. How could this have happened to me? Hope you have some time off between jobs to maybe have some fun. And also hope your new employers will be understanding about scheduling things around your chemo. Only one left by then?



Frances, how wonderful that you've got paid leave!

FrancesC

rossileo- yes I am very blessed. What I learnt through this BC journey is that God has blessed me in so many ways, He has sent many angels to support and look after me. Just few months prior toDx, in my one to one meeting with my boss, he wanted me to have a succession plan in place either through training existing staff or employ. I employed and now he is stepping in for me so that I can rest! Boss was transferred from Hong Kong last May and he is an excellent caring man although very task oriented. When I broke my BC news to him, all he said was : you go and do what it takes to recover and we will support you. My company is also footing all the medical bills as insurance wont pay anymore since this is my 2 nd time having cancer.