Taxotere/Cytoxan starting July 2011

FrancesC

Theatercat ask your dr for steroid paste for your mouth blisters. It works magic. I go to my dentist for it too. You must eat well during this period. You need to replace the proteins etc lost during chemo treatment. Take care!

ladyboss1997

My 3rd time in the chair was uneventful. I sat next an older lady who was in Stage 4 and having some really bad side effects. She was being admitted to the hospital. It made me feel very lucky.

 I slept really good last night, but I am tired this morning. I have a mani/pedi scheduled for 10a, and my Neulast shot at 3:30p. Otherwise - rest.

I met with my onc yesterday about the BRCA1 positive test. I have decided to remove all the female innards in January - just to take away that risk. I plan to keep both breasts and have diligent testing done every 6 months on them.     

rossileo18

Ladyboss,

I admire you for your decision regarding the brca test. It makes sense, but it must have been very difficult.



Theatercat, glad you are feeling better. What a nice gesture to give your hair to locks of love.



Wishing you all a happy holiday weekend.

ladyboss1997

Good morning ladies!  If you can't tell, I am majorly a morning person. Well, day 2 past chemo. I feel pretty good this morning. Slept like a log last night. I have to buy groceries today, but other than that I plan to order Chinese food and watch movies. The Neulasta shot will probably kick my butt tomorrow.

Theatercat: buy a good probiotic. It will help with the mouth and stomach irritation.

FrancesC

Taking my First dose of dexa now for the Chair tomorrow. My #5 and after tomorrow, only one more to go. Yippee! My rashes worsened over the last few days and they are all over my arms and legs. My skin is rough with these little bumps and boy do they itch! I have tried antihistamine, steroid cream, calamine lotion - all just temporary relief. Hopefully my chemo steroids knock them out.

Anonymous

Good luck tomorrow, Frances!

ladyboss1997

Good luck Frances. I wish I had some advice on the rash . . just remember your sisters are here for you!

FrancesC

Thank you ladies! Just had 2nd dose of dexa and the rashes are disappearing! Praying for easy port access again!

We can all do this:)

rossileo18

Frances, my oncologist said the rash is probably a mild allergic reaction to the drugs and to treat with over the counter drugs, like you're doing. Mine has also temporarily gone away, probably due to steroids for #3. Hope number five goes well. The end is in sight.

FrancesC

Yes Rossileo I can see the finishing line already. I will have my last chemo on 19 sep, 2 days before your last and Philly will be done too! we can all celebrate!

ladyboss1997

My last one is on 9/22, just right behind you guys.  My kitten is getting de-clawed and neutered the same weekend. We will recup together. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.   

FrancesC

Cheers to that as well ladyboss!

theatercat

Just had a question. I am 11 days post first chemo. My scalp is itching especially at night. Is this maybe a precursor to my hair loss?

FrancesC

Theatercat - my experience prior to hair loss is pain on scalp.

Paintingmywaythru

Just saying hi to all after this holiday weekend. Reading some info on the internet...not good  for me...so switched to say hello. Have 4th and last TC on Friday.. Celebrated 31 years married today.

Gonig to meet a second radiation oncoligist tomorrow...hopefully this one won't compare my cancer to a dog...asked me what type of dog I thought I had?....wow...and this is Harvard teaching Hospital....so on to Winchester and MGH for meetings with radiation oncologist....

Cheers all.

FrancesC

Susan all the best for the onco radiologists visits. I had a go at my onco yesterday, questioning him on my status until he lost words to reply but just asked me to bear with him until the 2nd retest is done. I just told him flat in his face that I am losing confidence in our best hospital here!

ladyboss1997

Good morning ladies. I hope everyone had a decent labor day weekend. I felt pretty good yesterday. I had family over for steaks - nice. I am really tired today, and back at work.

Theatercat: My scalp itched right before I started shedding, then I got headaches right before it started falling out in droves.

Paintingmywaythru: I am so sorry about your radiation onc. How totally insensitive. I would go for a 2nd opinion, too.

FrancesC: keep asking tyhose questions and holding your onc accountable  

theatercat

Chemo again on september 15th. So scared that I am going to be so sick with all the vomiting. They have changed my premeds, no more aloxi, severe headache with that. Have zofran for home. Everyone seems to have limited side effects.

rossileo18

Theatercat,



I have been using zofran day of chemo and two days after and although have sometimes felt a little nauseous (especially when trying to make myself eat), its worked pretty well. My oncologist also gave me lorazepam to be used as needed. It's also a sedative, so ive used it when trying to get to sleep. I normally have no problem getting to sleep, but whole experience has turned me into an insomniac. Hope you have a better experience this time. I know it's hard, but try to not think about it too much.



Phillybird, Was today our first day at your new job? How did things go?

rossileo18

Forgot to ask... Is anybody finding #3 harder than expected? It's taking me longer to bounce back than I thought. One of my friends told me that it does start to wear on the body since it's cumulative, so although you feel better by week three, you're still not back to your real baseline. Good thing I had a long weekend to recover. Remind me next time NOT to go out to see a movie where somebody dies of cancer. Beginnings" is a wonderful film and I love christopher Plummer, but I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to "treat" myself to a movie.

ladyboss1997

I found #3 to be pretty tough. I slept ALOT over the weekend. I was very thankful for the Labor Day Holiday. I think I will just plan on a 3-day weekend after #4. No nausea for me, and thankful for that.  

Snoopy73

Hello ladies, so i have been MIA... reason: I was away on vacation with my hubby & kids, we went to MD/DC last week till labor wkend to visit my sisters & friends... had so much fun, came back over the wkend and work on tuesday & today, back to the chair for my #4 tomorrow. I have missed you ladies.:-) I read all the posts but dont think i can be able to respond to every one:-( sorry

Frances - I am so so sorry for the loss of your father, May the almighty rest his soul in peace, ameen!! You are in my thoguhts & prayers, wishing you well.

Paintingthru - Happy 31st Anniversary yipeee...wow!! I hope my marriage will get that far:-) we've been married 8 yrs and still happy & inlove. Hope your meeting wih the rad onco went well. Is it the one at MGH Danvers? 

Hope all you ladies are well and having decent days with minimal SEs. So my NP did not send me prescription for dexa for me to pick today, here i am day before chemo and i have not had my meds... he said for me to pick it up in eve so my hubby went to cvs now to pick it up, will probably jsut have one dose today, hope that will work, i am geting nervous... 

FrancesC

Thanks Snoopy, time will heal. I think one dose of dexa is ok as for my first chemo, I didn't take any the day before (onco didn't prescribe). They gave dexa during iv and I went through #1 alright. It's the cumulative effect of chemo that's hitting me now. My nails and teeth are turning black and the body ache from taxo, neupogen are magnified. Just keep telling myself this shall soon pass. I am also looking forward to my treat at the end of treatment - a trip to Spain/Italy in mid Nov. Can't wait! DH says we can't go if I am still weak so I need to make sure I regain all my energy by then.

rossileo18

Paintingthru -- hope the new oncologist is more sensitive than the other. He/she probably just thought he was being funny, but sometimes people just don't think...



Snoopy, good luck tomorrow in the chair. Glad you could enjoy your holiday in a 'good' week.



Frances, so sorry to hear that your #5 was tough, but at least now you see the end in sight. Spain sounds nice. Ive always wanted to go and am thinking about my reward trip too! November is still far ahead, so you should be able to recover by then.



Finally feeling like myself again a week after #3. Now I can really say that I'm 3/4 done.

Anonymous

Hi everyone,

My first two days of work were great.  Love this job.  Even though I am still a bit wonky in my second week post chemo #3, it is so worth it for me to be doing something exciting and that I can really sink my mind into.  Great bunch of people, who are giving me plenty of lead time to get up to speed and plenty of flexibility to deal with my treatment schedule etc.

 Painting - happy anniversary and good luck for #4 in THE CHAIR.

 TheaterCat - my hair started falling out on day 13 of cycle 1.  Scalp is itchy and pins and needles painful where the follicles are dying and where the bald patches developed.  With each cycle, the itchy/pain (though not so painful each time) begins around day 8 and more hair keeps coming out.  Since I have not shaved my head, I get to see the thinning progression - just keep on brushing - not much left to brush.  I prefer to have a bit of shoulder length wisps sticking out of my bandanas.

I agree with Frances that, with each cycle, the effects of the chemo are building a bit.  I seem to have more paresthesia in my lower legs and some of it on my arms, as well as continued neuropathy in my hands (though not so bad).  My finger nail beds hurt from time to time, but I continue to take ultra care of my nails (fingers and toes) with moisturizer, cuticle creme and keeping up the polish.  No sign of falling out - but I hear that it might happen at the end of the chemo. 

Rossileo - stick to funny/silly movies and beach reads books.

More later .. . gotta get going and get to work!!!

theatercat

Hair started coming out yesterday seems to be from underneath. Just so darn itchy. Caught a cold,my granddaughter was over for labor day and she had the sniffles. Get more labs today, hopefully wbc came up.

theatercat

Labs were good. wbc back to normal. Have an infection in my port, more antibiotics. Have a bad cold.  Have been very tired past couple days.

FrancesC

Rest well theatercat. If your scalp hurts badly best to shave off.

ANA_424

theatercat - sorry about the cold! I caught one about a week after the last tx and it laid me low for a while. Not fun when you are already not feeling great. Hope you get over those symptoms ASAP!

About the hair - everyone seems to be a little different. I had mine shaved off when it started falling out. It was just so annoying. Still hurt for a little while with just the stubble, but at least there were not long hairs everywhere. I still have plenty of hair, though. All of it did not go and some seems to have grown back between treatments. I think it would be pretty thin if I had not cut it, and I think at least now it will all grow back in consistently.

Phillybird - so glad to hear the new job is giving you energy and pleasure! What a great thing.

About the fingernails - I've got some strange new patterns on the recent growth. Dark pink lines, larger white areas than normal - but no pain, so we'll see what happens in the next couple of months. I think much of the issues come as they grow out.

Frances - hang in there. Your trip sounds fabulous!

Anonymous

Ana - It must feel so good to have finished your TCs.  Congratulations.  Now you will just wait for all that nasty stuff to clear out of your body.  I cannot wait until Sept. 20 - my last day in THE CHAIR.

Sorry 'bout the cold, TheaterCat.  Hope you can get some rest and feel better soon.

Everyone - enjoy the weekend and have some fun!