Is There A September 2011 Chemo Group?

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  • Kimberly1961
    Kimberly1961 Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2011

    Welcome Kate and Taika!

    Shawna - Is your back pain getting any better?  How did you do on that trip?

    RJ - I am glad you got good news on the bloodwork.  You are amazing how you have worked several jobs while going through treatment so far.  I think you are the BAMF, and I mean that in the best way possible.  Next time I am hurting and feel whimpery I am going to use that as my mantra "I am a BAMF.  You hear that Mr. Cancer, a BAMF."

    Kelli - I had hair achiness from the start of treatment, continuing.  I thought I was going to set a record for cancer patient to lose their hair the fastest.  Hair in the nether regions is also feeling weird, kind of itchy.  No real hair loss yet.  I am 1 week in now and figure I have another week.

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  • Kimberly1961
    Kimberly1961 Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2011

    Kayrem - The FEC treatment sounds especially tough.  I can't figure out why they don't do more to treat/prevent the nausea.  I don't know much, but I think they are full of hot air when they say the high-grade nausea and vomiting are unusual for FEC. 

    Maggie - Good for you wearing down your insurance company.  We all know it usually works the other way around.  Good luck today.

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  • Kimberly1961
    Kimberly1961 Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2011

    FindingSolace - I took 3 doses of Zofran since beginning of treatment, 1 the first day and 2 the second.  In retrospect, I think I was taking it more in reaction to heartburn than actual nausea but I was trying to play it safe.  I took Nexium on the third day and that worked just fine for me.  Everybody is different.  I can't figure out why one of my dogs has puked twice since I started chemo.  Maybe she is just a really sympathetic dog.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Kayrem and Everyone.

    Thanks for the reply.

    Sarah is doing much better now it is day 4/5. I think the Neupegon shot helped. It is like the Neulasta but 5 shots for 5 days.(both drugs we offered, the neupegon was covered fully by our insurance).

    No more nausea! but heartburn set in yesterday + to top it off both our kids have a cold, naturally they start school and within the first week COLDS..So now Sarah is feeling head cold like symptoms, we're not sure if it is chemo related or an actual cold setting in.

    All in all she is doing much better, eating and drinking very well.

    The Biotene mouth wash and paste works great!! Thanks for everyone who recommended it.

    Sarah's is dreading the next treatment set for Oct 7th. Because of the nausea, I hope the Dr. proscribes different meds to try for the nausea.

    I will keep reading the blog and give status on Sarah's conditions.

     Regards Chris.

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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011
    Hyacinth: Welcome I had my port put in last Wednesday. The procedure went really well and now that I am a week out, I am really glad that I did it. It was sore for me after and I posted to see if it was normal because I wasn't expecting that. It was better by the end of day 3 and by the end of day 4 there was no pain, just a mild annoyance that it was there. It really wasn't terrible and I am really glad because my right arm has so many bruises from attempted stick for IV's that it looks like I'm beaten regularly.

    Rae: Welcome and Too funny!

    Jersey and Kayrem: Sorry that you both had such a rough start. I am hoping I have Jersey's fullness issue though. Maybe it will stop me from all the nervous eating I have been doing.

    CJRT & Fiery: you gals crack me up! I hope I will take my hair loss as well as you.

    Chris: I am so glad Sarah is better, but I certainly understand why she would be scared.

    Maggie: I did the dance of joy for your insurance news....way to go!

    You fall asleep for a few days and you miss so much information. Turns out I was more anxious than I thought about things I guess. My breastplate area has been super sore from the problems they had getting the two internal lymph nodes and I ended up just finally breaking down and take 2 of the Percocet so I could finally sleep. It worked and I felt like my body was floating I was so much more relaxed.  Finally, I am more awake today and my surgeon said yesterday that things will get better in about week. Said she made a very big hole and that I just don't understand how hard that was and what they had to do to get to those, but "that's ok, cause you got to sleep through it." I said, "yeah, but I get to feel it now!" She is a good surgeon, but sometimes I just don't know why she says things she says. Anyway, I'm just going to give up and use the pills till this gets better. Hope it is better by the time we start chemo next week.

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  • Kimberly1961
    Kimberly1961 Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2011

    If you have a couple minutes to enjoy a good joke, see the entry for McBird under You Know You are a Cancer Patient When.....

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/67/topic/755825?page=37

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  • Terry71
    Terry71 Member Posts: 293
    edited September 2011

    Karem I started fec on aug 4th and just had my 3rd treatment on sept 15th. Only had minor nausea, my onc prescribed me granisetron 1mg twice a day anti-nausea and metoclop10mg to take incase i feel nausea coming on, and steriods dexamethasone 4mg twice a day for 5 doses. lost my hair 3 weeks after 1st treatment, really dry mouth and everything taste like sawdust and I get fatigue. the dexamethasone makes me really hyper. I also get neulasta the day after treatment for my wbc. For me this causes joint pain for a few days, the first was the worse. Anyway that was my experience with fec,  now im moving on to 3 docetaxol (taxol) and herceptin for a year. Good luck girls..Fortune favors the brave ♥

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  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 79
    edited September 2011

    Well yesterday I had my second date with the chemo brothers. This would be Clearance Carboplatin (he clears out all my enemies and gets a little over zealous and takes out some good guys too) then there is Tucker Taxotere (spending time with this guy can really tucker you out) I can't forget wonder boy Hercules Herceptin he brings in the gentle muscle power.

    If I can get past their brutish ways and " kick butt " mentality they are actually pretty handy and will save my life. Think I will continue the relationship.

    P.S. Nellie Neulesta comes tomorrow and like a good girlfriend will build me up after the boys left me left me feeling a little down which I have some heartburn over.

    Rae

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  • Dana25
    Dana25 Member Posts: 36
    edited September 2011

    Rae-love your post! What a great way to describe it!!

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  • cooka
    cooka Member Posts: 278
    edited September 2011

    Love it Rae:) When I was in the chair I kept visualising Carol Burnett with a little broom and dustpan sweeping up my stray cancer cells and dumping 'em in the dumpster.

     Kelli- I had awful body aches yesterday ( i have not had neulasta so it's not that ) and my scalp was very uncomfortable and hard to sleep on. I am on taxotere cytoxan. Hope you feel better!

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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011

    Laughing Rae.

    Thanks for the laugh Kimberly, it was way fuuny! 

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  • CJRT
    CJRT Member Posts: 524
    edited September 2011

    Rae- loved your posting. Thanks for the laugh as I am getting my second infusion of the same characters as I type.

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  • Kelliregi
    Kelliregi Member Posts: 138
    edited September 2011

    Rae - That was great!!! I'm on the TCH too, but a couple of weeks behind. The heartburn is unreal, isn't it? I took Pepcid and it did nothing!

    Cooka - the aches were the worst! I just found out today that I'll be getting the Neulasta shot next time. I can't imagine the pain being any worse, but I'll be taking Clairitin just in case.

    I just got back from my Herceptin only infusion (AKA- the easy week) and found out my WBC is in the toilet and I have thrush. Oh, the joys of chemo. This too shall pass. I'm just hoping I can stay healthy with the low WBC. I'm being even more germ-phobe than usual. 

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  • HappyCamper
    HappyCamper Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2011

    Kelliregi,

     I too had a sore scalp after my Neulasta shot. I'm one week out from my first chemo - doing the Andramycin, Cytoxin, and Taxotere regime.  My nurse said it was unusual for the head to ache but it was likely the shot and not me losing my hair after 2 days.  However in the week since the treatment, I've noticed my hair has started falling out a little heavier than I normally shed.  Also, my body aches were limited to my scalp, my neck, my spine to mid-back, and my jaw.  That all went away 3 days.  

    I've had some nausea off and on, but the biggest surprise other than the taste buds?  The GAS!  EEEK! I could float a zeppelin.  My stomach actually hurt to the point of tenderness because of bloating and gas.  I'm better now, hoping it's something that only comes when I get the drugs.  

     Hope everyone else is doing well with their treatments.  Keep fighting like a girl!

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  • Kayrem
    Kayrem Member Posts: 164
    edited September 2011

    Hi



    It is 2 days out from the Monday infusion and I am happy to say other than ever so mild nausea I appear to be doing okay (yeah!!!)



    Chris I asked the nurse in the clinic on Monday if I could take zinc lozenges in the event that I felt I was getting a cold and she said yes. They usually come with vitamin c in them (which is a no no) but apparently if you can find some that only have zinc in them and take them sparingly (3 or 4 over the whole day) they may help prevent your wife from getting a cold. I would phone your oncologists office just to confirm the safety but that is what mine said. I am in the same boat as you, one child in kindergarten and one in grade three, so it is only a matter of time I am sure ...



    Good luck to everyone getting treatment in the next few days, and to all of us recovering we will all get through it and be fine!



    Take care

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  • SStayton
    SStayton Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2011

    Hi Ladies, I will be getting my port on Friday and I start my 4 cycles of AC on Tuesday, every two weeks. I will be getting a Nuelasta shot after each AC cycle. That will be followed by 12 weekly cycles of Taxol. The 6 weeks of rads. I have learned a lot about what to expect from reading everyone's posts. I hope everyone continues to do well. I am anxious to get started, the sooner I start the sooner I will be done. Best Wishes to everyone... Sandy

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  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 79
    edited September 2011

    Kelliregi: On the heartburn which about did me in me in my Ono told me to get Prilosec this time. My first infusion the heartburn was relentless and I used Tangament and it didn't touch it. I only have a teeny tiny burn right now so I will wait until I eat take a prilsolec and let you know if it helps. Oh I am not looking forward to the pain of Neulesta tomorrow I have my clariton ready all this from a gal who never had an aspirin in the house,.



    SStayton: I didn't know the port was the size of a small satellite dish my thinking was a small tube. I woke up with it and kept waiting for Captain Kirk to give me permission to ask Scottie to beam me up either that or get TV channels from another galaxy. Now I love my little port we are totally hooked on each other. Makes our infusions so easy!




    Kayrem: send me some of that mild nausea mine was so bad last time I was like a football player running through the house trying to make it to the end zone God help the bystanders in my way.



    KJRT: So the boys get around :) Hope they are easy today and you have mild to no SEs. So far so good with me except I slept all day where is my energy burst from the dex I was looking forward to having a clean house. The third to 5th day is when mine were so bad last time but I
    upped the ante this time and increased the drug arsenal. I got my war zone ready for battle now i am quietly waiting. Hugs to everyone Rae

    waiting.

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  • cooka
    cooka Member Posts: 278
    edited September 2011

    Does anyone else have acne? It's like I'm 42 going on 13...

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  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 79
    edited September 2011

    Cooka: I am there with you all over my arms and sides of my face. Thankfully my head is bald because the grey isn't there I don't want to worry about having some pimply faced teenage boy chasing me that's all I would need to worry about on top of everything else. Rae

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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011

    Ugghhh...sorry I need to vent just a little. So I have a minor infection where the drain came out and my surgeon told me yesterday to just put antibiotic cream on it. I am worried it is going to stop chemo next Tues. so I left a message for her asking her to call in an antibiotic and of course she isn't in today so they will ask her in the am.

    Then, I go to my orthopedic doctor cause 8 weeks ago I had a fusion done of my c5-c6 vertebrae and he tells me that their is movement around the top screw and I need to be real careful to make sure it doesn't move anymore. Also informed me that chemo might extend the heal time from 6mo-1 yr to as much as 2 years and I need to stop moving so much. My couch has a serious butt impression already from the time I have been laid up from all these surgeries...how can I do any less!!! He says its super important because if it doesn't take or slips, they will have to go in or risk damage to my spine and surgery could be very dangerous during chemo. :( I am just too tired and too young for all this stuff. I have only been 40 for less than 2 months and it has really stunk so far!! 

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  • Kelliregi
    Kelliregi Member Posts: 138
    edited September 2011

    Iwarstler - I'm so sorry!!! Vent away!!!! Hopefully you will get some antibiotics in the morning. I had C5-C7 fused about 4 years ago and know what a pain in the neck it is! I can't believe Peyton Manning wants to go back to playing football after his fusion. Please be careful and I'll be sending you loads of healing vibes! 

    Rae - I just switched to Prilosec today. It says it can take 1-4 days to work. I'm REALLY hoping for the 1 day!

    cooka - I have weird acne. just big whiteheads on my chin, lip and behind my ears. 

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  • Kelliregi
    Kelliregi Member Posts: 138
    edited September 2011
    HappyCamper - I haven't had a Neulasta shot yet. We tried my first chemo last week without it and this week my WBC absolutely tanked. We won't be doing that again. Now I'm more scared of getting sick then getting the shot! Oh and the gas....what a special treat!! 
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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011

    Thanks Kelli: it just means I have to go back into that aweful neck brace more. When you look back, are you glad you did the fusion?

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  • Kelliregi
    Kelliregi Member Posts: 138
    edited September 2011
    Iwarstler - Yes, very happy I had it done. My neurosurgeon was amazing (and hot!!). I had numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers. It was something I had to have done, or face irreversible nerve damage. I sure hope your screw settles back in and the fusion holds.
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  • PinkShirtNow
    PinkShirtNow Member Posts: 134
    edited September 2011

    Yes, I also have acne.  I don't think I should have wrinkles and acne at the same time!

    Funny story -the husband of the chemo patient in the next room was looking at me kinda funny as I wheeled my chemo cart to the bathroom (still every 20 min like clockwork). I thought it was because I was going so often. Then I looked in the mirror and realized that my shirt was unbuttoned almost to my waist after the nurse accessed my port and hooked me up. Normally, I would have been mortified but I just started laughing. I guess I was flashing this poor man with my sexy chemo lines attached to my chest. I think this will be the last time I wear this particular shirt to chemo.

    So, taxol #3 is in the books.  9 more to go and then biweekly AC. 

     Hang in there, everyone!

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  • Kimberly1961
    Kimberly1961 Member Posts: 407
    edited September 2011

    Taste buds returning.  Homemade shrimp dip with potato chips tasted oddly like tuna and potato chips but at least it did not taste like mud.  I am gargling with saltwater today for sore throat that almost feels like strep.  My blood pressure is going to go through the roof with all this salt. 

    My thoughts are with the ladies on this thread who are laying low and silent.  My guess is that they are battling SE.  Saying a prayer tonight for all those suffering SE and that those pass quickly.

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  • rjbaby69
    rjbaby69 Member Posts: 349
    edited September 2011

    Kimberly:  Thanks for the compliment (blushing)!  I refuse to let Mr. Cancer get in my way!  And I love that thread "you know you are a cancer patient when..."   I read a few pages when I'm down or just not feeling right.  I laughed so hard last night at some of what the ladies wrote that I was actually crying!  Some of it is just so funny!  It's a great pick me up!

    Chris:  So glad Sarah is doing better.  Hang in there!

    Rae:  Loved your post!  I like the neat little names for all the meds!

    Iwarstler:  Go right ahead and vent!  I feel like we've earned that right and I think all of us here are great listeners!  It'll make you feel better anyways.

    Ladies (and gentleman) I will share something good that is happening through all this mess.  I have suffered from scalp psoriasis for many, many years.  You can't tell it because my hair covers all of it.  Well, of course, knowing I was going to lose my hair really freaked me out.  I didn't want anyone to see any of the scales and stuff.  I am very self-conscious about my disease.  Well, I knew the chemo was going to do one of two things, make it better or make it worse.  Well, I am happy to report the worst patch I had was behind my left ear and had been there for years without any hint of leaving the area.  Well, since I began chemo, that patch is clearing up!  I couldn't believe it.  I just had to show it to my oldest daughter the other day and she couldn't believe it either.  I actually have "nice" skin where the psoriasis used to be.  So maybe this chemo will put my psoriasis into remission.  I so hope so.  I have fought this disease since I was a teenager.  I am just thankful that my scalp is the only place I have ever had it and hope it never shows up again after all these treatments!

    Hope everyone has a wonderful day tomorrow.

    HUGS!

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  • RaeBob
    RaeBob Member Posts: 79
    edited September 2011

    rjbaby69: So thrilled to hear about a great SE from all this mess. I mean shouldn't we get some good SEs like I am hoping my natural baby fine hair will grow in luxerious and full. Hey a girl can hope!

    Praying for all the ladies with bad SEs from chemo this week.



    IWarstler: we are all in this together it helps to know others are at this party no one wants to be at. My SEs kicked in on day 3 last time which is tomorrow for me so at some point I will be on here venting too.

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  • Lowrider54
    Lowrider54 Member Posts: 2,721
    edited September 2011

    It is chemo week and I finally feel better.  I know it took so long because I was so sick prior to the chemo and my hemoglobin was 7.9 the day of chemo but with just coming out of the hospital, we were sure it was not a bleed.  The fluid drained quite a bit after the 1st treatment and that was a relief.  No nausea but I did take one of the ativan one day when I felt a little queazy.

    The fatigue is horrid and still have major incontinence issues - in the diapers all the time now.  This past Thursday, I started to shed and I think I have lost about 2/3 of my hair.  Dry mouth is awful but the biotene toothpaste has been great - thanks for that advice!  Food is hard to eat - with the abdominal cavity filled with fluid, there is little room for a full meal so small meals have been the thing - and I cannot stand at the stove long enough to cook so microwave dinners, fruit cups, jello and anything that I can pop open and eat has been best. 

    Sleeping a lot for the first two weeks - lots of naps and very little activity.  Blood tests weekly and the first one, hemoglobin was 7.0 and I ended up having a transfusion on Monday last week.  Still tired but by Thursday, the blood tests were up and I was able to go to my nephew's wedding - driving was ok but I did get some swelling in the legs when standing at the wedding and reception.  Made it home just fine too and actually was able to do the laundry and clean the house a bit - slowly and with lots of breaks but at least I got some ok days.

    I am soooo hoping that Friday's treatment does not take me down as far since I have some activities I would like to be able to do.  I have the feeling that Saturday won't be a very good day - last treatment, I kinda lost the entire day.  I kinda think I will be missing the sock knitting.

    I get no premeds but I do get the shot to boost the red count - it takes a few times to really work so I am not expecting a big change until the 3rd treatment.  I will have scans in between and going to have the port put in before treatment 3 and I would so like to get the wig - I might go tomorrow. 

    Anyway...best of luck to all of us!

    LowRider

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  • lwarstler
    lwarstler Member Posts: 341
    edited September 2011

    RJbaby, I am so glad for your news....it really is nice to see one positive SE.

    Lowrider, I am so sorry for your rough time. You will be in my thoughts this Friday.

    Rae: I hope your SE's will not be too bad, but I would be happy to listen to you too. It does make me feel better to vent. :)  

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