Sept 2012 chemo

Kstillie

So I've had ac #3 last Friday...again this time little worse than the previous 2. My main issue now is constipation and hemmoroids!! So painful that I don't want to eat anything for fear of having to go to the bathroom. I cry like a baby when I do. I really am looking forward to putting AC behind me and hoping Taxol is better but of course I fear the worst. Trying to stay positive but today is tough...Karen

butterfly14

Karen - I hope you feel better soon, I also have had problems with constipation, thankfully not hemorrhoids. Has your doctor given you anything for both?  I cannot wait to have chemo behind me. Thankfully that is the worst part of the chemo physically, except for the loss of my hair.

Kstillie

Butterfly14, thank you. I've been taking Colace, Senna, and Miralax...not to mention prunes, grapes and alot of water, which has helped but just started with hems...I suppose Tucks and PrepH is in order for that. I've never had them before so this is new for me. I've been taking anti nausea meds every 3 hours (Zofran and Reglan) as well as Percocet as needed for bone pain...all of which are constipating...I guess all I can say at least I'm not vomiting. Better days to come...Karen

Cherioo

Karen try the smooth move tea . That is the only thing that helped . I was like you and did not want to eat. Please get that it worked two hrs after I took it

Dx 7/28/2012, DCIS, 5cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 7/14 nodes, ER+, HER2+Surgery 08/02/2012 Mastectomy (Right)Chemotherapy 09/06/2012 Adriamycin, Cytoxan, Taxol</div

Cvs and walgreens sell it

shockd

Kstillie - I have the same problem - constipation/hemorrhoids/splits - take ibuprofen, it helps with the pain.

Cherioo

How are my girls doing who had treatments this week ? I hope all are having minimal to none SE

aic

Stupid fever after tx two on Monday... being admitted overnight prayers and good vibes please...scared ...have only stayed in hospital when I had my son

bearcub

Cherioo I had treatment on Wednesday, doing pretty good, had indigestion today took some Ranitidine that the doctor gave me in prescription. So far so good, 1 more AC treatment to go on nov. 7th, I can hardly wait to be done with this. Off to rads in November, went to Zellers today everything is 50 to 70 percent off as it is closing. Bought some men's small sleeveless undershirts and 3 camisoles since most say they can't wear a bra during rad treatments. Have to lather the boob with moisturizer after treatment so the cotton tank tops should work and offer a bit of support.



Hope everyone else is well.

twinsplus1

Not sure who asked the wig question but here's my two cents:

I absolutely HATED my first wig. It was supposed to look like "MY" hair and didn't. Took it to my stylist to make it look like "MY" hair and she couldn't. It finally took a friend telling me that I wasn't going to find "MY" hairstyle anywhere (admittedly, where would one find a 2.5 inch spiky red with bleach blond highlights wig?) and that I need to give up the idea of looking like the old me and have a little fun with it. Once I did that, I found one that I liked (although it is a bit conservative for me). I have worn it in public only twice. I was so afraid of losing my hair and I didn't want to wear scarves and would NEVER be seen bald. Now that I've lost my hair, I feel like the wig is a lie. I am who I am and this is what I look like. I wear my chemo beanies and scarves everywhere. Twin #2 and Plus1 actually would prefer me go bald or wear the scarves because they hate the wig so much. I go bald around the house and don't think twice about answering the door when the UPS guy or one of Plus1's friends ring the bell.

On a sort of related note... Hubby and I stopped by a surprise birthday party/Halloween party for a friend tonight. Some were in costume but many were not. We were not. I was wearing jeans with a black sparkly top and a bright pink scarf. A guest approached us and told me she loved my pirate look! She had no idea until I told her about an hour later when we were about to leave. I made it a point to tell her how happy she made me! 

Prayers to us all!

XOXO

Cherioo

aic prayers going out to you . The dr will probably give you antibiotics and that will be it

EnglishRose75

I've had a really rubbish week at work.  Aside from feeling less than great from the Taxotere, my "deputy" decided to hand in her notice yesterday.  I'm really trying not to take it personally, but it's difficult not to.  We've always had a really good working relationship. I felt like screaming at her "couldn't you have bloody waited for three months" but didn't of course.  That would not be professional.  Seems that she's quite enjoyed stepping in to my shoes over the past few months since my diagnosis, and despite being given a pretty nice stipend and lots of verbal acknowledgement for the extra stuff she's taken on, she now feels under paid, under appreciated and so on. Now I'm going to have to do my job and her job until I can find a replacement and train them. Great.  I know that she has every right to pursue what's best for her, and I'm trying to be objective and non-emotional, but I just feel so let down.

On a more positive note, the baking soda/salt mouthwash did wonders, so I can now eat again.  Yay!

Waitingforthenextstep

Had my 2nd A/C on Tuesday, can't sleep the night of the chemo.  I was nauseous all day on Thursday.  Sometimes the nausea meds don't work at all.  Twinsplus1, I am having nothing but trouble with my wig.  The worst thing is how uncomfortable it is.  I can't get it to look anything like my real hair.  I was given a free wig at the local ACS, but I am giving it back.  What is the smooth move tea?  Can I get it at a health food store?

English Rose, sorry for your work troubles, so wish you didnt have to deal with that right now.

Dakota212

Hi everyone new to this thread. Just got my onco type back got the call from my MO. it was 32 so we are going to talk treatment on Thursday. Chemo but no rads. Any thoughts/ questions I should have can't think right now.

💓💓💓
Dx 7/16/2012, IDC, 2cm, Stage I, Grade 2, ER+/PR+, HER2-Surgery 09/28/2012 Mastectomy (Left); Prophylactic Mastectomy (Right)

jojo2373

English - I know every extra bit of stress is draining.  Hope it gets worked out soon for you.

AIC - prayers for a speedy recovery.  I was very close to a hospital trip with fever on my first AC, so I know how scary it can be.

Twins - Don't you love how we are all so different but come together with this common bond? I enjoy the freedom of a  wig, scarf, cap or topless.  I can decide based upon my mood and thats wonderful.

For all those with the constipation ills, hope you are feeling better soon and for all who had treatment this past week I hope your doing as well as you can be.

It is a beautiful fall day here.  I plan to be outside as last Saturday I was in bed all day.  It seems ironic how we are being treated for our cancer in the fall (shedding our cancer like the falling leaves) - hoping we all emerge in the spring as cancer free!

Waitingforthenextstep

Cindy

    I will ask my doctor for the Emend-3pak.  thanks for the tip!

jojo2373

Hi and welcome Dakota. This is a wonderful place to ask ALL your questions!

 It is my understanding Onco typing is only done for node negative BC, so I will defer to my other sisters who might have had that test and their treatment discussions.  I was node positive from the start so chemo or not wasn't a option.

Dakota212

Thanks Jojo-

It's like the journey starts all over again. New worries and thoughts...

whenlifegivesyoulemons

EnglishRose - Hope you closed your office door and let out a good, loud BOLLOCKS to that!

butterfly14

aic - prayers to you for a speedy recovery

jojo - I love your analogy of shedding our cancer like the fall leaves, being in Florida, I miss the fall.

dakota - best of luck with this journey. I had nodes involved so chemo was a definite.

Quick question, where in the store do I find this smooth move tea? on the tea/coffee isle or near the laxatives?

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. I have my oldest home from college for the weekend, so very happy!!

Carla

damiana9

I just don't understand how some of you can be so chatty on here right after treatments! You guys are just full of energy   I just feel toooooo blech!  I had #3 wednesday, thursday was great and friday as usual I started feeling worse.  Not terrible or anything though.  I had terrible problems with constipation the last 2 treatments- this time I have already started taking mirilax in the mornings and I took a dulcolax last night.    I got some cream for my nose sores and it helped right away- so glad I have something to help that this time.    My kids are being rotten this cycle- I guess the 'mom is sick/be extra nice and helpful' thing has worn off....

Anyone doing any crazy halloween costumes?  I want to be Aang the Last Airbender- the boy with the blue arrow on his bald head.  haha!  Not sure if I am actually brave enough to do the bald thing though but I am trying to talk myself into it and have some fun dressing up.

whenlifegivesyoulemons

Daminia- Sorry you've had the blechs.  I LOVE your Halloween costume idea.  We should all go a bit crazy with Halloween this year, and post the pics too.  (I say that knowing I'm mostly all talk when comes to planning and executing costumes).

Aic - Thinking of you.  Hope you're on the mend soon.

Jojo - Hope you enjoy the beautiful fall day.  There are never enough of them - winter will be here before we know it.

Mariposa123

Good morning everyone!

AIC - I am sending you tons of positive healing energy!!! Hope you had a restful night and can get back home super fast.

Twinsplus- I love that you answer the door without anything on.  I run all over the house searching for something like a crazy person.  I now keep a little cap by the front door.  Hopefully at some point I will feel more brave.  I think someone else said they where a wig when they don't want to have people know they have cancer. I guess I do it that way too.  My wigs look great everyone says - but to me, they just look so fake.  Oh well.

englishrose:  that is totally crappy about your workmate.  You definitely don't need extra work and things to think about right now.  I am on disability from my job- and I am totally worried about what things will look like when I return.  I am also pretty sad that I have received hardly any communication from my work friends.  I don't want to take it personally, but it is hard not to.  Especially since I am a mental health therapist, and you would think that other therapists would be better at being supportive!  Oh well. 

jojo: I feel the same thing about fall.  I was really struck by how my hair all fell out a week after the first day of fall.  Seemed fitting.  It reminds me of the myth of Persephone and Inana- where they descend into the underworld in the fall only to re-emerge in the Spring.  I think by the time I am finished with chemo, surgery, and radiation - It will be Spring.  Seems appropriate.  Plus I like thinking of all of us as goddesses:-)

Dakota:  Welcome!  I was node positive as well- so didn't get much in the way of choices.  I know that most all of the women in my support group ended up needing the radiation, even though at first they were told not.  I guess there has been some recent study that has shown increased odds of non-recurrence with radiation that ended up impacting all of them.    No matter what your course of treatment, this is a great place to ask questions and just vent! 

Hope everyone has an SE free weekend!  I am finally feeling more human- this last round was way more exhausting.   I am hoping to do some Halloween decorating and fun stuff with the kids:-)  My daughter (6 yrs old) wants to dress like Adele for Halloween- so I got to figure out how to make a tiny grammy:-)

jojo2373

Damiana - understand the blech's.  Usually this group is about the only adult conversation I choose to engage in during that blech stage!

kidsandlabs

Worse day so far, in bed all day so far. Muscle aches and cramps, Nausea but at least I haven't thrown up. Keeping fluids down.

Foreverchanged72612

Had my second oncology visit Thursday and the doctor said that he can no longer get a good read on the tumour because it has, in his words "melted away" so much. He can still feel it but can't accurately measure it anymore. Yipeee!!!! My husband had an awards event for his work that night so it was such a great way to celebrate - we got dressed up, went to the event and had drinks and supper and then stayed overnight in the city at a beautiful hotel.  Treatment 7 of 12 coming up Monday - I've reached the halfway mark!! Well, for this round anyways. I have round 2 of chemo coming up the following that (4 rounds of FEC and Herceptin).

Cherioo

Felt great day of chemo and yesterday . Today yuck in bed and have no energy . Plus I got my period which I thought would stop during chemo. Anyone else still getting theirs ?

Timbek2

Cherrio



Feeling right there with you. Day 1 and 2ok. Day 3 ugh in bed. I got my period first round. Hoping it doesn't decide to return. Made me tireder for sure! Hang in there! We're all in this together. Praying for better days ahead!!

Neta69

Foreverchanged: So happy for you! That is just fantastic news!



Timbek: I also got my period first round but it didnt stop until the third! Hoping my ovaries have now given up.



I still have sore legs 2 weeks after treatment. Otherwise the worst for me is the emotional part. I'm all over the place. Need hope and courage.

Cherioo

Timbeck thanks .

Cherioo

Neta69 we are all here for you. Things will get better