Starting chemo November 2012

ltmguy

I am doing 4 rounds of Chemo but I thnk it has to do with the protacol for ur personel cancer size type....

Junbug glad ur feeling better.

Lovebug how are u feeling?

Sickofpink I agree Lets have a great week.

Jennifer the glue stuff is a glue to keep ur skin together.   I say don't peel it.  I had to look up the cream (husbands a sleep)  I have had my port accessed even the day after they did it the people that do it are so good i ddn't hurt at all like an ant bite maybe.  Not a bee for sure.  Reg blood draw is way worse.

Lizzie My pain got better and better everyday you have had alot in a very short period of time.  Ice really helped it.  I am on day I know when I did the port,TE fill and chemo all at once.  It was an emtional roller coaster.  JUst know that we are aloud to feel weak were are aloud to be mad sad and angery......  By all means we are aloud to be over whelmed.   Day 19 and don't even know it is there, unless a kid or dog jumps on me LOL.

Thankful4mylife

DZLassie-the pain gets better each day . The port bothered me until day 8 or 9. Now it's just there



I hope everyone has a good day! We have a busy day, decorating for Christmas and taking our kids to the Yo Gabba Gabba Live show!! Yay for good days!

Wendymartha1

Lizzie ~ day 1 and 2 of the port I was beside myself.  It hurt so much and I, like you, had been in a great walking mode two weeks post BMX.  The port doc said no walking, no physical therapy - nothing!  It felt like I took 3 steps back.  Pain meds were not helping either.  But here I am on day 4 and I barely feel it! I resumed my walking.   Last night I slept on the port side with no pain whatsoever!  My onc nurse said that the port is the way to go!  I have a Cat scan scheduled Monday but am afraid to ask them to access it then.  I want it to heal up a bit more.  So hang in there - the pain should go away.

Wendy

txjunebug

Jennifer - the glue stuff should fall off on it's own.  You are much nicer than me, I would have made someone else go pick up your Mom's prescriptions!!  Think I would have already lost it with her.  Keep your chin up and remember we all love you and are here for you anytime!

Itmguy -  I admire your attitude toward your hair.  Such an inspiration to the rest of us who are about to face that issue,too!

All who just got their ports -  I felt mine for about a week.  Also gave me horrible indigestion and broke out in a rash from tape & such.  Best advice, I can give is prop up to sleep, drink water to help flush any swelling, and avoid spicy foods.   

Where is our 5Luvbugs?????  Hope you're doing okay!!!

Anyone else get migraines and have you had one starting chemo?  Just wondering how those two play together.

Today is my day 9 after 1st chemo.  Energy is still a little low but determined to do some more Christmas decorating.

ltmguy

junebug Thank you I can not belive the control I feel.  My mom tried to get me to do it before it started falling out but I had to wait.  my advice is to do what u feel in your gut is right for you.  This is the only time in my life I have choosen to put me first and not worry about everyone elses fellings. 

Anonymous

DZLassie~Go get you some generic stool softener and take one or 2 every morning. Most of us need that when on pain meds. Dried prunes work well too, and they're delicious. Eat 6-10 of them daily, drink plenty of fluids too.



Daisy~Claritin works great for the bone pain both from Neulasta and arimidex. You can go to a dollar store and get Loratidine, the generic for Claritin. Take it the day before, the day of, and for a few days after the shot.



Blessings

Paula

5LuvBugs

Hello everyone, I am here but I am having issues with my keyboard - all the letters are skipping from place to place and I can't type - any suggestions? I was thinking it could be a virus but I don't know. Anyway, that's why I've been silent (Not like Me as you know)

You girls are keeping this place so busy I forgot who said what   I'm glad to see everyone is herehso here is my general input:

The Port: Mine was so sore, went 2 times back to have it checked because of the horrible rash, itch - still have a scab (in Oct 25) but no pain, no pain at all with the chemo, so that's a plus

Good Days/Bad Days: This week I had sinus and chest cold issue which kept me from doing much - and this was my good week, next week I get my 2nd chemo on Tues (if I'm not still sick). I was hoping to do some Christmas shopping and decorating but now that's on hold.

Hair, well mine has gotten so thin, I may have my daughter shave it this afternoon, I am tired waking up to a hairy pillow, hair on my clothes, hair in the shower it's time to go (Like others, mine started falling out day 15 now I'm at day 19) I'm going to join you brave souls and just do it!!!

Be Back soon.....

5LuvBugs

Checked out the ELMA cream but there are some warnings you might want to know http://www.drugs.com/cdi/emla-cream.html 

marianelizabeth

5LuvBugs, glad my tube of EMLA cream has remained unused. Enough possible issues with my chemo and antinausea drgus and steroids! I am sure I am boring with saying again, that the poke for access is way less pain that a poke for blood work of the pre port days and also all the pain we have had with our surgeries etc.

It is a microsecond of a sting and then same for removal of butterfly. 

michellej1980

Thankful - my third chemo is scheduled for Dec 21st so I'm not expecting a great Christmas either! I'm scheduled to have 6 treatments so at least I'll be half way done by the end of the year. My onc said she'd like me to have 6 but is happy with 4 cycles if I feel i can't handle 6. I've always thought let's go for as many as possible but after feeling so crap with the steroids I'm not sure. Hoping she will let me reduce dose or skip the dexamethasone completely. Evil stuff.



Daisy - I had no effects from Neulasta, but I've only had one shot so far.



I'm full of cold today. Bunged up nose and can't breathe at night. Hope my counts are high enough for chemo #2 on Friday.



Day 17 and still no hair shedding...

ltmguy

who has chemo this next week....

I have mine on Tuesday 2nd dose

Michelle has it Friday 2nd dose

doesn't lovebug have it next week 2nd dose

I know there are other but I can't keep up

ok off to hang w friends n watch the gators eat some Indians LOL

marianelizabeth

Tuesday 4th A/C

5LuvBugs

ltmguy - me,me,me I'm in for 2nd on Tues if my cold goes away...we will keep notes. Off to watch the gators?  My husband would be so jealous, he wants to go back to gatorland and bring the grandchildren - he liked that better than seaworld!!!

Michelle, Dec 20 doesn't sound so great, mine should be the 17th unless I get delayed a few days. How is it that you haven't lost any hair, did you do that cold cap" Fix for your cold and anyone else who want to try first sniff a little vicks vapor rub then the old honey, whiskey and lemon trick =mix equal parts, chug a lug and go to sleep!!!  Thats what I'm going to do...

mariane looks like your ahead of all of us..tell us, are you more tired after each chemo?  I had no problem with the port for treatment, just the reaction from tape,etc.

Anyone with kids"  How are you managing kid germs?  I miss my grandkids soooooo much = they use to be here at least 3x a week and I would make dinner for everyone, now it's just me and the husband of 45 years!!!.  My sweet granddaughter (9 years old)came to spend the day with me, we gave each other facials and mani and pedi's and played Wheel of Fortune..She won!  Anyway, she was sneezing and coughing worse than me...We clorox wiped, sprayed lysol, used hand germicide and she covered her mouth with a tissue every time she coughed...What else can we do...Is anyone else sick besides me and Michelle

michellej1980

I did do cold cap but don't expect not to lose any hair at all unless there's a miracle. Plus I'm not convinced it fit right so am expecting to have some bald patches. I'm still in denial though and won't accept it till it starts to fall. I'm so practically unprepared for it which I might regret very soon! I only have really old hats that I used last time I lost my hair 12 years ago and 2 of them are really summery! I didn't do wigs before but may consider one this time if I need it. I've read lots of people say they've kept their hair till right before chemo #2 so this might be a tough week. :-(

Thankful4mylife

I have my 2nd treatment on Thursday....anyone else on Thursday this week??



Well......I DID IT! I shaved my head (well, my hubby did)! I must admit....I feel SOOOO much better now!!! There were tears before we did it, but relief once it was done.



Luvbugs-I have 2 small kids, ages 3 and 4. Both of them were coughing and sneezing during my nadir. It made me nervous but we just practiced really good hand washing, hand sanitizing, I made sure they didn't drink out of my drink, eat off my fork, etc.... I did end up with a little bit of a scratchy throat and a lil cold, but nothing more than I usually get this time of year.

politicomama

I go back Thursday for AC number 2 as well Thankful.  I also have two kiddos 15 months and 9.  I have been fighting a small cold since before chemo started.  We have been practicing good handwashing as well, and I also got the baby some of the baby hand sanitizer... easier than washing his hands when out and about. 

Hubby and I noticed my lump at the end of July.  I was still nursing, but when I weaned in August it did not go away.  I was DX 10/4.

hwhranch

I had 4 AC treatments followed by 4 taxol treatments on a 3rd generation regime. That meant every two weeks. Hair fell out after 2nd treatment, lost it all but it started coming back about 3 months after treatments were over. The Nulasta shots didn't really hurt me, very small needle but I would get extremely sore from the bone pain the 2-3 days after the shot.

Priscillag

Hello to everyone, I've been reading post for a couple of months but this is my first. I am one chemo treatment down Nov. 15th. Followed by Nuelasta shotkn Friday. My second is scheduled Nov. 29th. After the 1st one I felt great Friday & Saturday while taking the steriods and emend! Sunday I woke up with blisters on my mouth, by midafternoon they were in my nose! Monday I woke up and could barely walk, my hips kept locking up. I called dr. got script for blisters which are almost gone. Hips seemed fine, no other joint bone pain.

My mouth is still sore and can not eat anything spicy. My family did all the work for Thanksgiving Day. I was walking around being social all day. I woke up that night at 3am with muscle spasms from my breast to my knees. I have a script (valium 5mg) I take twice a day for expanders. I took a couple waited for spasms to stop, an hour later I took another! The only thing close to this I have ever experienced was labor. I can only assume I was up walking too much Thursday? I workin an office a couple days a week, mostly sitting at a computer.



With all that said, does anyone have an opinion on whether this will get worse after each round of the red devil juice? Or stay about the same?

politicomama

Pricilla, I think everyone is different.  My mom breezed through AC, she was 47/48, my mother in law suffered from severe depression during treatment and suffered from extreme fatigue at 67, my friend ended up hospitalized from AC at 35, and by first treatment at 33  was okay.  I was tired, had some joint paint, and little pangs of nausea.   From everyone I have talked too the one thing that is cummalitive is the fatigue.  I teach from home, and the day after was easy, the Monday was hard though, I was wiped out.  

ltmguy

who has chemo this next week....

Ltmguy on Tuesday 2nd dose

Lovebug Tuesday 2nd dose

Mariane Tuseday 4th dose (does it get wose as you go on????)

Thankful Thursday 2nd dose

Politic Thursday  2nd dose

Michelle Friday 2nd dose

OK who is are first dose sisters next week????

politicomama

I have been wondering how they decide which chemo you get.  I will ask when I go Thursday.  There are several of us getting ACT, and others getting CT.  

I am having dose dense AC every other week for 4 doses, and then 12 weekly doses of Taxol.  

ltmguy

Lovbug,

i have kids in my house all the time I am the juice house.  I asked my Docs if I need to change anything up with germs they told me no.  I worry more about being in hotels.  We just follow normal grem control.

powermom

I may be a first-doser next week.  Depends on whether the PS gives the go-ahead on Monday.

JeniferMiya

Itmguy- My first dose will be on Tuesday.

I've been reading through posts and wanted to respond but I can't get rid of this headache, and trying to remember everything I wanted to post just seems like too much..

You are all in my thoughts and prayers, Hugs to each of you..

txjunebug

Politicalmama - I joined a clinical trial to determine if TC is more effective than ACT without the harsher side effects.  They randomize participants and I was put in the TC x6 every 3 week group otherwise I would have had dose dense ACx4 then 4 rounds of Taxol.  My onc did say something about not being able to give women with heart issues the Adriamycin.

My second round is scheduled for December 7th.  Curious to see how side effects accumulate as chemo nurse indicated that the first treatment was the easiest. 

Priscillag

Politicalmama, looks like we're on the same schedule. AC then T started on Nov15th. This is my Mo preference. I am actually in a clinical trial, computer put me in treatment plan she had decided on if I had chosen not to be in the trial.



I realized all I did was complain in my first post. I'm 39 years old, had slight pain in breast, found lump on left side end of July myself, scheduled dr. Appt. I've felt pretty good with the exceptions I mentioned above.



Thanks for everyone's posts!

marianelizabeth

ltmguy, no at least for me it does not get worse. My best days are the last 4 before end of 2 week cycle but I honestly don't feel bad throughout other than the chemo tastebuds make lots of food taste pretty yucky. 

5LuvBugs

It's so nice to come here any time of the day or night and find a friend to talk to.. What a great bunch of girls, I love this group and I'm glad to see our ltmguy is keeping track of our chemo schedules... I guess I'm doing the same thing you and thankful4 are regarding the kids and germs- we all seem to be having some kind of cold/sinus issues this week anyway.

Where is sickofpink, hope she's enjoying her weekend...Lots of new names here this week, Glad to meet you girls...I'm with Jenifer as far as remembering what everyone said, (except I don't have headaches)

Prisilla and everyone who has mouth sores - it works:  1 tbsp baking soda; 1 tbsp salt; 1 liter or quart of water ; swish some in mouth 4x day; chemo nurse said do this day of chemo and everyday after for 1 after week - I do it almost everyday, it balances your ph..and don't use regular toothpaste use Biotene Oralbalance or something similar (sometimes I just put baking soda on my toothbrush)

Well girls have a good night tonight and a better day tomorrow...

Sickofpink

DZlassie, so sorry you've had so much to deal with all ar once! My port was a bummer too. Really bothered me, especially the tube snaking up my neck. At 2 weeks i finally got used to it but it's still a bit sore when dressing or laying down--- so not unusual, just part of the new normal.

Lymguy- aren't you cold? I can't believe the difference. And im already sick of my wigs, been wearing scarves. More will be on my xmas list.

Daisy Donna, some gals suggested Claritin as a preventative painkiller for the Neulasta. I'm scheduled for one every round and doc says it doesnt hurt so much after the first time but my back was aching so im not going to take any chances.



Hope you sick gals are on the mend!

Sweet dreams if you can sleep!

Sickofpink

2nd dose Thursday for me.