December 2012 chemo group

elimar86861

Good luck to all those about to begin.

Volleymom, Will be hoping for a quick response to get your blood counts back up.  Glad you are out of the hospital (germ city) and back at home where it is easier to rest.  So just take it easy all weekend, maybe take a short walk if it's warm outside; but whatever you do, don't waste your energy on chores.  The family members need to pick up the slack there.  Feel better.

It's funny how whenever I tell someone I am doing chemo, the first comment back is usually, "Are you going to lose your hair?"  Given all the things that can happen as SEs, the hair might be the most noticeable but is the least serious.  I'd gladly lose the hair if I didn't have to get any other SE.  I'm not saying it's not a blow to the self-image, but at least it doesn't hurt or put you in the hospital.

Dwihtd

I am having abraxane and herceptin.

Anonymous

Elimar~I'm with you on the hair thing. I'm not looking forward to losing it, but like you said, it would be great if it was the only SE from chemo.

There are such pretty scarves, hats, and wigs out there. Our attitude really is the key to getting through this. We can lie down and whine, "why me?" Or, we can be determined to make the best of a bad situation and KICK CANCER'S BUTT!!!



My prayer since dx has been that I can be a blessing to someone else, and that I can Gloify God.



Blessings

Paula

FriendGwen

Judaday - It was me that wrote about my daughter's facebook post. It was super sweet of her but so gut wrenching. But hey what they heck.. I better be her hero!! My girls are my heros.

Sandra60 - we had surgery the same day! Your first day of treatment is my second round. So far so good.

Beachlovingmom and Dwihtd - Hopefully the next time you log in you'll be reporting how easy your first treatment went! We're all behind you!

Bren58 - So you did it! Congratulations on the shave! I'm getting the pixie tomorrow morning just so I can have a few days with a super short but one I might actually wear, before it all goes bye bye.

sophiafred78

Hi ladies! I'm not sure I'm starting in December, I'm gonna meet my onco next tuesday. I hope I have some time to recover from surgery. I had my mastectomy Nov.29th, but although there was only one node involved, they took them all So my arm right now hurts like I have a really bad burn between shoulder and elbow, I'm starting physical therapy next monday.

Since I'm allready meeting my onco and doing my research on chemo, I decided to join you guys. I was initiallly saying in this forum that I was triple positive, but then I found out that HER2 ++ is not a definite positive, I'll ask tuesday for some more info on this subject. I think they did a second test to clarify it, but I'm not sure of the result.

So glad to see your comments saying that chemo isn't as bad as it used to be, I hope I'm as tough as you all are

Dwihtd

Just came back from first chemo. They had trouble drawing blood out of my port. I had to touch my toes to finally get the blood flowing. Besides that, I also got Ativan in the mix along with anti nausea meds. Had herceptin first then had abraxane. Feel fine, just tired. Probably the Ativan . Crossing my fingers I feel ok and don't have any se . Thank you for holding my hand through this first time journey on a trip that was never planned.

Bren58

Paula Thank you for the shampoo tip. I am with you and elimar on the hair thing. I will gladly lose my hair if it means I can get rid of the cancer. In the long run the hair will grow back. My prayer also has been the same as yours ~ just by reading your posts I know you have already blessed many.

Welcome Sophia - glad you joined us and I hope you find much help and encouragement here!

Dwihtd - You made it through round #1! I hope your SE's are mild, but remember we are all here for each other if they are not.

I went out today with my wig for the first time. Ran into friends, family and others that I know, everyone loved the new "do", which is darker and longer than my normal blonde. After wearing the wig for 5 hours though I was done and had to rip it off on the way home!

Jud

bren58 how long after your first treatment did your hair start to fall out? I'm on day 8 and I am waiting for that day to come....more like dreading for that day to come....

Anonymous

I had my first chemo a week ago today. I've had no nausea or C or D, but I'm so stinking COLD!!! I didn't even get dressed today. I have 0 motivation. I've been sitting with my fluffy robe, slipper socks, and blanket. The heat is cranked up. I was cold like this from about 9 am until 3 pm. Finally warmed up and felt better. Now I'm freezing again. It happened last night too.

I've also peed 400 times since going to bed last night. Got up 4 times during the night. Someone told me its the steroids leaving my body.



I didn't get Neulasta, so I'm trying to be extra careful.

I can't taste much, but I know I need to get the protein in so for lunch today I had a MickyDs fish sandwich. It has 30 grams of protein.



I know my SEs have been minimal, and I'm very blessed! But, I feel like such a whiner.



Blessings

Paula

mfml

Paula - that is weird about you being cold - I can't imagine I've had the OPPOSITE!  I had my first treatment dec 5 - so just over a week - and I've been so hot its crazy! nearly ripped the wig off in a meeting at work today I was so hot.  Do you think you've got a fever?  I did neulasta... so maybe its something with the counts.

I'm glad your doing good with the SE's aside from cold.  I am doing good with them too... knock on the biggest piece of wood in the house!  Well - stay warm.  I got a little bald patch today - how bout you?  anything lost yet?

Take  care-

Mia

Anonymous

Mfml~I see we're on the same chemo. I'm 2 days behind you. When I read your post, I tried tugging on my hair. So far it's hanging on. I figure by the time I get my 2nd chemo on Dec. 28, I'll be sporting a buzz.

I was cold this evening for about 2 hours. I'm warm now. Every time I warm up, the achyness goes away.

Someone told me this is the Nadir period, where the counts drop. She told me to hunker in and avoid people. I really hate to miss church on Sunday, but if this is still going on, I will stay in. I think the peeing every 20 minutes has stopped.



Blessings

Paula

mfml

Paula - Glad to hear you feel better when you are  warm...the nadir makes sense.  Maybe you were peeing so much because you are staying well hydraded thus the mild SE's???   I was worried a few days ago (about where you are actually) that I had a UTI - but its better now so must not have been.  I didn't go to church last Sunday because I feared the hugging... lots of that at my church.   Hard to avoid hugs and crowds especially this time of year!  I do my second treatment this Wed - I'm every two weeks.  I'll let you know if the mild SE trend holds... I'm going to be superstitious and do exactly what I did last time - which was pretty much nothing for 4 days except drink alot, sleep alot, and eat a little.

I just read your post on another thread about the woman at your church... shocking!!  

take care of yourself - I hope you keep feeling good...  I wish you a WARM peaceful night's rest tonight.

Mia

momto7

I was there for 2 hrs had my first chemo on Wednesday I only brought waterit was not bad but it hurt when they stuck the port I will be getting  a numbing cream to use next time I also got a wig It's a cute one too I did eat some oat meal  before I went

powermom

Paula - Yes, I think we are at our nadir.  I had bloodwork done this a.m. and the NP told me to lie low until Monday, avoid crowds, lots of handwashing, careful with what foods to eat (only fruits that can be peeled, no buffets etc.)  I read that chills can be a sign of infection, so you may want to take your temp for a few days to make sure you aren't running a fever.  Take care of yourself this weekend!  The NP told me that my counts should be on the way up by Sunday.

Anyone having skin problems, i.e., teenage-type breakouts?  Started yesterday with it, and it seems to be getting worse.  First the breasts, then the knowledge of hair leaving, now a spotty complexion, too!  For some reason this really irritates me.

mfml

powermom - yes - pimples like I haven't had in DECADES!  Had to raid daughters clearasil tonight.   BTW - did your fuzzy vision resolve?  My eyes were scratchy and "foggy" today... not too bad but I noticed they weren't right.

I am watching the news about the CT shooting.  Heartbroken.  I am not a crier - I am crying now.  

FriendGwen

Hi ladies. My latest SE is one bloodshot eye. It doesn't bother me and I was fine to wear my contacts but it showed up last night and is still here. I googled it and it can be a chemo SE. I suppose crying watching the news coverage this evening hasn't helped much. So sad.

Haircut in the morning!

Anonymous

Mfml~My church is very huggy too. Everyone there knows I'm in treatment, so when someone started to hug me or shake hands, I just held my hands up and said I just had chemo, no touching, and smiled. They were all so gracious about it.



Blessings

Paula

powermom

My vision seems a little better, now that you mention it.  Or maybe the annoyance with the pimples has just gotten my mind off it!

Runnergirl2013

Hi all - just wanted to say "hi" ....it is day 12 post first treatment for me.  Overall I feel like myself except for a lot of fatigue.  I am grateful that I don't feel worse so I am counting my blessings on this first treatment.

I am totally dreading my hair falling out in the next week.  I am not sure if I should cut it shorter now - already did a short cut but should I cut it into a pixie cut this weekend or wait until it falls out?  I know it is coming and the wait is hard on me.

On another note, my company that I work for (100 person consulting firm) did the nice thing for me!  I work from Milwaukee and all of them are in Michigan.  They all wore pink for me last Friday and they took a ton of photos and sent well wishes from each person on a huge poster and framed artwork.  It was so touching that they did this and I am going to hang these things where they will give me inspiration on the more difficult days. 

I hope everyone is doing well and see the positive things in each day.  I know it is hard but try to smile and enjoy the small things right now!

Bren58

Judaday - it hasn't totally fallen out yet, but I know it is coming. I decided to take control of when I lost it when I did a tug on a chunk behind my ear and it all came out in my fingers. The weird thing is that I have lost all the hair on my legs above my knees, but not below the knees yet.

Mia - glad you are doing well with the SE's.

Paula - I too was cold for the first week or so. I would be under the fuzzy throw and the blankets in bed, and under 2 throws when I was up in the chair with flannel PJ's on. I peed a lot too for the first several days, but I think it was probably because I was drinking about a gallon of water a day to flush my system.

I did not go to church for the first 2 Sundays after TX. I missed everyone but knew I needed to be careful about picking up any "bugs". I am going to try to go tomorrow, but I did have a friend send out out an email to the friends I usually see there (it's a large church). I asked her to tell them that although I would love to hug all of them to thank them for praying that I cannot risk getting sick with my compromised immune system. She undersootd and was happy to do it for me.

momto7 - glad you found a cute wig!

Gwen sorry about your eye. I found I could not even wear my contacts for the first several days and even now I only wear them a couple hours to work so I can read the computer screen and all the paperwork. I just wear my glasses around the house. I need contacts and reading glasses at work and my glasses are not bifocal. I guess I am really showing my age!

Powermom I did not get pimples on my face but my scalp broke out in itchy red bumps about 2 days after tx. Fortunatley they cleared up before I got my hair buzzed off.

Bren58

Runnergirl glad you are feeling well. And that was such a nice thing that your company did for you!

elimar86861

I've had a couple pimples on my face out of nowhere, and then I noticed a few itchy pimples or hives on my legs also.  My vision got blurry after a few days on the chemo, but now I have been off this week and it seems to be back to normal.  Most of the SEs do seem reversible.  As long as these things are only temporary, I figure I'll muddle through somehow.

Maria51

Hi!

My name is Rita. I was dx'd in Oct. Final dx after lumpectomy was stage 2a, 1.5cm tumor, 2/10 pos. lymph nodes, one macro, one micro. Thurs, Dec. 14th, I had my first chemo treatment of A and C. I will do dose dense, 4 -AC and then 4 Taxol. I was scared about the Adriamycin (the red devil) most of all. Surprisingly, I am feeling pretty good! I had some nausea the first day but with the help of prescribed meds, it was gone by morning. I had a Neulasta injection yesterday. Used some topical Lidocaine and Prilocaine cream...worked like a charm and the Claritin is a must from what I hear. We'll see how it goes moving forward. This is not for the feint of heart.



We have a wonderful Cancer Center in Scottsdale that has so much support. When I went for my wig, they told me about something called, clinical laser hair therapy. It helps with a better quality hair follicle. They say patients with the treatment see their hair grow back after 5-6 months as opposed to 9-10. Here is the website for information; www.scottsdaleinstitute.net. The doctor's name is Shelly Freidman. You could see if this might be available in other parts of the US. I see there are many postings concerning hair loss, that's why I am mentioning it. I do plan to shave my head when it starts to fall out. My onc said that's when the reality sets in. Hair will grow back...least of my concerns at the moment.



Staying positive, trying to drink 3 liters if liquid a day, a walk per day, connecting with supportive people and maintaining COURAGE are my goals.



Hugs to all!

pands

Runnergirl2 - too  cut hair short at little longer than pixie and now that its falling out in shower i wish i had cut it a little shorter...i am getting it all cut off on monday so only have to deal with really short hairs all over instead of long ones...DH said to wait since i dont have bald spots yet but i hate the way the head hurts before if falls out...8) The company you work for sounds great ...its nice to see other people get on the bandwagon...

yananma

I had 1st TC on 12/13, shot on 12/14, today 12/15, so far so good. Cut hair short, waiting what is next? My heart goes out to every sister on this blog! Enjoy a restful day

Anonymous

I'm 8 days out from 1st AC, and I think my head is beginning to tingle just a bit. If I rub my scalp with the tips of my fingers, it feels like there's a mild sunburn. Does this sound familiar anyone?

Otherwise, I'm feeling better today. No chills, but also, no motivation. I'm hoping to feel like me by Monday.



Blessings

Paula

powermom

Yep, my scalp has been sort of itchy and sensitive -- wanna race?  It took me all day to get the gumption to try to start decorating our Christmas tree.  Then none of the lights worked!  Oh well, one way or another, it will happen.

pands

Soteria and powermom - my scalp tingled and itched for at least a week before it started falling out...just before it started doing that my head really hurt almost like i had bumped it on something..and thats where most of the hair is leaving from...when i saw wad of hair in hands after shower told DH that it was time to buzz..i did tell him i would be bald for Christmas...

Anonymous

Powermom~Ok! The race is on!



Pands~I told my husband just as soon as any falls out, he's going to buzz it, and I'll start wearing my pretty scarves. I'm just hoping my old head isn't all scarred up or misshapen or anything like that.



I'm feeling better today than I've felt since the 7th. My SEs have really been minimal, but I still was not myself.



Blessings

Paula

Bren58

Welcome Rita! and thank you for the info on clinical laser hair therapy.

I went to the grocery store today in my wig and a random woman I have never seen before said how much she liked my haircut and loved the color! She totally made my day! I just had to tell her it was a wig and I was in chemo, she almost cried.