December 2012 chemo group

mfml

Whoa - lots of catching up here.  I'm just coming out of the fog from AC #3 - boy this one really knocked me on my butt!  I feel so foolish now for telling myself how well I was doing - even saying "look at me - I'm chemo tolerant".  Pretty much in and out of conciousness for the past 48 hours.  Hubby was worried I'd been in bed too long - nearly took me to ER.  I am not sure if my horrible pain Friday (2 days after chemo) was from neulasta or the chemo!  Yikes..  Ladies - when I read about all of you running and walking and trying to get some exercise in - I am just in awe.  I feel like getting up and dressed is exercise some of these days - you all are amazing.  Well - my spirit is coming back to me now - one more of these AC to go.

I need some advice if any of you have started taxol yet.  I am trying to figure what day to do it to minimize my time away from work.  Have any of you done weekly taxol yet?  I hear it isn't as bad as the AC - so I am leaning towards doing it on a Friday so hopefully will be back up to speed by Monday?  Any firsthand experience/advice would be much appreciated.

FriendGwen - I love reading about your kitty!  I have so appreciated my cats through all of this.  Though they can be annoying always on me at times - I do love the attention and cuddling they give me.  They follow me around like dogs now - my two girls are a little jealous that I get all the attention from the cats now.

OK - I'm getting myself doo-ed up and out of this house today - I'm back!  I wish you all peace and thank you all for being such inspiration to me - I can't believe the amount of strength and positivity and support in this thread.

M

FriendGwen

Bummer about the coffee ladies! It's about the only thing that hasn't gotten funky for me. I don't take sugar in it which may help as I've noticed sweet things aren't great. I seem to tolerate a burger the best which is funny since I was a vegetarian for a year until a few months prior to dx. Last night I was desperate to have a beer while out to dinner. It too tasted gross. If this is anything like last cycle my taste buds should be back this week.

volleymom77

day 2 feeling so so, you all are amazing . my daughter has a head cold ugh, I go tomorrow for fluids and neulasta shot and may be more emend, hopefully no hospitalization this time. My red blood cells are low so energy is low ugh, all of you are amazing, we will survive.

volleymom77

day 2 feeling so so, you all are amazing . my daughter has a head cold ugh, I go tomorrow for fluids and neulasta shot and may be more emend, hopefully no hospitalization this time. My red blood cells are low so energy is low ugh, all of you are amazing, we will survive.

Anonymous

Mfml~There's a " Weekly Taxol " thread on this forum. I just started posting there, as I'll be starting taxol X12 in early March. I'm also getting AC, but mine are every 3rd week.



I don't get Neulasta or neupogin so I have to be really be extra careful about getting bug or something. I went to church today, and even though this is day 10 for me, it took all my strength to get ready and get there.



I feel like my house is falling apart around me, and DH couldn't care less. He's a bit of a hoarder.



I already dread AC # 3.



Blessings

Paula

mfml

Thanks Paula -  I will check out the weekly taxol thread - start to prepare myself.  I am sorry to hear you are having that frustrating feeling of your house falling apart when you stop picking up for one minute.  I know EXACTLY where you are coming from.  After my surgery - I had a lightbulb moment with my husband and tidiness:  I realized that he honestly does not SEE what I see when I look around me.  It is hard to explain - but it may be the same for you.  When I open a piece of junkmail that is junk - I throw it away.  Husband - on the other hand - looks at it and  puts it in a pile.  And so on and so on with pretty much every item that comes into the house or is  taken out...  So - it doesn't help the problem - but it did help me once I realized he doesn't "see" the world - or rather the house - the way I do.  I feel your pain -  I wish I could come over there and pick up for you!  (Actually - I bet you have a friend out there who would love to come over and give you a hand with something like that on a Sunday afternoon.... )

Paula - you are half way done with the AC!  Try not to dread #3 too much - you are a trooper and are nearly done with that part!  Hang in there..

Mia

sophiafred78

Acne. I haven't seen my face like this in 20 years (when I was 14). And I never loved my hair so much like now, I'm gonna delay the buzz until last minute. My arm still hurts when I move more than usual so I have to wear XXL men's shirts and sweat pants. Which is good, cause it hides the extra pounds I gained the last couple months. I decided that today I'm not going to do anything productive and just sit here watching a Russell  Crowe marathon. Gladiator, Robin Hood, LA Conf, American Gangst, Cinderella M, State of play, beautifull mind... Only this man can bring some relief to my anguish.

My house is falling apart too, and my cats are giving me a disapproving look but I don't care. They know where the vacuum is.

Hope you're all feeling better, take care.  

  

LeeA

sophiafred, lol @ "they know where the vacuum is."  

I never watch much television other than CNN (cable news channel) but since chemo started (January 2) I have watched four movies on TV.  This is more than I usually watch in a year - actually, more than I typically watch in a two-year period.  

Thus far I've watched: 

1. The Notebook
2. The Time Traveler's Wife (I had read that book a few years back) 
3. The Devil Wears Prada
4. Letters to Juliet

.

I think I inherited my poor hearing from my dad so I look up the scripts online so I don't have to have the TV on as loud (I don't want to drive my poor husband too crazy).  Oh, and here in the US they make the commercials louder than the actual television program (*shakes angry fist in the air*).  

I'm thinking I'll download movies on my iPad for chemo treatments.  Since I haven't been a movie-watcher for years I should have plenty of choices 

sophiafred78

LeeA, good choices! I've seen the notebook, and Devil Wears Prada is great. If you liked the notebook, I suggest The Vow, and if you like DWPrada I suggest Confessions of a shopaholic. But I'm in a mood for thrillers or really bloody battles, that's why I went for my Russell Crowe box.

Let me know what else you found You can use cordless headphones, they're great!

Anonymous

I loved the Notebook, and just noticed that the Vow is on Starz this month, so I'll be watching that. I also loved the Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep is my favorite actress. She can become anybody. I loved her hair in Prada.



Yesterday I was really afraid I was getting sick, this being my Nadir period. Scratchy throat, sneezing, headache, cough, but by bedtime I was much better. I didn't cough all night. I did pray, and tell whatever it was that it had to bow to the Name of Jesus. It BOWED!!!



I pray you are all doing well today.



Tricia, I hope you've kicked that bug to the curb.



Blessings

Paula

sophiafred78

I watched everything with Meryl Streep on it. I have no life of my own... "Falling in love" with De Niro is a favourite. She's amazing in that Margaret Tatcher movie.

I also have a scratchy throat but found out it goes away immediately by drinking one tall glass of water. It's probably dehidration.

Grace533

I too felt good the 10th day after first chemo. Still feeling good. Had blood draw also on the 8 th cause I was having diarrhea problems all week. My counts were very high so I I was please. But still hesitant to be around too many people. Has anyone used the picc line? I might have to for the three left because my vein I guessed collapse. She said we will try one more but I am afraid they will postpone chemo next thurs if I get there and they cant find a vein. Decision will they be able to do it or should I just go get picc line beforehand?

Maria51

What is a tee shirt wrap?

Anonymous

Maria, I hope this comes through. It's the t-shirt wrap video. Very easy to do. I wore a neon green one to church yesterday, as it matched my top. My husband said, he's going to hide all his t-shirts now. Lol



I got a lot of compliments at church. People were surprised when I told them what it was. I like it better without the scarf.



Notice how the model keeps sticking her tongue out and licking her lips. I think the poor girl was suffering from chemo mouth.





http://search.yahoo.com/tablet/s?ei=UTF-8&p=Tshirt+wrap+for+chemo+video&fr=yfp-t-701

Anonymous

The video of the first girl..the one with the grey shirt is better. She's an actual cancer patient.



Paula

MTJulie

Well ladies, I am off for treatment #2. I feel better prepared this time, especially since most of you are a week or so ahead of me and you are getting along ok. I signed up for Netflix and plan on watching a marathon of Dexter, Homeland, and Nurse Jackie, all series I haven't seen. Let the house fall down around me.

tracyleigh

Hey, new friends!  I've been lurking here for a couple of months as I try to wrap my head around this new reality.  I went to my midwife to check out a lump on November 1 and two months later am recovering from my third round of AC.  I'm on day six and finally feel like I'm coming back to life.  I look forward to walking this road with you and sharing encouragement.

MTJulie, I hope treatment goes smoothly for you today.  I can't help but chuckle just a little at your clever choices of Dexter and Nurse Jackie while you're there. 

tracyleigh

Hey, new friends!  I've been lurking here for a couple of months as I try to wrap my head around this new reality.  I went to my midwife to check out a lump on November 1 and two months later am recovering from my third round of AC.  I'm on day six and finally feel like I'm coming back to life.  I look forward to walking this road with you and sharing encouragement.

MTJulie, I hope treatment goes smoothly for you today.  I can't help but chuckle just a little at your clever choices of Dexter and Nurse Jackie while you're there.

jenjenl

so I'm curious...I am so much colder these days and I am wearing a hat, layers, etc.  Is anyone else feel cold all the time?  Or hot? 

five_cents

Grace 533, I'm scheduled to get a Picc line in on Thursday.  My first chemo was terrible, they almost couldn't find a vein, five different nurses, lots of bruises and I almost got sent home.  Here in Toronto they really don't do port, except for people receiving chemo for a year; partly due to the waiting time for the surgery and partly because of the risk of complications.  I'm looking forward to the picc line, although they were able to get a line started easily on my second chemo I've started to get some vein pain already in my upper arm, it feels like a hard swollen area and, with four treatments left I wasn't looking forward to it.

The picc line needs weekly flushing so a home care nurse will come and do that on my off weeks from chemo. I'm a litle concerned about skin breakdown from the tape but we'll see what happens.  The bonus is that the nurses can pull it on the last treatment so when I'm done chemo I can be done for real!  Let me know if you have any questions about the procedure after thursday.

FriendGwen

Jen - I find myself colder more than usual. I'm back at work today and ventured out for my lunch time walk. Granted it is in the 40s but I didn't last 15 minutes before I was back at my desk. Even with my wig on I'm usually cold. And how about getting out of the shower! I still wrap my head like I have all my life to dry my hair. Now though, when I take the towel off.. voia....I'm all dry!

Hope everyone is having a content, side-effect-free Monday. The gym I joined post surgery is opening up a brand new facility today so it's a bit easier to drag myself there today after work. I'm so looking forward to my SEs to completely wane this week so I have ten days of normalness before cycle three.

kiwikid

Hi ladies

Day ten here, about to watch a movie... A friend lent me her collection and yesterday I watched When Harry Met Sally for the first time, and started on the box set of murder she wrote... I think I'll watch a box set of rom coms then start on mad men season 4. When I get home I'll be able to access films on demand via Apple TV, until then I'm stuck with this pile...

Slept for 11 hours last night, bf and parents have gone for a couple of days so it's just me at the beach house for a couple of nights, bliss!

Lol Sophia about your cats, ours is in the cattery and he is going to be super grumpy when we pick him up after 3 weeks, I don't think he'll feel like vacuuming either!

My hair has not started to fall out yet

Hooray

What is the neulasta thing you are all talking about? We don't have that here in New Zealand, it doesn't sound like we're missing much, it sounds awful.

Happy relaxing

Xx kk

Anonymous

jenjeni, I freeze on Days 7 & 8. I stay bundled up, hat, socks, robe, blanket. I also have minor aches. Tylenol helps some. By the end of day 8 its gone.



Kiwikid, Neulasta is an injection they give the day after treatment. It helps to keep the WBC from crashing. My MO doesn't use it. She just gives us an extra week to bounce back.



tracyleigh, welcome to the board. Lots of good people on here. Sorry that any of us needs to be here, but when we need it, it's a great place for info, support, laughter, and encouragement.



Blessings

Paula

Bren58

Grace - glad you are feeling good and that your blood numbers were high.

Welcome Tracy - it sounds like you are well on your way with chemo. Hopefully you will find encouragement and help on these boards.

Jenjen - I was really cold all the time for 2 weeks afer my fisrt tx, but it has not been as bad after this last one. I would sit in the chair with 2 blankets on top of me. It seemed like I could never get warm.

For those of you feeling good, enjoy the good days. For those of you not feeling so good, remember that better days are coming.

momto7

Hi every one  well I made it through my second chemo I had it on the 2nd and was sick all weekend mostly with pain from the shots they gave me  I hate sounding like a baby but I spent the weekend in bed did not want to go out to the store  to even shop for groceries  I hope everyone is doing good  this week I am wearing my wig and going to order another one soon  i guess being bald is not that bad haha

momto7

I am getting the neulasta  shots they are terrible I got one the first time now they are giving me a series  of 4 the last one is tomorrow I ache from them  they are supose to bood your white cells back up  and fight infection I just hope the next chemo on the 23rd will be better and maybe the shots will not bother me as much

LeeA

Are you taking Claritin with the Neulesta shots, momto7?  I've seen it discussed several times on the Triple Positive thread and it may have even been discussed on this thread (I'm spacy).  

In any case, I hope you start feeling better soon.

mfml

momto7 - sorry you were so sick over the weekend.  #3 AC did about the same to me - and I like you think most of my pain came from the dang neulasta shot!  My whole body hurt...  it is not a good feeling I know.  Hope you feel a bit better now - one day closer to done with this.  Are the 4 neulasta shots smaller than the one big dose?  Do you think it is any better that way?  I have been taking claritan - who knows if it has helped or not - it was pretty bad.  Well - hope you get a good day in soon...  

Bren58

Ok this is totally off topic but I saw it on another thread from 2011 and had to share. It made me laugh when I saw it and thought you ladies might enjoy it too.

This is for those who have had a BMX and recon:

"yes, they are fake (@)(@), the real ones tried to kill me!"

Switte

Hello:  I started chemo (taxotere/cytoxan) on 12/4; 4 infusions/3 weeks apart which will be followed by  6 weeks of radiation.  I had very few side effects from the chemo however extreme bone pain from the neulasta.  I began to lose my  hair on 12/15 and by 12/19 I removed it all and felt better about it.  It seemed like the next step to getting my closer to the end of treatment.  My second infusion was on 12/28 and again no major side effects except for the compromised taste buds. The neulasta injection was reduced so only had  a mild reaction to it (flu like for a day or so).  I did experience for the first time in my life kidney stones which were horrible and possibly contributed to the cytoxan although it is not a common side effect.  Ten days after my 2nd treatment, I'm feeling pretty good. My Dr. advised weight bearing exercise and I try to do so as much as possible.  I am still working full time and so far so good.  Third infusion is coming up on 1/18/13 and then only one more to go!