Starting Chemo February 2013

IamNancy

its good to know others feel self conscience wearing their wig.. I just feel almost panicky about it.. and I figure I still have 2 weeks with my own hair left...

what is it with the veggies/fruits? why would raw food be harmful?

shadytrake

Had the chemo consult today. It went well and MO answered all of my questions. I insisted on a port because I'm tired of getting stuck. They see my veins and think BONANZA.



So they are scheduling the port for tomorrow or Wednesday and my chemo starts Monday. I'm getting 4 doses of TC. Once every three weeks for twelve weeks.



My DH gave me a buzz cut today and I'm sporting my new chemo cap. Might as well get used to it. It's not so bad. I told my DH that better to have me and lose my hair than to lose me and have my hair.

Melrosemelrose

IamNancy- Some oncos tell their patients not to eat any fresh veggies/fruits to avoid the possibility of being exposed to bacteria/germs that could cause infections.  During the nadir period after one receives chemo, the likelihood of developing an infection is greater.  One way to help prevent infection is to limit one's exposure to potential sources of bacteria/germs.  While I was on chemo, I quit eating at buffets/salad bars and getting condiments from common open containers at restaurants.  My onco never placed any restrictions on what I could eat so I ate salads, fresh uncooked veggies, fresh fruit whenever and wherever I wanted to (excluding the buffets/salad bars).  When eating out or getting take out food, I made sure that the restaurants I ate at were relatively clean  and places I had eaten at before I had chemo. 

jayjayc

This whole cancer thing is sooooo messed up in every way..... I mean

seriously... beware the fresh fruit and vegetables..... but go for the toxic chemicals. I remember commenting during the pre-surgery when they were putting in the needle pointers and the radioactive node dye that if I didn't already have cancer all of those drugs and dyes would probably cause it.....



And I almost made it all day in the wig...... but it was really itchy so if came off in the car on the way home... thanks to all for the nice comments about wigs..... I know I can't go bald (don't have the guts) and wearing a scarf screams "ask me about my cancer" so the wig was really my only remaining option...... hopefully it will get easier or I'll get more confidence....... but it really felt like I had a mop on my head and I couldn't imagine other people didn't know it was a wig

McKatherine

So many things since I was on here last. Lets see if I can hit them all.

Look Good, Feel Better - totally worth it even if all you take away is how to draw eyebrows. if you haven't signed up - do it!



Food restrictions - we were warned off salad bars/ buffets, but the nurses at my office said to wash well and eat normally at home, and that I didn't need to worry unless my counts dropped. I have been avoiding raw things out, though. (Which is hard because I love salads).



Vitamins - my MO cleared my B-complex, multivitamin, and liquid chlorophyll (as long as it wasn't soy-based since I'm ER+). The nurse did say mega-doses of Vit A, C, and E were a no-no.



Still sporting my pixie cut. Haven't worn my freebie wig (many American Cancer Society offices have free wigs - call and ask your local office!) in public, and am debating if I will get another one or not . . . I'm waiting on my hair halos to arrive.



I'm two weeks out from port placement and most days I don't notice it any more (unless I get cold - that still feels weird). I haven't had surgery yet, so that may be why mine isn't bothering me as much.



Hugs to you ladies who are doing this post-surgery. I can't imagine trying to heal, too (but I'll get to do it the other way - having surgery while still recovering from chemo).

IamNancy

melrosemelrose-thanks for all the food information.. I can see I am going to have to be more careful once treatment starts..

jayjayc-glad you got through the day with the wig, it probably gets easier. Its funny, I know women in my office who have worn wigs to work not because they need them, but just to have fun .. maybe a brunette wanted to be a blond one day, lady with long hair wanted short hair..and we never thought anything about it.. just thought they looked cute .. I wish I was that type person, maybe then I could handle the wig part as a fun thing.. LOL

ywheels22

Rdrunner: thanks for the encouragement. You are ahead of me in recovery so I am looking to you as my inspiration that I will also get there.

Food/supplements: My MO did not put me on any restrictions. I take a multi w/ iron, Calcuium w/ D, vitamin B and C. I'll double check again to be sure but he had very little concern about it. As far as food, again, no restrictions. I will stay away from raw spinach and sushi (I LOVE sushi). After chemo is when I feel less than well so I don't eat well, mostly carbs, if anything at all. When my appetite is better, I try to eat alot of protein and eat clean, backing off the carbs as much as possible.

My 2nd treatment is in a week. I think just the thought of those chemicals going into me makes my stomach swirl. I try to maintain the mantra, "Kill the Cancer" and that helps. I dread the Nuelasta shot. Even though I have pain killers this time, I am so scared of feeling that bad again. It just stinks!

Currently, I still have my hair. I also have a wig and I know people will know it's not my hair but I think most people look at the hair, not necessarily the style or how the hair looks. They just see you have hair. I have lots of hats and my guess is I will wear more of those. I guess it's normal to feel self conscience but remember, you are still YOU, inside and out.

Best to all!

LisaMM

Hello ladies! Today is 6 days after TC, & here's what I've got going on: a wonky tongue and an aching feeling where my stomach is. Anyone else having the stomach pain? At least the Neulasta achiness has been better the last 2 days. Hope everyone is doin ok this week!

MTJulie

Lisa- I am 2 weeks past my 3rd treatment. My stomach hurt and the onc nurse told me to take Prilosec twice daily straight thru til I am done with chemo. Seems to have helped. I take tums occasionally too. The chemo wreaks havoc on our digestive system from top to bottom.

Strike_Two

Thanks for posting your experiences.   My first treatment is Thursday.  I hope I do as well as you all seem to be doing.  

LisaMM

MTJulue- thanks so much! I will be calling my onco tomorrow for some prilosec.

slv58

Well tomorrow is my second treatment. I'm looking forward to killing all those cancer cells one drip at a time! Hopefully it goes as good as the first time. I'm going to be meeting with my oncologist as well and want to ask her about dose dense, as I am on a regular schedule now. I read somewhere that dose dense may be better for triple negative. Wish me luck

Lmimp64

Just got hooked up in the big girl chair for the first time. Scared but hanging in there.

carlads

Lmimp64, We are there with you! 

LisaMM, my tongue the first time was awful, this last time my taste was completely gone.  I know we shouldn't have sugar but for some reason lemon drops really helped me.  Taste is finally coming back, but it has been almost two weeks.  Then back again next week.

Slv58, When I was first diagnosed they thought I was triple negative, my oncologist did talk to me about dose dense, my husband didn't want me to do dose dense but I was leaning towards it, let us know what your oncologist says.  Turns out I do have some hormone receptors low but their there.

Everyone else have a good day! 

Carla

IamNancy

had my first treatment this morning... toward the end, I could taste the chemo... yuck.. I still taste it and my tongue feels weird..my stomach felt a little upset when I got home -- took the meds and it sorta went away.. now my stomach aches... but if this was the worse then it wasn't so bad.. I do have to go back tomorrow for the shot and am preparing for that with claritin.

1 down and 3 to go..

lalady1

Hi Limimp64 & IamNancy- coming right behind you. Got drain out on Monday, then bought a wig that matches my hair, and cutting a few inches off now.  I am also trying Penguin cold caps during infusions - no guarantees, but willing to try. Theory is that cold confuses the chemo and redirects it away from fast growing hair cells on your head. Plus saving any hair makes me feel like a fighter. What surprised me, despite high pain tolerance, my expander aches over my left side and feels like my heart is exposed. Untrue, but that is how it feels. Getting first expander of saline on 20th, then starting chemo on 25th - 6 cycles everyx 3 weeks. Reading all posts for info, thank you all for helping this transition.

Gaamp12

Hi Everyone, this blog has been a life saver.  I have learnt so much.  Just had my first treatment today at 11AM.  It went very well and smooth.  Started Dexamethasone (steroid) twice yesterday, twice today and once tomorrow.  At the infusion center i was very nervous so the nurse gave me a sedative to relax me.  it was enough to relax and able to function (or, so I believe).  Had Ondansetron, Taxotere/Cytoxan...the infusion lasted about two hours.  I took another dose of Ondansetron after dinner with another dose of steroid. 

So far I have felt a bit tired but fine.  No side effects.  Had a large lunch at Chipotle and a good dinner. That hunger that steroids always brings. I really feel full and not ready for more water.  I know that water is the most important part of after-chemo.  I will try the lemon juice and see.

Tomorrow will continue with Ondasetrib HCL 8 mg for another two days.  I will also start tomorrow with Metoclopramide HCL 10MG.  On Friday I will do my own shots of Neupogen.  I was warned about the pain that could cause. 

Are you all on the same medications.  There was not mention of vitamins or any other special dietary recommendations.

I signed up to the feel pretty workshop on February 26.  Will let you know.

My Wig Story - I tried the very short hair and I looked like I had a rat wrapped around my heard.  I like the shoulder length, of course they did not have it in my color.  The have ordered it.  I loved the long soft hair one.  I never had long hear...so I don't think that is for me.  I have a lot of bronwn with some pepper hair.  The white hair ones make me look 100 years older.

Thank you for sharing all your treatments, findings and best practices of life with chemotherapy.  I feel so good to have a group of woman that share all this important information. Ana Maria

LisaMM

Thanks for the advice on the stomach pain, I called my onco today & they called me a script for Prilosec.  Feeling somewhat better even after just one dose!  Now if I could get my wonky tongue back to normal!

slv58

Second chemo went well, but had a tough night. Woke up at midnight feeling really nauseated, took my medication but I guess I was too late

have the headache this morning and am afraid to take Tylenol as my stomach is still pretty upset. But had really great news from my oncologist-she said she feels the tumour is shrinking already after just one treatment!! Yeah! I asked her about dose dense, turns out she is on the advisory committee at my hospital and most of the studies are hers with regards to triple negative. She along with the head of oncology, have revised their recommendation because they were finding too many women were unable to stick with dose dense because of SE and that their iron levels really plummeted. I have bee anemic for years (still menstrating ) and she feels that DD would be too hard on me. At this point I'm just so happy that my chemo is taking care of business!

Hope everyone is doing well with minimal SE- keep the spirits and attitude up

ywheels22

slv58 I am not triple negative but having dose dense of AC (4 cycles every other Wednesday) followed by a Nuelasta shot, then Taxol (4 cycles every other Wednesday) no shot. For my cancer, my MO said that is the standard followed by Sloan Kettering. My guess is it's all based on your pathology and other invididual circumstances. MY SE from the chemo have been minimal (though I only had one treatment so far.) The shot is what got me bad. Horrible, dibalitating aches and pains for nearly 36 hours. I got a script for percoset for my next treatment. And I did take the Claritin.

For those of you who are on you third or fourth treatments, do you notice a pattern in how you feel. Say, for example, day 1 and 2 are okay to good, then maybe days 3, 4, and/or 5 are worse, then you start to feel better? Just wondering what I might expect after my 2nd treatment next Wednesday.

I took a 40 minute walk yesterday! Was very happy I could manage that. I am going again today. I still cannot run as my new boobs still hurt but I think I can start to do some more activities until the next treatment. I hope the SE's from the Nuelasta shot are not as bad the second time. Prayers!

Best to all!

Strike_Two

Anyone think that losing our hair helps take our mind off of the cancer?  

Honestly, I'm thinking more about my hair right now than anything.  When is my last treatment?  When does it get out of my system?  When will my hair start growing back?  How much growth per month?  What will my hair look like for my daughter's wedding at the end of August? arrgghhhh

And I'm actually a "shorter do" gal.  I can't imagine how impatient you long-haired women will be.  

Lmimp64

Hi. I went to chemo one yesterday. Started having acid reflux and gas. Gave me Zofran. I was drinking like a whale and ended up looking like one too. All bloated and not peeing. Reflux got worse too. On call sent me to er and I was admitted. Again. Catheter and some tests and limiting my water consumption. Who knew? There must be something about my body tissues that absorbs water before my kidney and bladder. They are running tests to know what to tell me to do for chemo 2. Joy.

kkmom

Good morning - Chemo Friends - February 2013.  I had my first chemo last Wednesday, Feb 6 and today 8 days later I am just beginning to feel half way alive.  I believe the neulasta shot is what brought me to my knees.  I plan on being better prepared for it - like taking the clarintin.ahead of time.  I started out with extreme constipation for the first 3 days and then it went to extreme diaharra.  The fatigue was horrible.  I actaully could only set up for maybe 10 minutes at a time.  This past Tuesday, I had my daughter take me to the ER and they pumpled me full of fluids.  In in my mind, it was like going to a spa - that is how much better it made be feel. 

My only hope in this message is that for some of us, chemo takes longer to run its course.  I just didn't think it would take so long.  My hair is still holding up, but i figure when the time comes, that will be the least of worries.  I pray for each of you - I know we all have our challengings along this road.  I keep holding onto May - spring time, birds and a new season. 

All of you do the best you kind- even though we will probably never meet or talk we all have a kindred spirit.  I love you all and I wish you ease and peace with each day.   Pam

Rdrunner

Holy crap,, I am getting neupogen shots, 8 in total,  does the same thing as nelasta. I had a bit of bone ache up until now but it was ok until today, I have one more shot to go but the pain today holy cow.. every bone throbbed and ached and it hurt to sit or stand until the meds worked, pain meds have kicked in so ok now. I geuss it means it working and stimulating the bone marrow to produce white blood cells, but holy cow and I have a high pain tolerance, two labours no drugs.. for about an hour this pain was unreal.

LisaMM

StrikeTwo-  I constantly am thinking about my hair!  For just one day I would love to be able to think about something other than BC & everything that comes with it!  It sucks the energy out of my brain, which I am convinced is already starting to suffer from "chemo-brain" after just 1 treatment! 

Lmimp-  I had horrible heartburn & reflux by day 3 after treatment, along with stomach pain.  Yesterday I called my onco & they put me on Prilosec.  3 doses later it's all gone!!!  I am sorry to hear that you had to be admitted, I hope they can find out what's wrong quickly & get you feeling better fast.  I will be thinking of you!

Today was Haircut day for me!  I took my wig with me & had my hairdresser give me a similar cut.  This is my way of trying to avoid the feeling of my appearance screaming WIG when I get to the point of needing it.  I think she did a good job & I am feeling slightly better about it.  I had a few moments this morning before I went, I think in fear of sitting in the chair & sobbing.  I am happy to report that I did not turn into a blubbering idiot!  she trimmed the bangs of my wig & then gave me a cute cut while we both listened to 70's & 80's music!  I almost felt bad that her work today will be gone in a few short weeks.   I also feel for those of you that have always had longer hair.  Mine has mostly been a little below shoulder length, & for a while it was a good bit shorter than even today's cut, & it still bothered me when I thought about it this morning.

For those getting the Neulasta-I did the Claritin routine & I also premedicated with extra strength tylenol, & continued taking the tylenol every 4-5 hours for 3 days.  I did get the achiness, but it wasn't debilitating.  Just felt like the day after I had finally decided to exercise after all these years.

I've been reading alot of posts about increasing protein intake .  I've also seen alot of posts about Fage yogurt.  Anyone have sugesstions?

IamNancy

Strike Two- what a good point you had about the hair -it almost totally takes our minds off the real issue -cancer!

Pam -kkmom- I am sorry you are having such a difficult time - hope it goes easier after this..

Rdrunner - I hope this pain doesn't continue for you.. all the best to you!

Lmimp64- wow what a time you had the last 24 hours.. hopefully they will figure out the problem before you have to get the next treatment.

Me? I am worrying about getting my shot today... time will tell!

McKatherine

Just checking in. I'm 9 days post first infusion, and ended up with a neutropenic fever. Thankfully, I got oral antibiotics and was able to come home.

Feeling pretty crummy right now, but hopefully the abx will do their thing and my neutrophils will start reappearing soon.

Lmimp64

Thanks, iamnancy. Looks like I get home tomorrow. No plan on what to do next time, except drink LESS water! Good luck with your shot tomorrow. I get mine too. Are you doing arm or stomach? My mo's pa says stomach is less painful for some.



McKatherine, so sorry that happened to you. Stay healthy. )

Wildlyshel

Hi. I start my AC dose dense 4 tx on the 22nd followed by 4 dose dense tx of taxol. The two things I am worried about is the pain from the neulasta and the weight gain. I know it's terrible to worry about weight gain but I fought so hard to lose 30 pounds this last year and I don't want BC to take yet one more thing away. Damn it. I am going to have protein and veggies around so I don't have temptation with the carbs and I plan to do a lot of walking. I heard walking alleviates nausea also.



Anyone try to walk after the neulasta? Anyone have weight gain yet? I don't want to lose but maintain and stay at a healthy weight.

bcfree2013

Wildlyshel, I am doing dense dose ac with naulasta shot, but I don't seem to have bone pains. My MO says the majority don't get bone lains. I lost a couple of pounds due to extra stress and not being able to eat during the first couple of days after chemo. But every person reacts different to chemo. Hope you will have minimal side effects!