Starting Chemo February 2013

jayjayc

Hi TNmother,

I'm in the middle of my 12 weeks of Taxol/herceptin and did not do AC or anything else. So in terms of just the Taxol SE's I can tell you what happened to me..... first (and I believe most important) I have not had any stomach problems... I have lost most of my hair, have fatigue (which increases after each treatment), slight tingling/numbness in fingers and toes, bloody when I blow my nose, and skin issues (redness and sores where I had any type of skin bump or growth).... and mouth dryness and teeth sensitivity..

Those are the main ones...

TNmother

Thank you jay for all the helpful information, just wanting to know what to expect in advance!😊

Shasha10

For me. It hurt my head and it was the beginning. I had several hours to go my husband called the rep. I have medium thickness hair I ski I'm used to cold but with the chemo I couldn't get it going

Now have do a wig.

We'll all get through this. Thx

melissa119

TNmother



The side effects really have nothing to do with stomach issues usually. You will most likely start getting your hair back around the 7 or 8 treatment. There could be tingling and numbness in fingers and toes. Ask your MO to take b6. It helps with the neuropathy. Just make sure it doesn't stay around long when u do get it. Mine was usually either in the am or at night when I was going to bed. My MO said as long as it didn't last it would most likely not be permanent. You will possible have bloody nodes too as your nostrils are dry. Your skin will get very dry. Keep moisturizing. I really didn't have and fatigue. The major thing for me was at ok affects your nails. They might start turning colors and hurt. You might even lose some. Mine started about treatment 10 and a month after I finished taxol they still hurt and I lost a nail. Thank god only one but they all lifted. It is a SE. Tea tree oil helps. And after taxol or toward the very end you might actually lose your eyebrows and eyelashes. I did but they were back with about two months so not that bad. Hope you are handling the AC ok. Anything else let me know! These boards got me thru the past year. We are all her for everyone :-)

LW122713

Saturday night through Sunday afternoon was the lowest point (so far) for me. I was nauseous, the pain in my bones felt like they were on the verge of breaking, sweats, chills, dizzy, numbness and tingling all over. I was really worried that it had set in and that was what I was going to feel like. I was in the bed for over 12 hrs but came through on the other side. The bone pain is still there but not as constant or as intense. Not sure if it was the chemo or the Neulsta shot but it was not pleasant. Today just exhausted but drug myself to work with all the necessary meds and family size bottle of hand sanitizer. Oh, and my scalp has started to tingle and itch. I am just waiting on the when and where now. Should I be worried that my hair will fall out at work in the middle of a meeting? I'm not sure exactly what to expect.

IamNancy

Mirmirpanda - when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep - I read Psalm 23 and then try and memorize it - it really helps me go back to sleep...and gives me comfort too.

Melody - pimples! I thought it was just me - losing my hair and a big giant pimple on either side of my nose.. crazy!

smethot - you are an inspiration..

LisaMM - from NJ so I have a little cap for around the house - am sure it'll feel chilly.

ywheels22

TNmother: I just had my second treatment of AC. Doing dose dense x4. AC is hard I will say. I will do dose dense of taxol, x4, also every other week, not weekly. I hear different things in regards to SE's depending on how often and how much you get it. And everyone is different as well!

Melissa119: I love your posts. You are so positive and so lucky you are done!!!! Thank you for sharing and staying on these boards to help those of us still in the thick of it so to speak.

melissa119

Ywheels22.... Thnx. Just glad I can be here for all of the great women here. Like I said many before me were there for me when I was in the thick of things and it truly helped to have a place to go all hrs of the day with questions concerns and comfort! And I truly believe that staying positive is what will get you thru treatment :-). It helped me. Like I have mentioned before all thru AC I never missed a game my daughter played in for softball and she had 5 a week!! I was at a game two days after my BMX. Being down and mopey will not get us anywhere. Don't get me wrong. I had and still have my days. But I pick up and keep pushing. And honestly it is so much easier to be positive now than during tx cause I am done! Lol. But you all will be too soon enough!!

chgogemini

I got three free gorgeous knit hats from the hat box foundation. They are so cute. They are handmade with love and so toasty on my head. They sent a card amd wrote a message. If anyone is interested sent them an email.



Www.hatboxfoundation.org

ywheels22

Melissa: you are my hero. I have missed many of my sons hockey practices after BMX/Recon and thru AC, days 3-6 are not good for me at all. Aches and pains from the shot are bad and then the tiredness....I need to suck it up more and battle on. I need to remember you and that you did it. I know we are all different and you certainly seemed very fortunate to get thru AC easier than I feel I am getting thru, but I do need to 'make' myself get up and go as best I can.

Thank you!

melissa119

Glad I could be some encouragement. Do what you feel you can do and is best for you at the time. Getting to your sons games once in awhile will do a world if wonders for your spirits. Be sure to take your meds even before your feel bad. And take Claritin before and after the neulesta. It helped me with bond pain. YOU WILL GET THRU! Keep telling yourself that. It's a bump in your road that you will hurdle and come out on smooth ground :-)

Gina925

IMCCLURE4477- My scalp was tingling and then became sore around day 10ish after my first chemo round. Today is day 15 and its really shedding bad. Im trying not to touch it. Want to retain it as long as I can. But I have 2 stylish wigs on standby. You may want to do some wig shopping as soon as you feel you are ready. It helps to know that they/it will be available when you need it.

Today I went to see my plastic surgeon and had him put fluid in the expanders. They look so much better but still have a ways to go.

Tomorrow I have my second chemo round, I'm wondering if my SE will be the same as the first. I have 6 to do total. I took a Pd leave of absense from work and will consider going back on a PT basis (maybe 2 days from home each week-other than than the crappy chemo week) and stay on leave time for the other days. It all depends on how my SE are. Its a 50 min drive to work and my concentration is just "not there". Plus I'm going to feel weird going to the office in a wig. Kudos to all of you who are able to work, I hope I can get mentally and physically stronger to do to the same.

Lots of great info out here from you all. I'm gong to ask the onco nurses about that 3 treatment and is it really the worst of the bunch. I will let you know what they say.

Rdrunner

I think the main thing is to listen to your body...its hard to tell when is the time to push through or rest. Its not the end of the world to miss a few games dont beat yourself up. days 3 to 6 are my worst also, mainly its the fatigue this time round. I have still managed to get out walking with the dog but was exhuasted afterwards.

Im on neupogen (8 shots) and I hate it, bone ache is there but dont have to take anything until after shot no. 7 horrible horrible throbbing pain. I didnt use any anit histamine the last time, Im going to try it this time.

IamNancy

Gina

I am stil working - with a few days off chemo week, however I work 10 miles away..can't say I'd have the energy to drive 50 miles everyday.. Do what is best for you

slv58

Hi Ladies, I have a dumb question, but started thinking about this and am curious. You know how they say that when you loose your hair, it is a sign that the chemo is working as it targets the fast growing cells, well what if you have lost most of your hair but are still left with a " healthy fuzz"? It has been 34 days since my first chemo, lost most of my hair around day 20, but still have about 10% of fuzz, it seems very stubborn at falling out. Does this mean my chemo isn't working? I will ask my oncologist on the 6th, but wondered if anyone else has been left with fuzz?

lmcclure4477

Day 15 and still no thinning or hair loss for me. I went for my 2nd treatment of dose dense Adriamycin and Cytoxen yesterday.



slv58: I am with you for being concerned that the chemo isn't working. I have these crazy thoughts inside me and although I don't want to lose my hair, it would be a sign the chemo is working. If nothing happens by week 3 I will call my oncologist office.

melody46

slv58 I was just reading last night that the amount of side effects, or lack of, has nothing to do with how well your chemo is working. 

Rdrunner

Fuzz left for me too, I had my second AC last wednesday and Im sporting a healthy fuzz

tangles

Hello ladies, I have been in the hospital for 2 weeks My white count went to 0 and I got very sick. I will now be getting that "shot" after my Chemo treatments. Can someone tell me what the clairtin dosage was as I think I may give that a try as I heard about the bone pain.......

chgogemini

Tangles



I've been thinking I

About you and wondered what happened. Glad your back.



Its the 24 hour claritan the day before day of and I think 4 days later. It made me so groggy and didn't help with bone pain but I only took it for 2 days.

Melrosemelrose

Tangles- The Claritin clincial trial protocal is to take 1 regular 24 hour Claritin for 7 days starting the day you are to receive the Neulasta shot.  I took it in the morning before I had my afternoon shot of Neulasta.  I was lucky that it worked for me.  Also remember that it is possible to still have joint pain and muscle aches from your chemo regimen and it may hard for you to distinguish between chemo side effect aches and pains from the Neulasta shot side effect.  I have also read on these threads that one can take one Tylenol and one Advil/Motrin before the shot and continue with that combo every 4-6 hours to also help with the post Neulasta bone pain.  Wishing you the best and hope you are feeling better!!!!

tangles

I didnt have bone pain with the first Chemo. I guess if I have it this time it may be from the shot? I am due to get round 2 on Friday. I will be a week behind my schedule so I am hoping for no more dely's in this treatment. I will try the clariton, it cant hurt!

slv58

Melody46 thanks for that, it is reassuring to know that, as my side effects have been very minimal so far.

Rdrunner, glad I'm not the only one with a fuzz head-for some reason I wish I was properly bald! Lol

Tangles welcome back, sorry you had such a bad reaction, hopefully minimal SE with neulasta.

I guess most of us have at least been through one treatment as feb. is coming to an end-WE ARE GOING TO GET THOUGH THIS AND BEAT THOSE LITTLE BUGGERS!

DiZZyMom

Good luck Tangles. I wonder why they didn't give it to you the first time. I had my second shot yesterday and did the clariten. Last time I didn't and I had pain mostly in my thighs and lower back. Not severe but annoying enough that I don't want it if I can avoid. I hope it goes well for you and you are feeling better.

Take care!

liffeybloomer

Hi, I have been following this thread because I start chemo on Thursday, but I am mostly on the March thread. We don't have too many folks there yet, so I thought I'd post my problem here to see if any of you have had this issue. I had my port put in yesterday morning and have developed a very red, bumpy, spreading rash across my chest and neck. I am sure it is a reaction to the stuff they spread on me to cut down infection. I also have skin blisters from the adhesive used. I have fair, sensitive skin but I don't tend to be allergic to much of anything, usually, so I am not too familiar with anti-allergy products. I bought some generic Benedryl in pill form, but now I wonder if I should be using a topical cream instead. Suggestions?

bcfree2013

Liffeybloomer, I developed a bad and itchy rash on my chest/neck area, which lasted for about five days. I didn't use anything on it and it faded away eventually. Talk to an on call physician if possible. I still had the rash during my first infusion, so instead of using a clear tape to protect my port access area during chemo, the nurse used gauz and paper tape instead. Ask for a paper tape if you are allergic to the adhesive.

LisaMM

liffeybloomer-  I would try topical benedryl (diphenhydramine) cream and a dose of oral benedryl.  I would also let your surgeon know-just in case.

ywheels22

Tangles: I was thinking about you and wondering where you were. I am so sorry this happened to you. I had my second treatment Wednesday and the Nuelasta shot Thursday. Because I had such dibiltating pain on round 1(they think from the Nuelasta shot mostly but it could be a combo of chemo and the shot) I requested some pain medication. It helped take the edge off the second time. It still wasn't great but more managable. I did do the Claritin both times as suggested but I don't know if it helped or didn't but I will just keep doing it.

I hope you get better and I guess this is why the Nuelasta shot is given. I was not given a choice to not have it. My MO said you must have it no matter what while on AC. When I start Taxol, I don't have to have it as long as my counts are good, though it is possible he will give it to me for #2 or #3 just to be safe. I hate the shot but I went in today for my blood work and everything is very good, so I guess is serves it's purpose.

Good luck and get well!!!

LisaMM

Heading out in the am for tx #2.  Woohoo, I'll be a third of the way done!

I would love for someone to explain to me how my hair can fall out by the handfuls a week ago, but since I shaved it a couple days ago it is now growing stubble.  Does not compute for me!

kkmom-  I think you're up tomorrow too-will be thinking of you!

Melrosemelrose

Tangles- Some oncos do not automatically give chemo patients the Neulasta shot/Neupogen shots after the first round of chemo because of the type of chemo regimen and the frequency that the chemo is adminstered ( weekly, every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks).  Those oncos usually wait until the patient has shown that there is a true need for the Neulasta ( ie an infection) before ordering the Neulasta shot.  Also, the Neulasta shot is expensive and some insurance companies will not approve payment unless the need to demonstrated.  The reason why AC regimens that are adminstered dense dose ( every 2 weeks) is because the body needs 3 weeks to recover after that chemo regimen; and those patients have just emerged from the nadir period ( lowest point  for white blood counts) and are now having another round of chemo.

LisaMM- FYI- I never buzzed/shaved my head when the hair started falling out.  I managed to keep some of my hair throughout my 6 rounds of Cytoxan/Taxotere and yes the hair that stayed did continue to grow!!  Those were some mighty hairs I had on my head!!!