Starting Chemo July 2013

TwoHobbies

Lana I don't know if I've ever seen that topic covered on whether or not the bald look is professional or not. Honestly I think if you're dressed professionally and have your makeup on you're just as professional. Remember when Melissa etherridge did the awards show bald? I love that she just got out there and flaunted it and that's what I'm thinking about you right now. You're a VP so set the tone for others below you. Yes I had chemo and I'm still a strong capable woman.



So my last TC I believe I had a bit of a reaction. Had a fever of 101.3. They thought I was getting sick but I did not and now I have a red itchy patch near the injection site.



Aaoaao did you lose power? We had horrible wind and lost power from evening till 10am. Sure made it a miserable night. I think it was my sons first experience without electronics for more than 12hours. I told him how we used to tell ghost stories and play cards when the power went out!

aaoaao

LanaM, do what makes you comfortable.  If others get uncomfortable that is their problem.  If you had to use crutches or a wheelchair would you feel the need to hide them.  If you had a cast would you remove it so people wouldn't wonder about what happened.  If you needed oxygen would you forgo it so people won't think you frail. We have cancer and sometimes the treatments make us bald.  I feel people need to deal with it..I have to.  Wigs make me hot, scarves can make me hot and often won't stay in place and I end up fidgeting with them a lot.  I prefer to rock the bald look.

Good health to you too!

aaoaao

Twohobbies, I lost power twice but only for a few minutes each time.  I lost Tv signal for about 30 minutes.  I'd hate to be in your shoes.  Power outage with my son would be horrible.  No electronics...Yikes!

angelanature

Hi All,Lana do what makes you comfortable,not what others feel,on that note my stepson wanted me to go swimming today,he said,show off your cool,bald head. My husband turned green(he can't handle my bald head at all,freaks him out)so there you have it,completely different opinions right in my own family.So just do you.The fact you are working is amazing alone,you go girl. Angela

Nocompromises2013

I am sorry Lana didn't mean to worry you ..... I suspect that giving that much later it will nearly have a chance to really kick in b4 your next cycle. So you maybe well be neutropenic for a little longer

The main worry was usually if you give it at same time as chemo that the poison will kill off the immature stem cells and that might cause more probs. so moral of story probably better later than earlier or u could just skip it for this cycle- you are traveling well .

Next time If you keep having it ask to take it home and self admin 24hrs post chemo - that's what I have done for 2 rounds - it's EASY to do and painless in stomach as long as you do it slowly.

How brave to consider rocking the bald If it was me I would definately wear a wig or scarf Lana. But it is your choice. I teased H yesterday about going out bald and he never skipped a beat. I still wore my wig though. I don't even notice it really now and loads of people have said to jeep my hair like that when it grows back. But I would never have the time or patience to persuade my hair daily to have such volume. Maybe I will just keep the wig. Haha

Anyone else's eyebrows thinning ??

Rambo you are very quiet ??

Angela - glad to hear those Sx were nothing serious was sounding pretty bad - I was thinking stroke and all sorts - sinus sounds like a better option - stay strong and great your stepson is so patient for you - he is a good boy !!

JeriGrace

NC, my eyebrows are definitely thinning. Im glad to still have enough to draw a fairly natural line.

Angela, how awful to have to spend 6 hours in the ER. I'm glad that it was something treatable.

My doctor prescribed magic mouthwash but I haven't been able to use it much. As soon as I do, my tongue and mouth go numb like I just had a shot at the dentist's office. I know it has lidocaine in it but is it supposed to do that?

My attempt to work last week was pretty much a disaster. Well actually I was ok for about 3 days. But the 10-hour days and the emotional stress of an extremely difficult student eventually took its toll. I stayed in bed all day today just totally fatigued and trying to rest up for my next treatment on Tuesday. The SEs are piling on now - neuropathy, twitches in my face, extremely dry eyes. Then just to make things more interesting, I have a torn rotator cuff from a fall last Saturday. I'll find out next week what they are going to do about that. Still have 2 rounds of TC and then 6 weeks of rads so hope I don't have to fit a surgery in there somewhere.

I'm happy for those of you who are finishing up your AC. Hopefully the taxol will not be as bad. I think it's mostly the unknown that's hard. Once you get started and see how it affects you you'll be able to deal with it, just like you did with the AC.

Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend. Since my regular tx day is Monday, I get an extra day to rest. I guess even chemo patients get a holiday!

m1970

RealityCheck, I recall having stress incontinence on ACT, that would happen when I coughed or sneezed. I don't have it now, so it must have resolved. Your experience sounds no fun. I always wear a pantiliner, but I wouldn't be prepared for that.



Lana, when I lost my hair in ACT I could not wear wigs, and only found one hat comfortable which was a tan bucket hat. At first people were shocked, but they quickly got used to it, and I got more comfortable with it too. I started not wearing the hat in my office, then I might venture to the printer without it, then I started going to meetings in my department. I would usually wear it to the cafeteria because there were 100s of people there, but I got to the point where I would shop without it. I just did not care anymore. I decided that I was the one with cancer, I'm going to be comfortable, and everyone else needs to just suck it up if they don't like it.



Congrats to all those finishing up AC. my first AC and first Taxol were rough, but the subsequent doses were not so bad. It's as if my body got used to it. I feel like the same thing is happening with tht TCH. I have less days of fatigue.



I met my hiking group this Thursday for a 5 mile walk in the city and I felt great! It's been so isolating not being able to do my normal weekend trips because I'm afraid I won't have the stamina to keep up on a long hike or kayak trip. I've been out swing and contra dancing a few times, and found that easy...and if I get tired I can just leave. I'm going to try to do more walking during the day when my son starts school and I hope that rebuilds my strength. It really does make me feel better. I want to get strong enough to consider climbing the 400 steps in the Statue of Liberty this November or December.

RealityCheck

Hi Ladies!

3 days post treatment #3. I am extremely tired. My taste buds are gone and nothing tastes good. I have yet to have mouth sores but will assume they will make their appearance lol.

Marsha - I haven't had anymore issues with the incontinence lately so I am hoping it was just a couple times thing going on with chemo. Going out in public I wear a pad just in case to be on the safe side.

NoComprimises - My eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to get really thin.

I am so glad I have just one more treatment left. I am tired of being tired lol.

Karkar06

Hello ladies!



Congrats to all finishing the red devil! Hope the taxol is a smooth sailing to you all.



Day 8 post TC#3 finally feeling 80% normal again. Day 4 and 5 was the worst for me.



I think my hair is starting to grow a little, there are definitely some stubbles. Eyebrows and lashes seem stop thinning (I lose like half of them), I hope they can hang on until my last treatment in 2 weeks!



Hope everyone have had a good weekend!

Rambo50

Hi All,

Been absent for a while dealing with post-op recovery (which has gone quickly and well b/t/w).  I'm "off" by a week now, but am scheduled for my last AC this Wednesday - then onto the Taxol (very anxious about the potential neuropathy issues).  My MO was NOT happy about not being consulted regarding my surgery (hemorrhoidectomy) last week!  I'll talk to him in person on Wed, but I really think he'd have rathered I toughed it out through the last AC treatment, hospital stay afterwards or not, versus interrupting the dose dense schedule.  Oh well...  I'm going to ask him about statistics for reduced efficacy with this break in the regimen - not sure I want the answer!

CONGRATS to all of you who've passed the halfway mark on ACT :):)  This Labor Day week was supposed to mine as well, but at least I'm only one week off instead of the two weeks I thought I'd be!

Angela - so sorry about your family struggles.  Am praying things work out and settle down with your stepson.

Marsha - LOVE that you went hiking!!!  I've been trying to walk but nothing strenuous at this point ;-)

Have any of you been "icing" finger and toe nails with Taxol???

Welcome Cherri3 - hate you've joined the Firecrackers, but you WILL find super support here

Lana - love your new pic  Rock it bald all you want!!!  I still have some strange dark sprigs, so I usually wear a hat ;-)

JeriGrace - hang in there with the job and ONLY do what you CAN!!!  I had to miss a day of teaching last week and had a colleague step in.  They wanted to help out tomorrow and Thursday of this week, but I think I'll be okay ;-)  Is there a way for you to do 1/2 days???

Sue - thanks for "checking" on me ;-) I've been lurking, but trying to get myself geared up to continue this fight to the finish!

Had a great weekend with family - daughter was home from college and son came out to meet us for a movie, We Are the Millers, completely inappropriate (though my kids are 21 and 25 - still embarassed), but SO funny!!!  I needed the laughs

Happy Labor Day and a great week to All!

~Lynn

Cherri3

Hello dear all, thanks for welcoming me

Lana, I started taxol yesterday in Singapore time. Congrats to your last AC! The taxol is more bearable. My taste buds came back a bit, I can taste like 50% of food! But of course, still bald. Ha!  I was also given steriod before my taxol, and nursed counted two...and I was dizzy! The effect was so fast. And I felt asleep even before she started giving me the taxol drip.  And Lana, I also taking lorazepam...yesterday night was insomnia due to the steriods.

Thank you for all encouragements. I am sure we will all be great survivors. AC was the most terrible and I am so glad its over.

Thanks Mellie for creating this chat... I feed sad to see so many sisters. We have each other.  Agree fully with Hannariggs. No one will understand us, except for us.

For those with constipation...I have been drinking beetroots, celery, apples, pears, tomatoes juice daily. I add in carrots thrice a week, too much carrots caused orange skin.  I managed to go through all my four AC without any constipation.

As for mouth ulcers, I drink coconut juice daily.  So far so good.

Cherri3

Hi Rambo, thanks...firecrackers.  LOL.  About the potential neuropathy, I read not all will get it right.  My legs are numb at times too!

TwoHobbies

Do any of you have a recommendation for a good mattress that you love? I am not sleeping well. I have a pillow top and it is too soft and not enough support when you have aches and back problems. Plus it absorbs heat and I'm constantly moving over a foot to get a cool spot. I sleep better when I take ibuprofen but if I forget it, not well at all



Rambo glad to hear you are recovering nicely. Welcome to Cheri.

Mellie289

Good morning, Firecrackers! Looks like we made it to September! 

I spent the long weekend trying to enjoy my good week before round 3 on Thursday. Did a little swimming in the pool Saturday and went snorkeling for the first time in my life on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. I can't stand the feel of sunscreen, but I don't leave any skin exposed, especially now that I know I'm more sensitive. Saturday night was the one year anniversary of my first date with my SO and we went back to the place we met for dinner - it made me feel so lucky to have him. He looked me in the eye yesterday and told me to remember that he's with me through this and to let him know when I need him since we're only a few days from the next go.

Glad to see you back from surgery, Lynn. I hope everything is fixed for good. I would doubt that a delay for one treatment would significantly impact the effectiveness. I hope not.

Lana - I admire you for your comfort going without a wig or scarf at work. I refuse to go to work without a wig. I lock myself in my office to eat lunch and do other things so I can take it off for a break. It's so hot and uncomfortable at times, but I would have much more emotional discomfort to walk around without it. Personally, I would have to wear the wig to a conference because I want people to not look at and talk about my hair although with the wig on, I do occasionaly get comments (even compliments) about my "hair", especially as the wig I liked and wear to work was one I got last minute in a much darker color than my hair was when it came out. The one closest to my hair's tone was on back order. I put a wig on to grocery shop or whatever. I feel like people ignore me when I walk around with "hair" but if I went out bald or wore a headcover, they would look at me and that makes me uncomfortable. I know it's my issue that I worry too much about what people think! I did wear a headcover to Urgent Care last week though when I went for my nosebleeds. I wore a headcover once to get takeout with my mother and saw some people I knew there - I just hoped they didn't recognize me, kept my sunglasses on and my distance.

Eyebrows are hanging in still, but I've lost a few hairs in the ends nearest my nose. I know some people don't lose them - I wish I knew what the stats were for Cytoxan/Taxotere. I normally don't wear makeup but might have to start if I need to draw in brows. Does anyone have any idea how many people lose vs. keep their brows?

So far, I've had no signs of neuropathy. I also wish I knew more about that. I'm assuming that is one that gets worse with each round, that I might get hit with it later. My MO told me I would get neuropathy so I guess I'm just lucky it hasn't showed it's ugly face yet, but I'm only going into #3 of 6 this week. *sigh*

Today is the start of my fasting. That really helped last time with the symptoms in my digestive tract (bloating, constipation, discomfort). I'm going to do the same thing: 500 calories diet restriction starting two days before chemo and continuing until the day after chemo. Two days after chemo, I'll go back to normal eating. This time, I'm trying for one big meal with all 500 calories rather than spreading it throughout the day after watching "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" a couple weeks ago and hearing that it might have more benefits.

I'm also going to get some frozen things ready - ice cubes and pops that are sugar-free (for my fast). My mouth was better last round, I think because I iced it throughout the infusion. The first time, I iced some of the time, but also ate lunch. I might also keep sucking on some ice pops for an hour or two afterward this time to see if that might help even more. I haven't had any mouth sores yet - just the feeling that my whole mouth got burnt on hot soup and weird tastes, but it has resolved by day 10 both cycles now. 

Congratulations to those of you who finished with AC! I hope it's easier from here on out with the taxol.

m1970

Twohobbies, about 4 years ago I got a latex mattress. It is awesome. It sucks when I have to sleep on anything else. Of course it's more expensive than a spring mattress, but there is no comparison. I have sleep issues and chronic back pain, so its worth it to me. It conforms to your body and has zero pressure points, but doesn't retain heat or hard to get out of like a memory foam.



Mellie, I don't think neuropathy is guaranteed. I didn't get it on ACT.



So I got some brow powder from Clinique today. My brows don't look different than before chemo, but I think they could use some definition and I want to be prepared for if i loose them. I could never draw them with a pencil, so I'm thinking the powder might work better.

gavinsgrandma

Hi Ladies, I have posted here a while back, I am from the August chemo group and I did my 2nd A/C & cytoxin infusion last Thursday and I just have a couple of questions. # 1 re: Fatigue, the worst I have ever experienced in my whole life, it is such an effort to even go to the bathroom and any time I get up and try to do anything I get SOB. Also have you all gotten quite dizzy for several days after Tx?



Thank you, Shary

angelanature

Hi All,Rambo glad to hear everything went well,you had to take care of the issue now before it got any worse,and the pain, i can't imagine.Mellie,your sweetheart sounds like a keeper.Lana i'm getting Taxol tomorrow,scared but prepared,I've got my steriods with sleeping pill if i need it,gel nailpolish on toes and hands,and pain meds (if I need them). My onco says nausia shouldn't be a problem,i hope not. Hello Cherri,that's my mom's name,welcome.Congrats to everyone finishing ac.Twohobbies,we have a Sealy posturpedic king coil,my hubbie has back issues and i'm always hot,it's the best!JeriGrace I can't even imagine working,I'm exhausted today just going to get bloodwork,the car wash,and feeding my 11yr old,and todays my best possible day.Marsha is superwoman to me,having to do this twice and totally not letting it stop her,many times i say to myself,Ang,walk the dog a block,Marsha's hiking for God's sake.Rambo good luck tomorrow with the last red devil,yeah! Hugs to All,Angela

TwoHobbies

Thanks Marsha and Angela for the mattress suggestions. I will have to look into it pretty soon I'm tired of just putting up with it.



I too am jealous that Marsha can go on a hike. My son and I walked for a half hour today and I am so tired at7 pm. Its weird because some days are better than others. I just want to cry some days wanting to be my old self.



Gavinsgrandma I got hit pretty hard by fatigue to the point where I'm sleeping during the day for five or six dAys and then I would start to do better for longer periods of time. I did have a little lightheartedness more than dizziness. My instructions said call if you are so fatigued you can't take care of yourself. Otherwise sleep when you need to and drink plenty of fluids.

aaoaao

Gavinsgrandma..I also experience lots of fatigue and get out of breath very easily.  My main problem is that I get anemic easily and due to lower red blood cells my body is oxygen depleted.  How are your blood counts?  Anemia can also cause dizziness.  If you're really worried I'd talk to your MO.  He/she might be able to tell you why and if not order tests that might help find the answer.  I think the fatigue is pretty common se of chemo though.  If the fatigue is extreme to the point of too tired to get up to go to the bathroom, tell your MO for sure.  There is a med, don't know the name right now, that he/she can give you for your fatigue.

Hope you start feeling better soon.

soriya123

I hate fatique n loosin appetite. I had my 3rd TCH last Wed, hit me pretty hard. So tired n can't eat anything beside water n carrot juice. My fingers feel a little tingling come n go. I hope I don't have neuropathy issue. I still have 3 more TCH.



I missed being active n do things with my kids. Yes I just wanted to cry sometime.



Hugs to all!

gavinsgrandma

Thank you Twohobbies and aaoaao, I guess it is just so foreign to me I never even nap and now I have to sleep after just a few hours of being up, my fatigue is bad but I can take care of myself, I just get tired and winded easy. My WBC dropped low after my 1st Tx and I do labs Thursday again so I will see how blood counts are then, I have always been anemic but so far that has been ok😄thanks again that really helped me a lot know I am not losing my mind too.



Shary

gavinsgrandma

Soriya123, I agree it is awful to be Fatigued and no appetite, then I get hungry and all that tastes and sounds good is fruit😕I hope you do not get more tingling in your fingers but I guess it is a SE'S one of the many we get to look foreword to, I have 2 more Tx of A/C and cytoxin then 12 treatments of Taxotere that scares me because I do not know what to expect from that. Hope you feel better soon.



Shary

m1970

I'm not really hiking, more like taking long walks around town on flat land. Wish I had a hill around here so I could see how I would handle some actual elevation.

aaoaao

I was thinking of signing up at the local YMCA in order to use their pool for low stress exercise.  My RO was worried about regular exercising like running or bike riding because of the tumor on my vertebrae.  But my sister was concerned about the bacteria that could be in the pool due to other people swimming in it.  I thought chlorine killed most of those germs. Then I wonder what the chlorine would do to my skin and port.  Does anyone have any information regarding the above concerns?  I really wanted to swim to lessen the impact on my bones and to build lung capacity and build muscle which would help my bones.  I was so happy now I feel down.  I guess the wind was knocked out of my sails.  Cancer can be so confusing and so evil.  Sorry for the whine next time I'll break out the crackers and cheese.

soriya123

Gavins, I hope my tingling go away for good. I guess Texotere is pretty strong. I feel better today, but the taste bud is still bla...but fruits taste good thougt, oranges n red grapes.



Aaoaao, I would ask your onc about swimming in the pool. Somehow I thought it would be ok to swim in the pool.

Cherri3

Thanks twohobbies and angela.

Crying helps to relieve the stress and let out the frustrations! hugs to all...

Hi Gavinsgrandma, sorry to learn about your fatigue. I drank a lot of fluid during AC to flush out the toxic. I did experience fatigue but it was not as bad that I couldn't go to the bathroom.

I am from Singapore and my treatment seems to be different. I have a heart line or rather a CVC line. My AC was infused through the heart line, I will take the med home on Monday and the med will drip for 72 hours. I will go back to hospital to remove the med (its in casette) on Thursday.

I am a Chinese and my mum makes green beans with barley for me daily. One whole pot and I am drinking it as water. It makes me pee very often though.

Not sure if the fruit juice and drinks are helping, I didn't experience any constipation. Only on my third AC, I had ulcers.  Hope my comments help.

And not forgetting, I drink coconut juice daily.

Hang on strong everyone...  I don't wear a wig either, I wear a cap whenever I am out.

Cherri3

Hey Rambo, your last AC. Congrats... hang in there. 

I read up on TCH. Very strong side effects indeed. Please take care...

Mellie, my brows and lashes still around. Not sure if they will drop with my weekly chemo on Palictaxel.

Karkar06

Hello all,



Welcome Cheryl, sorry you have to be here. I am from Hong Kong, that makes us 2 Chinese here (at least). Thanks for sharing your tips. It seems uncomfortable to have the cassette attached for 72 hours, hope you are doing ok.



I have not got any obvious neuropathy symptoms so far. The only thing I feel different is if I use a lot of strength on my fingers and palm (eg. open a very tight jar, or slapping my bf, lol) my palm does get quite painful afterwards but it went away in a minute or so. I did have some tingling after my second TC but it hasn't returned. I hope everyone starting the taxol will do fine too.



TwoHobbies, my mattress is a memory foam topper on top of regular foam. I absolutely love it!



Like Mellie, I admire everyone here feeling comfortable enough to go out without a wig. I cannot go out without a wig at all, I just do not want ppl looking at me and know what I am going through. I don't even want to take a picture of myself being bald.

Dreadlx

I started Adriamycin 8/30. Every 2 weeks is my dosage. Not looking forward to any of this. The booster shot is what sent the ball rolling. I dont like the nausea even though there is meds i dont want to cling to anymore toxins than i need to (advice anyone) I am the caregiver of not 1 but 2 elderly parents one of which is terminally with colon cancer that has spread to the liver. She's in hospice at home while my dad has dementia and also prostrate cancer too far along to have surgery. They both are in their late 80's and just celebrated their 50th anniversary. I'm not sure if I made the right choice taking this treatment I'm hoping for the best. So far I've lost taste buds I feel bloated with indigestion. I'm a great cook with no taste buds so I don't even feel for the food I cook for my family anymore. The headaches are horrendous (any advice). I just want to get off of this emotional roller coaster because I really didn't pay for the ride! Pray for me! I started out worrying about my hair which is past my knees but that became a lower priority when I realized that worst things were pending. I am a defiant one so there will be NO WIGS for me, I just want to get thru this move on to radiation and be DONE! As I'm going thru this treatment I've neglected to tell my parents that I too am ill. As I watch them deteriorate it wouldn't help them in in anyway to know about me. I do want to cry sometimes but the tears seem to be afraid to face me...or maybe it's the other way around.

angelanature

Hi Dreadix,I so feel for you,you really have your hands full. Chemo is the absolute worse and you should cry,scream,kick,punch,get it out!You will get through this and be done.After my first Adriamycin I couldn't imagine doing 3 more,but i did.This is the worse bottom of the barrel place to be right now for you It will get better!Though,loosing my hair was pretty bad too. Do you have any close friends you can lean on?or local support groups?You are going to need someone to vent too,though here is a great place to start.Your defiance will help.I will pray for you and for someone in your life to be there for you. This IS a bad deal but you will make it. Hugs Angela