September 2013 Chemo Group

SouthernGirl1974

New to the boards

Had my first Taxol treatment today 3hrs wow finished AC treatment two Mondays ago glad to be done with AC although I can't complain I actually breezed through with minimal side effects also wanted to helpful I can I purchased over the counter Colgate rinse for mouth sores and it has worked I rinse twice a day.

josgirl

kbee hope you are feeling better. Maybe I won't risk skipping my last neulasta shot. The bone pain sucks but I feel for you to have been in the hospital.

Mamastewart - hope you are feeling better - let us know. We were all worried about you when we hadn't heard from you in awhile. Glad your sister contacted you. Maybe she'll come around.

LHL - hope your daughter is on the mend.

Knightzoo - sorry to hear about your grandfather. But what a legacy he left for you. May we all walk out.

Last treatment Wednesday. Started fasting this afternoon. Happy Veterans Day!

Viji

Does fasting really help? What is the regime you follow-how many days/hours...

I am so looking forward to finishing my last TC at the end of the month...

Thank you one and all-I certainly could not have done this without each and every one of you...the good, the bad and the ugly. One step at a time!!!

simplelife4real

Peacockgirl, you wrote "they *reduced* my pre infusion steroids by almost 2/3 the dose! 25 mg became 8mg. Wow I can really feel the difference too. No crazy high and low mood swings this weekend. (normally I'd deal with horrible rageful thinking to uncontrollable crying jags...)"

I have that exact same reaction from the pre-infusion steroids. It usually happens two or three days out from chemo. Since I'm doing Taxol first and then AC in Dec. and Jan,, you comment concerns me. I wonder how much more steroids they will be giving me for the AC. I'll find out in a few weeks.

I've just learned when the "darkness" descends from the steriod crash to try to go to sleep and sleep through the worst of it. Last week when it happened, I told my husband after it was over that I felt like I had descended into the depths of Hell for twelve hours. It's a horrible emotional roller coaster ride. Knowing that it's chemically induced makes it easier to shake off after it is over, but it seems so reall when I'm in the middle of it.

Kay

KBeee

wing, I hope you are enjoying your new job, and that it is a little of a "distraction" from his cancer business.

LHL, I hope that your daughter is feeling better, and that you stay healthy.

josgirl, Hooray for the light at the end of the tunnel being so close.

Knightzoo, I am so sorry for your loss.

Last night was rough. The neupogen made my heart race, then gave me a ton of nausea, and then back pain...and my temp rose...just as it did the night before on it. They just drew my labs, so I am really, really hoping my bone marrow woke up and is doing its job so that my neutrophils are up to .5 so I can leave!

mankatostate

kbee- thinking about you and praying for your numbers to go up! I am sorry you are in the hospital and feeling yucky!

KBeee

My numbers were just high enough!!!!! I get to go home. Soooooo happy!!!!!!

lighthouselady

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy for you Kbeee!

PeacockGirl

Kbee. Rest easy so glad you can go home!

Josgirl. Yeah my MO said no way to skipping last neulasta shot after chemo #8

I'm finally walking upright and with much less pain ...my gosh this neulasta on taxol was rough. 9am walk outside with a good friend on tap for today

Welcome and Hi to lociti...my husband and I lived in Houston for 14 years before moving back home to oregon in 2006. We lived in Missouri city...where do you get your treatments..?

Miss_Mama_Bear

I haven't called the doc yet. I am actually feeling quite well. I am have some energy and am going to go birthday shopping for my middle. His birthday is only 11 days away, I just realized. It really snuck up on me. I also need to go get my baby a winter coat. It is quite cold here today so I am a little late but better late than never. I have class tonight too and homework....maybe I can do a bit of housework today too. I have two speeds: "off" and "ridiculous" lol. I think I am okay; just a false alarm.

KBee: So glad you are finally out of the hospital!

Viji: I think the minimum amount of fasting you have to do pre-chemo to put your cells into shut down mode is 48 hours, then post chemo you are supposed to fast until the half life of your chemo drugs are reached. For mine that was like 22 hours. You should resume eating slowly with liquid diet for at least half the amount of time that your fasted for (so if you fast for 48 hours, 24 hours of liquid diet) and then you can resume regular diet after that. I am pretty sure this is all the correct info, but Josgirl can clarify if not. I only fasted once but plan to for my last two rounds. I was sick with a cold the other two rounds and didn't want to stress my body more (feed a cold, starve a fever, right?) The thing that was impressive for me with fasting was my lab work numbers. That round was the only time that the tests indicating tissue damage were within the normal range. Almost all my other blood work (and I have them weekly) have been more than double the maximum normal range. It has fallen a bit below double but still has been over the "normal" range. That right there means a lot to me. The only negative thing I have read was that there is a potential for cancer cells to use sugar to hibernate...or something.... if you eat excessive sugar leading up to the fast or immediately after the fast. Totally not sure about this one; I only read the study briefly and I don't know that it was even a study or just a theory. Again, Josgirl may have some more insight on this.

Simplified: I totally see the light now. I didn't even think of the steriods causing the depression. I figured out taht they were causing the raging bi#@h issue but never thought of the other. I did notice there seemed to be a trend. I think that will help me get through the next time. I am on extended steriods (smaller strength) this round to help my muscles recover so maybe I won't get it as bad.

Think I am going to shave my 1" hair off. I am pretty sure that I will lose it because of how sore my scalp was this round but also I think my old hairs that are just sitting there and not attached are preventing new hair from growing. Maybe I am paranoid; I'm still worried about the perm hair loss thing. At any rate, they are pokey and hurt sometimes so I want to go completely to the skin and get rid of them. Maybe then the lint roller will take them completely out. It can't grab them now because of the new growth. When it does come back in to stay I want it to all be on the same wavelength and not dealing with how to get rid of these pesky little unattached hairs.

Wish everyone well and no SE!!

Miss_Mama_Bear

Oh yeah, and I have a couple of foob questions...

What is the approximate timeline for reconstruction if I go the expanders/implant route? As in how long does it take from original BMX to exchange surgery? I am not having rads as far as I know.

Also....what do you think a dress like this would look like with expanders? Wedding coming up and it is driving me bonkers. I have no idea what size I am going to be by May since I have already gained 15 pounds not to mention what stage of recon my foobs are going to be in or what they are going to look like!

kjsimpson

zero interest in food.  yet, I know I have to eat.  suggestions??

batcatlady19

Finally got an appt. w/radiation onc for next Monday, the 18th. It's starting to feel like chemo's over, knock on wood. My stomach still gives me fits every other day or so, my energy levels are pretty low, & damn do my eyes water constantly -- esp. when I try to use the computer! I'm typing this thru blurry tears, lol. Oh & I finally got some neuropathy in the last week or two. It comes & goes on my fingers, mostly when I use them for things like typing or sewing, plus several toes on my right foot are numb. But this is all a lot better than it HAS been, so I consider myself decent enough for rads. I really want to get OVER all this cancer crap & get on with my life. I'm tired of feeling sick & tired!

Good luck to those of you with more chemo to go. Hope SEs are minimal if at all

mercedes60

kjsimpson, the first week after my chemo treatment is the toughest for food. I had chicken noodle soups, i stant breakfast to fill the gaps betweem meals, plain basmati rice, i actually could tolerate eggs boiled or scrambled also i have an apple every day with salt yep my onco says i need to drink at least 2 liters of water and include sport drinks and eat more salty foods, cause i was getting dehydrated as chemo will fo that to you.anyway hope this helps. Remember u need ur proteins!

hockeymommy

Well I was going to come on and say that I was really happy how my body tolerated taxol #2...then bam..I feel like I have been hit by a truck. Fingers crossed the bone pain passes quickly.

Deborahanne

kjsimpson - for me it's eating small amounts at a time - plain oatmeal, cream of wheat, melba crackers, slowly eating cheese sticks. tapioca, jello, apple sauce, vanilla instant breakfast, rice, and I'm not sure why but I love fresh cooked spinach and green beans. Then as the days go on I crave certain foods especially salty foods and meats such as fried chicken and baked fish. I haven't been able to eat my favorite foods since being on chemo such as Mexican, Indian, Asian food, large fresh salads, or grilled meats. Be sure sure you are drinking plenty of water and those high protein foods just as mercedes60 mentioned.

LisaSp

Hello all. KBeee, so glad you're out of the hospital. Batcatlady, rads are fine. I'm on no. 11 and all is well.

Mamastewart, glad you're ok. I was worried. Mankato, have you started rads?

Everyone, feel better if you have SEs and hope the rest of your week is good!

PeacockGirl

kjsimpson: can't remember who posted it on here somewhere but she ate LIFE cereal. I haven't eaten *any* cereal in years and now I can't get enough of it. I can eat it morning noon and night right now. LIFE cereal is the bomb. I know I know..too many carbs. I don't even care anymore. The other thing I eat quite a bit of is rotisserie chicken from the grocery store...usually make a little side green salad to go with it.

Oh and today? ..I had this well meaning JERK tell me at the track this morning that I needed to walk faster to get any 'benefit'. And yes....I whipped off my hat to show him my bald head and yelled at him 'I have cancer, I CAN'T walk any faster'. WTF??? My girlfriend just stood there looking at him with her mouth open. I put my hand up and wished him a good day and we promptly walked the other direction.

lighthouselady

OMG Peacockgirl!! Good for you for getting out there & walking, that's more than I've been doing. I'm sorry that happened, though, but good for you for standing up for yourself! I bet he felt about two inches tall after that.

josgirl

Viji, Everything Mamastewart laid out is correct to my understanding.  I fasted a little more than 48 hours prior to infusion (mostly just due to schedule) and 24 after infusion ended.  With late blood tests and orders my longest fast was 87 hours.  I did not do a liquid diet to break my fast but did stick to fruit and veggies and very basic meals - chicken or creamy tomato (from Panera) soup hit the spot.  Unlike mamastewart I did it every time so have no idea if it helped or not.  The first two treatments were relatively easy but the third knocked me on my butt (I was under a lot of personal stress though which may have aggravated both the fasting and the chemo side effects).  Overall I have taken no nausea meds and had no digestive problems (and only use the senna tea).  I have no idea if I can credit the fast but I do for most of it.  As I said much earlier in this thread I get nauseas for anything - terrible motion sickness and horrible first trimester nausea.  But I won't lie and say the fasting is easy.  It is tough both mentally and physically (more mentally I think).  Although I have lost a little weight overall (not my reason for fasting but nice side effect) and more so have gained some unexpected deep insight into how I eat.  And more will power / control weirdly enough.  It was recommended to me by my naturopath for protecting my healthy cells and starving my cancer cells.  Mamastewart - I did not hear that about the pre sugar issue but it makes sense.  Flooding your body with glucose prior to fasting seems like a bad idea - cancer or no.  I wouldn't imagine it would negate the effects completely rather it would probably take your body longer to reach the keotosis state and maybe give you more side effects (withdrawal like caffeine) but no idea on that part. 

Mamstewart - glad life is turning for you.  As for the dress - I wish I could predict but it is beautiful dress! 

Kbee - YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

Peacock Girl - love the story (totally wish you could have taken a pic of his face) and also feeling you on the rotisserie chicken.  Who knew but I can eat that like crazy now!

 

VintageGal1111

hockeymommy

I start my first Taxol next Tuesday. A nurse again told me it's no picnec but easier that the A&C & Neulasta I just went through. Here's hoping!

I had to have fluid infusion today. They debated over a blood transfusion but we will se. We knew RBC was low but since last week the WBC went waaay down. It's like the Neulasta shot didn't work at all this time.

VintageGal1111

Hahahah you go Peacock Girl!!!!

VintageGal1111

It's tough. Boost or Ensure, any protein drinks, smoothies a possibility for you?

I do good with fruits (all kinds) but know they can be acidic and add to my mouth sores.

Try whatever whenever. If you like rice pudding have it warm for breakfast. Eggs? Jello? At this point I think we just need to get something in us, forget forcing foods that we feel are nutritious, that will come, but now just eat what you think may appeal to you. Even if it's rice krispie squares or canned peaches or grilled cheese sammie.

KBeee

As far as fasting, I have fasted 36 hours prior. It is not quite the recommended 48, but I know I can tend to get hypoglycemic and I am pretty thin, so I figure that is the most I could safely go. I do 24 hours after, and eat rice, potatoes, and mostly carbs the first day, then add protein the second day. I have had no nausea, diarrhea, or constipation, which has been nice. I puked my way through 2 of 3 pregnancies, so I was glad to have avoided that ...so far. Then again, the Neupogen made me vomit and lots of nausea, so who knows what will be in store next round. Chemo is full of surprises...too bad they aren't the nice kind!

Peacockgirl, You rock! I bet he will think twice before opening his big mouth in the future.

hockeymommy, I hope your pain subsides soon.

mamastewart, the timeline will depend on the PS, how much he/she fills each time, how big, etc. The dress is very pretty. Whether or not it would work depends on how big the scars are, and how noticeable. It also depends on how many fills you will have had. You start out flat, and then "grow" each time. That dress would not allow for inconspicuous stuffing early in the process. The TEs also are a little further apart than real breasts, and they are wide...think half a canteloupe as an estimate of width, etc. Late in the fill process, you would definitely have enough to hold it up...early would be more of a challenge.

Glad to be home. My dog has been following me around like...well...a dog! Relaxing night. DH is working, girls are at gymnastics, and my son is hanging out on the couch with me, each on our iPads (he saved 2 years and just bought his!!!). I am looking forward to sleeping with no IV alarms, vitals checks, and not having to track my pee! Aaaaah, the good life at home!

70charger

KJ I went through this 2 weeks ago. I lived on Jello & chicken noodle soup, but just the broth. I could not stomach the ingredients.

Kbeee Glad your back.

lighthouselady

KJ - when all else fails, I go for comfort food. Mashed potatoes especially. Toast with peanut butter, apples (I eat 2-3 a day!), watermelon, dry cereal (milk doesn't agree with me), grilled cheese, scrambled eggs....

So dh is having a sleep study tonight, and my daughter is in TEARS because she misses him. O.M.G. Seriously the drama. I know she's been cooped up because she was sick, but come on. He's right down the road and she'll see him tomorrow. LOL Early to bed tonight and I'm sending her to school tomorrow. The doc said Thursday, but she has been on antibiotics with no fever since Sunday. I'm thinking if she can bounce off the walls here the past two days, she's fine to go to school!

mankatostate

Kbee-so glad you are home...Sounds like all are happy to have you back! Hope you get a good nights sleep.

Batcat-Yes having the next step to look forward really does make you feel like chemo is over! I forgot when was your last one? Are you feeling back to normal yet? I still have a funky taste in my mouth and find myself a bit nauseas. I am wondering if my thrush hasn't quite gone away. I plan to ask next Monday when I see the Doc if it's still this way.

LisaSp- I start rads on the 18th...next Monday. I have 25 so if all goes well I should be done on Dec. 23. I am praying for no snow and that I stay healthy. It would be wonderful to be done with all this by Christmas!

Kjsimpson-I don't have any good advice on food except if there is some food you don't ever want to eat again now is the time to eat it. :-) I can name half a dozen things that I ate during chemo that I will be happy if I never eat again...

lovewins

Good for you Peacock lady! I hope I would have the courage to do the same. I eat a lot of life cereal, it may have been me. Rice Chex is good too. I went thru a grilled swiss cheese stage. Pancake with real butter and maple syrup / fried raw fries with an egg / macaroni and cheese. It seems I go on phases with food. I used to love meat now I hate it. ALso Mrs grass chicken noodle soup. Hope this helps

Viji

Peacocklady, great story thanks for sharing. Made me laugh picturing you do that!

Kbee glad you are home.

Mamastewart, Josgirl and Kbee, thank for sharing info on fasting.

Batcatlady, with you on that-just can't wait to finish this but wonder sometimes if there is ever going to be an end?

simplelife4real

Way to go PeacockLady! You rock!

KBee...glad to hear you are at home now.

I'm going for taxol infusion #11 today. I feel like I have barely recovered from last week's infusion so I'm not looking forward to this one. Usually, my energy levels are good when I walk into the infusion center. Today, I'll be dragging myself in there. I took two naps yesterday and went to bed at 6 pm....I'm still very tired this morning. Oh, well....