October 2013 Chemotherapy

flowergirl1

Hi y'all....yesterday I felt horrible and couldn't get out of the recliner all day. I felt like I had the flu. Today I went for my Herceptin and they took my bp. It was 157/97 and my heart rate was 107. It is never that high. I have been having diarrhea the last 4 days, taking Imodium and trying to drink liquids but they said I still got dehydrated. They gave me fluids before the Herceptin and I can not believe how fast I felt better. By bp was back down and heart rate too. Just wanted to share that in case someone else was feeling that way. She got me a prescription for Lomotil for the diarrhea so that is better. Yay!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

flowergirl1

Thanks SpecialK for the tip on half water and half Gatorade and the juice and Sprite.

JennH8 I had that reaction too with the steroid and it last about 48 hours like SpecialK said.

Travlmom I hope you get the Zofran approved....it worked so well with me and I couldn't take the Compazine they gave me.

lgkgde13

Yes, after sleeping the day away I need to go get some gatorade...i can't believe how exhausted I am...

JennH8

Glad to hear my steroid reaction was normal. Marchmay67, that's how it went for me. Worse in the morning and subside throughout the day. It's now gone since I'm done with the steroids.

JenSF

Hello Marchmay and everyone, thank you for all the caring touches and updates! I feel we are so equipped. My first tx was smooth. Done in less than 4 hours including steroid IV. So nurse said it will be shorter next time cos I can take steroid pills at home before next treatments. Learned how to do Neupogen. Will start on Sat. A bit nervous. The infusion center was crowded but filled with warmth and care! Nurses were very caring. Got warm blankets, pillows and they even offered me any juices or drink.

I found a bottle water said 'one liter'. So I set myself a daily goal to finish at least 2 bottles (more will be bonus!) plus all soup and maybe veggie juice... I think I will be fine. Min. 2 to 4 quarts daily.

Funny, one home instruction was to flush toilet twice - just to make sure all toxins were cleared and gone gone!! Huh? We found it funny!

Feel normal so far. Keep fingers crossed the next few days......

For those of us (me included) whose cycles will cross over to thanksgiving, Xmas and NEw Year, I suggest you plan in advance. Find out if infusion center is opened during those holidays and hours. Book the dates and oncologist appointments now. They allow me to book through the 3rd tx. Will try to book the 4th soon.

Love, Jen

travlmom

What is everyone eating? I have only been able to eat rice with butter. I tried to eat a steamed broccoli today and that tore my stomach up. Now dealing with the big D!

Kiko

hi all wonderful ladies on the forum !

Yesterday was my second chemo shot! Today received nuelasta !

Feeling fatigue , weak and lacking energy ! My hairs are falling in bunches thinking to go to shave my scalp in couple of days .my hairs were 16 inches long cut them short to 5 inches before first shot and here I m ! It's all upsetting.

Thanks for all the best wishes from forum ladies !

And wonderful articles posted by wren.

Love and hugs to you all !!!

kcat2013

Thanks for the welcome

Naiviv and TeamKim I'm having AC x4 then Taxol x4, for a total of 16 weeks. My kids are 6 and 10.

mfm48 sorry you are having a second go around with this! I'd hoped that my oncotype wouldn't come back in a gray area where the decision to do chemo or not wasn't clear, so I guess I got that wish fulfilled

MsJean63

A friend who went through this two years ago swears by coconut water, she would drink two a day.  Says it helps with low blood counts?

I had my neulesta shot last Thursday.  I feel like I'm getting SE today.  Spasms running from my shoulders to my waist on my back.  More noticeable if I use the muscle, but also at rest.  First noticed it when I was taking out window air conditioner, now just lying here in bed.  Isn't a week later a long time for SE to show up?  

travlmom

Ms Jean - mine hit day 6 in the middle of the night except mine was bone crushing. If you have pain pills start before the pain starts....

I will grab some coconut water tomorrow.

flowergirl1

Travlmom I have been plagued with the big D too. Potatoes and toast seem to help but really everything I eat causes it.

kittykate78

4^{th tx scheduled for tmrw - ugh. anyone else on just Taxol? ive got 12 weeks of taxol weekly and then 8 weeks of AC every other week. im starting to see skin issues like dryness, bumps on my face like an allergic reaction, and my scalp is so damn itchy. hair is def thinning - im glad i chopped it short. on top of it all, i got my period yesterday so i basically feel like a walking zombie the "chemo brain" has for sure started...i feel so fuzzy and unfocused!}

anyone have any advice for the itchy scalp?

SyrMom

JennH8 & kittykate78 ... I too had the flushed, red face for the first time after this taxol (#3) tx.  However, the difference was, I took an extra dose of steroid 12 hr & 6 hr before the infusion to help offset my hand/foot symptoms that still plague me from the Xeloda.  Other ladies on these boards recommended it to me as that's what has helped them with skin issues.  I ran it past my doctor, who ultimately approved it, but at a lower dose than what some others take.  So, the red face calmed down throughout the day and the hands/feet aren't too bad; for me, the trade off is worth it.  Makeup covered the red totally.

Also, I'm on taxol only, too, weekly & indefin. depending on the results of scans after 6 doses, I believe.  However, when you are stage IV, the protocol is different.  The goal is stablilizing, not curing.

Hang in there.

Annecy

Thank you all for your good wishes! My first TX took place yesterday, it went pretty smoothly but by midnight I felt very sick with a very upset stomach, heartburn, headache like I never felt before SE from the steroid pills I believe. I took tylenol and drank ginger ale (flat) which provided with some type of relief. Today , I went back to the cancer clinic for my "Neupogen" shot. Feeling very tired....time to rest some more...good nite brave ladies!

mfm48

travlmom - someone recommended a book for me called "Eathing Well Through Cancer" I got it on Amazon. It has recipes for day of chemo, diarrhea, constipation, neutropenia, that are easy and simple. It also has shopping lists. I seem to be eating a lot of comfort food - soup, bread, grilled cheese, etc. Also smoothies.

Msjean - I had terrible back pain that started 4 or 5 days after the Neulasta shot and didn't end until 16 days. I took the pain meds and that helped. This time it hasn't been so bad.

lgk - I've spent the last three mornings in bed after getting the kids in school. Felt better in the afternoon. Just rest if you need it. This is a marathon after all.

Pam358

Nicole and Jen - good to hear your treatments went well, hoping the SE stay away!

TravlMom - As far as eating, my first 4 days after treatment were mostly saltines and some soup but since then I've been able to add back in most of what I was used to eating.

Kiko - sorry to hear about your fatigue and weakness, hopefully it will improve soon.

KittyKate - good luck with treatment

Flower Girl - sorry you are dealing with the Big D. I've dealt with IBS for years and I know it's not fun. I hope it improves.

lgkgde13

I am up and out of bed finally been sleeping the days away so I am ok at night for family.

I had a pity party for myself today after my head was shaved last night but now I am over it and ready to move on.

SchoolCounselor

Hi Ladies,

MFM48, my mechanic gave me that book when he heard I had breast cancer....there are a lot of angels out there. Still waiting for my oncotype test results and my port surgery.

Today was my dad's funeral, he dies from stomach cancer, they gave him 4 months but he lived almost two years. Scary to see what "C" can do.

Thank you all fro sharing your side effects, it is really gettting me prepared..... Enjoy the weekend!

Gramof2boys

Well, no chemo for me today, WBC=2.9:(, I got a neupogen injection in the office and will go Sat and Sun for one. She also put me on Cipro just in case. I repeat CBC on Monday then chemo rescheduled for next Friday. I was so disappointed that it puts it off but on the bright side, MO said breast tumor has shrunk in size, so it is responding after just one treatment. She was trying dose dense A/C every 2 weeks but I might have to switch to 3 weeks. I hope everyone is doing OK, just another bump in the road for me.

Pam358

Water tip - It helped me to use a straw along with ice water when I was having difficulty getting water into me. It was like tricking my mouth - it was already in there and half way down by the time my mouth figured it out.

Medical Oncology Appt - He was very empathetic to my side effects and we are going to try some new medications this coming week. We are also planning to do some IV meds Thursday and Friday like we did last time. He then gently and hesitantly asked "So how are you feeling about coming back on Wednesday?" (tx #2) I eagerly, enthusiastically and authentically answered "I can't wait" as if I was being told I had one more day to wait for a room full of presents. He burst out laughing!! I did tell him he would have gotten a different answer if he had asked on Saturday, but he seemed to truly appreciate my willingness to acknowledge that it wasn't anyone's fault. Each patient reacts differently and you just have to figure it out as you go. His eagerness to figure it out as we go and work as hard as he can at it to make it better was truly appreciated.

New Hairdo - Today was Buzz Cut Day in our house. My stylist shaved my head this morning and my husband came as well and got his shaved to show support (love that guy). I have to say that I'm lovin' it. I think it's because the shape of my head turned out OK, I was wondering what was under there...lol Another stylist in the shop actually complimented me on the shape of my head.....who knew! Made my debut at the grocery store in one of my scarves and that went well too. I have to join the club that says "anticipating and shedding are worse than the actual shave".....at least for today, hopefully it will stay that way. However, it is Fall in MN and I'm not turning up to keep my head warm so I must wear something on my head inside the house.

wrenn

schoolcounselor. So sorry to hear about your dad. What a lot to deal with.

Sounds like things are improving a bit for others. Pam great news on a good shaped head. I wondered about that too.

Pam358

School Counselor - So, so sorry to hear about your Dad's death. Sending loving thoughts and prayers to you and your family during this difficult time.

Lgk - sorry your head shaving didn't go as well :-(

Gram - how disappointing to hear that your chemo was rescheduled. I hope your counts improve quickly.

VintageGal1111

I hope you Women Warriors are feeling ok & are looking forward to a nice weekend.

The last two days here have been good for me (normal). Tonight I am going to an event in the down town of NewburyPort MA called Witches Night Out. Yes I am decked out all in black. I am wearing a WIG! for the first time, not a long black one LOL but the one I ordered. Looks similar to the short style I was sporting before the buzz. Hoping my witch hat fits on it ok. I've been wearing scarves all week. Last night I went to an auction & noticed a couple other dealers never recognized me.

I am noticing more facial redness & spots. Never had nice skin & it is wrinkled anyway but now it looks so blotchy. Teeny short stubble is everywhere in my bathroom! Hair is still falling out. I noticed the pubes are very sparse now too. And mouth sores this week. One on my tongue that is miniscule but feels huge! So many odds & ends of SEs, huh!

Hope everyone is doing ok.

SchoolCounselor

Vintagegal...I never thought about that, when we lose all hair during chemo, it is ALL hair....?

JennH8

Schoolcounselor - My condolences to you on the loss of your father. I'm glad you had more time then they thought but I can imagine how scary it is when you're dealing with cancer yourself. It's scary enough when it's just you. {{{hugs}}}

I'm 4 days after chemo #1 now and felt much better today. My body is still tired but the feeling of a cement truck sitting on me has lifted. I've been trying to work through all this and I think the next round I will cut back some. I work from home, so that's nice, but still not easy when all you want to do is rest. Washing my hair this morning I found I was a bit nervous. I should still have a week at least and I'm trying to be strong about the whole hair thing but gosh, not sure if I'll be ready when it gets here. One thing I would like to pass along to you ladies though is this website - http://www.conniecaps.org/. She will send a free hand-knitted hat, cowl or fingerless gloves to anyone undergoing chemotherapy, your choice of style and color. I received mine yesterday and I love it. Very nicely made, beautiful color and soft.

naiviv

School Counselor,

I am so sorry for the loss of your Father. I lost mine 3 years ago today. I sent a special message in a prayer to ask him to look out for your Dad and show him around. You and your family shall be in my prayers.

Take care,

Vivian

naiviv

I am officially in the October club. I start 10/25 on TCH. It will be TCH week 1, H only week 2 and 3 and then TCH again until I complete 6 cycles and then continue H weekly until a year is complete. Neulasta after TCH. I also realized this isn't a weekly one time thing, but day prior, day of drugs and day after.

Had my class today, learned everything you guys already taught me. (except for how it's done at this location) Was given a book about eating through different symptoms and SE's and 2 prescriptions for Nausea. Only supplement allowed and actually ordered is Vit D. Nothing else. I was told tylenol for pain (especially if platelets low). But for bone pain/joints she said tyl wouldn't work and advil would be ok.

She told me the RN's would tell me about claritin and dose for advil...etc

SpecialK

naiviv - The ladies on the TCH thread that did weekly Herceptin switched to every three weeks once chemo was done, ask your onc about that - weekly is a lot of time at the oncologist's office. I only know one person who did weekly Herceptin for the entire year. Also, is it Neulasta that is before, during and after your infusions or Dexamethasone (steroid)? Neulasta is a one-time injection given 24 hours after chemo, but the steroids are normally the day before, day of and day after. Neupogen is a series of injections but they also start after chemo is given.

travlmom

naiviv - I am on the same cocktail and regiment. It is really strange how different MOs are on advil and tylenol. My primary said no to them all. I have oxycodone for the pain. I know that advil would not have helped the pains I had and I pray that you do not have the same. I would not even wish it on my worst enemy - ok maybe my former boss.

schoolcounselor - Praying for peace over the loss of your father. And for the most part yep - all your hair is gonna go.

I am day 10 post #1 and so far nothing off the top has shed..... waiting for the hammer to fall.

Today was another better day - and tonight I ate some french fries and a banana. I tried really hard to eat a Chick fil a grilled chicken sammie - tasted ok for the first 2 bites (chicken only) on the 3rd bite I felt like a baby being fed peas for the first time... it jumped right off my tongue.

Hoping to feel 100% and make it to my sons football game. Have a great weekend everyone.

TeamKim

Well, shoot (or stronger language) -- I was thinking I had done really well so far, but went to MO yesterday and WBC count was 1. He thought I was probably on the way up, since it was Day 7 and I was actually feeling pretty perky except for the yeast infection, so just we planned the Neulasta for my next treatment cycle and he sent me home to rest up.

But today (Day 8) I sprouted a fever. So back to the MO for a shot of something to stimulate my WBC and a 7 day prescription for antibiotics. Feeling kind of crummy-fatigued this evening.... And sad.... Thought I was over the hump..... :-(.

Thanks for being a place I can vent.

--Kim

PS: Schoolcounselor, I pray for peace for your father, and I hope you were able to build some special memories during the time you had with him. I lost my dad to cancer when I was a teenager, but I feel his support with me now in my battle -- I hope it is the same for you. What a lot for you to handle at once.

((((BIG hugs)))