October 2013 Chemotherapy

Jianchi

Met my medical oncologist today and he told me that they will do dose dense chemo on me. Anybody here is doing that as well?

Thanks!

naiviv

Gram, Nicole, Headeast ,Kcat, I hope you all feel better. It is so many things, one after another that it is understandable that you feel the way you do. I hope you all feel better soon.

Kcat, my port doesn't go in till Wed. I guess I better get everything done tomorrow after my scan. What time does your chemo start on Friday? I have to be there 9:15 am. Will be thinking of you and other Friday Ladies. Remember to make sure you drink a lot of fluids.

I hope you can all rest well,

Vivian

Pam358

Welcome Jianchi ! I'm doing dose dense AC & T. Started 10/9, second treatment 10/23.

Jianchi

Hi Pam,

How do you feel? I will be given AC & Paclitaxel. I have to study what they are now.

Pam358

Jianchi - I'm doing well now. Had some trouble with nausea for the first few days afterward and felt lousy. Then I've dealt with what seem to be some usual side effects - heartburn, fatigue, bowel issues, some bone pain. Everybody seems to react a little differently. We all seem to get some SE (side effects) but not all of them and to different degrees. It's good to read up on the treatment and then it's a bit of a waiting game to see what you end up with. The side effects for the dose dense and regular schedule are similar.

Jianchi

Pam,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I will hope for the best! Were you able to do anything rather than lying in bed with all the side effects? Is it possible to cook when receiving chemo?

All the best to you.

Malakies

Jianchi... Hello

I am doing 4 rounds of A/C every two weeks (just did my second one yesterday) then continuing with 12 weekly doses of Taxol. The first round of AC went well. I receive a shot of Neustela (spelling?) the day after chemo infusion. To avoid some bone discomfort my Oncologist said to try Motrin and Tylenol interchanging each one. I did that and it seemed to work cause I felt no discomfort. I basically had 2 "bad" days which where simply feeling like a truck ran over me.. fatigue and achy but nothing unbearable. They also informed me that 7-10 day after chemo infusion will be when your blood count drops significantly and to be careful not to come in contact with a lot of people .. germs etc only because you are more prone for infections that time. Like clock work I went for a follow up that Monday after my first infusion, and my blood work was extremely low... but I only had a mild headache...my temp was 99.3 and that's it. I stayed home and kept an eye on temp. I went to work the first week after chemo on Friday and Sat. and the second week I worked Tues through Sat. My docs have told me if I feel good to do what I normally do, just listen to your body more than usual. Take a nap if you feel like it, go for a walk.. (that's BIG at my cancer center... HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE WALK WALK WALK that's what they harp on)

Good luck to you and stay positive!!

On to see what these next two weeks have in store for me!

Malakies

Gram--

Hope today is a happier one!

Hang in there!!

Pam358

Jianchi - for 3 days after my last treatment I was in bed most of the day but my MO has given me another prescription to add to my meds to try to improve that this time. I had made a couple meals ahead but then was able to resume cooking day 5. I didn't have any SE involving taste or smell my first time around so it didn't bother me, but I know some people did.

Jianchi

Malakies and Pam

Thank you both for sharing your experience. I hope my body can take the challenge. I am prepared that even if I have no appetite, I will try to eat well for my immunity. Just hope I do not throw up. Also, imaging losing hair is a bit uncomforyable to me, hope I can adjust well. All the discomfort and losing hair seems nothing compare with the importance of being alive and be with our families.

Be well, Be strong.

J

VintageGal1111

I am sitting here at the infusion center on my last lap of chemo. All is going well. I talked to my MO when she came by about ibuprofen use. seems they are all so gung ho on Tylenol. I don't take it, the few times I have in my life I haven't had a good reaction. Seems to make me wired, jittery. My sister has that reaction too. I just need to be able to take something to help ease the flu like SE on the days after chemo.

Jianchi

vintagegal, all the best to you on your treatment.

Headeast

Went to physical therapist today, again. Next one on. Thursday.

Now to PS to have my expansion. Will take Oxicodine before I arrive as the doctor told me to do. This is my third expansion.

Tomorrow: round two of my TC chemo.

Any other Wednesday girls out there?

PS: got over the hair. Love the scarves and hats on top. Trying to be fashionable during bad times. My girlfriends will be using hats with me for support!

denise4603

Good luck to all of you nice ladies. I guess I have to withdraw from the October Chemo group. I am still draining too much fluid to get my jp out and therefore chemo has been pushed out again. Now it is supposed to start 11/5. I guess I should join the November group, but if the drainage continues it will get pushed out a fourth time, so maybe I will just wait.

Feeling lonely today, missing my job, no motivation to go out.

Jianchi

Denise,

My chemo will start in Nov as well. All the best to you!

J

Waterloogal

Hi ladies, I done my first chemo on 9/30, Nulasta caused bone pain almost killed me. Now I have liver problem, doctor said the Enzymes are too high, my second chemo has to be delayed. Anyone come cross the same problem?

Pam358

VintageGal - I asked my MO about taking Tylenol vs ibuprofen. He said "Well, they say you shouldn't take ibuprofen during chemo but I don't exactly believe that. I think you can take either one - however, I wouldn't take more than 600mg three x day." He basically told me to take whichever one worked for me. So many opinions.

Denise - sorry your chemo got delayed.

Headeast - I'm happy to hear your hair or lack thereof is going better. I am a Wednesday Warrior Girl as well! I will be in the chemo chair tomorrow as well.

naiviv

Hello all,

MUGA scan done... It took 7 sticks to get an IV in...my hand looks horrible because one of the veins blew and I'm swollen and blue.

Now I'm anxious about tomorrow and the port, not the surgery part but getting an IV started. Does anyone know if our TE's have metal in them? They kept seeing something in my chest, they asked about a marker(I told them I had from biopsy but came out with mastectomy). Oval shaped. I can only think it's the port where they fill the TE's. Did this happen to anyone else?

V

lonnie713

I too am doing dose dense, start next week...10/31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Jianchi

Pam, all the best to your chemo tomorrow!

lonnie713

I also had a Muga Scan. I normally research all medical procedures prior to the actual appointment. For this one, I didn't. I had no idea that it would take two hours and that an IV was involved. The worst part for me is that I taste the meds and I have to literally think about something else in order not to throw up. I find out the results on 10/31, my first infusion day.

Malakies

Hi everyone!

Jianchi... another little tidbit... I have been drinking "BOOST" chocolate flavor every morning since before chemo and the such. My docs like that idea.. especially if I am not up to eating breakfast. The couple of days after chemo I don't feel like eating much, I supplement with extra Boost shake. I also make fruit juices with yogurt ... creamy and yummy. Little snacks throughout the day is better than not eating at all!

Good luck hun. Not easy... but definitely better than the alternative right??

JenSF

Hi Denise, I felt the same no motivation and loneliness....also missing my job, the regular me.. so upset about this SE which there is no med I can take! You are not alone. We will get better! Hang around here! This is a wonderful group! Many of us have tx going thr the next few months!

One more Neupogen shot tomorrow in this round. Last night was bad bone pain and headache!

I found out we are missing some household items so maybe should step out for a Target tour!

Jen

lonnie713

does anyone juice? I've been juicing for the last 6 months and wanted to know if it is a good idea to continue during chemo treatment. I've been getting mixed reviews. Some say no because the veggies might contain bacteria that could cause infection. Let me know your thoughts.

kcat2013

vivian, my chemo starts at 12:00 on Friday. Getting the actual port put in yesterday was easy but getting the vein for the IV was a nightmare. I have bruises on my arms and hands already from blood draws and MUGA test last week. Anyway yesterday, 2 nurses tried unsuccessfully to get a line in. Then they moved me to ultrasound and tried to use that to guide them to a good vein, more sticks but no luck. So the Dr had to be called in to do what they told me was a "special IV" which involved the ultrasound, some very long needles, other things I didn't want to look at and the use of my inner upper arm. Not an experience I want to repeat! The Dr told me I have unusually tiny veins and that I was the perfect candidate for a port and would love having a port I'm not quite as sore today as last night. Good luck with your port and I hope you have much better luck with your IV than I did. I hope I don't make you more nervous sharing my experience, but I actually was glad to know there were more options when a nurse can't get an iv in. I've always worried that they would just have to keep digging and digging in my arms/hands, so I was relieved to know they can use ultrasound to help guide them to a vein.

Jianchi

Malakies: Thank you for the tip on Boost drink, sounds good!

On a different subject, I have asked my MO about supplementing Reishi mushroom drink/supplements. He asks me not to do it during chemo as he would like to see how the medicine works. Anybody here have asked your MO regarding using herbal medicine during chemo to boost your immune system?

Lonnie: I do not juice but I make juice/veggie blend every morning as my breakfast. It typically contains pineapple, apple, berries, kiwi, banana, carrot, salad leaves, broccoli sprouts, almond and hazelnuts. I then use some water and lemon juice to blend them together. It yields 2 glasses and I drink them all. I am not sure about the bacteria on raw veggie casing infection. I will check with my MO next time.

Malakies

Lonnie...

As far as my experience, at the cancer center I go to.. the nutritionist told me to continue juicing if that is what I've done. That's about it. I don't like the taste of my regular juice recipes anymore though! I prefer just fruits and yogurt!!

naiviv

I started juicing shortly after I was dx. spinach,kale,broccoli,carrots and berries and some other fruits. I asked my Onc. She told me as long as it was me making it, then I could. She also advised me to make a solution of 10% antibacterial dishwashing soap to water. Rinse veggies in water then soak veggies for a few minutes in solution then rinse again. I could do the same for salads. But strongly admonished to not eat anything raw outside of the home. If you can juice it is an excellent way to get your nutrients. I use my Ninja and pulverize the whole veggie juice pulp and skin. And with a little fruit they taste amazing. I also add the veggie only juice to soups and sometimes I make smoothie with fruit only or fruit and yogurt. I also got the ok for BIOTRUST protein powder. In the event I want to turn shake into a meal.

I also explained that I usually cleaned then froze my berries or other ripe fruit she told me that was ok. She told me to get a brush and scrub potatoes/carrots/and other veggies with tough skins.

You need to ask you ONC, because I have a friend going to same practice but seeing another doctor and she was told no raw/natural foods at all. all veggies must be cooked and fruit cooked or purchased frozen...no salads...they are all different. I think I may have gotten the ok, because of the weight I had lost (and need to lose more) and I need the extra iron.

Along those lines to change my kitchen sponge weekly. To make a solution of 10% antibacterial DW soap and 10% bleach to water in a spray bottle for food prep items like cutting boards or counters. And to keep one of those spay bottles in the bathroom also to spray in toilet after each use and in tub/shower/sink. To wear gloves when cleaning and to wear a mask if dusting,sweeping or vacuuming.

I hope you can juice.

Vivian

Jianchi

Malakies,

Just one suggestion on the yogurt, use plain ones that has no added sugar. :-)

naiviv

Kcat, Today was a nightmare. Not sure where they are going to look tomorrow. I'm ready to tell them tomorrow to just call the head of the hospital no poking and prodding 7 today was enough.

I start at 9:15am Friday , A little early for Happy Hour but that's what Im calling it. We can be the Friday Happy Hour Warriors.

Take care

Vivian