February 2014 Starting Chemo Club

jbokland

re icing. I bought Elastogels. Over priced, ineffective.  They only last 30 minutes..you must ice 10 min before and the entire infusion. If you don't you get zero benefit.  I use little ziplock bags fill will crushed ice over socked feet. I slip on a pair of oversized knit slippers to hold the bags over my toes and under feet.   For my hands I slip them in a empty ziplock and submerge them in a large ziplock if ice.   I have had minimal skin and nail tenderness!

Jules_NY

Eyebrows and eyelashes are going

tangandchris

Sorry Jules

I would give you a big hug if I could. I hate it for you!! ((hugs))

 

Rosiesride

hi girls...I am currently on TAC  and had my 5th round last Monday....did better than other rounds for SE last week but started getting chills and fever yesterday....doc put me on cipro and my temp fluctuated thru the night but never went to 101.00 ...he said if it gets to 101 go to er...hoping today's dosing of cipro knocks out whatever I have...only one more chemo left and I am afraid it will put me at risk for infection....wonder if doc will cancel it ...seems like some of you also had issues...what is the benefit of one more round if it means you may end up in hospital??  Scarey....  Will be calling MO SOON...

tangandchris

Hi Rosie

I just finished my 5th round of TAC as well....about a week ago. I would love to skip the last one, I hate chemo!! I'm not sure though about the benefit vs the possible problems. I'm sure MO will consider how your counts have been thru out chemo and go from there. Well I shouldn't say I'm sure...but it will probably be something like that.

My little dd is sick, she came home yesterday with a fever, sore throat and body aches. Idk if it's just me, but I'm feeling a little sick now too. She's going to the doc this afternoon, hopefully this is not contagious.

Rosie, when is your last round scheduled? Mine is 6/5...putting it off a week so I can attend preschool graduation.

Rosiesride

tangandchris...my last round is June 2'!! Woopwoop!! So we are close!!  I also asked for an extra week before my 5th one as my son was graduating college!  So I am a week off as well but so worth it for these milestones!

I have been doing relatively ok with chemo but last night scared the pee out of me!  I did not want to go to the hospital!!  I am really hoping cipro knocks out whatever I have....but is it strong enough?  I will call doc soon but wanted to track temp a few more times...I am curious about what he will say about last treatment...I would never ask to not have it but trust his opinion....hope your little one gets to feeling better and hopefully you stay well also!! Ttyl..Rosie 

Jules_NY

Hi Rosie. Did you have any blood work since your fever? Don't mean to scare you but the fever may not be an infection. It may be a sign that your blood counts are low. I just got out of the hospital for a neutropenic fever. My white blood cells were dangerously low and it presented with a fever. I hope that isn't what you have but I just don't want you to take it lightly. 

tangandchris TY for the hugs!!!!! My dd is sick too! These kids and their cooties!!! 

Rosiesride

hey Jules....he thought it was my low blood count so put me on cipro....I will call now and ask about bloodwork to see..he is very attentive and doesn't take things lightly so I am sure he will have me come in...temp has been normal this am ....what did they do for you in the hospital??  It is scary to me and thanks for your input! Rosie

Jules_NY

Good! I didn't think your MO would miss anything I just figured since I just went through it that I'd let you know. They cultured anything and everything, lol. I had a CXR, got IV fluid, IV antibiotics, neupogen and tamiflu. I was in for 48hrs and went home on oral antibiotics and tamiflu for a few days. My son was sick earlier in the week so they originally thought I was coming down with what he had but I had no other symptoms other than the fever. When my blood counts came back low they sent me straight to the hospital. Thankfully everything was negative and i only needed one neupogen shot. My counts responded right away. Good luck! Keep us posted!!

Rosiesride

Jules...I see you are in commack ny...I was wondering if you used stonybrook breast center....dr. O' Hea???  I am in nc but had a second opinion from him...just curious....probably should have pm'd this! Sorry!

Jules_NY

Lol. No worries. I go to Sloan Kettering. There is a satellite hospital in Commack. I have all my appts and treatments here. I have to go to the main hospital in NYC to have the surgery. Then follow up will be back in Commack. It's very convenient.

MomMom

Rosie--Best of luck to you in getting everything resolved asap!  And congratulations on your son graduating from college.   That is such a wonderful experience - you must be so proud!  Enjoy every moment of the festivities!

Now losing more of my eyebrows and eyelashes.  Anyone have great tips about your success with filling in brows? 

Trying tips on this thread about making extra freezing pacs for Thursday Taxol as, you are right, Elastogel doesn't last long enough!!

Think I will lose the other big toe nail (lost first one during AC which usually doesn't happen) - it's not painful, but moving around when I touch it - ugh.  Don't want to go to the podiatrist who can't wait to shoot it full of novacaine as he did the other one and remove it (yep, it hurt like a son of a gun).  Think maybe it may fall off on its own???

Read on another thread that some women on chemo have had an really urgent need to pee.  This has happened to me twice and thought it was just me, but guess not:-).

Rosiesride

thanks momom....it took him 7 years but, hey...he stuck with it!  He came home and walked our relay for life lap with me instead of walking across stage at school....my 3 kids sang for survivors and it was a special time!!  Another blessing through this journey...

I think I am getting better with the cipro...temp has been normal without any Tylenol and doc thinks it's ok...just hope it doesn't spike tonight...it's scary!!  my twins are makeup queens and they say ulta has good pencils...I ordered a gel liner and brush from a cancer make up website that really stays on but it was too dark...I would try ulta or beauty store and ask about a type of permanent pencil...then brush it so t looks like hairs... I found one at home that's perfect but it's getting tiny!  Don't know the brand!  Good luck! Rosie

Rosiesride

Jules...I am feeling better...temp has been normal without Tylenol in me and I had my 3rd dose of cipro earlier..I did call to ask if I needed bloodwork ...doc said if I feel ok and getting better than I will just wait....I wondered what they do and sorry you went through that but it enlightened me...to come so far and almost done and then have a setback...really the first time I have been scared through all this!!  I try to stay very positive and when I asked my hubby why aren't you excited that I only have one chemo left? He said...you have a long way to go...i guess this is what he meant...and it's so different for our spouses and family going through this with us...sometimes I think it's easier being the one getting the treatments

Thanks again! Rosie

3doglady

My eyebrows are to the point where I am drawing them in.  Im horrible at drawing them im and literally change my appearance each time.  LOL.  Its kinda funny.  I have stragglers, and am trying to resist plucking them to make it look better.  They made it through the rain that is chemo.  

I had a talk with the doctor todya befor taxol #8 and decided that the fullness in my chest, neck and head is likely a side effect of the taxols.  Some anxiety can be a cause,  butfeel this is a delayed side effect (after the steroids wear off ) because it has started for the last three weeks on a Thursday (2 days post treatment) and suggested I take a half steroid pill left over from my AC days to help pass through it.  It contines to Friday,  but is not as strong.  And subsides Friday, almost normal on Sat and Sunday is a coin toss.  Its manageable,  just irritating to feel it.  And eating make me bloated, regardless of how much or how little I eat.  I tried the icing a couple of times through taxols, only have lifting on two fingers.  still havent found a good and effective practice of icing, and will NOT buy Meier Brand double zip lock bags. Again.  More than once had a problem of them not sealing. Grrr.

jbokland

eyebrows - I went to a shop that caters to drag queens and got some good tips!   Use a powder eyeshadow or brow powder.  Apply with the brush that has a sharp edge.  It's really a "softer" look to apply correctly without the harsh line you get with a pencil. 

Icing- you must go 'Full-Monty ' or not at all. Meaning: ice the ENTIRE infusion. Otherwise you will get a flooding of the chemo back to the capillaries.   I pack 4 Snack bag and one gallon ziplocks with crushed ice.  I put 2 snack size on each socked foot, (one folded over the toes, one under my feet closer to heel) held on with knit booties.    I stick my hands in empty bags as mitts and plung them in the gallon sized with ice.  

MomMom

J Bokland,  Thanks for the tips!  I think I'll use the Elastogel for starters but will change off on the ice packs.  Also, plan to start ice about 10 minutes before Taxol infusion starts. 

Lisaj514

re: icing, can also make your own ice packs with 1 cup alcohol and 2 cups water, put in gallon ziplock bags, double bag. Makes a slush. Can make more for larger packs in that ratio, ie bigger feet lol. Cheaper and last longer. Freeze. It seems to stay longer than plain ice. I made a fleece cover so the cold stays in and wrapped my hands and feet. I had dd taxol so it took about 2 hrs or more to infuse and I would switch them off. Made 6 of them. Stayed cold. The problem is you can't use your hands well when they are on ice so I would briefly remove to eat or drink something especially because I was on the long infusion. As soon as they would defrost a little I would put back on ice. I think it worked. Little neuropathy in few toes felt when I walk long distances or stand for a while but really not bothersome. My feet do ache a lot in morning or after sitting for a while but I don't know if that's neuropathy or old age catching up. Hands feel good.

Rosiesride

So, when you say your nails "lifted" ...is it like thick skin under your nails...looks gross like a fungus?  My fingernails look bad...not a big nail person anyway, but wondered if some are starting to "lift"...they also have like a dark line running straight up some of them...does that all go away after chemo?  I am through on June 2nd, which is my 6th round of TAC!
Woopwoop!

lago

If they start to lift the nail beds will hurt. You will feel that before you see them lift. You might see some fungus in your toes if water gets in there.

lago

Eyebrows I highly recommend Anastasia brow duo (I use ebony). It's a powder. You don't draw them on. You just pat the brush. Looks more natural/like hairs that way. If you aren't an artist get stencils

or follow this guide (look under eyebrows):  linky or watch this video linky

tangandchris

I know this is probably a stretch...but I'm asking anyway.

For the last week maybe week and a half I have had this cough at night. It's a dry cough, but it is painful when I cough. Mostly the pain is due to this daman seroma I'm dealing with. To make matters worse, I pee myself when I cough lol.

Anyway, could this be a weird chemo SE?

Rosiesride

tangandchris...my doc said it was...I think cytoxan...I went to him the week after my 4 th treatment and it happened mostly at night but mine was more of a drip...I thought I had pneumonia or something...he gave me a hydro codon cough syrup...this time I had it again a week after treatment... So it can be a SE...I would call...what we think is a stupid question can turn out to be something where they will adjust dosing...( I had a little red line across my heel and it itched like crazy...I went to see him And he ended up lowering my TAXOTERE dosing)...so there is no stupid question! Feel better!

tangandchris

Rosie-Thanks for the respons

I guess I will call tomorrow about it. It is HIGHLY annoying!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lago

tangandchris I peed differently on chemo. Hard to explain but I did feel like I had a bit less control. Fine now.

jbokland

I am coughing my guts out right now. I think I started with allergies and now borderline bronchitis. Peeing with each coughing fit!  I am doing with the Tessalon Perles and a z pack. 

Jules_NY

I blame everything on chemo!!!!! 

On a good note I finally learned how to put make up on at the Look Good Feel Better gig!!! Took me long enough!!!!

lago

Jules I learned there too. That's why folks think I look better now 

h0pe

Coughing here too! I mentioned it to MO and he thinks it might be allergies or something viral. No fever. Sinuses are inflamed.  It's been ongoing. Glad to hear others are having same SE! 

Rosiesride

didn't he give you anything??  You shouldn't have to suffer through it...I think coughing goes along with the runny eyes too that chemo causes... Been coughing more and runny nose!! So annoying!