November 2014 Starting Chemo Crew

Astarte

Lesslieinva, I hope you have some more energy today and that
the metallic taste isn’t so bad. I chewed gum a lot when I was low carbing for
years, it puts you in ketosis which gives you metal mouth too.

Kerker65, I am glad everything went well. Did they give you
anything for the heartburn? The over the counter stuff takes about a day and a
half before it starts working. I need to read up on Neulasta, I don’t know
enough about it. Hope today goes well too!

Denisem, that doesn’t sound like fun. I read a blog
yesterday of a lady whose hair was painful and she shaved it short and it felt
better. Hope they find a remedy that works for you!

Liwi, that’s great that you are walking. As for exercise,
this http://liamrosen.com/fitness.html#part4
might help. But, check with your doctor before doing anything, (the standard spiel).
That cookbook sounds pretty cool!

Bippy625, thank you for your sagely advice and woot to you
for being at the end of your tx!

My doctor emailed me last night and let me know that all of
my scans came back with no cancer anywhere but my left breast and the lymph
node that we already knew about. So that is great news and I can now breathe!
So it looks like I fit the criteria for the study, but I am still waiting for
the official word.

My first chemo is scheduled for 11/17/14. My husband wants
to come with me. I just hope he isn’t as bad as when I had the baby, it was all
about him. All he wanted to do was eat, drove me nucking futz. The only reason
I might let him tag along is in case I feel like crap after, it is a two hour
drive home in heavy traffic.

enlm20Erica

bippy, thanks for all the good advice and congrats on approaching your last treatment! I know this may sound crazy but what on earth is the "big D" lol depression maybe? And I definitely have to assign someone to be my Sargent at Arms/watchdog lol..I want to say my husband can do it but I Know my mom will for sure! Great tips! Wishing u the best as your chemo journey comes to an end..way to go!

enlm20Erica

astarte, we start on the same day.. hope all goes well for the both of us.

lisa137

The big D is diarrhea. 

And that's great advice about NOT eating the foods you love most! My husband and I stopped at Subway on the way home from one of my chemos once, and I ate about half my sandwich and had to stop. Later I felt very nauseous (though I never threw up.) To this DAY I do not want to go to Subway, and even the mention of the place brings an involuntary "ugh" from me. So of course my DH always suggests it. 

Astarte

enlm20Erica, yep we do! And it seems we have similar diagnoses and little ones around the same age I think. So we can have lots to talk about.

The big d would be welcome here lisa, I have chronic constipation already from all the opiates I take. Lol.

knittingPT

Hi Everyone!  I just got home from my first A/C treatment.  The treatment itself was not bad at all.  I used the EMLA cream on my port about an hour prior to the appointment and it didn't hurt at all when they put the needle in.  The only SE I had during my treatment was a feeling like I needed to sneeze or had stuffy sinuses when they put in the second infusion.  Now I'm feeling okay but I now that the SE may hit me tomorrow or over the weekend.  It was soooooo nice to just be started.  

One thing I did that was helpful to me was tell my friends to send me jokes, cartoons, videos during treatment.  I got lots of pick me ups that way and it was also nice to reconnect with some people I haven't spoken to in awhile.   

enlm20Erica

Astarte, yes lots to talk about lol.. my twins are 16 months now... Double trouble!

readytorock

Hi!  New here, but I start chemo on 11-11 so thought Id join!  Got 10 inches cut off my hair tonight to make it easier to go once it starts going!  Best wishes to everyone!

enlm20Erica

knitting, way to go! One treatment over and done. I pray that your side effects are minimal or none at all!

Nik1966

Well done Knitting :-)  I had my treatment 2 days ago and apart from a wee headache, and a little bit more tired than usual, I feel fine.  I know it may not last but I am ok right now.

enlm20Erica

Kiwi that's good news! I've heard alot of people say day 2 and 3 are the worst so if that's true it should be smooth sailing from here! 

lisa137

Astarte, I've had chronic constipation all my life without even being able to blame it on opiates, and I had to be REALLY careful about that while I was on chemo. Since chemo  though-- which ended March 31st, I've had no issues with constipation at all. Weird, huh?

Liwi

KnittingPT what is the EMLA cream?  I had my 2nd treatment today and wasn't very painful ,but the nursed used something to minimize pain at the start of the process.

So far so good after treatment.  Having a little trouble concentrating also some sinus but I've had that since a month prior to my diagnosis.  Also had constipation prior so trying to be very diligent about getting plenty of fiber so it's been slightly better the past few days.   

I really admire those of the group who are caring for young children while going through chemo.   My daughter is 28 and drove me to my appointment today.  Nice to provide relief to my husband whose gone with to all other appointments so far.  We did a lot of Word Puzzles and had good mother/daughter time.

Ready to Rock I got my hair cut real short yesterday.   It's been 14 days since my first treatment.   Been using some of my hats already.  I like making things with beads so got out all the stuff I've accumulated and going to make some colorful dangling earrings to wear.

thatcameragirl

Enlm20Erica  thanks for the encouragement about the BRCA  results.  I ended up not getting them yesterday so it's back to waiting.  KnittingPT we do have the same exact treatment plan with 4 AC and then 12 weekly Taxol.  I don't start til the 18th so you'll be just ahead of so I know what to expect.   My MO said I could wait so that my schedule would have Thanksgiving week and Christmas week off.  I am very grateful for that!  Another question, are any if you using cold caps?  My Oncologist suggested it because 2 other women he treats are using them so now I'm deep into research about it.  I just wish it weren't so expensive!!  Have any of you bought a wig yet?  I'm wondering if I should go ahead and get one or wait.  Thanks, girls! 

Leslienva

I'm using Penguin Cold Caps. I started my chemo on Monday. It was a lot of work dragging in two coolers of dry ice, but I'm hoping the caps will save my hair.

enlm20Erica

thatcameragirl, I haven't started chemo yet but I do have wigs on deck. It's because I wear wigs anyway. I have a lot of thick coarse hair and it's very hard to manage, so I just braid it and pop on a wig lol. I hand make my wigs myself tho, they're more natural looking to me. I've even made a few for my friends. Below is a pic of my natural hair (sorry I was very undone on this pic lol. .had just washed and blowdried my hair) then there's a pic of my most recent wig

thatcameragirl

Enlm20Erica your hair is fabulous!  Natural and wig. Now I am inspired to find a wig.  Maybe if I go shop for one it will help me decide if I want to go through the expense and trouble of the caps.  It wouldn't hurt to have a backup anyway! 

Leslienva I'm glad to hear that you are using the caps too.  Feel free to share any tips you learn!  Good luck and I hope you can keep your hair!

enlm20Erica

thatcameragirl, thanks! I also wanted to try the cold caps but they were just to expensive for me right now, so I gotta tough it out. When and if my hair does fall out (I'm gonna be heart broken) but I'm gonna use this time to try different styles and maybe even different color wigs, I've only had black hair...I might be spontaneous and see if blondes really do have more fun 😎 lol

knittingPT

liwi the EMLA cream is a topical anesthetic. I put a dime size blob on an hour before treatment and cover it with Saran wrap. I didn't feel a thing when they put the needle in my port.

Kiwi I'm feeling ok today too. Not quite normal but able to do my everyday stuff (like work!) 

Thatcameragirl sorry you have to wait more.

Ive decided no wigs for me. I'm getting scarves and hats, inmost worried about how to draw on eyebrows! I don't domakeup at all. I'm sure I'll figure it out! 

enlm20Erica

knittingPT,  look at this YouTube vid I watched the other day. He had a pretty neat technique on drawing eyebrows. 

Liwi

Looks like several of us are doing 4 AC then 12 weekly Taxol.

On eyebrows, I went to a great class sponsored by the American Cancer Society called Look Good Feel Better.  They have a website where you can search for classes by location.  They covered skin care tips during treatment, make up, wigs and how to use and dress up hats and other head coverings.   The web site has a lot of information and videos.

I got a wig.  It's somewhat different than my normal hair, thicker and slight difference I'm color, as I decided as long as I need to do this I will experiment with different looks.  

karen1971

i have an appointment next tuesday the 11th  with my surgeon to do with putting a port in me, of course i have to wait for them to do that. i hate this waiting process.

Liwi

I totally relate. The waiting was a very high anxiety time.

barremom64

emlm20- PLEASE don't let the cost of cold capping stop you! Please check through the cold capping thread, a few BC sisters have recently received financially assistance for capping via Penguin Cold Caps. Check The Repunzel Project also, as they offer some financial assistance. I also heard Penguin has half price rates for using caps that are slightly imperfect- yet another route. As for the ice you need, many cappers have had the great success of having donations/ discounts by ice companies/ grocers once they hear what your using it for.

I just completed a clinical trial for Paxman cold caps here in Nj which was 100% free! The trial is still excepting patients and is being conducted across the country as various hospitals. You may want to check that as well. Although the results aren't as good ( more hair loss) then Penguin.

Cold capping is very successful with your chemo regime!

Best of luck!

enlm20Erica

Barremom64, thanks the info! I will be looking into asap!

Nik1966

Karen1971, I had a port put in on Monday (03/11) under local anesthetic and it was used at my first chemo session on Wednesday (05/11). I was really worried about having it, however after seeing how easy it's going to make those infusions, I think it might be my new best friend. I have healed up well and it has caused hardy any discomfort.

knittingPT

liwi I am signed up for the look good feel better class already! I'm hoping it will be fun and helpful!

Karen1971 the waiting has been the absolute worst part for me. I had my first round of chemo yesterday and was so relieved to get started!

Today I'm a little tired and a tiny bit queasy. Salted almonds took care of that! I got through my workday and took a little nap. Now I feel pretty normal. I'm hoping this continues!!!

missg1984

Hi ladies

I started chemotherapy yesterday and didn' think I would feel the effects so soon.

I am to have 4 sessions of AC every 2 weeks then 12 taxol weekly after christmas. I felt fine til last night then the waves of heat swept In along with hovering near the bathroom for fear of the red devil coming up. I slept fine and felt ok today nausea on and of wit serious hot facial flushes. But very sleepy like stinging eyes the need to juSt go to the bed hard with a 3 month old ill be making sure I have plenty of family to help me. Sister had taken her overnight for me so I can try sleep. My brain just feels weird and foggy.

I was diagnosed at 34 weeks pregnant 3 weeks after my mam. We are both positive for BR CA2 Gene also. She is nearly finished her chemo 1 more left, then her surgery is been scheduled for early dec.

I had to have my baby earlier at 38 weeks. She's is thriving and perfectly healthy.☺ my little miracle will keep me strong.

I've had my surgery so technically cancer free just to blaSt with the chemo to be sure.

My tumour end up very aggressive and I had right masectomy done along with direction on 16th September. Reconstructed with a TE till after radium.

Trying to stay positive ☺

p's this is my 1st post I have been reading but never posted.

raspysqueen

Hey everyone, I just started my chemo two days ago and I'm really starting to feel like crap 😣 headache, body aches, feeling flushed (which means I'm taking my temp every hour or so - it's up to 99°). So I was feeling all tough and strong and now I'm starting to worry! This sucks...

Leslienva

I'm right there with you, Raspyqueen. I had my first chemo on Monday, followed by the neulasta shot on Tuesday. Even with the Claritin, I've had four days of bad bone and joint pain, plus the nausea, metallic taste, and fatigue from the chemo. I had a milkshake last night, which tasted great! Unfortunately, it led to horrible stomach cramps, cold sweats , and two hours of the big D. Not fun